From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Wed Oct 1 05:04:43 2008 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Wed, 1 Oct 2008 06:04:43 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] A) QUESTION AND ANSWER Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. A very good Wednesday morning to each and everyone. May God bless you and yours. Here is a question and answer from my files: QUESTION AND ANSWER QUESTION: -- Does 1 Cor. 16:1,2 apply to us today? ANSWER: -- Let us first note what the passage says: "Now con- cerning the collection for the saints, as I gave order to the churches of Galatia, so also do ye. Upon the first day of the week let each one of you lay by him in store, as he my prosp- er, that no collections be made when I come". It is clear that this command was not only for the church in Corinth. This letter is addressed to: "The church of God which is at Corinth, even them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that call upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ in every place" (1 Cor. 1:2). Even in this passage (1 Cor. 16:1,2), he ment- ioned others as having the same responsibility: "As I gave order to the churches of Galatia, so also do ye." Yes, the funds collected were for the "poor saints" in Jerusal- em (Rom. 15:26), but that is not the only reason for our giving. Preachers are to be supported by the church: "Have we no right to eat and drink? Have we no right to lead about a wife that is a believer, even as the rest of the apostles, and the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas? Or I only and Barnabas, have we not a right to forbear working?...Even so did the Lord ordain that they that proclaim the gospel should live of the gospel" (1 Cor. 9:4-6,14). Paul said the same thing to the churches of Galatia, "But let him that is taught in the Word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things" (Gal. 6:6). So, the giving of members of the church than was not limited to helping the poor saints. The church has many financial obligations it must meet. The church then had them, churches today have them. We know that the early church spent a great deal of money on miss- ion work, for instance, Paul received help many times from many churches for his work in planting churches here and there. I know that sometimes it seem there is a great emphasis on giving in the local church. Could that be the result of the materia- listic society in which we live? Success in our culture is meas- ured in dollars instead of purity of life. But constant "brow-beat- ing" of members in Paul's day to give was not the practice. Nor is it conducive to spirituality now. There should be proper teach- ing on giving, and reminders from time to time. But we need alw- ays to remember that money is only a tool which God grants us to use in His service. Maybe some preachers do get big salaries today, if compar- ed with salaries of fifty years ago. Who doesn't? But if you will compare the average preacher's salary with that of other "profes- sional educated" men of the congregation, you will find the prea- cher is among the lowest paid. Having spent most of my life (until just recently) in "full time" preaching, I found very few preachers that I met who were overpaid. Most put in sixty hours or more a week, and nearly all could make more money doing something else for a living. But they are doing their work for a LIFE. And most are happy doing it. I suppose there are some preachers somewhere who are overpaid. I never was, and I never met very many who were. "What is right?" How much should one give, and how should it by used by the local church? How much should be spent on the building and its upkeep? How much should be spent on local work? How much should be spent on mission work in other areas of the world? These questions cannot be answered except by the people involved in a given locality. I always sugg- est that members of a congregation talk with the elders and others in the church who make up the church budget. You have a right to know how the money given upon the Lord's Day is being spent. And all the elders I know will welcome your suggestions as a member of the local congregation over which they have the oversight. And their explanation will nearly always satisfy you that they have chosen a wise course. Budgets should never take precedence over the teaching of God's Word. Nor should money become as important as our mission of saving souls. But, at the same tiem, we need to care- fully examine our own objections to emphasis on money and its use for the Lord. We need to make sure that our resentment is not based on our desire to "hang on" to what we have. "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon the earth, where moth and rust consume, and where thieves break through and steal: but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth consume, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: for where thy treasure is, there will thy heart be also" (Matt. 6:19-21). Let us prove our love for the Lord and His church by our giving, as the Galatians and Corinthians did. (2 Cor. 8:1-12). -------- Clem Thurman in Gospel Minutes, Vol. 57, No. 25, June 20, 2008. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20081001/f972499f/attachment-0001.html From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Wed Oct 1 05:04:52 2008 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Wed, 1 Oct 2008 06:04:52 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] S) ATTITUDES (2) Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. Here is the second part of this particular study. Use for the glory of God. ATTITUDES (2) From the viewpoint of the schools, certainly we are anxious that they have good academic ratings that our graduates may be successful in a world of fair economic competition. But we should no forget tht with such development come the ever incre- asing danger of selling our own souls and the souls of our scho- ols at the price of worldly approval. Hear this, friends: When any school posing as being run by Christians, reaches the point that it begins to hold material progress and approval of worldly men as the summun bonum of its existence it has sold its spirit- ual birthright for a mess of material pottage. The tragedy and curse of Bethany, Translyvania, and other schools operated by our brethren in yester-years was their inclination to become like the institutions about them and to gain approval for theological and academic achievements from worldly institutions and infidel professors while forgetting the cause of their birth and the purp- ose of their being. What is the evidence? Consider these. Laxity in discipline on moral issues, social climbing by faculty members, encourag- ing the fellowshipping of denominations, employment of men with questionable views on the Bible's inspiration, and emphas- is -- increasing emphasis -- on higher education in religion, all coupled with a disposition to play up to the world and worldly people to get their approval. This trend has led the schools so inclined to only one destination, and that destination was open infidelity. First, it was compromise; then a general spirit of liber- alism; next came acceptance of the views of the higher critics and modernism. By this time the landing was made. There was no turning back. Infidelity and atheism settled like a pall upon the same campuses where once burned fires of faith reflecting gleams of hope. Again we ask: What caused it all? It was a change in attitude toward the complete authority of Christ as revealed in the New Testament. We have seen some effects of disrespect for this authority in the past. Are there any straws indicating the direct- ion of the wind now? How do these sound?...: Drinking, gambling, dancing, adultery, and a general break- down in morals in the church as well as in the world, and a com- promise of the truth by failing to speak out against such evils; making the work of evangelism just another "profession"; the joining of ministerial alliances and general hobnobbing with de-nominations; a hesitancy to draw the line between the church of the Lord and human religious organizations, with the kindred spirit to be indistinctive in teaching, leaving the impression that the church of Jesus Christ is but another denomination among the institutions of men; a disposition to lose that militancy toward humanism in religion which opposition turned the guns of the entire world against the true church of the first century and in the last; a tendency to minimize the value of public debat- ing of the differences between truth and error coupled with criti- cisms of those who debate as being "fighters", "undignified", and "hard"; emphasis on positive preaching, good within itself, yet sometimes employed to the disregard of negative teaching, to the extent that even those espousing the grossest error fail to recognize it as error; chronic complaining about elders who will not yield to the demands of worldly minded members anxio- us to take the rule in their own hands and by majority vote throw out the bishops of the church -- these are a few omens obvious to those who read and observe. But are there others? Is not the wearing of academic degrees as religious titles suggestive? They are obtained in the world, from human instit- utions, and for human achievements educationally, yet are they not sometimes paraded in such guise as to encourage the very thing the Lord rebuked when He said, "Be ye not called Rabbi", and "Call no man your Master"? Nothing is wrong with a degree per se, yet it becomes not only worn as a religious title or its possessor encourages its use in any religious sense. Academi- cally, the practice is in its place. Religiously, it belongs to the denominations and Catholicism. Academic degrees never added an iota to any man's stature in the kingdom of God. They do not indicate knowledge of the Bible or ability to teach it; they do not signify soundness in the faith and loyalty to the Savior; they are no index to spiritual discernment or moral worth. They are unobjectionable in their proper place but that place is not for the church in the accomplishing of its mission. When preach- ers get degrees they need to forget they have them. Those who glory in them ought to stop aping the world and learn to practice as well as preach what Jesus teaches. (More will be posted on this subject tomorrow, the Lord willing, JWS). -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20081001/ed5ee0da/attachment.html From jwquinn at sbcglobal.net Wed Oct 1 10:11:51 2008 From: jwquinn at sbcglobal.net (Jon W. Quinn) Date: Wed, 1 Oct 2008 10:11:51 -0500 Subject: [Biblemat] Expository Files 15.10 (October 2008) Available Message-ID: In our 15th year of publication (1994-2008) Expository Files - October 2008 **Our 178th monthly issue** Expository Files is a monthly electronic journal dedicated to Biblical studies. It is edited by Warren E Berkley and Jon W. Quinn. This effort began with the January, 1994 issue and continues to this day. In addition to the four or so expository articles by different writers in each issue, there are special topical studies. In addition, each issue begins and ends with editorials by the editors. We have expository material from every book in the Bible, though there are still portions that are much more lightly covered than others. Thanks to our writers and our readers for making Expository Files such a success! ---------------------------------------------------------- Expository Files 15.10; October 2008 Co-edited by Warren E. Berkley and Jon W. Quinn ---------------------------------------------------------- This month's issue contains: The Front Page Heartfelt; Heart Thought; Heart Purposed By Jon W. Quinn Just Passing Through "Here we are but straying pilgrims..." Hebrews 11:8-10 By Jon W. Quinn What happened to the Apostles, Prophets and .... Demons? 1 Corinthians 13 ~ Zechariah 13 By Jerry Blount The Blessings Of Following Christ: A Simple Study Outline Matthew 19:27 ~ 1 Peter By Warren E. Berkley Ending Two Grudges Genesis 33:4 By Jacob Hudgins The Miracle Worker "Are You the Expected One, or shall we look for someone else?" Topical Article By Jon W. Quinn Plan of Salvation By Jon W. Quinn The Coat Hanger at Morrilton The Final Page By Warren E. Berkley ---------------------------------------------------------- EF can be found at the following places: http://www.bible.ca/ef/ Every issue - 1994 to present; every article; html; arranged by book; topic and/or issue; Search engine http://expositoryfiles.homestead.com/index.html 2004-2006 in html by issue; 1994-2003 in zipped self executable format for IBM http://www.geocities.com/w_berkley/ EF in PDF by issue; Sept 2003 to present ===== Jon W. Quinn jwquinn at sbcglobal.net Bradley Church of Christ Bradley, IL 60915 From dmartinbtbq at comcast.net Wed Oct 1 10:15:53 2008 From: dmartinbtbq at comcast.net (Don Martin) Date: Wed, 1 Oct 2008 09:15:53 -0600 Subject: [Biblemat] Bible Truths and Bible Questions updates New one Message-ID: <005401c923d8$9903a1f0$6401a8c0@533034B8A6DF4D9> Don Martin informing you of new material to our Websites: It is my pleasure to let you know of new material to both Bible Truths and Bible Questions, material that we believe you will find of profit. The new Current Truth for www.bibletruths.net is, "Virginity." All parents especially need to encourage their children to read this article and then go to the question page to consider the often raised questions/answers pertaining to the subject of virginity. To read the material in full, when on the home page of Bible Truths, enter through the door and click on, "Current Truth" in the directory. Here is an excerpt from the article: The new Featured Question for www.biblequestions.org is, "What are the keys of the kingdom?" (See below.) As always, thank you for making use of our material and for telling others of our sites. If you really want to help, why not copy and paste this update notice and send it out to your own email list? Question: What were the keys of the kingdom? Answer: Our question continues by asking "and how did Peter use these keys?" Of course, the verses under consideration are Jesus' words to Peter in Matthew 16: 18, 19. They read: "And I say also unto thee, that thou are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." False views relative to Peter. Beloved, Peter was not the first Pope. In fact, the papacy, as such was unknown in the First Century, except for apparent prophesy (I Tim. 4: 1-4; 2 Thes. 2: 3-4). The binding and loosing applied to all the apostles (Matt. 18: 18; Jn. 20: 23 - notice the perfect tense, "shall have already been..."). Peter did not think of himself as the "vicar of Christ" (cf. Acts 10: 25, 26). The keys of the kingdom. The first and natural mental association with keys concerns unlocking or allowing entrance (see Rev. 1: 18, 9: 1, 20: 1). It is important that we appreciate "church" and "kingdom" are interchangeably used in our passage. The kingdom or church became a reality in Acts 2 (see 2: 47, 5: 11). Peter extended the gospel invitation to the thousands who wanted to know what to do to be saved (Acts 2: 37, 38, 40). About three thousand accepted the teaching and were baptized for the remission of their sins (Acts 2: 38-41). Concerned reader, Peter allowed entrance (used the keys) into the kingdom on that day. He did so by preaching the gospel. The seed of the kingdom is the word of God (Lk. 8: 11; Matt. 13: 19). when the gospel is preached today and people accept and obey it, they are allowed entrance into God's kingdom (cf. Col. 1: 13, 14). This is another reason the pure gospel is so important (see Gal. 1: 6-9). Cordially, Don Martin From terrywbenton at bellsouth.net Wed Oct 1 15:57:09 2008 From: terrywbenton at bellsouth.net (Terry W. Benton) Date: Wed, 1 Oct 2008 15:57:09 -0500 Subject: [Biblemat] Amazing Quote Games #6 Message-ID: >From my recent post at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BiblicalEvidenceDevotion/ Amazing Quote Games #6 Evolutionists try to frame quotes from creationists as "out-of-context" so as to try to undermine either the integrity of the quote or the integrity of the creationist quoting from the evolutionist. Here is another example of the amazing quote games that are played when creationists quote from evolutionists. Quote #6 "Most families, orders, classes, and phyla appear rather suddenly in the fossil record, often without anatomically intermediate forms smoothly interlinking evolutionarily derived descendant taxa with their presumed ancestors." (Eldredge, N., 1989, Macro-Evolutionary Dynamics: Species, Niches, and Adaptive Peaks, McGraw-Hill Publishing Company, New York, p. 22) The view expressed here is that of G G Simpson's argument for variable rates of evolution. They continue in the next paragraph: "Theory led Simpson to conclude that the gaps between higher taxa [than between species - JSW] must reflect unusually high rates of evolutionary change." - John Wilkins -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This is an exceptionally dishonest bit of quote-mining, since it implies that the view being expressed is Eldredge's own. It is not, in any way, shape, or form. What it is is Eldredge's synopsis of Simpson's views. This is clear if the entire paragraph is read: "Simpson suggested -- as had Dobzhansky (1941) briefly before him; indeed, the theme goes back to Darwin -- that the gaps perceived between low-level taxonomic groups such as species and genera almost always reflect the artifact of such geologically induced gaps. But, he went on, gaps between families and taxa of even higher rank could not be so easily explained as the mere artifacts of a poor fossil record. Most families, orders, classes, and phyla appear rather suddenly in the fossil record, often without anatomically intermediate forms smoothly interlocking evolutionarily derived descendant taxa with their presumed ancestors." - Mike Dunford -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [Commenting on the above] But even then - Simpson hardly intended to deny evolution either, as he, also was a major evolutionary scientist (very major). So the Creationist quote-mining is doubly bad - misquoting a summary of an opinion to make the opinion seem the opposite of what it was. - Stanley Friesen http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/quotes/mine/part1-1.html ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ My Reply: First, we will concede that the quote is Eldredge quoting Simpson. The quote is found in Eldredge's work. Rather than this being an example of dishonesty, as Mike Dunford charges, it is an example of carelessness. The carelessness of which I speak, it not that the quote is wrong, but that it appears to be attributed to the wrong author. Eldredge is quoting Simpson, so that this fact should be noted in the reference. It is best to refer to the original author and reference that author's statement. In this case, this quote is attributing the quote to the wrong author. Is it dishonest? Hardly! Why would such a mistake be thought dishonest? I would think that it is a case where an evolutionist is too trigger-happy, wanting to attribute dishonesty to creationists on any matter of mistake he can find. Eldredge is in agreement with the point Simpson made, so there is no damage to Eldredge. If the quote undermines Eldredge and is not his viewpoint, then we might have cause to think "dishonesty". However, when a quote is simply attributed to the wrong person, there is mistake involved, but hardly dishonesty. In fact, the charge of dishonesty is premature and actually calls into question Mike Dunford's honesty and sense of fairness. Secondly, unless the quote is given to prove that Eldredge or Simpson "does not believe in evolution", then it is a bit dishonest on the part of Stanley Friesen above who comments erroneously regarding the reason for the quote: But even then - Simpson hardly intended to deny evolution either.... -Unquote! That was not the reason for the quote. To frame the quote as an attempt on the part of the creationist to prove that Eldredge or Simpson deny evolution is clearly dishonest. No such claim is being made. The strength of the quote is that the evolutionists themselves admit of the gaps in the fossil record and have to come up with theories to explain the gaps. That is the purpose and use of the quote. The only thing the creationist would need to do in this case is to reframe the reference in the following manner: "Most families, orders, classes, and phyla appear rather suddenly in the fossil record, often without anatomically intermediate forms smoothly interlinking evolutionarily derived descendant taxa with their presumed ancestors." (G.G.Simpson as quoted by Eldredge, N., 1989, Macro-Evolutionary Dynamics: Species, Niches, and Adaptive Peaks, McGraw-Hill Publishing Company, New York, p. 22) TalkOrigins would do well to drop the comments entirely of Stanley Friesen, as his comments are such that makes them look suspiciously bad. He charges creationists with "misquoting a summary of an opinion to make the opinion seem the opposite of what it was". Actually, Eldredge is in agreement with Simpson, as we will show, and therefore, it is TalkOrigin's Stanley Friesen that is making the opinion seem the opposite of what it was. To leave Friesen's comments in place will only further undermine the credibility of the Quote-mining effort and show it to be more of a dishonest effort on the part of the anti-creationists. Eldredge and Gould (1972) have contended that macroevolutionary mechanisms are important and see the emergence of a new species as being associated very often with extremely rapid evolutionary development of diverse organisms. http://www.cs.virginia.edu/papers/Island_Migration.pdf Because Eldredge agrees with Simpson's observations, he tries to explain the gaps with an appeal to rapid or "punctuated equilibria". Elsewhere he has commented: No wonder paleontologists shied away from evolution for so long. It never seemed to happen. Assiduous collecting up cliff faces yields zigzags, minor oscillations, and the very occasional slight accumulation of change--over millions of years, at a rate too slow to account for all the prodigious change that has occurred in evolutionary history. When we do see the introduction of evolutionary novelty, it usually shows up with a bang, and often with no firm evidence that the fossils did not evolve elsewhere! Evolution cannot forever be going on somewhere else. Yet that's how the fossil record has struck many a forlorn paleontologist looking to learn something about evolution. a.. Eldredge, N., 1995 Reinventing Darwin Wiley, New York, p. 95 The record jumps, and all the evidence shows that the record is real: the gaps we see reflect real events in life's history -- not the artifact of a poor fossil record. a.. Eldredge, N. and Tattersall, I. (1982) The Myths of Human Evolution Columbia University Press, p. 59 The fossil record flatly fails to substantiate this expectation of finely graded change. a.. Eldredge, N. and Tattersall, I. (1982) The Myths of Human Evolution Columbia University Press, p. 163 "As we shall see when we take up the creationist position, there are all sorts of gaps: absence of graduationally intermediate 'transitional' forms between species, but also between larger groups -- between say, families of carnivores, or the orders of mammals. In fact, the higher up the Linnaean hierarchy you look, the fewer transitional forms there seem to be." (Eldredge, Niles, The Monkey Business: A Scientist Looks at Creationism, 1982, p. 65-66.) In fact, John Wilkins, above, make the observation that "The view expressed here is that of G G Simpson's argument for variable rates of evolution.". Well, that is precisely Eldredge's viewpoint too. So, Wilkins and Friesen are not on the same page. Wilkins is correct. Friesen is wrong. Friesen tries to argue that Eldredge quote of Simpson, and then attributed to Eldredge wrongly, would have Eldredge saying the "opposite" of what he was saying in the context. This is another mistake on Friesen's part, and thus invalidates his argument against creationists and turns the charge of dishonesty back on himself. So, Eldredge is quoting Simpson because he agrees with him. Eldredge does not quote Simpson out of context. They are making the same point about the gaps in the fossil record, and Eldredge is trying to come up with a reasonable (to him) explanation of why the transitions one would expect are not of the gradual kind. He is an evolutionist, and is explaining the gaps, while the creationists are simply pointing out that evolutionists are having to explain the gaps, or just to point out that there are gaps. If TalkOrigins does not correct the Mike Dunford and Stanley Friesen comments, it will only further prove that they are playing the "Amazing Quote Games". Terry W. Benton Visit: www.pinelanechurchofchrist.com Dan Billingsly vs. Terry W. Benton Exchange on the Four Gospels at: http://www.pinelanechurchofchrist.com/SiteFiles/157/Benton%20Billingsly%20Debate.doc -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20081001/ec37004d/attachment.html From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Thu Oct 2 04:42:16 2008 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Thu, 2 Oct 2008 05:42:16 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] A) LOVE AND RULES Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. A very good Thursday morn- ing to each and everyone. May God bless you and yours. Here is an article from my recent files: LOVE AND RULES Some seem to have trouble in seeing that "love" and "rules" are "not opposed" or "contradictory" to each other. I saw this statement on a "church sign" recently: "Rules cannot love you." I am not certain just what the writer of these words had in mind but it seems to reveal the idea, held by man, that "rules" and "ordinances" are some kind of a curse or at least a nuisan- ce in our world today. Yes, it is true that "rules" cannot love you. An "ordinance" cannot love you. Surely all understand this. The only reason I can see for displaying a statement like this is to "play down" the importance of "rules" or "laws." I know there is an effort being made by many religionists today to minimize the importance of "rules" and "laws" in the matter of our relationship with Christ and the salvation of our souls. Let me say again, "Yes, it is true that 'rules' cannot love you.. but parents who love their children can and do have "rules" for their children to follow. The purpose of such rules is to guide them into a good life while they are children and even on to adult- hood. This is God's requirements for parents, "Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord" (Col. 3:23). The word "obey" means, "to follow the commands or guidance of." This is the exact import of the word translated "obey" in "Col. 3:23. I believe that this is generally accepted by all concerned parents. They must give "rules" and instructions and expect their children to obey. This is done because of love for the welfare of their children. Rules do not love but parents do! And let it be noted that God has given unto us a "rule"...a "law" (See Gal. 6:2). According to Webster's dictionary, the word "law" means, "a rule of conduct or action prescribed or formally recognized as binding or enforced by a controlling aut- hority." We need to be careful lest we convey the idea that since God loves us there are no rules that we must obey. It is made very clear in the New Testament that God expects us to obey the "rules"...and "commands." In Heb. 5:8,9 the inspi- red writer said, "Though He were a Son, yet learned He obedien- ce by the things which He suffered. And being made perfect, He became the Author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him;..." Many other such passages could be cited. But we shall close with the following quotation? "Law sustains life...law keeps the universe on its course...law assures that orderly pro- cess will lead to know results...without law man, nature, life, wou- ld be in complete chaos." Let us in our life give thanks to God for His mercy, grace, love, etc., but may we also never be guilty of anything that which would seem to diminish the importance of the "rules" He has given us. May we have the attitude of David as we read in Psa. 119:97; "O how love I Thy law! It is my meditation all the day." ------------ Cecil F. Cox in Gospel Power, Vol. 15, No. 39, Sept. 28, 2008. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20081002/1082d302/attachment-0001.html From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Thu Oct 2 04:42:26 2008 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Thu, 2 Oct 2008 05:42:26 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] S) ATTITUDES (3) Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. Here is the third and final part of this particular study. Use to the glory of God. ATTITUDES (3) Again there is the tendency to lose sight of that distinctive preaching of days gone by. Not long ago I heard of the young who was very critical of the slogan: "Where the Scriptures speak we speak, and where the Scriptures are silent we are silent". He told the brethren that for disciples to make such a claim was too "boastful." Of course, if the statement is untrue it should never be used, but it occurs to me that that young preacher had been "exposed"; he had been "taken in". Evident- ly he had been more under the influence of men who thought more of the modern psychological approach to preaching and the Dale Carnegie philosophy of 'how to win friends and influen- ce people" than he had been under the influence of the apostles and the New Testament! One good sister remarked when inform- ed of the matter, "If Christians don't speak where the Bible speaks and remain silent where it is silent, God knows they ought to"! I believe her appraisal was accurate. Along with these considerations goes an appalling interest in everything except what the Bible teaches and an appalling ignorance of what it says, while many are wholly indifferent to the issues before us. Some refuse to be disturbed about any- thing but the cry of an alarmist. No danger is fraught with more devastating and catastrophic consequences, young people, than the attitude which declares there is no danger. When the possibility of colleges becoming so powerful that they control churches is mentioned, some people just snore on while others say such critics are against the colleges. When the matter of churches supporting schools, and benevolent homes, operated by human boards is introduced, most folk are indifferent and others alledge that such critics are against education and taking care of orphans and widows. Warnings against centralization of control by one church ovr a number of churches is usually rebuffed by the exclamation: "The critics are anti-missionary and don't believe in preaching the gospel in foreign lands"! This was the reactionary attitude of the digressives a century ago and that of the premillennialists within our own day. It is foolish for any man to close his eyes and ears to criticis- ms if the criticisms are made by interested brethren and men whose knowledge of the Bible warrrants their being heard. Cert- ainly I have no brief for any spirit of rancor or bitterness growing out of personal feuds and individual dislikes of brethren toward one another who find themselves on different sides of an issue. Yet I trust I have not reached the point where I question the mot- ives of all who disagree with me and completely castigate them without reasoning and condemn without considering: notwith- standing I recognize no man as infallible and no brother, regard- less of piety and learning, as final authority in religion. Such persons may be studied with profit but "to the law and to the testimony" we must appeal for the final answer. Campbell, McG- arvey, Lipscomb, Harding and other venerable scholars are to be honored, but none of them is the Christian's creed. If any proposition cannot be clearly supported by and appeal to the Scriptures, it has no place in faith and practice. If it can be supp- orted by the Scriptures an appeal to fallible men will help none whatever. The ground occupied by the faithful now has been taken from enemies of the truth at too high a battle cost for us to surre- nder it upon the altar of compromise or around a conference table whose legs are "policy" rather than principle, and whose top is "popularity with the world" rather than approval of God. I believe that there burns in the hearts of most young Christians a desire to please God even at the cost of friends and loved ones. We need to be true to ourselves but we cannot be true to self and untrue to the authority of Christ. This loyalty can come only by cultivating an attitude of loving and dutiful obedience to His commands born of respect for His Word. Without it confus- ion is our state here and condemnation in the world to come. With it, conviction and constructive living is our present state, hope our helper, and heaven will be our haven at the end of the way. ------------ James R. Cope in The Preceptor, Vol. 1, No. 8, June l952. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20081002/54b88b3b/attachment.html From jmickells at juno.com Thu Oct 2 13:34:39 2008 From: jmickells at juno.com (Jimmy R Mickells) Date: Thu, 2 Oct 2008 13:34:39 -0500 Subject: [Biblemat] WHY WE SHOULD NOT FORSAKE OUR ASSEMBLING TOGETHER? Message-ID: <20081002.133439.3532.4.jmickells@juno.com> WHY WE SHOULD NOT FORSAKE OUR ASSEMBLING TOGETHER? ?And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching? (Hebrews 10:24,25). Paul, on his journey to Jerusalem, stopped in Troas to meet with other Christians to break bread (partake of the Lord?s Supper) on the first of the week and preached until midnight (Acts 20:6,7). This same apostle, in his epistle to the church at Corinth, told them to give when they came together on the first day of the week (1 Corinthians 16:1,2). The church at Jerusalem was said to be steadfast in the apostles? doctrine and fellowship, in breaking of bread, and in prayer (Acts 2:42); they had to assemble to be able to do these things. We, like the New Testament church, come together on Sunday to worship and serve our Lord. Why should we be at every meeting of the church? Are there reasons why as a Christian, that should I be at all of these gatherings? God tells me to be present (our text). I need to be there to worship and serve Him, my Creator and Redeemer. It should be something that I look forward to with anticipation and great joy. The Psalmist said, ?I was glad when they said to me, ?Let us go into the house of the Lord? (Psalm 122:1). Then in Psalm 95:6, he wrote, ?Oh come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.? Why would I not want to be present to worship Him who made me in His image, blessed me materially, has given me every spiritual blessing in Christ Jesus, and has made provision for me to live eternally with Him in heaven? By assembling to worship it is a manifestation of my love, appreciation, and devotion to Him for all that He has done for me. Worship assemblies are a time to exhort and encourage one another as well (our text). Our singing, not only praises God, but teaches and admonishes one another (Colossians 3:16). Our prayers to God help strengthen and build us up as we seek the Lord?s help in accomplishing His will. There is the exhortation that comes from the preaching and teaching of the Bible. Just being in the presence of others who love the Lord and want to be obedient to Him is something that is very refreshing. Paul said, ?For we have great joy and consolation in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother? (Philemon 7). Some have great ability to refresh and encourage the inward man so that they might become stronger in the faith and accomplishment even greater things for our Heavenly Father. One?s absence has a tendency to discourage others. We should want to be present to uplift others so that they might be better servants of the Lord. What about my example? Is it enough to say that I love the Lord without showing it by my obedience to His will? Am I going to be successful in leading my family and friends to Christ if I?m not that committed myself? When my children reach the age that they make their own decisions, they decide to stop attending, what are you going to say to them? We are to be the salt of the earth and lights to a world that is filled with darkness (Matthew 5:13-16). How much light is one emitting to others when they miss more assemblies than they attend? We should endeavor to be the best example possible before others so that they might see Christ living in us. Why would I not want to attend knowing that it might cause others to fail in serving God? It would be wonderful indeed if every time we came together to worship the Lord that all were present! How refreshing and uplifting! Why not do your part in making this happen? Jimmy Mickells ____________________________________________________________ Click for free info on online masters degrees and make up to $150K/ year http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/fc/Ioyw6i3nNjcnF987shOlSncQMbqjIJ9qUGys6pwnXq3rZt5mx5lolG/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20081002/c0c61095/attachment.html From GLClair at aol.com Thu Oct 2 14:20:40 2008 From: GLClair at aol.com (GLClair at aol.com) Date: Thu, 2 Oct 2008 15:20:40 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] CONSIDER MAGAZINE - Email Ediotion - October 2008 Message-ID: Consider Magazine ----- Published Monthly ----- Editor & Publisher: Garreth L. Clair 2977 Carlsbad Drive Hilliard, Ohio 43026 Phone: (614) 850-7252 Email: _glclair at sbcglobal.net_ (mailto:glclair at sbcglobal.net) ============================================================================== ========== PRINTED VERSION: Volume 1 ------------------ Number 1 ---------------- October 2008 ============================================================================== ========== Premier Issue The great need to study the Bible and its value to mankind cannot be overstated. The forces of evil that influence mankind has not changed; the evil one (i.e. Satan ? cf. 1 Peter 5:8, ?Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:? (KJV) is still active and he has enlisted many disciples in this modern era to destroy the effectiveness of God?s Witten Word (i.e. the Bible). It has been my desire from the time of my first sermon more than fifty years ago to sow the good seed (i.e. the Word of God - Luke 8:11, ?Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.? (KJV) into the hearts of honest and sincere people; I have found that the effectiveness of God?s Word has fallen increasingly upon the ears of disinterested people ? people who have had their senses for good (i.e. righteous things - Luke 6:39, ?And he spake a parable unto them, Can the blind lead the blind ? shall they not both fall into the ditch?? (KJV) deadened by the advocates of evil. WE WILL DO OUR BEST TO ENCOURAGE TRUTH: With whatever time that is left in this present world I will endeavor to write via this medium so that everyone will be able to understand my intention. As my father before me often said; ?Son, if your teaching is on a level that children can understand, there is no excuse for the adults in your audience misunderstanding.?; this concept has often encouraged me to ?Keep on; keeping on.? As we enter upon this project, we will solicit your prayers, encouragement, and help. There will be much work that Barbara and I will yet be able to accomplish; this is our constant prayer. BIBLE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS #1 QUESTION SUBMITTED: The question submitted this time is a two-part question. Since it is a two-part question we will answer it as two questions. The question: {1} Can a person go to heaven without being baptized in water? {2} can water take away sins? QUESTION ANSWERED: EDITOR'S UNDERSTANDING OF THE QUESTION -- I assume that the question relates to people who have lived under the New Covenant. If that is the case then the following will shed some light on the two questions -- glc. Answer to {1}: The only answer that I can give is whatever the Word of God has to say about it. The Word of God teaches that those that: 1. Hear; Romans 10:17, "So belief (cometh) of hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ." 2. Believe; Mark 16:15-16, "And he said unto them, Go ye i nto all the world, and preach the gospel to the whole creation. -- He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that disbelieveth shall be condemned." ASV 3. Repent: Acts 2:38, "And Peter (said) unto them, Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." ASV 4. Confess; Romans 10:9-10, "because if thou shalt confess with thy mouth Jesus (as) Lord, and shalt believe in thy heart that God raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved: -- for with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." ASV 5. And are Baptized for the remission of sin; Acts 2:38, "And Peter (said) unto them, Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." Will be saved from their sin The Word of God also states in 1 Peter 3:21, "Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you -- not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience -- through the resurrection of Jesus Christ," NKJV Since the Written Word of God gives us this information about how to be saved and no other plan is suggested, we must follow these instructions about baptism in order to know surely what will be acceptable to God. I have no other reliable information on the subject. Question {2} can water take away sins? Answer: I know of no passage of Scripture that teaches that water saves a person or that water has some power to save one from sin. The Scriptures in question #1 indicate that salvation is attained whenever man obeys the instruction of the Lord, which instructions include baptism in water. The obedience to Divine instruction on the part of the sinner is what saves him, not the water. The water is the element that the action of immersion (i.e., baptism) requires according to God's Word -- cf., Mark 1:9-10; Acts 8:36-39; Rom 6:3-4; 1 Peter 3:21. If further study is required please contact us, we want to help. Thank you for the question, editor. BIBLE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS #2 QUESTION SUBMITTED: Do you really think that there is a burning hell for anyone in God's plans? QUESTION ANSWERED: The questioner apparently is not sure whether there is a hell for the wicked after this life is finished. Addressing this question is important because of the teaching of some religious people as well as the agnostic and the atheist that there is no hell for the wicked. The only way to settle any religious question is to go to the source of authority for all religions; the Word of God {i.e., the Bible} is the only reliable document for the settlement of religious disputes. To appeal to any other source is useless in the settlement of religious questions. Having established this fact, let us now examine the question at hand, The Word of God does discuss events that will take place at the final judgment of all mankind, please examine the following Scriptural references: -- John 5:28-30 28 Marvel not at this: for the hour cometh, in which all that are in the tombs shall hear his voice, 29 and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of judgment. 30 I can of myself do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is righteous; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. ASV Acts 24:25 "And as he reasoned of righteousness, and self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was terrified, and answered, Go thy way for this time; and when I have a convenient season, I will call thee unto me." ASV Heb 10:26-27 26 For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and a fierceness of fire which shall devour the adversary 2 Peter 3:7 "But the heavens that now are, and the earth, by the same word have been stored up for fire, being reserved against the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men." ASV Rev 20:12-15 12 And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne; and books were opened: and another book was opened, which is (the book) of life: and the dead were judged out of the things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13 and the sea gave up the dead that were in it; and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14 and death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death, (even) the lake of fire. 15 And if any was not found written in the book of life, he was cast into the lake of fire. ASV Thank you for your question, I hope that we were helpful -- editor. BIBLE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS #3 QUESTION SUBMITTED: I notice that the church of Christ people take the Lord's Supper each first day (SUNDAY) of the week. Why do you do that when other churches take it once or twice a year? ANSWER TO QUESTION: Answer by the editor: Many people do take the Lord's Supper at different times during the month or the year and we are aware of that. Yet we do not follow the philosophy of other religions, we follow the teaching of the Bible with regard to the Lord's Supper as well as other activities that we engage in. We are always concerned about the instructions of the Lord with regard to any activity that we involve ourselves in as a church and even as individual Christian when we are not assembled together. The matter of our electing to meet each first day of the week and take the Lord's Supper at that time is not due to custom or tradition. Rather we partake of the Lord's Supper each first day of the week because: 1. The disciples of the Lord took of the Lord's Supper on the first day of each week according to Acts 20:6-7, 6 And we sailed away from Philippi after the days of unleavened bread, and came unto them to Troas in five days, where we tarried seven days. 7 And upon the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul discoursed with them, intending to depart on the morrow; and prolonged his speech until midnight. ASV EDITOR'S COMMENTS ON THE TEXT: Since the apostle Paul approved of the first day of the week (i.e., SUNDAY) by his participation in the service, it is apparent that the day for observing the Lord's Supper is the first day of the week. From this action by Paul we have an APOSTOLIC EXAMPLE THAT ESTABLISHES THAT DAY AS THE SACIPTURAL TIME FOR THE SUPPER. Further, since the first day of the week comes about each week we observe the Lord's Supper each one of them in order to remain consistent with the approved example set by Paul. To further establish this as an acceptable procedure for establishing Biblical authority we refer the reader to the nature of the Jewish understanding of keeping the Sabbath day each week under the Law of Moses. There is no statement to the Jews that reads, "KEEP ALL OF THE SABBATHS", the only instruction they had was "Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy" (i.e. one of the Ten Commandments -- Exodus 20:8). Yet, even though they had no direct command to keep it each week they understood the command, so should we -- don't you think? We appreciate your questions. If you have a Bible question let us know. EDITOR?S NOTE: Hope to keep you reading as we explore questions and answers along with other important matters pertaining to Biblical understanding. We can all learn something else if we will determine to do so ? _glclair at sbcglobal.net_ (mailto:glclair at sbcglobal.net) See the website at considermagazine.com Email us at _glclair at sbcglobal.net_ (mailto:glclair at sbcglobal.net) Email us at _glclair at aol.com_ (mailto:glclair at aol.com) SEE YOU NEXT MONTH LORD WILLING **************Looking for simple solutions to your real-life financial challenges? Check out WalletPop for the latest news and information, tips and calculators. (http://www.walletpop.com/?NCID=emlcntuswall00000001) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20081002/2a2f4bc1/attachment-0001.html From asrs815 at aol.com Thu Oct 2 15:39:00 2008 From: asrs815 at aol.com (asrs815 at aol.com) Date: Thu, 02 Oct 2008 16:39:00 -0400 Subject: [Biblemat] Thank you (sermon attached) Message-ID: <8CAF2E608AD9118-15B0-1C6E@FWM-M36.sysops.aol.com> Brethren: I appreciate your suggestions on the subject of ghosts.? I plan on preaching this sermon either this Sunday or next Sunday.? I have?attached the sermon in case anyone is interested in how I decided to deal with the subject.? Thanks again. ? Brotherly, ? Ronald Stringer -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20081002/893edc60/attachment-0001.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: Ghosts.doc Type: application/msword Size: 52224 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20081002/893edc60/attachment-0001.doc From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Fri Oct 3 03:28:25 2008 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Fri, 3 Oct 2008 04:28:25 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] A) IF YOU ARE A CHRISTIAN Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. A very good Friday morning to each and everyone of you. May God bless you and yours. Here is an article from my recent files: IF YOU ARE A CHRISTIAN Do you have any idea how very blessed you are if you're a Christian? If you are a Christian, it means that you've been forgiven of your past sins. "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved" (Mk. 16:16), says that you are saved -- forgiven. Think about tht. "Their sins and iniquities will I remember against them no more" (Heb. 8:12). That means that when you complied with the conditions for salvation, every blight on your character, every mark on your soul, and everything you ever did that was wrong, is washed away in the blood of the Lamb. It's as if all those bad thoughts, all those bad words, all those bad things you did never did exist. That's wonderful! And hard to realize. When God forgives, He forgets. If you are a Christian, it means that you are in fellowship with God. "If we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellow- ship with one another." (1 Jno. 1:7). Having contact with men of repute is a great honor. If you know some famous person, I will be impressed. But what about someone who knows God? Now, that's really special. "Hereby do we know that we know Him if we keep His commandments" (1 Jno. 2:3). The Christian has a special relationship with God, the Father. He knows them that are His, and He is known of them. That, dear friends, is a blessed thought, one worthy of consistent and thankful consid- eration. True, it might be special to know some special person, but to know God is to know the Creator of the universe. How about that? If you are a Christian, it means you have special assurances. You are assured that He hears when you pray (1 Jno. 5:14,15). You are assured that He will provide a way of escape for every temptation with which you have to wrestle (1 Cor. 10:12,13). You are assured that He will ever be nearby when you need Him (Heb. 13:5). You are assured that He will walk with you when it is time for you to leave this world (Psa. 23:4). And these are only a few of our blessed assurances. Truly the Christian has so much for which to be thankful. If you are a Christian, it means you have a hope to which to cling, no matter what life brings. "If in this life only we have hope in Christ Jesus, we re of all men most miserable" (1 Cor. 15:19). This life has little to offer regarding hope; but the Christ- ian has a higher hope, "An anchor for the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that withing the veil..." (Heb. 6:19). That hope is "a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead," and it pertains to "an inheritance incorrup- tible and undefiled, reserved in heaven for you..." (1 Pet. 1:3,4). The Christian's hope is his vital and unending connection to eternity. It sustains him in all matters and keeps him on course at all times. Oh, blessed thought! And finally, if you're a Christian, it means that you're on your way to heaven. That means, just as the song says, "this world is not my home, I'm just a passing through." The Christian is a so- journer, a pilgrim. He is just living her while he prepares to go to his real place of abode. He works here, he pays his taxes, but he look heavenward, to his real home. "Dearly beloved, I besee- ch you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul" (1 Pet. 2:9) is a warning against allowing the world of the flesh to dominate the real purpose for our existence -- heaven. Heaven is our home, our eternal home. The local church is our home away from home, as close as we'll get on time's side of eternity. We're on our way, folks; let's not forget "the way, the truth, and the life" (Jno. 14:6), for without Him we are lost and connot get home. Are you a Christian? If you're a Christian all these things -- and a hundred more -- are yours. Stop and think about that. Thank God for the fact of it. By no means, let it slip away or be eroded by inactivity. Enjoy it. Live it. Love it. You are a Christ- ian. -------- "Seek ye first the kingdom..." ---- via Gospel Power, Vol. 15, No. 39, Sept. 28, 2008. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20081003/a622c9ca/attachment-0001.html From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Fri Oct 3 03:29:11 2008 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Fri, 3 Oct 2008 04:29:11 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] S) "YES, IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE!" Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. Here is a study from my rec- ent files. Use to the glory of God. "YES, IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE!" A recent letter declares, "It doesn't matter what faith you choose, if you are honest and sincere, God will save you." This reflects the teaching that is rather prevalent in the religious world. It is based on the mistaken "belief" that saving faith is subjective, rather than objective. Subjective faith is that which is entirely within the mind of a man. But objective faith is that which comes into the mind of a man from an outside source. If we are to believe in God, we must have some revelation to cause us to believe. Look at what the Scriptures say, "And with- out faith it is impossible to be well-pleasing unto Him; for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that seek after Him" (Heb. 11:6). So, is that subjective faith, or objective faith? Look at verse 3 of that chapter: "By faith we understand that the worlds have been framed by the Word of God, so that what is seen hath not been made out of things which appear." But how and why do we believe that? Be- cause it is revealed to us in the Word of God: "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth" (Gen. 1:1). And again, "By the Word of Jehovah were the heavens made, And all the host of them by the breath of His mouth...For He spake, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast" (Psa. 33:6,9). Our faith in God must be based on what He tells us in His inspired Word. And that, my friend, is OBJECTIVE faith. The idea that it doesn't matter what your faith is, that you can select your beliefs from a variety of offerings, is just not true. The Bible says, "Beloved, while I was giving all diligence to write unto you of our common salvation, I was constrained to write unto you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered unto the saints" (Jude 3). Now, notice carefully two things in that passage. First, we have a "common salvation." That simply means that the way one person is saved all people are saved. No choice, but all are saved in the same way. Second, this faith was "once for all delivered to the saints." That means it came from God, not from our own mind or will. The message tht God gives to one person, He gives to all. Now, with that as the beginning point, let us ask, with regard to various spiritual subjects, "Does ti really make a difference?" IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE WHOM YOU BELIEVE: -- Our forefath- ers who settled this land had a noble concept of right living, and had a motto inscribed on the coin of the realm: "In God We Trust." They thought it made a difference. That Savior, Jesus Christ, commanded His followers, "Have faith in God" (Mk. 11: 22). It made a difference with Jesus Christ in whom we believe. And notice Heb. 11:6 again, "He that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that seek after Him." There are two parts to tht faith, 1) Believe in the exist- ence of God: "God is." And 2) Believe that God rewards "them that seek after Him." In other words, He rewards obedience to His Will (See Heb. 11:4,5,7,8, etc.). But we must also believe in Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God. God said of Him, "This is My beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased, here ye Him" (Matt. 17:5). And Jesus said to the Jews of His day, "I am He that beareth witness of Myself, and the Father that sent Me beareth witness of Me. They said there- fore unto Him, Where is Thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye know neither Me, nor My Father; if ye knew Me, ye would know My Father" (Jno. 8:18,19). He continued, "I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for except ye believe that I am He, ye shall die in your sins" (Jno. 8:24). And the Lord spelled out the kind of faith we must have: "He that believeth on the Son hath eternal life; but he that obeyeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him" (Jno. 3:36). Yes, it makes a difference in whom you believe. IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE WHAT YOU HEAR: -- Jesus warned, "Take heed what you hear" (Mk. 4:24). And again, "Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the Word of God, and keep it" (Lk. 11: 28). Yes, it makes a difference what you hear. For "Faith cometh of hearing, and hearing by the Word of Christ" (Rom. 10:17). One cannot be taught wrong and then believe right. If we are to have an acceptable faith, it must be because we have learned by the Word of God and Christ. It makes a difference whether we hear the word of Moses or of Christ. This was settled on the Mount of Transfiguration, when Jesus was transfigured in the presence of Peter, James and John who saw Him speaking with Moses and Elijah. But when Peter suggested building three tabernacles, "One for Jesus, one for Moses and one for Elijah," God spoke to them of Jesus, saying, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleas- ed. Hear ye Him" (Matt. 17:4,5). That settled it. God speaks to us today "through His Son" (Heb. 1:2). It makes a difference what you believe in religious matters. Jesus said, "Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free" (Jno. 8:32). Only hearing, learning and believing and obeying the truth can bring you freedom from the bondage of sin. As the apostle Paul wrote to some: "Because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God sendeth them a working of error, that they should be- lieve a lie: that they all might be judged who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness" (2 Thes. 2:10-12). To believe the wrong thing will not bring the blessings of God. (More will be posted on this subject tomorrow, the Lord willing, JWS). -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20081003/58b8852f/attachment-0001.html From tedwards at onemain.com Fri Oct 3 12:07:48 2008 From: tedwards at onemain.com (tedwards at onemain.com) Date: Fri, 03 Oct 2008 12:07:48 -0500 Subject: [Biblemat] B> Gospel Observer 9/21/08 Message-ID: <48E60B14.15348.409C19@localhost> ____________________________________________________ THE GOSPEL OBSERVER ____________________________________________________ "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations...teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:19,20). ____________________________________________________ September 21, 2008 ____________________________________________________ Contents: 1) A Tower to Touch the Sky (Trevor Bowen) 2) A Tough Act to Follow: Elymas the Magician: "Now he sees you, now he doesn't" Acts 13:6-13 (Jon W. Quinn) ____________________________________________________ -1- A Tower to Touch the Sky by Trevor Bowen In our present age, unity seems a laughable goal to the cynical. Admittedly, division seems to surround us, both in our immediate circle of fellowship, but especially in the broader circle of all who take up Christ's name. Passages that warn of division, even its necessity, quickly stamp out any dreams of long-term unity among all, who call themselves Christians (I John 2:18-19; Romans 16:17-18). But, does this mean that God has asked something of us, which cannot be achieved (Ephesians 4:1-6; Matthew 19:26)? The Basis of Unity Unity can be extremely powerful, but its goal is crucial to the success of a united effort. If we unite in error, then the failure of our striving is certain. This principle can be seen in the results of the construction of the Tower of Babel, which occurred near the dawn of civilization: "Now the whole earth had one language and one speech. ... And they said, 'Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top is in the heavens; let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth.' "But the LORD came down to see the city and the tower which the sons of men had built. And the LORD said, 'Indeed the people are one and they all have one language, and this is what they begin to do; now nothing that they propose to do will be withheld from them'" (Genesis 11:1-6). Please note that the purpose of this tower was two-fold: It was built to make a name for themselves, for their own glory, and it was built to avoid being scattered over the earth. God had previously commanded this people to spread, multiply, and "fill the earth" (Genesis 9:1). Their intentions were to disobey a direct command. Moreover, their attitudes were in direct conflict with the humble spirit, which seeks God's glory, not its own (I Peter 5:5-6). Consequently, God frustrated their efforts and fulfilled His own purpose by confusing their languages. The lesson is that if we seek to unite ourselves under a banner that is contrary to God's will, we should not expect God's approval; moreover, we should expect Him to move against us. One Language, One Mind Another powerful point that we can glean from this Old Testament passage is that a common language is also essential to the success of a united effort. Once their languages were confused, the people quickly disbanded and scattered themselves. But, while they had one language and one mind, nothing would be withheld from them. In the New Testament, Paul notes this same principle: "Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. "... Now I say this, that each of you says, 'I am of Paul,' or 'I am of Apollos,' or 'I am of Cephas,' or 'I am of Christ.' Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?" (I Corinthians 1:10-13) As having one mind and language empowered the children of Babel, not having one mind and being divided crippled the Corinthian church. The Corinthian church had divided into groups, which were named after men and built upon men. Paul points out two fundamental flaws in their "denominations." First, Christ is not divided against Himself, so why should His body be (Luke 11:17-18; Ephesians 1:22-23)? Second, the leader of a group must be able to save the group. If the men these groups followed were not their savior, and if they were not baptized in their name, then why were they dividing and wearing these men's names instead of the One in whose name alone is salvation (Acts 4:10-12)? If it was unacceptable and erroneous for the Corinthian church to be divided, wearing the names of men and following men, then will we be found acceptable before God if we divide into similar denominations today? The Potential of Unity Finally, this passage from Genesis offers divine commentary on the potential of a united human effort. Regarding their effort, God said, "Indeed the people are one and they all have one language, and this is what they begin to do; now nothing that they propose to do will be withheld from them." If we seek the same unity as the children of Babel, but we seek God's will and His glory, then what will be the limit of our achievements? God said even the sky would not be a limit. -- from the Cedar Park church of Christ, 2003 ____________________________________________________ -2- A Tough Act to Follow Elymas the magician: "Now he sees you, now he doesn't" Acts 13:6-13 by Jon W. Quinn There follows a text of Scripture which records some events of the first missionary journey into Asia Minor undertaken by Paul and Barnabas with John Mark. There are several statements that sum up the event very well: 1. Elymas was "a magician, a Jewish false prophet." 2. The "proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of intelligence... summoned Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God." 3. Elymas the magician sought "to turn the proconsul away from the faith." 4. Elymas was not successful, and the proconsul believed. Consider now the passage: "When they had gone through the whole island as far as Paphos, they found a magician, a Jewish false prophet whose name was Bar-Jesus, who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of intelligence. This man summoned Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God. "But Elymas the magician (for so his name is translated) was opposing them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. But Saul, who was also known as Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, fixed his gaze on him, and said, 'You who are full of all deceit and fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease to make crooked the straight ways of the Lord? Now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you will be blind and not see the sun for a time.' And immediately a mist and a darkness fell upon him, and he went about seeking those who would lead him by the hand. Then the proconsul believed when he saw what had happened, being amazed at the teaching of the Lord. Now Paul and his companions put out to sea from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia; but John left them and returned to Jerusalem" (Acts 13:6-13). Elymas -- The Crooked Path Paul rebuked Elymas for his sinfulness. By the power of God, Elymas was struck with temporary blindness. This is the only recorded miracle wrought by an apostle to the injury of a person (and even this was not a permanent loss -- and certainly did more good than harm). Paul summed up the spiritual state of Elymas accurately. He said that the magician and false prophet was: 1. Full of "all deceit and fraud" 2. A "son of the devil" 3. An "enemy of righteousness" 4. He makes "crooked the straight path of the Lord" Being Like Elymas I would hope that few would want to be like Elymas. But to oppose the things taught by Paul and teach something different is to "make crooked the ways of the Lord." This is because Jesus chose Paul to teach the truth, and gave Paul the message of truth which he was to teach by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and Paul taught the message that Jesus gave Him by the Spirit, the "Spirit of truth." Paul wrote, "For I would have you know, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ" (Galatians 1:11,12; see also Luke 10:16; John 14:16-17,26; 16:13-14; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 4:1-8; 2 Peter 3:2; 1 John 4:6). As you see by these references, this principle of apostolic authority is stressed repeatedly. Yet some today think Paul missed the boat on some of his teachings; that his teaching was influenced by culture. While his teaching reflected the culture in which he lived (i.e. when with idolaters, he would teach about idolatry versus serving the living God), the teaching itself is from God and to reject it is to reject the Lord Himself! When today some change the teaching of Paul concerning the role of women in the church, or homosexuality, they are, in fact, doing what Elymas did. To do so is to "make crooked the straight path of the Lord." Some seek to turn others from the faith, just like Elymas did. Perhaps not all are as dishonest as Elymas was, but such activity made Elymas "a child of the devil" and "an enemy of righteousness." Sometimes deceit is used. Sometimes persecution. Sometimes encouragement to do evil. Either way, the goal is to destroy the faith of those who have believed or to keep those who might believe from doing so. The Scriptures warn: "See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ. For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority..." (Colossians 2:8-10; see also 1:21-23). Sergius Paulus -- "Amazed at the Teaching of the Lord" Sergius Paulus, a Roman proconsul of Cyprus at Paphos, was a man of understanding. He wanted to examine the things taught by early Christians about Jesus, and so he summoned Barnabas and Saul (it is at this point that Saul began using his Roman name "Paul" since his ministry would primarily have to do with reaching out to the Gentiles, of which Sergius Paulus was one -- note verses 2 and 9). Also, it is here that Paul is recognized as the leader of his company. When this event begins, it is "Barnabas and Saul" (vs. 7) but by the time they leave Paphos it is "Paul and his companions" (vs. 13). The miracle assured the proconsul that the word Paul and Barnabas taught was being delivered to the world from God through them; "...how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? After it was at the first spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard, God also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will" (Hebrews 2:3,4; see also Jude 3). Sergius Paulus was "amazed at the teaching of the Lord." Grace is amazing. By grace we are permitted to extend the same gospel to the world today that Barnabas and Saul taught, that Elymas opposed, and that Sergius Paulus believed. It is truly a great salvation which we have in Jesus! -- Via Expository Files 15.5; May 2008 ____________________________________________________ MYRTLE STREET CHURCH OF CHRIST 201 Rushing Road (at the Hampton Inn) Denham Springs, Louisiana 70726 (Though previously at 1022 Myrtle Street, we are now meeting at the Hampton Inn, due to Hurricane Gustav's damage to our building. We began meeting there September 14, and will continue to do so for, at least, 6 months.) Our Sunday services are at... 9:15 AM (Bible Class) 10:00 AM (worship) 4:00 PM (worship) Directions: If coming on I-12, take the Denham Springs exit (exit 10) and head north at the end of the exit ramp, which will put you on Range Avenue. Then go about a stone's throw to Rushing Road. (You'll see a Starbucks, Circle K, a Shell station, and a Chevron station on the corners of that intersection.) Turn left (west) on Rushing Road. Then go slightly less than 0.3 of a mile. Hampton Inn will be on the right. We are assembling in its meeting room. Please feel free to come and be with us. We would be glad to have you. evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (225) 667-4520 e-mail: tedwards at onemain.com web site: http://home.onemain.com/~tedwards/go __________________________________________________ From disciple_of_iesus at hotmail.com Fri Oct 3 19:46:44 2008 From: disciple_of_iesus at hotmail.com (Ethan R. Longhenry) Date: Fri, 3 Oct 2008 20:46:44 -0400 Subject: [Biblemat] Renewed in Spirit / New Material Available! Message-ID: Greetings, everyone! We hope that you are well. As we begin our third year, we pray that we are still an encouragement to you in your walk with God. We are pleased to announce that new material is available at Renewed in Spirit. Please visit the website, register or login, and join the discussion! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Editorial God's Kingdom Endures Ethan R. Longhenry Those of us who live in the United States of America find ourselves in another election year. Significant problems also exist with our current economy, and there are many people who are quite nervous, anxious, and scared about the political and economic future of the country. These impulses are entirely understandable. But we who are Christians are called to a higher path (cf. Colossians 3:1-2). Please click here to read more and discuss! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Editorial False Versus Real Humility Nathan Ward "For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: 'I dwell in the high and holy place with him who has a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble and to revive the heart of the contrite ones'" (Isaiah 57:15). Please click here to read more and discuss! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Editorial Intolerant & Insubordinate Brent Moody It is politically correct today for people to believe that all value systems, religions, and cultures are equal. These concepts are subtly, and at times brazenly, making their way into school systems and work places. Multiculturalism and religious equivalence are terms often used to explain this movement. The tolerance movement, which began long ago, is the undeniable impetus behind the equivalence lie. Please click here to read more and discuss! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Right Kind of Regret Jeff Himmel When asked to define repentance, people usually answer, "being sorry for having done something wrong." Actually, the meaning of the word in the Bible includes both the acknowledgment of wrongdoing and a change of heart and conduct. Paul tells us that, instead of being mere sorrow over sin, repentance results from sorrow over sin: and only the right kind of sorrow, at that. Let us explore what this means. Please click here to read more and discuss! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I Approve This Message Jarred Currence If you have seen any television commercials recently, there is little doubt that you have heard the phrase, "I approve this message." The politicians running for various offices have latched onto these words as a tagline for what they say to the public. The message conveyed is simple: that person wants you, as a registered voter, to associate them with the ideals and policies put forth by the preceding commercial. They want to be known as standing on those particular issues in that particular fashion. Please click here to read more and discuss! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Guest Article Sex in the New Testament Darrel Berry I would like to open up a discussion about a subject that is talked about throughout the Bible but is rarely discussed in the church. That subject is sex. Please click here to read more and discuss! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For the ladies... Editorial Review: Love & Respect Book and DVDs Sarah L. Longhenry In recent months my husband and I have had the chance to work through the Love & Respect materials put out by Evangelical Dr. Emerson Eggerichs. Dr. Eggerichs' main supposition in his marriage materials that make them unique for the genre is that while men have been told to love their wives for the entire time marriage counseling has existed, women have never been admonished to heed the other portion of Ephesians 5:22, the portion, in fact, that is addressed to them in the first place: "...and let the wife see that she respects her husband" (ESV). Please click here to read more and discuss! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Proverbs 31: An Analysis of the Virtuous Wife, Part 19 Brooke Williams Her children rise up, and call her blessed; Her husband also, and he praiseth her, saying: "many daughters have done worthily, But thou excellest them all" (Proverbs 31:28-29). Today we get two for the price of one. I cannot stand to leave off in the middle of a sentence, so these two verses will have to share the spotlight. Please click here to read more and discuss! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Renewed in Spirit, for the time being, will be distributed quarterly according to the standard quarters of the calendar year. We again thank you for your interest and participation, and we hope to continue to strengthen you in your walk with God. Thanks! ELDV Ethan R. Longhenry / editor at renewedinspirit.org Editor, Renewed in Spirit an interactive online spiritual publication -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20081003/917e35df/attachment-0001.html From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Sat Oct 4 05:19:54 2008 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Sat, 4 Oct 2008 06:19:54 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] A) GOD HAS SPOKEN Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. A very good Saturday morn- ing to each and everyone. May God bless you and yours. Here is an article from my recent files: GOD HAS SPOKEN There was no guile in Jesus of Nazareth. He did no sin. He taught people truth even when it was not the popular thing to do, because His teaching condemned sinfulness, whether it was committed through fleshly lusts or through religious hypocrisy and self-exaltation. His worst enemies were the religious elite ones of His nation, Israel. They were so infuriated by His conde- mnation of their errors and His claim to Deity that they sought to kill Him by the hands of lawless men (Acts 2:22,23). Jesus has charged His followers to lay aside all malice, all guile, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking (1 Pet. 2:1). Christ- ians must not handle the Word of God deceitfully (2 Cor. 4:2). Instead, all who would please Him and be accepted by Him must handle aright the Word of Truth (2 Tim. 2:15), not going beyond His authorization (2 Jno. 9). How can one be a FOLLOWER of Christ when he is NOT FOLLOWING the DOCTRINE of Christ, but is teaching for doctrine the commandments and philosophi- es of men? The covenant under which we are responsible to live today was not given by Moses, but by Jesus Christ. We cannot estab- lish our authorization of worship by the Law of Moses or the practices that were authorized under that Law. Neither is there continuous revelation adding to the Gospel of Christ all of the innovations of religions of our day. THE FAITH is complete (2 Tim. 3:16,17; Jude 3; 2 Pet. 1:3). Most departures from the faith, quite subtle in their beginning, are based upon a denial of the completeness of the Scriptures. Though seemingly harmless, each new error breaks out in time into the full bloom of apostasy (Matt. 7:15; 2 Pet. 2:1-3; 1 Jno. 4:1). God's faithful ones must not fail to speak truth boldly and plainly, however much opposition their teaching arouses. "Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life..." (1 Tim. 6:12). ------------- Gilbert Alexander. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20081004/bc3ff456/attachment-0001.html From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Sat Oct 4 05:20:07 2008 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Sat, 4 Oct 2008 06:20:07 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] S) "YES, IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE" (2) Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. Here is the second part of this particular study. Use to the glory of God. "YES, IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE" (2) IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE WHAT YOU OBEY: -- In seeking salva- tion, it makes a difference what you do. If you do not obey the gospel of Christ, you cannot be made free from sin. "To you that are afflicted rest with us, at the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven with the angels of His power in flaming fire, render- ing vengeance to them that know not God, and to them that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus" (2 Thes. 1:7,8). The Christians at Rome became free from sin when they "obeyed from the heart that form of teaching which was delivered" (Rom. 6:17). It is not enough to say we believe, we must show our faith by our actions, we must obey the Lord Jesus. As the apostle Peter wrote: "Seeing ye have purified your souls in your obedience to the truth" (1 Pet. 1:22). And so that none could quibble about what "truth" he was talking about, he added, "And this is the Word of the Gospel which was preached to you" (vs. 25). If we don't obey Christ, then He is not our Savior, for He is "the Author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him" (Heb. 5: 9). Jesus Christ is the Savior only of the obedient. IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE WHETHER YOU REPENT: -- Jesus said, "Except ye repent, ye shall all in like manner perish" (Lk. 13:3). In sending out the apostles to preach His gospel. He told them that, "Repentance and remission of sins should be preach- ed in His name unto all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem" (Lk. 24:47). In preaching Christ to the Jews in Jerusalem, Peter told them, "Repent ye therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, that so there may come seasons of refresh- ing from the presence of the Lord" (Acts 3:19). To repent means to change one's mind, to determine to live differently. The apostle Paul explained that "Godly sorrow work- eth repentance unto salvation" (2 Cor. 7:10). And when he was in Athens, preaching Christ to unbelieving Gentiles, Paul referr- ed to their idolatry, and then said, "The times of ignorance there- fore God overlooked; but now He commandeth men that they should all everywhere repent" (Acts 17:30). God patiently waits for sinners to repent, because He wants to save them, "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness; but is longsuffering to you-ward, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance" (2 Pet. 3:9). Yes, it makes a difference whether or not you repent. IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE ABOUT BAPTISM: -- It makes a differ- ence whether or not one is baptized into Christ for remission of sins. Jesus said, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be sav- ed" (Mk. 16:16). As noted before, it makes a difference what and whom you believe. Now, do you believe the Lord? If so, then baptism makes a difference. In the first preaching of the gospel after the death of Jesus, Peter told inquiring folk, "Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins" (Acts 2:38). Those people were "pricked in their heart" (vs. 37), and it is evident tht they believed that baptism made a difference, for, "They then that received his word were baptized" (Acts 2:41). The Bible says, "And Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and proclaimed unto them the Christ...But when they believed Philip preaching good tidings concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women" (Acts 8:5,12). Those folk certainly understood that baptism made a difference. When the Lord sent Ananias to Saul of Tarsus to tell him what to do, it was: "Arise, and be bapt- ized, and wash away thy sins, calling on His name" (Acts 22:16). This Saul, now the apostle Paul, then wrote of baptism: "Are ye ignorant that all we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? We were buried therefore with Him through baptism unto death: that like as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life" (Rom. 6:3,4). There is no other way to enter into Christ than by baptism. And please note that baptism is a burial (Col. 2:12). If you have only been sprinkled, then you have not been baptized at all. The very word baptism means "immersion." Yes, immersion "into Christ" makes a difference. As Paul wrote, it makes one a child of God: "For ye are all sons of God, through faith, in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ did put on Christ" (Gal. 3:26,27). IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE WHICH CHURCH WE BELONG TO: -- It makes a difference in which church you are. I know that denominational preachers will cry out, "Join the church of your choice." But, friend, that is not what the Bible says. Jesus prom- ised to build only one church (Matt. 16:18). He purchased only one church with His blood (Acts 20:28). When people are saved, the Lord adds them to His church (Acts 2:47). And that church is the body of Christ and the bride of Christ (Eph. 1:22,23; 5:22-33). Now, in view of all that, do you think it makes a difference to which church you belong?! Yes, there are other churches out there, but they are man-made. The psalmist wrote, "Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain who built it" (Psa. 127:1). And Jesus said, "Every plant which My heavenly Father planted not, shall be root- ed up" (Matt. 15:13). Jesus prayed against every church which men have devised and established (Jno. 17:20,21). And the Lord very strongly condemned the whole idea of the various denominations that exist today (1 Cor. 1:10-13). Yes, it makes a differene whom and what you believe. It makes a difference whether or not you obey God and Christ. It makes a difference, too, whether or not you repent of your sins. It makes a difference whether or not you are baptized, by a burial in water, for the remission of your sins. And it makes a difference in what church you work, worship and labor for the Lord. ------------- Clem Thurman, in Gospel Minutes, Vol. 57, No. 37, Sept. 12, 2008. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20081004/b2d7cb64/attachment-0001.html From disciple_of_iesus at hotmail.com Sat Oct 4 13:06:09 2008 From: disciple_of_iesus at hotmail.com (Ethan R. Longhenry) Date: Sat, 4 Oct 2008 14:06:09 -0400 Subject: [Biblemat] Good News for Norwalk: Volume III, Number 40: October 05, 2008 Message-ID: Good News for Norwalk For I am not ashamed of the good news, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes. (Romans 1:16) A publication of the church of Christ in Norwalk, Ohio Volume III, Number 40: October 05, 2008 ------------------------------------------------------ 1 John 1:5-7: Walking in the Light And this is the message which we have heard from him and announce unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him and walk in the darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: but if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanseth us from all sin (1 John 1:5-7). Having established the authenticity and origin of his message, John moves on to provide the message itself. That message is that God is light, and in Him there is no darkness (1 John 1:5). The imagery of light and darkness represents one of John's favorites, and he uses it often. The Word is described as the "light of men" in John 1:4, and John makes strong parallels between light and life-- after all, life on earth exists because of the heat given off by the light of the sun. Yet John is not concerned about the sun, trees, or plants. God is the light because God represents all that is life-giving, good, and holy. Sin and the world are darkness because they represent all that is life-draining, wrong, and perverted (John 1:5; 10, 1 John 2:15-17). Life and holiness come from being in the light; sin and death come from reveling in the darkness. John's message, therefore, is an exhortation to righteousness and a rebuke of sin. This is made evident in the discussion present in verses 6-10, all of which comment on verse 5. John then sets up an appropriate contrast in verses 6 and 7. If we profess to walk in the light (be Christians) and yet walk in the darkness (live sinful lives), we are liars, and "do not" the truth (1 John 1:6). James makes a similar point in James 1:22-25, contrasting those who hear and do the Word and those who merely hear it; how many end up being liars to themselves and others by professing religion without really being obedient to Jesus Christ! Truth is not merely some self-evident axiom, or some mental concept worthy of assent. When Jesus asserts that He "is" the Truth (John 14:6), He indicates that truth is not just a set of beliefs, but the actions that correspond to those beliefs. The truth is something to be believed and lived out. Both John and James make it clear that being a Christian is much more than what one says-- in the end, what one believes is only demonstrated through what one does. In contrast, if we walk in the light (be Christians) as God is in the light, we have fellowship with each other, and we have cleansing from sin in Jesus' blood (1 John 1:7). John makes heavy use of the present tense in this discussion, indicating the continuous nature of our faith. We must continually walk in the light to have continual cleansing from sin. Furthermore, John identifies the nature of the association that exists among Christians: it is based in a joint walk in the light. Christians do not have association with one another merely because they like each other or just so happened to walk into the same church building; their association is based on each person's realization that Christ is the way to salvation and by finding each other on that road (cf. John 14:6). This is why Christians cannot have association with a wayward brother or sister (cf. 1 Corinthians 5): they are no longer on the same road. The basis of their association is removed! God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. We would do well to heed the words of John, and walk in the light! Ethan R. Longhenry evangelist at norwalkchurch.org ------------------------------------------------------ The Light In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in the darkness; and the darkness apprehended it not...[John] came for witness, that he might bear witness of the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came that he might bear witness of the light. There was the true light, even the light which lighteth every man, coming into the world (John 1:4-5; 7-9). And this is the judgment, that the light is come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light; for their works were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, and cometh not to the light, lest his works should be reproved. But he that doeth the truth cometh to the light, that his works may be made manifest, that they have been wrought in God (John 3:19-21). For ye were once darkness, but are now light in the Lord: walk as children of light (for the fruit of the light is in all goodness and righteousness and truth), proving what is well-pleasing unto the Lord; and have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather even reprove them; for the things which are done by them in secret it is a shame even to speak of (Ephesians 5:8-12). ------------------------------------------------------ The church of Christ in Norwalk, Ohio Thank you for reading the electronic version of our bulletin, Good News for Norwalk. If you live in Norwalk or happen to be traveling in the Norwalk area, we would certainly love to have you visit one of our assemblies! Our location: 386 North Edgewood Drive (just off US 250 just north of Norwalk's city limits) Norwalk, Ohio 44857 Our assemblies: Sunday morning assembly: 10:30am Sunday evening assembly: 6:00pm Our Bible studies: Sunday morning Bible study: 9:30am Wednesday evening Bible study: 7:00pm ------------------------------------------------------ For More Information If you have any questions or comments about anything you have read here, or desire more information, please contact our evangelist, Ethan Longhenry, at evangelist at norwalkchurch.org. Good News for Norwalk is a publication of the church of Christ in Norwalk, Ohio, for the promotion of God's truth in our world. For more information about the church of Christ in Norwalk, please visit our website at norwalkchurch.org. If you have any questions about your subscription, or desire to cancel your subscription, please e-mail gnfn at norwalkchurch.org. Thank you for your interest, and have a nice day! From crxtra at gmail.com Sat Oct 4 18:09:51 2008 From: crxtra at gmail.com (Steven C. Harper) Date: Sat, 4 Oct 2008 16:09:51 -0700 Subject: [Biblemat] A> Facing Accusations Message-ID: <000001c92676$4f806220$ee812660$@com> From: TRUTH & REASON, a bulletin of the Glendale church of Christ, Glendale, AZ. Editor: Steven Harper October 5, 2008 Facing Accusations When striving to live a godly life, the disciple of Jesus Christ will likely face some sort of accusation of wrongdoing by those who walk in the ways of the world. To one who lives an ungodly life, there is often no stronger condemnation of his life than seeing one who lives godly; knowing that it is possible defeats his excuse for not obeying and he will try to bring down the godly with the false hope that it will somehow make him look better. With this in mind, the disciple of Jesus Christ should be ever aware that his or her life will be scrutinized by the opposition, much like opposing political candidates in the current Presidential campaign, and should always be aware some may be looking for something with which to accuse. But for the one who is striving to live the godly life, how should you face the accusations? Do you try to answer every accusation? Do you simply ignore the false accusations? If you are accused falsely, what recourse do you have? Must a Christian who has been falsely accused simply accept the wrong - especially if it has been done by a fellow believer? Let's consider a few points, using some Bible examples when individuals were accused and how they dealt with the accusations, that we may know the way pleasing to God. If The Accusation Is True. When Nebuchadnezzar "made an image of gold" (Dan. 3:1) and then demanded everyone fall down and worship it when the music was played, under threat of death (v. 4-6), Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego refused to bow. In time, someone noticed their disobedience and reported it to the king (vv. 8-12). Nebuchadnezzar had the men brought before him and asked them about it, and even gave them opportunity to escape punishment if they would do so the next time the music was played, but threatened them with certain death if they did not (vv, 14, 15). What could they say? The accusation was true! In similar fashion, when some of the presidents and satraps of the Babylonian kingdom sought to accuse Daniel, they found nothing except his devotion to God (6:1-5). We know that they then tricked Darius into making a law that would render Daniel a guilty man when he petitioned God in prayer, as he regularly did (vv. 6-10), and we also know that when Daniel prayed to God, the accusers were ready, and brought the matter before the king, demanding punishment be carried out by the immutable law of the Persians (vv. 11-15). What could Daniel say? The accusation was true! In each of these cases, the accusations were true - but not anything of which to be ashamed! Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego all refused to bow to the golden image because they served the one, true God and to do so would have been sin; the threat of death did not deter their resolve, either (cf. 3:16-18). Daniel prayed to God because that is what was right in the sight of God and to bow to pressure - even when it was the law of the land - would not be pleasing to God. Let us learn from these examples that when the accusations are true - but accusations of righteous acts - then there is no need to apologize or change our ways. Continue doing the right thing and be ready to accept the consequences. On the other hand, we may remember the story of Simon the sorcerer who, not long after his conversion, offered money for the power the apostles had to give the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:18). Peter confronted him and told him his heart was not right in the sight of God and demanded he repent and pray to God for forgiveness (vv. 20-23). In this case, the accusation was also true, but it was an accusation of wrongdoing that was, indeed, a sinful act. Simon needed to repent or he would remain separated by God because of his sin. Let us learn from this example that when the accusation of sinful activity is true, then we must also repent and pray for forgiveness that we may once again be right in the sight of God. Making excuses will get us nowhere (cf. 1st Sam. 15; King Saul). When the Accusation is False. I believe most of us could properly face accusations that are true; if we are accused of doing righteous things we would not change, and if we were accused of sin, we would all hopefully repent quickly. But when the accusations are false, we sometimes get so emotionally wrapped up in the fact we have been wronged that we forget to do what God tells us and then act as if anything we do is acceptable because the charge is false. But, once again, let us consider some Bible examples and how they dealt with false accusations that we may learn to do what is pleasing to God. I imagine we all think of Jesus right away when we think about false accusations, remembering the farce of a trial He faced and how He stood silent. But I want to caution you to be careful in using that scene to make personal application today. In that situation, Jesus had come to the point in His life where he knew He was going to fulfill the will of the Father in dying for our sins and he did not seek to delay the inevitable. He remained silent not because silence is the only proper answer to false charges, but because at that time there was a greater plan in action. What we should learn from that series of events is what Peter pointed to when he reminds us that Jesus, "When He was reviled, He did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but continued entrusting Himself to Him who judges justly" (1st Pet. 2:23). From this, we should learn that, if we are falsely accused, we cannot return the 'favor' and falsely accuse those who falsely accused us. Unfortunately, I have seen a few preachers who resort to this when libelously called a false teacher. We do no one any favors by stooping to worldly passions when falsely accused. Repay evil with good (Rom. 12:17). On other occasions, when Jesus was falsely accused of doing wrong on the Sabbath [healing; Matt. 12:10-13; Luke 13:10-16], Jesus was not silent. In each case, Jesus turned the accusation back on the accuser and rightly pointed to their hypocrisy. On one of these occasions, His adversaries were rightly put to shame while He was glorified (Luke 13:17). In the other case, those who sought to accuse Jesus left and began plotting His death. Some people may be shamed and some people may simply harden their hearts further, but we do not have to remain silent. [Paul also answered his accusers, and used government avenues by which he could absolve himself of all guilt; Acts 24-26.] When we answer the false accuser, we do not do so for their benefit; we do so for our own reputation. One who is striving to live the godly life will be hindered in the work if a false reputation precedes him. Answer from Scripture, point to the inaccuracies of the accuser[s], and then continue living the godly, righteous life that they may see and be ashamed (1st Pet. 3:16). At no time, however, should we stoop to their tactics. Sadly, some false accusations will be leveled by our own brethren. When this happens, continue to do right and pray for their hearts and souls. The false accusations leveled against Jesus led to His death, but He still prayed that they might be forgiven (Luke 13:34). Our aim should not be retribution, but forgiveness. -- Steven Harper -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20081004/8372cc0c/attachment-0001.html From terrywbenton at bellsouth.net Sat Oct 4 23:19:54 2008 From: terrywbenton at bellsouth.net (Terry W. Benton) Date: Sat, 4 Oct 2008 23:19:54 -0500 Subject: [Biblemat] Amazing Quote Games #7 Message-ID: <66FAA05DCE2248E999D0AAE515DEC00E@TerryPC> >From my recent post at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BiblicalEvidenceDevotion/ Amazing Quote Games #7 Evolutionists try to frame quotes from creationists as "out-of-context" so as to try to undermine either the integrity of the quote or the integrity of the creationist quoting from the evolutionist. Here is another example of the amazing quote games that are played when creationists quote from evolutionists. More amazing is how the defenders of macroevolution at TalkOrigins squirm to make creationists appear to be dishonest, and then it backfires. Quote #7 "Species that were once thought to have turned into others have been found to overlap in time with these alleged descendants. In fact, the fossil record does not convincingly document a single transition from one species to another." (Stanley, S.M., The New Evolutionary Timetable: Fossils, Genes, and the Origin of Species, 1981, p. 95) "It is true that the fossil record of species is much poorer than the record of higher taxa... The techniques that will be described in the following chapters are aimed at circumventing problems traditionally associated with the enumeration and biostratigraphic evaluation of fossil species. These techniques provide a highly imperfect quantitative picture of species and speciation, yet their application yields provocative inferences." Stanley, S. M. Macroevolution 1979, 1998, p. 8 - John Wilkins -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A more complete quote would be: Superb fossil data have recently been gathered from deposits of early Cenozoic Age in the Bighorn Basin of Wyoming. These deposits represent the first part of the Eocene Epoch, a critical interval when many types of modern mammals came into being. The Bighorn Basin, in the shadow of the Rocky Mountains, received large volumes of sediment from the Rockies when they were being uplifted, early in the Age of Mammals. In its remarkable degree of completeness, the fossil record here for the Early Eocene is unmatched by contemporary deposits exposed elsewhere in the world. The deposits of the Bighorn Basin provide a nearly continuous local depositional record for this interval, which lasted some five million years. It used to be assumed that certain populations of the basin could be linked together in such a way as to illustrate continuous evolution. Careful collecting has now shown otherwise. It used to be assumed that certain populations of the basin could be linked together in such a way as to illustrate continuous evolution. Careful collecting has now shown otherwise. David M. Schankler has recently gathered data for about eighty mammal species that are known from more than two stratigraphic levels in the Bighorn Basin. Very few of these species existed for less than half a million years, and their average duration was greater than a million years. So we see that Stanley wasn't talking about the fossil record in general, but the fossil record in the Bighorn Basin. - Jon (Augray) Barber http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/quotes/mine/part1-1.html ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ My Reply: First, this is an amazing effort to try to undermine the quote when a creationist simply quotes it, and then the above writers give the larger context and it proves that the creationists quoted it correctly and in context. Barber tried to make it appear that Stanley was not talking about the fossil record in general but just the missing linkages one would like to find in the Bighorn Basin. This is not correct. Even John Wilkin's extra quote above assists in showing that Stanley was hoping that the Bighorn Basin would fill some of the gaps because "the fossil record does not convincingly document a single transition from one species to another." Looking at the larger context by Barber, we find an admission that "the fossil record here for the Early Eocene is unmatched by contemporary deposits exposed elsewhere in the world". So, Stanley is looking for this fossil bed to provide what is not found elsewhere in the world. Nothing else in the world matches this fossil bed. Keep that clearly in mind. Keep in mind also how hopeful the evolutionists were about this basin providing proof of populations demonstrating and illustrating "continuous evolution". So, they were looking for this basin to provide evidence they had not found elsewhere in the world. Stanley said: "It used to be assumed that certain populations of the basin could be linked together in such a way as to illustrate continuous evolution. Careful collecting has now shown otherwise.". What makes this larger context even more powerful is that a critic of the quote being used by creationists actually provided a larger context which demonstrates that not only is the quotation quoted correctly, but it demonstrates how that the anti-creationist will actually pervert the context to make an effort to cast a dishonest light on the creationists for quoting it, and will do anything, including lie and distort, to make it appear that the creationist was doing something out-of-context with the quote. This is part of the "Amazing Quote Games" that anti-creationists play. When Barber concludes by saying, "So we see that Stanley wasn't talking about the fossil record in general, but the fossil record in the Bighorn Basin", we see that talkorigins has been reckless in the quote-mining game. The larger context shows that what had been missing in other fossil deposits of the world would be found to provide in this basin a more complete illustration of continuous evolution that had not been successfully found elsewhere. The context shows that it was a let-down in that regard. Thus, Barber actually undermines himself here, and talkorigins is found promoting an effort to discredit creationists' quotes from evolutionists, and in the effort strengthens the creationists' usage of the quote, but also weakens the credibility of their own effort. Thus, they play the Amazing Quote Games. Observe that Stanley says regarding this deposit: "the fossil record here for the Early Eocene is unmatched by contemporary deposits exposed elsewhere in the world." They were hopeful about this deposit because: "The deposits of the Bighorn Basin provide a nearly continuous local depositional record for this interval, which lasted some five million years". They had thought it would illustrate what had not been illustrated from other deposits around the world for that period. "It used to be assumed that certain populations of the basin could be linked together in such a way as to illustrate continuous evolution. Careful collecting has now shown otherwise". They came away very disappointed because this basin did not reveal what they were hoping to find. "It used to be assumed that certain populations of the basin could be linked together in such a way as to illustrate continuous evolution. Careful collecting has now shown otherwise". Stanley's observation was about the findings in the Bighorn Basin as it relates to trying to find what was not found elsewhere. So, that makes the quote very useful, while this counter-claim by talkorigins becomes even more useful in showing the kind of efforts used in trying to offset the force and power that particular quote has for the creationists' case. The fossil record is what would be predicted by creationists in regard to gaps and lack of transitional forms. It has to be explained by the newer theory of punctuated equilibria by evolutionists who are having to give up on the fossil record showing the kind of transitions that evolution-theory would reasonably demand. Gradualistic evolution in the fossil record is having to be abandoned by evolutionists. Despite being an evolutionist, Steven. M. Stanley of John Hopkins University admits as such: The known fossil record is not, and never has been in accord with gradualism. . . Few modern paleontologist seem to have recognized that in the past century, as the biological historian William Coleman has recently written, 'The majority of paleontologists felt their evidence simply contradicted Darwin's stress on minute, slow and cumulative changes leading to species transformation.' In the next chapter, I will describe not only what the fossils have to say, but why their story has been suppressed.( S. M. Stanley, The New Evolutionary Timetable: Fossils, Genes and the Origin of Species, New York: Basic Books, Inc., 1981, p. 71). Stanley explains the gaps or lack of transitions in the fossil record as evidence of evolution by jumps or fits. So, the quotes are correct, and are not taken out of context. The fossil record is simply re-employed to fit the new version of evolution, and evolution involving jumps and leaps. The word "evolution" means unfolding, and [f]or more than a century biologists have portrayed the evolution of life as a gradual unfolding of new living things from old, the slow molding of animals and plants into entirely different forms. It was this persistent style of change that Darwin described as "The Origin of Species". Today the fossil record - a rich source of information that was long untapped - is forcing us to revise this conventional view of evolution. As it turns out, myriads of species have inhabited the Earth for millions of years without evolving noticeably. On the other hand, evolutionary transitions have been wrought during episodes of rapid change, when new species have quickly budded off from old ones. In short evolution has moved by fits and starts." (Stanley 1981, p. 3-4) "The fossil record, whilst poor in many ways, is rich in others. It is much better understood now than in Darwin's day, and what it says to me and others is what I have already stated - that evolution proceeds not with the slow tempo that Darwin envisioned, but by fits and starts." (Stanley 1981, p. 8). "Unfortunately Darwin found the record a great disappointment. Only bits and pieces of branches had come to light. One could postulate continuity between fossils that seemed to represent ancestral and descendant forms, but the fossil record itself provided no documentation of continuity - of gradual transitions from one kind of animal or plant to another of quite different form. In the _Origin_ Darwin acknowledged the severity of this failing . his recourse was to launch a large-scale attack on the quality of the fossil record. He argued that the record was woefully incomplete and could never be expected to support his scheme of gradual and continuous change. That Darwin was misguided in his denigration of the fossil record is the point of departure for newer arguments about evolution that I will take up in detail in chapter 5>" (Stanley 1981, p. 40). The record now reveals that species typically survive for a hundred thousand generations, or even a million or more, without evolving very much. We seem forced to conclude that most evolution takes place rapidly, when species come into being by the evolutionary divergence of small populations from parent species. After their origins, most species undergo little evolution before becoming extinct." (Stanley, S.M., "The New Evolutionary Timetable: Fossils, Genes, and the Origin of Species," Basic Books: New York NY, 1981, p.xv) "It is only fair to report that, while this `punctuational' view has displaced the traditional `gradualistic' view in the minds of many evolutionists, there remain dissenters. Among these are some physical anthropologists, who continue to assert that modern humans have evolved by the gradual, persistent modernization of an apelike ancestor. In chapter 7 I offer opposition to this traditional portrayal of our ancestry." (Stanley, S.M., "The New Evolutionary Timetable: Fossils, Genes, and the Origin of Species," Basic Books: New York NY, 1981, p.xv) Now, as we have examined the even fuller view of the things Stanley has been saying, it becomes clear that talkorigin's Barber is totally incorrect in his statement: So we see that Stanley wasn't talking about the fossil record in general, but the fossil record in the Bighorn Basin. - Jon (Augray) Barber Stanley is clearly talking about the problem with the fossil record in general and in the context is particularly making the point that the fossil record in the Bighorn did not support gradualism as many had hoped. This effort by talkorigins writers reveals a bias and an effort that backfires on their attempt to undermine the quote as out-of-context. In another work Stanley says: Schindewolf believed that a single Grossmutation could instantaneously yield a form representing a new family or order of animals. This view engendered such visions as the first bird hatching from a reptile egg. However unacceptable his explanations may have seemed, Schindewolf at least confronted the failure of the fossil record to document slow intergradations between higher taxa. As discussed above, Simpson addressed the same problem in 1944 with his less heterodox idea of quantum evolution. In his second book on large-scale evolution, Simpson (1953) cited the work of Schindewolf more frequently than that of any other author, but with strong expressions of disagreement." (Stanley, S.M., "Macroevolution: Pattern and Process," [1979], The Johns Hopkins University Press: Baltimore MD, Reprinted, 1998, p.35) Notice that Stanley speaks of "the failure of the fossil record to document slow intergradations between higher taxa". This is in general, and has nothing to do with just the fossil record of the Bighorn Basin. Thus, again, we must conclude that the creationists have used the quotes correctly from the context and that our friends at talkorigin are simply playing the Amazing Quote Games to further undermine their own credibility in these matters. Terry W. Benton Visit: www.pinelanechurchofchrist.com Dan Billingsly vs. Terry W. Benton Exchange on the Four Gospels at: http://www.pinelanechurchofchrist.com/SiteFiles/157/Benton%20Billingsly%20Debate.doc -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20081004/7eeca81a/attachment-0001.html From ScottFinley at att.net Sun Oct 5 13:22:01 2008 From: ScottFinley at att.net (Scott Finley) Date: Sun, 5 Oct 2008 13:22:01 -0500 Subject: [Biblemat] Jeff Kingry Passes Message-ID: <001f01c92717$43246700$c96d3500$@net> All, Jeff Kingry passed away, apparently from a blot clot, early this morning. I'll send out another post when more information is available. Scott Finley 14218 Spotted Cedar San Antonio, Texas 78249 (210) 734-4577 home/office/church (210) 744-2664 mobile (615) 858-4468 fax ScottFinley at att.net -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20081005/26b04347/attachment.html From richard at thetford.dot5hosting.com Sun Oct 5 16:37:39 2008 From: richard at thetford.dot5hosting.com (Richard Thetford) Date: Sun, 5 Oct 2008 15:37:39 -0600 Subject: [Biblemat] Walking in the Light (10/5/08) Message-ID: <20081005214011.5DD81BC061@dumbledore.whizardries.com> Walking in the Light "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path" (Psalm 119:105) October 5, 2008 www.thetfordcountry.com --- INFORMATION: Walking in the Light is published each week by Richard Thetford. You are encouraged to visit the web site at www.thetfordcountry.com and then click on "Richard's Home Page" to view numerous sermons, articles, radio program scripts, class material and other information. If you know of someone who would like to subscribe to "Walking in the Light," please send their name and e-mail address to richard at thetfordcountry.com --- CONTENTS: "I Am On the Lord's Side" (Richard Thetford) "Does Your Preacher Present Only the Word of God?" (Richard Thetford) "The Faith of Job" (Ellen Kyle) SENTENCE SERMONS --- I AM ON THE LORD'S SIDE Richard Thetford In our song books we sing a song entitled "Who Will Follow Jesus?" The chorus of that song says: "Who will follow Jesus? Who will make reply, I am on the Lord's side; Master, here am I"? Those words no doubt are taken from the book of Matthew, chapter 12, verse 30, where Jesus said: "He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad." Jesus plainly taught that we are either for Him or we're against Him. We cannot serve two masters (Matt 6:24). We're either on the Lord's side or we're not. Why Be On The Lord's Side? We must strive to be on the Lord's side because if we aren't then there is no hope of eternal salvation! In Matthew 1:21 it says: "And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins." It is only through Jesus Christ that we can have forgiveness of sins and therefore we all should want to be on His side and follow His commandments. When we are on the Lord's side we are profited. In 1 Corinthians 15:58 the apostle Paul said: "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord." When we are on the Lord's side then we will want to abound in all the work of the Lord. Isn't it true that when we love doing something that we do it to the best of our ability, knowing that our work is not in vain because we are enjoying it. All of us should look to our service for Christ the same way. We should enjoy being on the Lord's side and therefore do everything we do with fervent zeal, knowing that our eternal peace will someday be realized, because we were always determined to do ALL the will of Jesus (Matt 7:21). In addition, when we're on the Lord's side, then we will be happy in all things that we do (Eph 1:3). We also want to be on the Lord's side because it is honorable (John 12:26). We will be glorified (Rom 8:17), will have peace (John 16:33), and will reign with Christ forever (2 Tim 2:12) when we make it known that we are on the Lord's side! Who Is On His Side? Individuals show that they are on the Lord's side by believing in Jesus to the point of doing His will. In Hebrews 11:6, the Hebrew writer said: "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." When we have faith in God, then others will see our faith and be able to see that we are on His side, not Satan's. When we truly believe in God, knowing that we will be rewarded by our life's service to Him (2 Tim 4:8), then we can be effective teachers in His kingdom! Not only the believers, but the whole-hearted (Matt 12:30), and those that overcome the world (Rev 17:14), will be counted as being on His side. When one chooses to come out from the world and be separate (2 Cor 6:17) then they are making a statement by letting others know that they are choosing to be on the Lord's side! Only the faithful, and those that endure to the very end will be on His side forever (2 Tim 2:12). In What Should We Be With Him? When one chooses to be on the Lord's side then one has chosen to be with the Lord in death (Gal 2:20; 2 Tim 2:11), in burial (Col 2:12), and in the resurrection (Rom 6:5; Col 2:12). When one is baptized for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38), they have chosen to be with the Lord in the likeness of His death, burial and resurrection (Rom 6:3-5). Afterwards, one will serve Him in his manner of life (2 Tim 2:12) and that includes any suffering that may come our way in our physical life (Rom 8:17). Don't leave the Lord and return to the ways of the world (Gal 5:4). Are you on the Lord's side? Are you determined right now to serve Him daily so that you can spend an eternity with Him in heaven? --- DOES YOUR PREACHER PRESENT ONLY THE WORD OF GOD? Richard Thetford Some preachers do not present the Word of God as God would want it presented. There are some preachers that bring in destructive heresies, teaching a doctrine that has been devised by man. These preachers are known as "false teachers" (2 Pet 2:1) Jesus Himself warned of those that would teach as doctrines the commandments of men (Matt 15:9). These false teachers do not advertise and say "hey, I'm a false teacher!" No, these teachers are the same as Jesus talked about saying: "These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me" (Matt 15:8). A false teacher talks a good talk but their walk is obvious. Some preachers try to get people to believe that scripture is of one's own interpretation and it doesn't matter what one believes as long as we believe in Jesus. But Peter said: "knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation" (2 Pet 1:20). So who are we going to believe; God or man? We better obey God (Acts 5:29) because Jesus said only those that obey the Father will enter into heaven (Matt 7:21). Think about it, is your preacher helping or hindering your walk toward heaven? --- THE FAITH OF JOB Ellen Kyle We often speak of the patience of Job, when trouble strikes those we love. But seldom speak of what really saw him through, his faith in God above. For if Job didn't have the faith, that let him know what to do, He wouldn't have had the patience, that helped him see his trials through. You can't have the patience to endure to the end, If you don't have the faith that God will send, Comfort and help and a guiding light, You won't have the patience to keep doing what is right. God says He'll never send more than you can endure, And if your faith is weak, failure is sure. So if you want the patience, that saw Job through to the end, You must cultivate great faith in the Lord, my friend. --- SENTENCE SERMONS We should pray more for a change in character than in circumstances. To learn God's will we must listen to God's Word. Before we forget the lost, we had better count the cost. Life's greatest challenge is not being a man's man, but God's man. If no one would listen, no one would gossip. The sunlight of love will kill the germs of jealousy and hate. Others may destroy your reputation, but only you can destroy your character. Salvation is free, but it is not cheap. The man who has to eat his own words never asks for another serving. --- SERMON Four Steps to Apostasy (with PowerPoint Charts) www.thetfordcountry.com --- 1414 Hawk Parkway, Unit C Montrose, CO 81401 (970) 626-5558 www.sanjuanchurchofchrist.org ASSEMBLY SCHEDULE Sunday Bible Study..........10:00 A.M. Worship......11:00 A.M. Wednesday Bible Study......6:30 P.M. Evangelist/Editor Richard Thetford Building: (970) 249-8116 Home: (970) 626-5558 E-Mail: richard at thetfordcountry.com Web Site: www.thetfordcountry.com --- RICHARD THETFORD 1491 Canyon Drive Ridgway, CO 81432 (970) 626-5558 E-Mail: richard at thetfordcountry.com Web Site: www.thetfordcountry.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... 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Name: not available Type: image/gif Size: 8275 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20081005/03b65fe8/attachment-0005.gif From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Mon Oct 6 03:47:48 2008 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Mon, 6 Oct 2008 04:47:48 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] S) CROSS BEARING Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. Here is a study from my files. Use to the glory of God. CROSS BEARING "Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple" (Lk. 14:27). "...If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me." (Lk. 9:23). CROSS BEARING: -- It's never easy. Each has his/her own pers- onal cross that no one else can carry for them. We can encour- age, pray for, befriend, weep with, and love -- but at the end of the day -- your cross is your cross and not one can bear it for you. Can you identify with any of these crosses? -- The widow who grieves silently in a quiet house. The parent who aches for the prodigal son or daughter. The spouse who helplessly watches as their mate struggles with infirmities. The father who wins at work and loses at home. The patient who awaits another round of chemotherapy, knowing they will have to become sick in order to become better. The war veteran who remembers and wishes he could forget The divorcee who keeps thinking it will get better. The stepparent who senses that he/she is on the outside looking in. The parent whose child is caught up in a cult-like religious group who refuses to talk about it. The businessman living with guilt and searching for forgive- ness. The Christian who loves the Lord and prays for an open door to share the gospel with a family whose hearts are clos- ed. The care-giving adult child faced with hard decisions about elderly parents. The young man struggling with the grip of pornography. The college student who is angry at the world and lashes out in acts of rebellion against biblical authority. The mom and dad who face unnatural pain of burying a child The teenager whose mom or dad chooses to walk away. The aging parent who seldom hears from their children. The crosses do not end. Nor are any of them easy. They are heavy, burdensome, back-breaking, and leave you riddled with splinters -- an ever-present reminder that they are there. But God never promised that life would be easy. In fact, He promis- ed the very opposite: "For indeed while we are here in this tent (life) we groan being burdened..." (2 Cor. 5:4a). Unless I miss my guess, you read these words with a cross laid across your back. And it's getting very heavy. Okay, now what? Complain? You can... but you will only be complaining to fellow cross bearers. Crosses come in different shapes and sizes but all of us bear them. Get angry? You can do that, too, but at the end of the day it hasn't helped solve anything. Pretend that it doesn't exist? Living a fantasy helps no one -- and you the least. Or, you can try this: "you can cast your burden upon the Lord" (Psa. 55:22) -- knowing that He promises to "sustain you." God is the only One who can. As the song suggests, Burdens are lifted at Calvary. If you want help with your cross, lay it down at the foot of His. It is the one and only place you will find relief. --------- Wilson Adams in Biblical Insights, Vol. 8, No. 3, March 2008. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20081006/ee3a5f37/attachment.html From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Mon Oct 6 03:47:33 2008 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Mon, 6 Oct 2008 04:47:33 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] A) QUESTION AND ANSWER Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. A very good Monday morning to each and everyone. May God bless you and yours. Here is a quest- ion and answer from my recent files: QUESTION AND ANSWER QUESTION: -- Just how secretive should our giving to the Lord be? ANSWER: -- Take time just here to read (Matt. 6:1-4). I included the first verse of this text, to put the whole teaching in context. Jesus does not command us to give in secret. He commands us to give without regard for the opinions or praise of men. The custom of the day was for people to bring their money (all coins: paper money and checks being unknown in that time) and throw the coins into a trumpet shaped metal tube. The money would rattle and roll all the way down. Obviously, the mor coins you threw in, the bigger the noise you would create. More noise meant you must be a generous giver. Jesus cond- emns the idea of making a big splash with your giving so as to impress other people. The goal is to impress God, and we don't need noise for God to notice the good we do. In fact, if our giving is designed to impress people, that will be all the reward we will get. But giving in secret is not the goal. The goal is to keep your giving between you and God. I know this from another event in the life of Jesus. We read about this event in (Mk. 12:41-44). Jesus, along with His disciples, was observing, watching how much people gave and the manner in which they gave. There was no sin in being seen, or noticing what others were giving. Yet, again, Jesus emphasizes not the amount given, which might impress people. The Lord emphasizes the heart of the giver. On that basis, the widow, on this occasion, trusted the Lord moe than the others. She gave all she had. Those rich peo- ple who gave went home to plenty more money to live on. Giving in secret is not a command. It is taught to remind us that giving is between the individual giver and his Lord. Beyond that it doesn't matter what others think about your giving, good or bad. ---------- David Thurman in Gospel Minutes, Vol. 57, No. 37, Sept. 12, 2008. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20081006/691842db/attachment.html From dmillwee at bak.rr.com Mon Oct 6 10:10:35 2008 From: dmillwee at bak.rr.com (Dick Millwee) Date: Mon, 6 Oct 2008 08:10:35 -0700 Subject: [Biblemat] A: Stagnant In Spirit Message-ID: <5648A1A8E1F44C2AB5754531A9BF09F9@P4Desk> Good morning brethren: Below is a bulletin article. "STAGNANT IN SPIRIT" "It will come about at that time That I will search Jerusalem with lamps, And I will punish the men Who are stagnant in spirit, Who say in their hearts, 'The LORD will not do good or evil!' Zeph 1:12 (NASU) The theme of the Book of Zephaniah is the "Searching Judgments of God". God, through Zephaniah, is telling His people He will find those who are "Stagnant in Spirit" and have lost their fear of God (have become indifferent toward Him). That expression "Stagnant In Spirit" caught my attention and motivated my studying it. The word "STAGNANT" comes from a Hebrew word defined as, "To shrink, i.e. thicken (as unracked wine), curdled, condense, congeal." It was a word used by the Jews that related to their making of wine. When they crushed the grape, bits of the stem and pieces of the skin would be in the juice as it was poured from the crusher into a container. The bits of stem and skin would settled to the bottom of the container. They were called the "lees". If the grape juice was allowed to ferment with the "lees" still present, it would become thick and sour and would be unfit to drink. Consequently, the juice was poured from one container to another except the bottom portion of the juice were the "lees" had settled. This was done several times until the juice was free of the "Lees". After that juice was fermented, it was then fit for consumption. Zephaniah is telling God's children, that because they were "at ease in zion" (Amos 6:1) and because they were rich in material things that they felt they were rich in their relationship with God. This type of thinking had caused what is called "practical atheism" (Titus 1:16). Although they verbally acknowledged God, their conducted was one of indifference to Him. Their thinking had gradually degenerated to the level they felt there was no reward for obedience or punishment for sin. Consequently, through a lack of spiritual growth, they became morally indifferent and comfortable with an indifferent attitude toward God. They had become spiritual fence straddlers. They had a saving knowledge about God. However, they had become so preoccupied with their abundant life style, (provided by God), and had became attached to worldly standards to the point they were unwilling to let go of them. They felt they had found the perfect balance spiritual and worldly values. This had caused them to become blind to their real spiritual condition. Let us learn from their mistakes. We also, can become stagnant in spirit if we fail to take the effort to bring into our minds a constant flow of the "living" word of God so that it can wash out the decay of worldly values and indifference toward our spiritual responsibilities. Let's not let the prosperity and ease in our country gradually lead us into a "Stagnant Spirit" which will lull us into an indifferent attitude toward Almighty God. Dick Millwee Dick Millwee dmillwee at bak.rr.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20081006/5e469f73/attachment-0001.html From ZekeFlores1 at cs.com Mon Oct 6 10:13:03 2008 From: ZekeFlores1 at cs.com (ZekeFlores1 at cs.com) Date: Mon, 6 Oct 2008 11:13:03 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] H> Mandeni, Kwazulu-Natal Message-ID: I need to know if anyone knows any contact information for a church or preacher near Mandeni, Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa. Thanks, Zeke Flores Kiber Street church of Christ Angleton, TX www.angletonchristians.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20081006/ccf9c9e6/attachment.html From ZekeFlores1 at cs.com Mon Oct 6 14:12:52 2008 From: ZekeFlores1 at cs.com (ZekeFlores1 at cs.com) Date: Mon, 6 Oct 2008 15:12:52 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] A> Get Personal! Message-ID: Get Personal! Zeke Flores Everyone is familiar with the concept of delegating responsibility and has probably done so at some point in life. Parents delegate to children ("Clean your room! Feed the dog!"), children delegate to one another, employers assign tasks to employees, friends ask "favors" from friends, and on it goes. It seems that many ascribe to the philosophy "Never do what you can get someone else to do for you." And, in many cases, it works great. But, there's another cliche that goes, "If you want the job done right, do it yourself." This, too, is true in many circumstances. However, consider that there are some things that can only be done by you and can never be delegated to another even if someone else can do it better. Of course, I'm talking about salvation and the Christian life in general. Read more at http://www.angletonchristians.com/page9.html Also, check out the sermon files, both for print and in audio formats. Zeke Flores Kiber Street church of Christ Angleton, TX www.angletonchristians.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20081006/d27ac036/attachment.html From kerux at bellsouth.net Mon Oct 6 14:26:33 2008 From: kerux at bellsouth.net (Kent Heaton) Date: Mon, 6 Oct 2008 15:26:33 -0400 Subject: [Biblemat] A>Who is the Lord that I should obey His voice? (Kent Heaton) Message-ID: <5E43312208E849028AC8DFDED1EA3AF0@D2381J91> Who is The Lord That I Should Obey His Voice? (Kent Heaton) When Moses came to Pharaoh the first time and pleaded for the release of the people of God, Pharaoh said, "Who is the Lord that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, nor will I let Israel go" (Exodus 5:2). Pharaoh would eventually let the people go after the Lord God brought pestilence upon the Egyptians and finally the death of the firstborn (Exodus 7-12). The pagan worship of Egypt was polytheistic with gods to the sun (Re), the earth (Yeb), the moon (Thoth), the Nile (Hapi), and the god of hidden powers (Amon). The King of Egypt would not acknowledge the Creator and thus rejected Him. The spirit of Pharaoh continues today. Even among religious groups obedience to the Lord is questioned. Man has the view of self-worth and self-exaltation that hinders him from seeing the one true God. Two views exist in the world: the view of man and the view of God. When men begin to examine the view of God they learn that man is not the center of the universe but God. The scriptures demand obedience to God's will and rejects the whims of men. Generations question who God is and seek their own ways. The root of the problem is the rejection of the knowledge of God. Pharaoh said, "I do not know the Lord." The apostle Paul described this spirit in his letter to the Roman church. "For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened . For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator . they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer" (Romans 1:21, 25, 28). Many today can know the Lord through the things that are seen but refuse to give honor to Creator. The philosophies of men are sought after instead of the wisdom of God. The truth is evident but exchanged for the lie that man is his own god. God is no longer acknowledged. This is evident in our society today that continues to break down all of the pillars of morality with the refusal to acknowledge God. Homosexuality is the norm, adultery is common, divorce is expected, greed is the fuel driving our financial markets, murder of the innocent continues unabated and the true religion of the one God is ridiculed into abandonment. Jehovah God destroyed Egypt and made them a base nation (Ezekiel 29:14-15). They stand as testimony today of that fulfillment. Our nation will suffer the same destruction. When the Son of God returns, He will bring judgment upon those "that do not know God" (2 Thessalonians 1:8). The majority of people will reject the knowledge of God and be lost (Matthew 7:13,14). "For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse" (Romans 1:20). Pharaoh rejected the one true God because he did not know Him. He was without excuse. We can reject God through our ignorance but we will be without excuse. Every evidence of God has been given to man (Psalm 19). Satan began his temptation of Eve by saying, "How God indeed said?" (Genesis 3:1). The deceiver of this world continues to work his deception today. As men reject God, He rejects them. Do you believe in the one true God? Will you be obedient to the one true God? There is only one way to eternal life. That is Jesus Christ (John 14:6). Kent Heaton 207 NE Fourth Avenue Trenton, Florida 32693 (H) 352-463-6916 (O) 3793 (C) 352-283-3889 www.trentonchurchofchrist.com NEW: AUDIO FILES www.northfloridabiblecamp.com If we ever forget that we are one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under. (Ronald Reagan) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20081006/649278ae/attachment.html From wcoc at bellsouth.net Mon Oct 6 14:49:47 2008 From: wcoc at bellsouth.net (westside) Date: Mon, 6 Oct 2008 14:49:47 -0500 Subject: [Biblemat] S: Transparency In Religion Message-ID: It has been a while since I have submitted anything. Here's a lesson I preached yesterday. You can contact me if you want the power point. Dennis Tucker What Is Needed: Transparency In Relgion Introduction: A few weeks ago we were studying about honesty and it occurred to me that we were talking about transparency in religion! We hear the term transparency in business. Accounting is supposed to be transparent, meaning that it is to reveal and not conceal. Transparency is to show those interested and those infected what the situation really is. I) What Is Transparency in religion? A) To know what God says, what He expects of man B) To allow people to make educated decisions based upon knowledge and not tradition or superstition C) To eliminate t he element of surprise II) Is Religion To Be Transparent? A) Some don't think so 1. They see religion as being purely superstition or beyond reason and revelation 2. Some admit that religion is confusing and we hear terms such as the truth as you see it. 3. Caused by subjective feelings and not going by the Bible. 4. Caused by quoting various scholars and theologians B) If religion is to be transparent 1. Must go by the Bible, spend time reading it 2. Have book, chapter, and verse for what you believe. 3. We must not be defensive as many are when it comes to religion. Luke 10.25-37 gives us the parable of the Good Samaritan. The reason for the parable is in verse 29 the man was trying to justify himself instead of being justified by God. III) Transparency In Religion A) The God in the Bible is a transparent God 1. I know Isaiah 55.8-9 is often interpreted to mean that we can not understand the mind of God. Is that actually what it says? a. God thinks and acts in ways beyond man's knowledge b. However, God reveals to us what does pertain to us and our salvation, 2 Peter 1.3 2. God has revealed Himself to mankind, through the Prophets, Jesus, and the Apostles. a. God told Adam and Eve to not eat the forbidden fruit before Satan came. b. The man that picked up sticks and was stoned in Numbers 15 knew it was wrong to break the Sabbath. c. Israel was told not to worship other gods or make molden images before they worshipped idols d. The word of God plainly tells us who will and will not go to heaven before we die. 3. The word of salvation has been brought down to man, Romans 10.5-8 B) Jesus was transparent in His ministry 1. At His trial Jesus pointed out the public nature of His ministry, John 18.19-21 2. The Samaritan woman by the well went back to her people and said, "come see" John 4.28. 3. Which is almost exactly what Philip said to his brother Nathanael, John 1.46 4. Christianity is a "come and see" religion. One that is open to study and examination. C) We as Christians are to be transparent 1. Matthew 5.16 you can not be much more transparent than light 2. We are to be ready to explain what we believe and why we believe it. 1 Peter 3.15 3. We are to be honest before all men, 2 Corinthians 7.11 IV) What Does This Really Mean? A) As elders and preachers 1. We are to be ready to talk to the congregation 2. We are to be living according to the qualifications given in 2 Timothy 2.1ff. a. church finances should be transparent b. how much you pay the preacher, balance in checking, etc. c. More importantly what we believe and teach should be transparent B) As members of Christ's body 1. We are to be justified by the blood of Christ, Romans 3.21-26 a. Being justified means we acknowledge we have sinned against God, v. 22a - 23 b. Being justified means we receive God's grace and have redemption that is in Christ, v. 24 c Being justified means we live by faith in Christ Jesus, v. 26 2. Be honest, Matthew 5.33-37 3. Guard your heart (thoughts), Matthew 5.21-22, 28 4. Admit your faults, James 5.16 5. Show concern for one another (transparency will not allow us to build up walls) we will pray for one another and we will tell people when we need their prayers. 6. Make sure we are doing what the Bible says and in the way the Bible says, Acts 17.11; 1 Peter 4.11 V) We Are All Transparent Before God A) God sees and knows everything we do, Psalm 19.12-13 1. Joseph understood that principle in his life 2. David realized his sin with Bathsheba was known by God 3. Even the most carefully concealed sin is clearly seen by God B) We all need God's grace in order to go to heaven 1. God is transparent: if you love Me keep My commandments 2. God is transparent: this is My beloved Son in Whom I am well pleased 3. God is transparent: Those that obey Him will have eternal life and those that do not will have eternal damnation. Conclusion: At times we think of transparency as bad. The phrase "I can read him like a book" means that you can see right through the veneer and see what that person is really like. But if we are what we claim to be we will want people to see through us and know us. Paul said to be imitators of me as I am of Christ. That should be our goal. Transparency does not make us obey God but it allows each one of us to examine God's word and decide who we will follow. "If you make a mistake, learn from it. If you do something brilliant, get over it." D.T. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20081006/7dd0c1e7/attachment-0001.html From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Tue Oct 7 03:27:23 2008 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Tue, 7 Oct 2008 04:27:23 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] A) SHEDDING INNOCENT BLOOD Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. A very good Tuesday morn- ing to each and everyone. May God bless you and yours. Here is an article from my files: SHEDDING INNOCENT BLOOD It was said of wicked kings in Jerusalem that they filled Jerusalem with innocent blood, "which the Lord will not pardon" (2 Kgs. 21:16; 24:4). In some respects the liberals on the Supreme Court of the United States rule like tyrant kings and are guilty of the same heinous crime. By their ungodly ruling of (Jan. 22, 1973) to allow abortion they have filled the land with inn- ocent blood. With the passing of years the enormity of abortion seems to have been moved to the background of the American conscien- ce. Millions of unborn boys and girls continue to be slaughtered but relatively few voices are being raised in protest. Politicians with their euphemism call it "pro-choice." Lying sophistry says, "I don't personally believe in abortion, but I believe in a woman's right to choose." To kill her own child? To be "pro-life" means to be for the "pro"- tection of "life," "pro-choice" means taking of life. Abortion is supposed to be a constitutional right because the Court hunted until they found it in the Constitution, written invisibly between the lines. Liberals salivate with joy in their claim: "It's the law of the land." No! It is not the law of the land, because the land (the people and the states) have not been allowed to vote on it. It's a made-up law of a court which has no constitutional right to invent law, but invents it anyway. Even when faced with the horrible details, Congress will do nothing, except in very rare cases. For example, in partial birth abortion (which some still support in spite of the law against it) the baby is partially delivered, then a sharp instrument is jabbed into his/her little brain. This is supposed to be more moral and legal than stabbing a new born. And what of those cases when an abortion results in a live viable birth and the child is left to starve to death, because the mother wanted the child destroyed. Politicians are horrified when these facts are exposed, but in their pontifical hypocrisy they say there shouldn't be any laws against even late term abortions because these might interfere with a woman's choice to abort (kill) her baby. You don't have to be a rocket scientist to know that life begins at conception. Anyone so lacking in common sense as not to know that fact, and needs more proof may find it consist- ently in any scientific study on the subject. Yet a presidential candidate says he doesn't know when life begins. The Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, who claims to be a Catholic, says that doctors in the church can't agree as to when life begins. If she means "doctors" of theology her state- ment is either abysmally ignorant or an outright prevarication. There is not much we agree on with Catholicism, but their posit- ion is firm against abortion. What makes abortion evil, however, is not Catholic doctrine, but the Bible says: "Thou Shalt Not Kill ------- David R. Pharr in Bulletin Briefs, Vol. 11, No. 10, Oct. 2008. As we get closer to the national elections we will be hearing that the biggest issues are the economy, national defense, and health care. These are things that matter and honest people may differ in judgment on them, but how can these things save a nation that hides its eyes form the shedding of innocent blood? Let us pray that a president will be elected that will appoint judges that recognize what abortion is, the taking of innocent life, the shedd- ing of innocent blood, judges that are against the taking of innoc- ent life and will judge accordingly. Judges that fear and respect the God of heaven and will judge according to His Will. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20081007/03b06634/attachment-0001.html From robertwater at gmail.com Tue Oct 7 20:30:40 2008 From: robertwater at gmail.com (Robert Waters) Date: Tue, 7 Oct 2008 20:30:40 -0500 Subject: [Biblemat] Web site update - Maxey's Perversion of God's Silence Message-ID: Greetings to the list, I have updated my web site with a couple of timely articles: - Al Maxey, Friend or Foe of "The Cross of Christ?"(booklet) - Paul and Jesus on Divorce: Both Were Against It With No "Exception" (tract) http://www.totalhealth.bz/newadditions.htm www.TotalHealth.bz Brotherly, Robert Waters -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20081007/12a2b97c/attachment-0001.html From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Wed Oct 8 05:17:51 2008 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Wed, 8 Oct 2008 06:17:51 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] A) ABORTION FACTS Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. A very good Wednesday morning to each and everyone. May God bless you and yours. Here is an article from my recent files: ABORTION FACTS Since the infamous ruling of (Jan. 22, 1973) by the U.S. Sup- reme Court in Roe vs. Wade that babies in the womb may be des- troyed if the mother chooses, there have been 49,915,603 little ones slaughtered as though they were so much vermin. The history of court sanctioned abortions since that evil day shows that minorities in the country suffer more than the gener- al population. For example 13.7 percent of Americans are of Afri- can deent, but 31.7 percent of the babies aborted are black. Only 12.8 percent of the population is Hispanic, but over 20 per- cent of the babies killed are of Hispanic mothers. In other words these two minorities make up only 26.5 per- cent of the population, but more than half (51.8 percent) of the babies killed come from these two groups. Planned Parenthood which is run mainly by rich white people, is America's leading abortion promoter and provider. It identifies its "core clients" as "young women, low income women, and women of color." www.NRLC. org/factsheets/513-minorities.pdf A very sad fact concerning the death merchants who have slaughtered nearly 50 million innocent babies in the last thirty-five years is the silence of pulpits and church bulletins on the subject. God "hates hands that shed innocent blood" (Prov. 6:16) and He expects that His servants will agree with Him. Jeremiah in the face of severe persecution warned his nation of oppress- ing the weak and reminded them of the evil of shedding innoc- ent blood (Jer. 7:6; 22:3,17) for he said, "On your skirts (men wore long robes back then, and still do in many of th arab count- ries) is found the blood of the lives of poor innocents" (Jer. 2:34) But that nation did not heed the prophet and it went down to hades, even as another prophet said, "The wicked shall be turn- ed into hell (sheol, Greek hades) and all nations that forget God" (Psa. 9:17). Well did the prophet Isaiah speak of a people like the baby killers in our land, "Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood..." (Isa. 59:7). He also wrote, "cry aloud, spare not; lift up your voice like a trumpet; tell my people their transgressions..." (Isa. 58:1). Those men were prophets risking their lives to save their own people in their time. Where are the preachers today in Amer- ica who will lift up their voices like the prophets and seek to save our dear land from going down to hades? ---- Jim E. Waldron in Bulletin Briefs, Vol. 11, No. 10, Oct. 2008. (I watched the presidential debate last evening and much was said about the US not doing anything about the genecide in Darfur and other places in the world, the killing of innocent men, women, and children, including unborn children still in their mother's wombs. I thought, just what is being done about the killing of untold millions of innocent children in and out of their mother's wombs here in this supposedly enlightened land? If we do not think we, as a nation, will pay for such tragedy as this, we are sorely mistaken. Every nation that does such dastardly deed, has truly forgotten God and will pay the conseq- uences. JWS). -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20081008/5ed4644d/attachment-0001.html From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Wed Oct 8 05:17:59 2008 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Wed, 8 Oct 2008 06:17:59 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] S) THE PERMISSIVE SOCIETY Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. Here is a study from my files. Use to the glory of God. THE PERMISSIVE SOCIETY In This Permissive Society -- Anything Goes -- Taboos in Twi- light. -- Our society is in the death throes of radical change; and it began a long time ago. Consider the arts, consider movies. In 1967 Bonnie and Clyde was recommended by Newsweek maga- zine as one of the finest movies of the year. This was not an art show, an underground theater, a show in the area frequented by prostitutes and immoral people, but rther a first-run billing on marquees all of the country. And what did you find in this show? You found an opening shot of Bonnie nude. You found two scenes in which Clyde was impotent sexually, one in which he achieves sexual fulfillment. Strictly adultery all the way and anyone could recognize it for what it was. Then violence, not only were the people killed, but the bodies were machine-gunn- ed in slow motion yet! This is the degree of degradation that our nation has sunk to; some people saw it time and time again and they cried and said, "It's the greatest thing produced this year." This helps us to recognize that people are getting what they want, and what they want is what they are getting, and what they are getting came straight out of the cesspool and the garbage pails of Holli-wood. This has become the day of obscenity! The Age of Baby- lon has already been outstripped. This is the society that produ- ces and consumes "Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf?", "Barbarella", "Penthouse", "I Am A Woman" and on and on and on. the no-holds-barred language, the obscenity of the gutter, that which was confined at one time to drunken sailors on the seven seas, have become common household words in many homes in our land today. This shows that our society is degen- erating and, therefore, our people are degenerating with it. They are responsible for it. These are evidence of what the public wants and, brethren, what they want is filth and trash. If it is not fit for "adults only" to see, it's not fit for anybody to see. Magazines are worse yet. When I was a young boy, they had their girly magazines and most of the boys looked at them, but they were nothing like what can be bought at the store in our neighborhoods today. The morals of our people are degenerat- ing and, good people, it can only go so far before God is going to call it to a halt. It has always taken salt, light, and heaven to save a nation, to save the ancient world, and it still does. And when there is not enought salt, light and heaven to save us, this nation will go down as all the rest through out the ages. They always have and always will. Every time a child of God partakes of that which is immoral, ungodly, obscene, pornographic, he helps seal the doom of this nation. He seels the doom of the church early and maybe destroys the world for future posterity. But again, Playboy Magazine has the circulation of over five mill- ion. They estimate that 20 million readers every month read the hardcore sex and pornography included in this magazine. Recently, I was coming back from Freed-Hardeman College on the plane. I picked up a flight from Memphis and settled down. A man sat down one seat from me and he laughingly ask- ed the stewardess, "Do you have a copy of Playboy?" "No," she replied. So he took something else to read. And then in a little bit, he took out his cigarettes and offered me one; I refused. He lit up and began to talk, "Oh, you are a preacher, are you?" He said, "I've got a problem with my two sons. I've got two teen- agers, or nearly so, one eleven and one thirteen." He said, "You know, they have an extraordinary pre-occupation with sex and I don't know what I am going to do about it." there was a Daddy ordering Playboy magazine, probably shelves filled with them at hsi house, and he is worried about his sons and their preoccu- pation with sex. Then he said, "You know (as he stubbed out his cigarette), I am having a hard time keeping them from smok- ing, as well." Now, brethren, when it reaches that stage, anybody with a lick of sense knows that this man could not possibly be any good influence over his own children, because what they see they are going to do. They are not going to listen to what is said they are going to obey what their eyes tell them that Mama and Daddy do. And the tragedy is that we, in the church, try to talk a double standard as well. We try to preach and teach to our young people a high standard of morals, when all the time we are dragging them down with what they see us do. Again, those that read magazines like Playboy subscribe to that philosophy. Of course, they do! They believe in immoral sex or they would' n't be reading it. It is a safe evaluation to say that the people who consume it, like it. And it they consume it, they are a part of it and its time that Christians decide to do something about it. ------------ Andrew M. Connally, via Bulletin Briefs, Vol. 11, No. 9, Sept. 2008. (I met brother Connally many, many years ago. It would seem from his article above, that it was written about 1967. I just wonder what he would say about how things are going in our day and time, 2008? The things that he mentioned as being per- missive in the time of his writing, would seem so mild and bland in our day and time. Even though we are not allowed to smoke on airplanes now, we are still allowed to drink alcohol beverages that are supplied by the airlines themselves. The pornography and violence found in movies of this day along with the very per- missive TV shows, seemingly have no limitations to where they can go. Even the news and sports shows are full of vulgar lang- uage. Every where you turn, media is filled with violence and immoral activities. Even the games that are sold to children to play on their computers, are filled with the most violent acts one person against another, seeing who can kill the other first with the greatest of brutality. Yes, we must clean up our act in this nation, or God will do it for us. Then it will be too late. JWS). -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20081008/3feea021/attachment-0001.html From tedwards at onemain.com Wed Oct 8 12:07:13 2008 From: tedwards at onemain.com (tedwards at onemain.com) Date: Wed, 08 Oct 2008 12:07:13 -0500 Subject: [Biblemat] B> Gospel Observer 10/5/08 Message-ID: <48ECA271.13073.8DC296@localhost> ___________________________________________________ THE GOSPEL OBSERVER ____________________________________________________ "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations...teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:19,20). ____________________________________________________ October 5, 2008 ____________________________________________________ Contents: 1) The Bliss of Those in Christ as His Coming (Lee Forsythe) 2) News & Notes ____________________________________________________ -1- The Bliss of Those in Christ at His Coming by Lee Forsythe Fifty-two percent of France does not believe in heaven. Eleven percent of Americans do not either. That percentage increases with a college education (23%), but, interestingly, decreases as people grow older (10%). Many are too occupied with the "here" to give much thought to the "hereafter." But heaven is a necessary inspiration to us, an encouragement to persist through sickness, financial problems, and even death. Let us notice what heaven is and then discuss who will be there. Heaven is a perfect place. When the apostles were stunned by Jesus' prophecy of Peter's denial, Judas' betrayal, and his own impending death, Jesus told them of a better place. "Stop letting your hearts be troubled; keep on believing in God, and also in me. In my Father's house there are many dwelling places; if there were not, I would have told you, for I am going away to make ready a place for you. And if I go and make it ready for you, I will come back and take you to be face to face with me, so that you may always be right where I am" (John 14:1-3, Charles Williams). Some believe that heaven is on earth or a state of mind, but Jesus was leaving earth -- "I go" to prepare a "place." His words offered stability to the apostles even when their world was falling apart. Heaven would only help by believing deeply (notice "believe" in vv. 1 [2x's], 10, 11 [2x's], 12, 29), "believe not only in certain doctrines, but in Jesus himself -- in him as able to carry out every promise that he has made." They could have peace because of their ultimate victory in heaven. Heaven is a permanent place. When Jesus spoke of the idea of heaven he often used the phrase "everlasting life" and "eternal life. It is more than quantity of life because the wicked will suffer "everlasting punishment" (Matt. 26:46). It is quantity plus the quality of living life as God intended, to the fullest extent possible. Although eternal life is a present possession (Jn. 3:36, "has everlasting life"), it will be fully realized in heaven. A place where we will not be pilgrims (1 Pet. 2:11), nor does it "fade... away" (1 Pet. 1:4). It will be our "homeland" (Heb. 11:15) forever. We will not be upset by houses failing to sell, furniture being scratched or broken, and, most importantly, saying heartbreaking goodbyes. Heaven is a place where we will have a perfect body. Who cannot identify with Paul as he cries out, "O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?" (Rom. 7:24) Paul is not saying that the body, per se, is evil, but that Satan uses the desires of the body to try to destroy us. As Jesus said, "The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak" (Matt. 26:41). Paul continues in Romans 8:23, " ... even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body" (cf. v. 11). In heaven our glorified bodies will be like Jesus (Phil. 3:20-21). Our "spiritual bodies" (1 Cor. 14:42-49) will be incorruptible (not subject to decay or sickness), glorious (as opposed to dishonor), and powerful (contrasted with the weakness of the fleshly body). It is comforting to think we will never have to go to a doctor, suffer the limits of old age, or finally "wear out." Our bodies will be perfectly suited for eternity. Heaven will be a place of perfect fellowship. Although the word "heaven" is used some 284 times in the New Testament, only about 15 speak of heaven as our future abode. Most of the "heaven" references are to the air where the birds fly, the place of the stars, the dwelling place of God and his angels, or in the phrase "kingdom of heaven" (31 times). Instead of "heaven" the Bible often uses the concept of being with God. This "face to face" relationship is the best part of the "treasures in heaven" (Matt. 6:20, 19:21, Lk. 12:33; Heb. 10:34). A place without people is not home. A while back I visited my grandparent's old home place. They had been dead for years, but the house still stood. The giant oak that we spent many evenings under was still there. Wonderful memories came to mind. But memories are not as good as being with my grandparents. This is what makes heaven special. We will have intimate fellowship with God. "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God" (Rev. 21: 3). Who Will Be In Heaven? Infants will be in heaven. When David had lost his child he said, "Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me" (2 Sam. 12:23). Some would suggest that David was talking about the grave, but why would this console David? David clearly anticipated being with God after death (Psa. 17:15; especially 16:10) and, thus, he would be reunited with his child. This thought has comforted many a grieving parent, including my wife and me. Several years ago we stood and watched our daughter of six and a half weeks die of congestive heart failure. The pain was intense, but we knew Lana would never feel another needle, experience pain, or cry a single tear. She would be with God. Young children will be in heaven. Paul claimed that he "was alive once without the law, but when the commandment came, sin revived and I died" (Rom. 7:9). There was a time when Paul was innocent, incapable of understanding God's law (Mosaical). But when he reached the age where he could understand, he died spiritually. The "age of accountability" is dependent upon the maturity level of the child. If one dies before he reaches that age, he will go to heaven. The mentally incompetent will be in heaven. Jesus said, "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" (Matt. 28:19). "Discipline" involves teaching. One must be able to comprehend the gospel and believe in Jesus (John 8:24). Without faith, baptism is merely a dunking in water (John 3:5). A special problem arises with those who are mentally competent but put off obedience unto God. Then some tragedy occurs and they lose their mental competency. They would be judged for the time they were "accountable" (2 Cor. 5: 10). The redeemed who remain faithful will be in heaven. Jesus said, "I am the way (both the revealer and the redeemer), the truth (reliable, trustworthy), and the life (spiritual life). No one comes to the Father except through Me" (John 14:6). By the blood of Jesus we are redeemed (Eph. 1:7) and made fit for the kingdom of God. It is only because of this forgiveness that we can have fellowship with a perfect God (Rom. 3:25-26; 1 John 1:5). A person does not need money, education, or to be of a particular nationality to go to heaven. He only needs a humble (Matt. 5:3), receptive heart (Lk. 8:15) that is willing to obey the word of God (Matt. 7:24-25). Although only a few are willing to obey (Matt. 7:14), John depicts heaven as "a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands" (Rev. 7:9). Imagine how incredible it will be to stand with that group! But heaven is not for everyone. Some might say with Machiavelli, "I desire to go to Hell, not to Heaven. In Hell I shall enjoy the company of popes, kings, and princes, but in Heaven are only beggars, monks, hermits, and apostles." No, he will not enjoy hell and heaven is far more than he envisions. It is the most wonderful place we could imagine (Rev. 21 & 22) with the best people whoever lived (Matt. 8:11; Heb. 12:22- 24). Yet the best part is that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, along with all the heavenly hosts, will be there. It is no wonder that Paul would write, "For we who are in this tent (physical body) groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed (spirit without the body), but further clothed (spiritual body), that mortality may be swallowed up by life" (2 Cor. 5:4). If we are troubled or afraid, let us meditate more deeply on heaven and receive the peace that Jesus promised (John 14:27). Problems, the apostles learned, were "light . . . for a moment," but they work "for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory" (2 Cor. 4:17). Let us not be satisfied with a description of heaven, but let us live that we may experience heaven. Heaven inspired the apostles. May it inspire us as well. Footnotes Rosten, Leo. Religions Of America. New York: Simon and Schuster (1975), pp. 341-342. Charles Spurgeon. The Treasury Of The Bible, Grand Rapids: Baker (1981), VI, p. 511. Matt. 19:29; Lk. 18:30; In. 3:16; 4:14; 5:24; 6:27, 40, 47; 12:50. Matt. 25: 46; Mk. 10:30; In. 3:15, 36; 5:39; 6:54; 10:28; 12:25; 17:2, 3. Arndt, Gingrich, and Danker, pg. 595: Phil. 3:20; Lk. 10:20; Heb. 12:23; 2 Cor. 5:1; Matt. 5: 12; Lk. 6:23; Matt. 6:20; Lk. 12:33; Col. 1:5; 1 Pet. 1:4; Lk. 19: 38; Rev. 3:12; 21:2, 10. To these Thayer (465) would add: Matt. 19:21; Mk. 10:21; Lk. 18:22; Heb. 10:34. Quoted by Bergan Evans, Dictionary of Quotations, 310, supposedly on his deathbed. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1975, pp. 341-342. -- Via Guardian of Truth XL: 1 p. 20-21, January 4, 1996 ____________________________________________________ -2- News & Notes Let those of us who are Christians be praying for these following people: Charles Walker (Haley Patrick's grandfather) had a slight heart attack late last Sunday, for which he received two stints. He is doing well. Lou Pitman has been diagnosed with cancer. It had begun in her foot as melanoma and is now moved up to her lungs. So far, she is feeling fine. Let us also continue to remember our shut-ins, the Shuffs and Maxine Pine. ____________________________________________________ MYRTLE STREET CHURCH OF CHRIST 201 Rushing Road (at the Hampton Inn) Denham Springs, Louisiana 70726 (Though previously at 1022 Myrtle Street, we are now meeting at the Hampton Inn, due to Hurricane Gustav's damage to our building. We began meeting there September 14 and will continue to do so for, at least, 6 months from that date.) Our Sunday services are as follows: 9:15 AM (Bible Class) 10:00 AM (worship) 4:00 PM (worship) Directions: If coming on I-12, take the Denham Springs exit (exit 10) and head north at the end of the exit ramp, which will put you on Range Avenue. Then go about a stone's throw to Rushing Road. (You'll see a Starbucks, Circle K, a Shell station, and a Chevron station on the corners of that intersection.) Turn left (west) on Rushing Road. Then go slightly less than 0.3 of a mile. Hampton Inn will be on the right. We are assembling in its meeting room. Please feel free to come and be with us. We would be glad to have you. evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (225) 667-4520 e-mail: tedwards at onemain.com web site: http://home.onemain.com/~tedwards/go ___________________________________________________ From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Thu Oct 9 03:05:31 2008 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Thu, 9 Oct 2008 04:05:31 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] A) SAVING THE LOST Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. A very good Thursday morn- ing to each and everyone. May God bless you and yours. Here is an article from my recent files: SAVING THE LOST We do not like to think of anyone being lost. Even children lost from their parents or someone lost in a forest or some other similar scenario. Such times are tragic and no one would enjoy such. In this article I am not thinking of this kind of being lost. I am thinking about one being lost forever in Hell. We must watch and avail ourselves of what God has done for us. He loves us and does not want anyone of us to be lost. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever be- lieves on Him should not perish but have everlasting life" (Jno. 3:16). A soul cannot be saved by force. Jesus came to save the lost, "for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost." Jesus sought to get the lost to come to Him by "inviting" them to "come" to Him, to "learn" of Him. "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly at heart, and you will find rest for your souls" (Matt. 11:28,29). He is "knocking" at the door (Rev. 3:20). Jesus is call- ing. "I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repent- ance" (Lk. 5:32). We must be impressed with the truth that men are lost. Lk. 19:10 tells us that "the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost." The very fact that Jesus came into this world proves that souls are lost. What an unpleasant thought! How tragic! But true! If Christ had not come man would be with- out hope and without God in this world. From this verse of Scripture we learn that men are lost but we also learn that men can be saved. Man is not without a means of salvation. The good news is that Jesus came to save us. And let us clearly understand, He is able to do so. "He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them" (Heb. 7:25). Some people believe that there are some who are lost adn are bound by an irrevocable decree of God that He has predestinated some from the foundation of the world that they cannot be saved. And that this number is so fixed that it cannot be changed, added to, or taken from. You know it is a funny thing, but you never see one that believes this way think- ing that he is among the number who is lost. They seem to think that they are among the predestined ones to be saved. But I assure you that the Bible does not teach such doctrine. It teach- es that there is room in the kingdom for each and everyone that desires to enter. Jesus said in Jno. 8:32, "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." Notice that Jesus said that being free from sin is conditioned upon one knowing the truth. The same book of John tells us what the truth is. It says, "Sanctify them through Thy truth, Thy Word is truth" (Jno. 17:17). The context of the passage, Jno. 8:32, shows that Jesus was speaking of being free from sin. Notice also 1 Cor. 15:1,2 - "Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preach- ed to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that Word which I preached to you -- unless you believed in vain." Notice in this passage, salvation is conditioned upon their "receiving" and "standing firm" in the gospel. We urge you to hear the gospel -- we urge you to obey the gospel in order to be saved. In closing I ask you to read 2 Thes. 1:7-9, "And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels. In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power." ----- Cecil F. Cox in Gospel Power, Vol. 15, No. 40, Oct. 5, 2008. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20081009/e90f2b93/attachment-0001.html From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Thu Oct 9 03:05:46 2008 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Thu, 9 Oct 2008 04:05:46 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] S) "LET US RUN THE RACE" Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. Here is a study from my files. Use to the glory of God. "LET US RUN THE RACE" When the inspired apostle had written about the great "heroes of faith" in Heb. 11, he then wrote: "Therefore let us also, seeing we are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the ract that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith, Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and hath sat down at the right hand of the throne of God" (Heb. 12:1,2). The Scriptures speak of the Christian life as a "race set before us," so we are urged to run that race. The apostle Paul had declared that we all must "strive lawfully" in order to receive the prize (2 Tim. 2:5). In showing how to run the race, the same apostle wrote, "Know ye not that they that run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? Even so run; that ye may attain. And every man that striveth in the games exerciseth self-control in all things. Now they do it to receive a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, as not uncertainly; so fight I, as not beating the air" (1 Cor. 9:24-26). And, when he came near the close of his life, the apostle said, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith" (2 Tim. 4:7). The scene in our text (Heb. 12:1,2) is that of a race track com- pletely surrounded (compassed about) by spectators (witnesses). The picture could be represented by a coliseum of this modern day when the Olympics are held. Those who are running the race are "compassed about" with a great cloud of witnesses. And the witnesses of the text are those "heroes of faith" mentioned in Heb. 11. Quite often when people are urged to get into the race (begin living the Christian life), they make ex- cuses of various kinds. The words of Heb. 12:1,2 make it clear tht the witnesses which surround us can answer every kind of excuse we might make. Let's try some of these excuses: "I Would Condemn My Family If I Entered The Race" --How many times Christians hear this from one who is taught God's truth, and is being encouraged to obey it. The excuse usually has to do with a close relative who is not (or was not) a Christian, and "my obedience would condemn him or her because they had not done what is being required of me." Of course, it is evident that obedience by one person cannot condemn another -- yet such is used for an excuse not to obey the gospel. The only thing that obeying the gospel can do for another is to encourage them also to do the same. But let's call on one or our "witnesses" in the stands to testi- fy. "By faith, Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh" (Heb. 11:4). From this passage it is clear that Cain and Abel had received some instructions from God about the sacrifices they were to offer. Now, Abel could have reasoned, "If I do what God told me, I'll condemn my brother, for he isn't bringing the kind of sacrifice which God commanded." But Abel didn't reason that way. He realized his obligation to God, and that obligation was not dependent on what Cain did or did not do. Some will say today that the test is too much, that they shoul- dn't have to choose between following the path taken by a relat- ive and following the path the Lord marked out. But Abel has answered that objection: "He being dead yet speaketh." The witness answers, "Get into the race. You won't condemn any- one, on their own disobedience can do that. And the cost is worth it. Run the race!" "There Is Too Much Work Required Of Those Who Enter This Race" -- In this age of 40 hour work weeks and time an half for overtime, we have more ease and leisure time than our forefath- ers would have dreamed of ever having. Yet we still hear the ex- cuse, "Being a Christian just demands too much of my time." Many seem to think that the God who gives them 168 hours a week is asking too much work when He demands any portion of that time be used for Him! Let's look around the bleachers and try to find another wit- ness. "By faith Noah, being warned of God concerning things not seen as yet, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house...and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith" (Heb. 11:7). If you will read carefully Gen. 5:32 and 7:13, you will see what the building of the ark en- tailed. For the size of the ship, imagine a football stadium. The ark would reach from the end zone seats at one end to the end zone seats at the other, and it would reach almost to the first rows of seats on each side, and it would be about as high as the average press box! And this ship took about a hundred years to build. And we complain about the work we are expected to do today! Sure, we get tired sometimes. But don't you think Noah ever got tired? We get discouraged, but didn't Noah, that "preacher of righteousness" (2 Pet. 2:5), get discouraged at the little response he got from his preaching? The witness declares, "Get into the race and run. All the effort you make, all the time you spend, and all the sacrifices required, will certainly be worth it all." "It Is Too Difficult To Live The Christian Life" -- There are difficult things connected with the Christian life, and the decision to be- come a Christian is one of them. After one has become a Christ- ian, he faces many difficult decisions. And this keeps many from serving the Lord. The Lord declared that the way to eternal life is "strait and narrow" (difficult and constricted). He hasn't promised us any easy life here. But is the choice really that diffi- cult? Another witness is called upon: "By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed to go out unto a place which he was to recei- ve for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing whither he went...By faith Abraham, being tried, offered up Isaac: yea, he that had gladly received the promises was offering up his only begotten son" (Heb. 11:8,17). In reading Gen. 12 and 22, we find the depth of faith of this man. God told him to leave his home, his country, his father's family and go to a strange land. That was hard, but Abraham did it. Later God told him to offer his only son, Isaac, as a burnt offering, and again Abraham demons- trated his faith by his obedience. Have you ever been called on to meet that severe a test? No one denies that the Christian life can be difficult. But be- fore you say, "It is too hard," listen to this witness, Abraham: "Get in the race. There is nothing you will be called on to do that is too much, no sacrifice too great, for the reward that God prom- ises you. You can do it!" "I've A Good Position In My Life And I Think It Will Affect That" -- The apostle Paul wrote, "Not many wise, not many mighty, not many noble are called" (1 Cor. 1:26). Jesus shows that we can- not serve two masters, and this is undoubtedly one reason that many refuse to become Christians. They enjoy their station in life, their financial success, their social standing, etc., and Christ- ianity demands first place in their lives. Many "good positions" are actually founded upon ungodliness, and these would have to be given up to serve Christ. So some answer, "I have too good a postion, I just cannot give it up." By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; choosing rather to share ill treat- ment with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; accounting the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt: for he looked unto the recompense of reward" (Heb. 11:24-26). Here was a man who, as the king's grandson, could have had great wealth adn a good position -- maybe even be king one day. But Moses gave all this up to serve God, and lead God's people -- an ungrateful and constant- ly complaining people -- to a land that he was not to live to enter. Was it worth it? Rev. 15:3 pictures the redeemed singing "the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb." Moses gave up far more than most of us ever dream of having, but who can question whether he thought it was worth it? When one complains today, then, about giving up a good postition, Moses answers: "It is worth it. Any position offered by the world can never compare with the position which the God of heaven offers to the faithful. There are many other excuses that people give for not obeying the gospel and becoming Christians. Such as: "I Have Been Mistreated." "I Am Too Sinful" etc. Do you not think that Jesus could have offered many excuses for not doing the things that brought about His suffering and final crucifixion upon the old rugged cross? We might consider the song that we sing: "I gave, I gave, My life for thee. What has thou given for Me?" --- Adapted from an article by Clem Thurman in Gospel Minutes, Vol. 57, No. 41, Oct. 10, 2008. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20081009/52ef87af/attachment-0001.html From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Fri Oct 10 04:02:07 2008 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Fri, 10 Oct 2008 05:02:07 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] A) ARE YOU A CHRISTIAN? Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. A very good Friday morning to each and everyone. May God bless you and yours. Here is an article from my recent files: ARE YOU A CHRISTIAN? The word "Christian" is sometimes used rather freely and without regard to its New Testament usage. Some folks apply the term to practically anyone who has any connection to some religious group or embraces certain moral principles. Others use the word to describe any nation in which a majority of the population follows some forrm of "Christianity." But what exact- ly IS a Christian? Can we describe nations, families, organizatio- ns, etc. as "Christian"? The word only appears three times in the New King James Version. Luke records that the disciples were first called Christ- ians in Antioch of Syria (Acts 11:26). Prior to that time, followers of Jesus were called "disciples," "brethren," or "saints." The congregation in Antioch was not called "Christian;" the individ- ual members of that congregation were called Christians. When Paul made his defense before the Roman governor Festus and King Agrippa, he claimed that he preached exactly what the prophets of old had predicted, that the Christ would suffer and rise from the dead. The King's response was, "You almost persuade me to become a Christian" (Acts 26:28). Paul responded, "I would to God that not only you, but also all who hear me today, might become both almost and altogether such as I am, except for these chains" (vs. 29). It is clear from Paul's response that Agrippa used the word "Christian" to mean a dis- ciple of Jesus. It is evident from the apostle Peter's use of "Christian" that the word refers to a person rather than a nation, family, etc. Peter wrote, "Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter or by this name" (1 Pet. 4:16). From an etymological viewpoint, the word "Christian" means one who pertains to or belongs to Christ. The church, according to Paul, was purchased with the blood of Christ (Acts 20:28) and thus belongs to Him. It is no surprise that local con- gregations in the firs century were referred to as churches of Christ" (Rom. 16:16). Such a name indicates ownership or poss- ession. Paul affirmed that the individual members of the church of Christ at Corinth did not belong to themselves; they had been "bought at a price" (1 Cor. 6:19,20). The price of their purchase, of course, was the precious blood of Christ. A Christian, then, is one who has been purchased by the blood of Christ and thus belongs to Him. But when does that "purchase" take place? Those who are living in sin have yield- ed themselves to Satan, but when the blood of Christ cleanses them from their sins they are redeemed from the slavery of sin and then they belong to Jesus Christ (1 Pet. 1:19; Eph. 1:7). Listen to the words of Ananias to Saul of Tarsus, "And now why tarriest thou or why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord" (Acts 22: 16). At the point of water baptism, an individual is cleansed by the blood of Jesus and purchased to be one of God's family, i.e., becomes a Christian. (See Gal. 3:26,27). ----- Allen Dvorak in Gospel Power, Vol. 15, No. 40, Oct. 5, 2008.


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New MapQuest Local shows what's happening at your destination. Dining, Movies, Events, News & more. Try it out (http://local.mapquest.com/?ncid=emlcntnew00000002) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20081010/0e93e485/attachment-0001.html From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Fri Oct 10 04:02:17 2008 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Fri, 10 Oct 2008 05:02:17 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] S) DILIGENCE Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. Here is a study from my files. Use to the glory of God. DILIGENCE TWO OF MY DAUGHTERS PLAY SOCCER: and the oldest has been playing for seven years. Her team is composed of a talent- ed group of girls having finished their season with an undefeat- ed record. You would think these thirteen-year-olds would be consumed with soccer at this point. But you'd be wrong. It's not that the upcoming playoffs are unimportant to them-- they would really like to win. And they all enjoy the game and the comaraderie and the competition. But they are still thirteen-year- old girls, which means that life has recently supplied some dis- tractions. A number of them have been playing together for years and at times their world revolves around soccer. I've seen periods where everything in Haley's life was a reminder of her enterpris- ing athletic endeavor. We looked for soccer stuff for every birth- day or Christmas gift. Her room was a tribute to the sport, from soccer pictures on the wall to the little soccer ball hanging from the pull chain on the ceiling fan. She had soccer pendants and soccer earrings and wore some soccer-themed T-shirts almost constantly. (And to think that I gave her golf clubs at two! What a disappointment). There have been years where those girls lived and died with each win or loss -- but not this season. Suddenly other things interest them. They lollygag at pract- ice talking about some bushy-haired boy or an upcoming drama- tic production. They wear makeup and have ribbons in their hair and they worry about how they look after a game. Needless to say, their distractions have prompted a measure of ambivalence about this whole soccer thing, and while they certainly want to win, I've noticed this year that a good bit of the diligence, deter- mination and focus of the past is rarely present. It drives the coach and some of the parents crazy, but I find the whole thing amusing. And ... strangely familiar. It seems that most of life's pursuits run this same course. We immerse ourselves in some endeavor and develop a passion for it that may well occupy our attention and focus for months or years. And then some thing or things distract us and we lose our enthusiasm for that long-standing interest, offering only a fraction of the time and thought and effort that once character- ized our life. People do this with their occupation or their education. We can fall into this pattern with our families. And such a trend cert- ainly characterizes our recreational activities, from softball to hunting to tennis to woodworking to fishing to painting to what- ever the next passion might be. Sadly, we do this with discipleship. It seems apparent that both individuals and churches are somewhat cyclical in both enthusiasm and activity. We tend to ebb and flow, wax and wane. We will develop and maintain ener- gy for a period of time only to become distracted by life. We lose our diligence and determination and begin to lollygag around in regard to spiritual activity. Prayer becomes intermittent; worship a chore; sacrifice an annoyance; temperance a frustrat- ion. And God have mercy on the soul of anyone who would dare offer a word of concern, correction, warning, or rebuke dur- ing such at time. But we must appreciate the danger associated with such ambivalence. We are the most susceptible to temptat- ion and discouragement and callousness when we are apathetic Jesus criticized the Laodiceans because of their lukewarm- ness (Rev. 3:14-22), and He pleads with the brethren in Hebrews that they would not "drift away" (Heb. 2:1) or "come short" of God's rest (4:1) or "become sluggish" (6:12). He recommends repeatedly tht they "be diligent" in their service to God (4:11). In fact, God demands "diligence" from His people as it is the very quality that counteracts the inconsistency of service manifested in lethargy and indifference. Peter tells us to "give all diligence" in adding to our faith (2 Pet. 1:5f) and to "be even more diligent to make your calling and election sure" (1:10). And he conclud- es his epistle with the admonition, "be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless" (3:14). The word means "haste" and was used to denote "earnestness in accom- plishing, promoting, or striving after anything" (Thayer, p. 585). It is an act of the will, not driven by circumstances or environ- ment. We decide to be diligent. And, therein, is the difficulty. Consistency in any endeavor, and particularly in service to Christ, is a matter of determination. There will be distractions and temptations. Satan will continue to offer a cornucopia of life's pleasures and pains. We wil have family considerations, occupational demands, and recreational passions. Some days we will be occupied by physical or emotional pain. But diligence forges ahead anyway, because it has decided to. It pays attent- ion in practice, no matter which boy is watching from the side- line. It decides to be consistent, focused, and active. And we need to practice it, because...life is not a game that we can afford to lose. ------ Russ Bowman in Biblical Insights, Vol. 8, No. 3, March 2008.


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New MapQuest Local shows what's happening at your destination. Dining, Movies, Events, News & more. Try it out (http://local.mapquest.com/?ncid=emlcntnew00000002) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20081010/dcfb56ac/attachment-0001.html From GLClair at aol.com Fri Oct 10 10:25:39 2008 From: GLClair at aol.com (GLClair at aol.com) Date: Fri, 10 Oct 2008 11:25:39 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] Article - Do I Deny Reality Message-ID: Do I Deny Reality (I.e. the Existence of Truth)? By _glclair at aol.com_ (mailto:glclair at aol.com) One of the real problems to conversion with the un-churched is the tendency to deny the existence of religious specifics. This may be referred to as we have suggested in the title, ?Do I Deny the Existence of Truth??? The great masses of humanity live from day to day with the uncertainty of life and future existence; yet, they do not know or will not avail themselves of the opportunity to know about God and His plans for their eternal future. MAN POSSESSES AN ETERNAL SOUL: Luke 12:16-20, 16 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: 17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? 18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. 20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? (KJV) MAN?S ETERNAL SOUL IS PRICELESS: Mark 8:36-37, 36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? 37 Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? (KJV) GOD DETERMINES THE ETERNAL STATE OF A MAN?S SOUL: Matt 10:28-33, 28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul : but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. 30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows. 32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. 33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. (KJV) EACH PERSON MUST MAKE THE DECISION ABOUT THE PLACE WHERE THEIR ETERNAL SOUL WILL RESIDE: Heb 10:38-39, 38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. 39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul. (KJV) John 3:15-17, 15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. (KJV) Hebrews 5:8-9, 8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; 9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; (KJV) John 17:1-3, 1 These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: 2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. 3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. (KJV) THERE WILL BE AN END TO THE UNIVERSE: 2 Peter 3:9-14, 9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. 11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, 12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? 13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. 14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. (KJV) EVERY SOUL THAT EVER EXISTED WILL FINALLY BE ASIGNED TO ONE OF TWO PLACES (i.e. either heaven or the lake of fire): John 5:27-30, 27 And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. 28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. 30 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me. (KJV) Rom 14:10-12, 10 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. 11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. 12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. (KJV) 2 Cor 5:10-11, 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. 11 Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences. (KJV) Heb 9:27, 27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment. (KJV) Matt 25:31-33, 31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: 32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: 33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. (KJV) Rev 20:12-15, 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. (KJV) SUMMATION: Today is your opportunity to become a Christian and someday, after a lifetime of faithful service enter heaven. You know you ought to obey and acknowledge the one true God by your actions as you live here on the earth; will you do what is right today? Scriptural references to help you make the decision: Acts 4:12, 12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. (KJV) 2 Cor 6:2, 2(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation. Phil 2:12-15, 12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. 14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings: 15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; (KJV) Titus 2:11-12, 11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; (KJV) 1 Peter 1:5-9, 5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: 8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: 9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. (KJV) Friday, October 10, 2008 All God?s Truth is available to all mankind Via the Written Word; the Bible! **************New MapQuest Local shows what's happening at your destination. Dining, Movies, Events, News & more. Try it out (http://local.mapquest.com/?ncid=emlcntnew00000002) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20081010/c2946173/attachment-0001.html From thornhill1 at frontiernet.net Fri Oct 10 13:58:51 2008 From: thornhill1 at frontiernet.net (thomas thornhill) Date: Fri, 10 Oct 2008 13:58:51 -0500 Subject: [Biblemat] The Buckhorn Teacher 10-05-08 Message-ID: THE BUCKHORN TEACHER "Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching." 2.Tim.4:2 Buckhorn church of Christ - Thomas Thornhill - editor. 13675 Hwy 341, Randolph MS 38864-9117. Tel. 662-568-2960. Cell 662-419-5378. E-mail thornhill1 at frontiernet.net Vol.7 October 5, 2008 No.10 The articles in this issue make some good points that I have found useful. Take the time to read and study them carefully. If any of the points apply to you, so be it. Let them motivate you to put forth the necessary effort that is required to serve the Lord faithfully. IT IS EASY TO START MISSIN" Ward Hogland - Boonevlle MS I was doing a little personal work down in the "lone star" state of Texas when I ran upon a sheep who had strayed from the fold. He had been grazing on sneeze weed and running with goats so long that he had almost lost his identity. I said "Brother I haven't seen you in a month of Sundays." He replied, "Broder Hogland it is so easy to start missin." Well, this straying sheep told the truth! Why is it so easy to start missing? Here are a few reasons. 1. It is easy because it pleases the old devil. He works hard to keep us from attending the services of the Lord. 2. It is easy to start missing because it is convenient. It takes some time to get ready and go to church on Sunday morning, Sunday night and Wednesday night. 3. It is easy because there are other things we like to do. Selfishness kicks in and we do what we desire rather than what God commands. 4. It is easy because "attendance" is not high on the priority list. We had rather go visit aunt Mary and uncle John or play golf! 5. It is easy to miss because it is sinful and we enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season (Heb.11:25; 10:25). "THAT'S MORE THAN I AM SUPPOSED TO DO" Harry E. Rice Practically all progress in the world has been made by those who did more than their share, "more than they were supposed to do." Our independence was won by George Washington and his men who "did more than they were supposed to do" as they suffered privation at Valley Forge while others were living in luxury not far away. Many a lad has been set up in business or given a college education by parents who "did more than they were supposed to do" while neighbor boys are left without a start in life by satisfied parents. Many a sick child has been brought back to health by a sacrificing mother who did more than her share. The church of the Lord has been established in many places in America by sacrificing Christians who did far more than their share - they could have worshipped down the street - but they did more than they were supposed to do (according to the opinion of men) and established the Lord's church. Most of the work around the church building is done by Christians who "do more than they are supposed to do" while many are perfectly willing that they should do it. (This reminds me of something I heard one time. A preacher was asked it there was anyone at the church where he preached that were willing to work. He said, "Everyone in this church is willing, five percent are willing to work, and the other 95 percent are willing to let them do it." - t.t.). If it were not for those who do more than they are supposed to do by giving themselves, this congregation wouldn't grow, but would stagnate and die. After all, "doing more that we are supposed to do" as men judge is the very crux of Christianity. It means 'going more than half way,' 'turning the other cheek,' 'loving one's enemies,' 'praying for those who persecute us,' 'giving money to the needy,' 'working for the Lord while others are engaged in pleasure.' Yes, it means all this and more. But this will bring eternal life for the faithful, all of whom "did more than they were supposed to do." IS IT LATER THAN YOU THINK? Someone has prepared a very interesting time table. He made a mathematical parallel of a life span with 24 hours. Study it carefully, it will cause you to seriously reflect on your life, causing you to see what you have accomplished or left unaccomplished so far. If you are 15 years old it's 8:15 a.m. If you are 20 years old it's 11:08 a.m. If you are 25 years old it's 12:25 p.m. If you are 30 years old it's 1:25 p.m. If you are 35 years old it's 2:59 p.m. If you are 40 years old it's 4:16 p.m. If you are 45 years old it's 5:43 p.m. If you are 50 years old it's 6:50 p.m. If you are 55 years old it's 8:08 p.m. It you are 60 years old it's 10:11 p.m. If you are 70 years old it's approaching midnight. When the bell tolls for you at the midnight hour of death, on which side of God's judgment seat will you stand? It is later than you think! - Marshall Patton. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20081010/212230c8/attachment-0001.html From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Sat Oct 11 03:14:38 2008 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Sat, 11 Oct 2008 04:14:38 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] S) "GIVE US A KING" Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. Here is a study from my rec- ent files. Use to the glory of God. "GIVE US A KING" Samuel was a great servant of God. For forty years he judg- ed Israel. He was faithful to God and guided the nation of Israel across many hard and treacherous places. He had kept the worship pure while he was in his younger days, but in his latter years, he begain to let things slip. "And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel. Now the name of his first-born was Joel; and the name of his second, Abijah: they were judges in Beer-sheba. And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted justice" (1 Sam. 8:1-3). The people of Israel had great respect for Samuel. But they had no respect for those two sons. I am sure that Samuel had teh ambition that seems to be in the heart of every father -- to have his sons carry on his work. So, he had turned over to these two sons the work of judging Israel. It was a great respon- sibility, which Samuel had done so very well in his younger years. But the work called for pure hearts, which those two sons seemingly did not have. It called for clean hands, and they didn't have such. It called for unselfishness, they lacked in this also. It called for dedication to doing the Will of God, and lead- ing the people in God's way. But notice that they "walked no in His ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and per- verted justice." The Sons Violated God's Law: -- Bribery and the perversion of justice have always received the condemnation of God, and of honest people. Moreover, the Lord, in the very law which these young men were supposed to teach and follow, and in which they were to guide the people of Israel, expressly condemned what they were doing. God had said, "Keep thee far from a false matter; and the innocent and righteous slay thou not: for I will not justify the wicked. And thou shalt take no bribe: for a bribe blindeth them that have sight, and perverteth the words of the righteous" (Exo. 23:7,8). But these young men loved money, and that love led them astray. As it will anyone today. "But they that are minded to be rich fall into a temptation and a snare and many foolish and hurtful lusts, such as drown men in destruct- ion and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil: which some reaching after have been led astray from the faith, and have pierced themselves through with many sorrows" (1 Tim. 6:9,10). How humiliated must Samuel have felt at the conduct of tho- se two sons he loved. He trusted them. It is hard for us to see that our boys can do such wrong, although we can see it clearly in the sons of others. Samuel's own sons had sinned, and griev- ously, too. Not only did they violate the laws of God, but they broke trust with all the people of Israel. They had prostituted the highest office in God's government over Israel for their own self- ishness and dishonest gain. The people of Israel were suffering the injustice of the rottenness of Joel and Abijah. Finally, the elders of Israel come to Samuel with their complaint and request for a king. The Change Proposed By The Elders: -- How long this outrage- ous conduct of Joel and Abijah went on, we just don't know for sure. But it was long enough for the nation of Israel to become aroused and outraged. The elders were the leaders of God's people. They came to Samuel, and they were the right ones to do so. When they had presented their charges, they then made their requests (or, demands). "Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah: and they said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations" (1 Sam. 8:4,5). But let us notice just what they are demanding. They did not ask for reform, but for a revolution. They did not ask that the abuse be stopped, they demanded tht the form of government be changed. They did not ask for honest judges to rule over them, they asked for a king! God's plan was for the nation to be governed and ruled by judges. But the elders and the people were not going to pattern their request after God's plan. It was no longer what God wanted, but what they wanted. They were through with God's plan. "Like All The Nations": -- There is something majestic about the dignity and splendor of a king and his court. The pomp and show give the subjects of the king a feeling of ecstasy and cause them to forget the high taxes and the oppression that nearly all kings practice. Israel had seen from afar the splendid trappings of kingly possessions. They had heard of the splend- or of the kingly courts. They knew nothing of the sordidness of such things. To them the nations about them seemed to have solved the problem: "Now make us a king to judge us like all the nations." This request from the elders did not sit well with Samuel. He was deeply grieved. These were his people, whom he had judg- ed for many years, and for whom he faithfully served. The sins of his two sons weighed heavily on his heart, and the shame of their betrayal was hard for the old man to bear. Now the people whom he judged and for whom he had fought against their ene- mies had turned on him! Stricken with grief, the old man went to God in prayer. The People Have Their Way: -- How much comfort it must have been for Samuel to lay his troubles at the throne of God. But what a terrible thing God revealed to him. "And Jehovah said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee; for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected Me, that I should not be king over them. Accord- ing to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, in that they have forsaken Me, and served other gods, so do they also unto thee. Now therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit thou shalt protest solemnly unto them, and shalt show them the man- ner of the king that shall reign over them" (1 Sam. 8:7-9). "They have not rejected thee, but they have rejected Me." How those words must have stung Samuel, for these were the people he had led and loved for many years, and had taught them to respect God and His Will. Thsi was outright rebellion against God. Their indignation had gone too far. The sins of Samuel's sons has aroused the indigneaiton of the people; indignation had grown into rebellion, and this rebellion was against God. What a terrible thing these leaders of the people had started. Reasonable reform was out of the question now. Their minds were made up. Samuel warned them that kings were not what they needed, but now they would have none of his advice. God reminded Samuel that the people were following the rebellious steps of their fathers: "According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, in that they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so do they also unto thee" (1 Sam. 8:8). In spite of this solemn warning, the people kept to their purpose. "But the people refus- ed to hearken unto the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay: but we will have a king over us, that we also may be like all the nations, and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles" (1 Sam. 8:19,20). They got their king, but (as their history shows) they paid dearly for it. Reform Or Revolt: -- In the church of Christ the Lord ordained singing in our worship. "Speaking one to another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord...teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts unto God" (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16). But the tune got started too high, or too low, or too fast or too slow. The interest lagged. Was there something wrong with God's plan? No! We were just not giving it a chance. Congregational singing is the finest singing on earth, if the people will sing. But the leader waited until he go to the church building to select his songs, and no one else had given the singing any thought. All we thought we needed was a comfortable seat. Of course, it was a poor song service. And a change was sought. But instead of studying and practicing the songs and work- ing to make the singing such as was pleasing to God, some folk wanted to change it all. To increase the volume, they added an organ or piano -- this could make more sound whether or not the people sang. This was the way other folk did, and we would pattern our worship after theirs. It really did not matter whether or not God had authorized that in worship. So, the attitude pre- vailed: "Give us a king." So it went in various elements of the work of the church. If some part of the work or worship lagged, folk put in something borrowed from Babylon or Rome to take its place. If someone or some group should treat our home as people have treated the "house of God, which is the church of the living God" (1 Tim. 3:15), we would not like it. Well, neither does God like it. We don't need a king. We just need to apply ourselves, diligently and faithfully, to follow the plan the Lord has given us in the Scriptures, His Holy Word. Let's determine to do it the Lord's way! --------- Clem Thurman in Gospel Minutes, Vol. 57, No. 39, Sept. 26, 2008.


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New MapQuest Local shows what's happening at your destination. Dining, Movies, Events, News & more. Try it out (http://local.mapquest.com/?ncid=emlcntnew00000002) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20081011/24df6b92/attachment-0001.html From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Sat Oct 11 03:14:26 2008 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Sat, 11 Oct 2008 04:14:26 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] A) GOD HAS SPOKEN Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. A very good Saturday morn- ing to each and everyone. May God bless you and yours. Here is an article from my recent files: GOD HAS SPOKEN Worship in spirit and in truth (Jno. 4:24) is determined by what God has said to us by His Son (Heb, 1:1-4). We cannot assume or presume that something pleases God because it pleases us. Neither can we presume that what God approved under the Law given by Moses is the thing that God wants us to do today. God ordained the lampstand with its burning lamps, a special incense to be burned, a separate priesthood of Aaron's descendants, animal and vegetable offerings, and the use of mechanical instruments of music in the worship in the days of the Old Testament. We are not authorized by the Old Testament. Jesus told His disciples to go and teach all nations, baptizing believers, and teaching them "to observe all things that I have commanded you" (Matt. 28:18-20; Mk. 16:15,16). People love mechanical instruments of music. So many assume that it has always been and continues to be accepted as a part of the worship of God. History indicates that it began to be used several hundred years after the church was establish- ed. It became a part of the Catholic movement and was rejected by the Orthodox Greek Catholic Church. It was also rejected by several of the reformers as being Romish. What we do in worsh- ip to God should not be based on our human desires and wisdom, but rather upon authorization found in the New Testa- ment. We can really begin to draw near to God when we learn to like what HE desires, and apply ourselves to DOING always only the things that please Him (Jno. 8:29). We know that SING- ING pleases Him, but no where in the New Testament do we find that PLAYING on mechanical instruments of music in the worship of God pleases Him. (Eph. 5:17-20; Col. 3:14-17). The beauty of worship according toe the New Testament is found in part in its simplicity in which everyone is to be engag- ed. EVERY saint can worship and be active together as they SING and make melody in their HEARTS to the Lord. But in the use of mechanical instruments of music in the worship only ONE or TWO are involved in the PLAYING of such instruments. Thanksgiving, devotion and dependance are expressed by each and everyone as they SING praises of devotion to God. Adorat- ion and fellowship flow from each and every heart that yearns to be pleasing to God in their collective worship. All such is done "In the name or by the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ, giving thanks to God the Father through Him" (Col. 3:16,17). Such worship can be conducted in the simplest of meeting plac- es by the poorest of all saints, with the participation of every single soul, with the full assurance of faith that God is well-pleas- ed because of the assurance of the Scriptures. Whom, then, are we seeking to please in our worship? Ourselves, or God? ------- Gilbert Alexander.


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New MapQuest Local shows what's happening at your destination. Dining, Movies, Events, News & more. Try it out (http://local.mapquest.com/?ncid=emlcntnew00000002) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20081011/1b46bb77/attachment-0001.html From dmillwee at bak.rr.com Sat Oct 11 09:13:51 2008 From: dmillwee at bak.rr.com (Dick Millwee) Date: Sat, 11 Oct 2008 07:13:51 -0700 Subject: [Biblemat] Bulletin Articles Message-ID: <9634C124759E41ECA4B2AEEC14014CA6@P4Desk> Attached are the articles for tomorrow's bulletin. Dick Millwee dmillwee at bak.rr.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20081011/4b3e3187/attachment-0001.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: 10_12 LOVE AND RULES.wpd Type: application/octet-stream Size: 58694 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20081011/4b3e3187/attachment-0002.obj -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: 10_12_2.wpd Type: application/octet-stream Size: 154235 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20081011/4b3e3187/attachment-0003.obj From wswalker310 at juno.com Fri Oct 10 17:29:31 2008 From: wswalker310 at juno.com (Wayne S Walker) Date: Fri, 10 Oct 2008 17:29:31 -0500 Subject: [Biblemat] hymn study, "Never Alone" Message-ID: <20081011.095149.3388.1.wswalker310@juno.com> Wayne Walker here with another weekly hymn study. "NEVER ALONE" "...I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee" (Heb. 13:5). INTRO.: A song which reminds us that Jesus has promised never to leave us nor to forsake us is "Never Alone" (#488 in Sacred Selections for the Church). Most modern books identify the text as anonymous and the tune as as coming from an unknown source of the nineteenth century. The Praise and Worship Hymnal of the Lillenas Publishing Co. has a song by Eliza Edmunds Hewitt copyrighted in 1898 with this title and the following first stanza: "'Fear not, I am with thee'--Blessed golden ray, Like a star of glory Lighting up my way! Through the clouds of midnight This bright promise shown: 'I will never leave thee, Never will leave thee alone." The tune, which is practically identical to the one in modern books is attributed to C. F. O. and said to be arranged by William James Kirkpatrick. Cyberhymnal, citing Time Magazine (July 29, 1929) as it source, attributes the words that are in most modern books to Ludie Carrington Day Pickett, who was born on Mar. 31, 1867, at Bayou Tunica, LA. A teacher at Asbury College in Wilmore, KY, she was president of the Kentucky chapter of the Women's Christian Temperance Union. The date given for the song is 1897. Her other works include Careful Cullings for Children, co-authored with her husband L. L. Pickett, in 1903. She died, probably at Wilmore, KY, on Mar. 1, 1953. If the 1897 date for the song is correct, it may well be that Hewitt's version was in imitation of Mrs. Pickett's. Some sources identify the tune as an English melody. Many arrangements have been made of the song. Ira Hoffman arranged it for the Evangelical Publishing Co. of Chicago, IL, in Best Hymns No. 3. Baylus Benjamin McKinney arranged it for the Sunday School Board of the Southern Baptist Convention in Broadman's The Broadman Hymnal and Christian Praise, also in Benson's All American Church Hymnal. Fred Jacky arranged it as found in Standard Publishing's Favorite Hymns Revised, Tabernacle Publishing Co.'s Tabernacle Hymns, the Sword of the Lord's Soul Stirring Songs and Hymns, and Aaron Weaver's Zion's Praises. Eldon Burkwall arranged it for Singspiration's Great Hymns of the Faith. Uncredited arrangements appear in Tennessee Music's 1951 Church Hymnal, Lexicon Music's 1976 New Church Hymnal, Tempo Music's 1996 Rejoice Hymnal, the Old School Hymnal's 1983 Eleventh Edition, and North Valley's 1999 Songs and Hymns of Revival. Another version with words by V. A. White beginning, "Lonely? no, not lonely, While Jesus standeth by," and a similar tune, copyright in 1896 by George Elderkin, appeared in The Redeemer's Praise published by Elderkin. As a result of all these arrangements, several variations in wording are found in different sources. Among hymnbooks published by members of the Lord's church during the twentieth century for use in churches of Christ, the song appeared in the 1917 Selected Revival Songs edited by F. L. Rowe, in a 1900 arrangement of the words by Palmer Hartsough and the music by James Henry Fillmore; the 1940 Complete Christian Hymnal edited by Marion Davis, in an arrangement by J. E. Thomas; and the 1965 Christian Hymnsongs and the 1973 Great Inspirational Songs both edited by Albert E. Brumley. Today, it may be found in Sacred Selections in an arrangement by V. O. Fossett, copyrighted in 1949 by Stampes Baxter Music and Printing Co. The song seeks to bring comfort to the Christian's mind with the knowledge that Jesus will never leave us. I. Stanza 1 tells us that He will not leave us in life's storms "I've seen the lightning flashing, And heard the thunder roll; I've felt sin's breakers dashing, Trying to conquer my soul. I've heard the voice of my Savior Telling me still to fight on; He promised never to leave me, Never to leave me alone." A. The flash of lightning and the roll of thunder are often used to symbolize the trials and tribulations of life, as a ship would experience a storm upon the sea: Ps. 107:25-27 B. Thus, the breakers dashing would represent Satan's attempts to conquer our souls: 1 Pet. 5:8 C. Yet, Jesus will remain with us telling us to fight on and not grow weary or lose heart: Gal. 6:9 II. Stanza 2 says that He will not leave us in times of temptation "The world's fierce winds are blowing Temptations sharp and keen; I feel a peace in knowing My Savior stands between. He stands to shield me from danger When earthly friends are gone; He promised never to leave me, Never to leave me alone." A. As long as we live in this life there will be temptations sharp and keen: Jas. 1:14-15 B. However, Jesus will stand between us and temptation to give us peace: Phil. 4:7 C. His purpose in this is to shield us from danger and make a way of escape: 1 Cor. 10:13 III. Stanza 3 says that He will not leave us when in affliction "When in affliction's valley I'm treading the road of care, My Savior helps me to carry My cross when heavy to bear. My feet, entangled with briars, (Are) ready to cast me down; My Savior whispers His promise, Never to leave me alone." A. Everyone experiences a certain amount of affliction in this life, including Christians: 1 Thess. 1:6 B. However, Jesus will help us to carry the cross that He has commanded us to bear: Matt. 16:24 C. Even when are feet are entangled with briars and ready to cast us down, He promises that He will be with us: Matt. 28:20 IV. Stanza 4 says that He will not leave us in sin "He died for me on the mountain, For me they pierced His side; For me He opened the fountain, The crimson, cleansing tide. For me He's waiting in glory, Seated upon His throne; He promised never to leave me, Never to leave me alone." A. We know that He does not want to leave us in sin because He died for us on the mountain of Calvary: 1 Cor. 15:3 B. As a result, He opened a fountain that is for our cleansing from sin: Zech. 13:1 C. Thus, He is now waiting in glory, seated upon His throne to make intercession for us: Heb. 7:25 V. Stanza 5 says that He will not leave us in eternal punishment "He gives me the sweet promise That He will come again. And when He reigns in glory, And I to heaven attain, I shall in that dear country Be numbered with His own, And live with Him forever, Never, no, never alone." A. One way that Jesus is with us is through His sweet promise that He will come again: Jn. 14:1-3 B. And He promises that just as He sat down with His Father on His throne, those who overcome will sit with Him on His throne: Rev. 3:21 C. Therefore, we have the hope of escaping eternal punishment and being numbered with the righteous in that dear country: Rev. 22:1-5 CONCL.: The chorus re-emphasizes the fact that Jesus has promised never to leave us as long as we serve Him faithfully to the best of our ability. "No, never alone! No, never alone! He promised never to leave me, Never to leave me alone. No, never alone! No, never alone! He promised never to leave me, Never to leave me alone." All Christians face various trials, temptations, afflictions, and other difficulties in this life. However, it is a source of great comfort and strength to know that our Savior, who died to save us and wants us to go to heaven with Him, will leave us "Never Alone." Brotherly, Wayne S. Walker 9024 Amona Dr. Affton, MO 63123 home phone: (314) 638-4710 e-mail: wswalker310 at juno.com website: www.defenderoftruth.com Notes: Other hymn studies are available at the Defender of Truth website. Also, some of my previous hymn studies are now included in book that I have written entitled Songs of Zion. It can be ordered from the publisher by calling 1-800-423-2484 or going to www.faith-facts.com . And I have a Hymn Studies blog at http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/hymnstudies/ . In addition, since this has been called to my attention, I now feel it necessary to include this disclaimer with each message. As owner of this list, I have nothing to do with the ads and links that Yahoogroups sends out with the Hymn of the Day posts nor do I have any control over them. I do not necessarily approve of them and I do not always endorse those who have placed them with Yahoogroups. ____________________________________________________________ Click here to find experienced pros to help with your home improvement project. http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/fc/Ioyw6i3nHrl7HKSX0NYAfQqQcUmdZAFE8wEo3tnqmld0YJ0an8QpWM/ From crxtra at gmail.com Sat Oct 11 18:32:05 2008 From: crxtra at gmail.com (Steven C. Harper) Date: Sat, 11 Oct 2008 16:32:05 -0700 Subject: [Biblemat] A> The Preachers of Doubt Message-ID: <000001c92bf9$93986920$bac93b60$@com> From: TRUTH & REASON, a bulletin of the Glendale church of Christ, Glendale, AZ. Editor: Steven Harper October 12, 2008 The Preachers of Doubt Even as the Israelites were being delivered from Egyptian bondage, they found reason to doubt. Having just seen the power of God demonstrated so thoroughly by the plagues which decimated Egypt, they should have known that God had the power and will to deliver, yet when they stood at the edge of the Red Sea and looked back to see Pharaoh's approaching army, some complained to Moses, "Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us in bringing us out of Egypt? Is not this what we said to you in Egypt, 'Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians'? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness" (Exod. 14:11, 12). Despite the recent evidence to the contrary, some of the Israelites doubted the power of God would deliver them and complained that they were going to die in the wilderness. Just three days after God delivered them from that seemingly hopeless situation, they complained about water at Marah (Exod. 15:22-24); about six weeks later, they were complaining again while in the Wilderness of Sin (16:1-3); and they complained again at Rephidim (17:1-3). This was all before they even reached Sinai! When they traveled up to Kadesh-Barnea, they sent spies into the land of promise and 10 of the 12 came back with a bad report, saying, "We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we are" (Num. 13:31), and the people complained again, ready to appoint new leaders and head back to Egypt (14:1-4). It seems that for all God had done and for all they had seen, they still found reason to doubt and, by doing so, impugned the character of God by implying that He was not able to do these things. But the doubt was unfounded. It wasn't as if the people had reason to doubt, for God had amply supplied enough evidence to cause them to believe in Him and trust that He would provide. In effect, they have made God a liar because they did not believe His 'testimony' or His evidence. The apostle John wrote by inspiration that those who deny the testimony of God regarding His Son make Him to be a liar (1st John 5:10); but what about those today who are preaching doubt regarding other portions of God's testimony - on subjects such as salvation, our worship, marriage and divorce, and even our fellowship with others who profess faith in Christ, but who are not of Christ? Do we think that there will not be consequences for this? Do we not realize that when we say that 'one cannot know God's will' on a particular subject or when one says 'we cannot know the truth' on any particular subject that God has addressed, then we are once again impugning the character of God and calling Him a liar? It is very troubling to me - more often as of late - that when I am discussing certain subjects that are clearly taught within God's written word, someone feels compelled to say, 'We cannot be so dogmatic on this!' Or, when someone points out the erroneous teaching of a brother on a subject such as marriage and divorce, someone will say, 'There are many differences among brethren and we don't need to divide over this one.' Pardon me? Are we saying that we cannot know God's teaching [the truth] on marriage, divorce, and remarriage? Are we saying, now, that we cannot know God's teaching [the truth] on salvation? If I didn't know better, I would think we were standing at the edge of the Promised Land, hearing some of my brethren saying, 'We are not able!' Where are the Joshuas and Calebs for today? But why this doubt? Why are some of my brethren all of a sudden doubting our ability to know God's will on some topics - topics that have been clearly understood for centuries? Why are some brethren now impugning the character of God by preaching doubt, rather than instilling trust and faith by talking about the surety and clarity of God's word? Why are some brethren now arguing that since we cannot say we know the truth on everything God has revealed, then we should not preach absolute truth on anything? Is it possible that God has failed to sufficiently provide for us, as those Israelites believed so long ago? Is it really that God's word is not so clear on these subjects? Or is it something else? I cannot answer why some brethren are preaching doubt today [though some brethren are making it clear why they do this], but I can answer the question about the ability to understand God's word and the surety that God has provided all we need to know, and in such a way that it can be known. All we have to do is look into God's word [and that is where some are failing]. With that in mind let us consider the following three passages, which speak about understanding the will of God. First, consider Paul's inspired revelation that God "desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth" (1st Tim. 2:4). NOTE: God desires that we know the truth; did He desire something of man which is beyond his ability? If we are going to be consistent, then if we argue that man cannot know the truth, it must follow that man cannot be saved, either; God provided salvation and the means to obtain it, just as surely as He provided the truth and the means to understand it. If man cannot know the truth, then it must logically follow that he cannot obtain salvation, either, since God desires and provides both. If not, why not? Next, consider Paul's inspired admonition to the Ephesian brethren to "understand what the will of the Lord is" (Eph. 5:17). Not only is it God's desire that men know the truth, He has also commanded that we know it [God's will = truth]. Now, has God commanded something which is beyond our ability? If so, what kind of God must He be? Surely, we are not going to start preaching that God wants and commands something of mankind that he is unable to do, are we? And, finally, consider Paul's inspired words to the Ephesian brethren when he wrote about the gospel plan of salvation [something particularly relevant to this discussion]. Here, Paul reminded them that, regarding that "mystery" of God's plan for salvation, he had "written already, by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ" (Eph. 3:3, 4). Did you catch that? Paul said they could understand God's once-hidden plan for man's salvation; they could understand the truth! Now, we - who are supposedly much more educated and intellectually astute - are now arguing that we cannot understand this, or other controversial subjects? Really? The reality is, God's word is not so unclear and difficult to understand or apply. The difficulty for so many - including many of our brethren now - is in simply accepting what it teaches. Within my lifetime, I have seen brethren, who once boldly preached the truth on some subjects, now tuck tail and become inexplicably timid when addressing the same topic today. Has God's word suddenly become more difficult for them to understand? Or is it something else? -- Steven Harper -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20081011/9d37dc68/attachment-0001.html From preacherref01 at verizon.net Sat Oct 11 18:50:11 2008 From: preacherref01 at verizon.net (Thomas Thornhill) Date: Sat, 11 Oct 2008 16:50:11 -0700 Subject: [Biblemat] The Bible and Same-Sex Marriage Message-ID: <48F13BB3.7020705@verizon.net> Greetings brethren, Tom Thornhill Jr. here in Bellflower, CA The following is the two sermons I intend to present tomorrow. Many of you are aware that here in California we are faced with the opportunity to define marriage in the state constitution once and for all. These lessons are presented to identify the sin of homosexuality and some of the arguments used to justify same-sex marriage. It is also a call for us as Christians to stand up and be good citizens fighting for God for once. I submit these for your consideration. I welcome your comments. AS to our right to preach on such things, there is an article at the following website: www.protectmarriage.com that outlines what churches and preachers can and cannot do. We have more rights than we realize. Look in the prop 8 tab at the top under resources. It is an enlightening document. We CAN preach against these sins legally (at least for now). Take care - Tom Thornhill. 562-867-4416 www.roseavenue.org /Sunday, October 12, 2008/ / / *The Bible and "Same-Sex" Marriage* This morning I am going to present a lesson that ought to be of great and urgent importance to everyone here. It is a lesson that is designed to encourage us to stand up and defend our convictions and to give consideration to the future of this congregation as well as the Lord's church throughout this state and nation (and the world). Today I want to talk about what the Bible says about homosexuality, and in particular "same-sex marriage". In a few weeks the people of the state of California will be voting on whether or not to define the term marriage in the state's constitution to say, "Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid and recognized in California" (Proposition 8 affirms this definition). The outcome of this measure could have great impact upon our legal rights to teach on and stand for our convictions in the matter of homosexuality. It is with that in mind that I present this lesson today. I have been here in Bellflower now for more than 13 years. You know that I am not a big fan of mixing politics and the pulpit. In fact, I do not believe that the pulpit is the place for politics. The pulpit is for preaching the gospel -- PERIOD. This lesson is NOT intended as a political statement, but an examination of what the Bible teaches about a moral issue that is currently being debated in our society. It just so happens to also be a topic that we as Christians here in Bellflower have an opportunity to stand up and defend our convictions by exercising our rights and responsibilities both as Christians and citizens. And I want to encourage each of us to do what we know we ought to do in this matter. We live in a country where we have the right to speak out against immoral conduct and laws and even to encourage each other as brethren to do that which is right and according to God's word. We also have the right to do something about it (unlike so many places in this world). And while it is a RIGHT that we can exercise in this nation, we also have RESPONSIBILITIES toward God as Christians. In my lessons today I want to talk about homosexuality, same-sex marriage and our need to stand up for God and shine as lights "in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation." (Phil. 2:15) This morning I want to identify the problem that we are facing and talk about our responsibilities as Christians and citizens. Tonight, I want to take a closer look at why homosexuality is a sin, specifically focusing on same-sex marriage and some of the arguments made to justify it. My goal in this is to equip us to fight the good fight of faith. In coming weeks, we are likely to hear many discussions about these issues. Some will say, "What's the big deal?" Hopefully with these lessons we will have answers to that question. *I. ** The Sin of Hate* a. The life of a Christian is to be based on love (Agape). Every relationship we are involved in calls for love (Romans 13:10, 1 Peter 2:17, etc.). Even our enemies who hate us are to be loved and prayed for -- Matt. 5:43-44. Our love is one of those characteristics that sets us apart from the rest of the world. b. But there is a place for hate in our lives. We OUGHT TO hate sin! God hates sin and so should we (cf. Rev. 2:6 -- the deeds of the Nicolaitans, Prov. 6:16 -- 7 things the Lord hates..., Prov. 13:5 -- a righteous man hates lying, Prov. 15:27 -- bribes, 28:16 -- covetousness, Jude 23 -- the garments of sin). c. But hating sin is NOT the same thing as hating the sinner. As Christians we should NOT treat ANYONE hatefully. i. Even when we shun an erring brother -- it is not done out of hate, but BECAUSE we love them (1 Cor. 5:4-5, Jude 22-23, i.e. 2 Cor. 2:8,Gal. 6:1-2). ii. When we avoid places filled with ungodly behavior it is because of its influence and the harm it can do to the purity of the gospel, NOT because we hate someone. This would include one in the world who is caught up in immoral behaviors including homosexuality. iii. We must guard against being hateful even toward (especially toward) those living in sin. When we see someone given over to sin, */we ought to see a lost soul/*. And as such, we need to do all that we can to make the gospel appealing and the answer to their hurting souls. We don't do that by using hateful speech and loaded slurs, and by treating the sinner as a second class citizen. Consider Jesus with the rich, young ruler -- Mark 10:23 says that "Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him..." Colossians 4:6 calls for us to let our speech be seasoned with salt and with grace. Our purpose in this is to "walk in wisdom toward those who are outside." (vs. 5) iv. But at the same time we CANNOT imply endorsement of their sinful behavior. And at times that means avoiding or even confronting sinful conduct and those engaged in it, EVEN if it yields unpleasant consequences. Sometimes it means standing up and doing what is right in God's eyes! Are we willing to do that? v. However we must realize, the ungodly of the world do not see this and will use our condemnation of sin against us every opportunity they have. Especially if they hate the light (John 3:19-21) as it exposes their ways. vi. And brethren, that is why we have to FIGHT for what is right! We need to use every resource we are authorized by God to use to defend His cause. And as times that might mean exercising our rights as citizens. *II. **What are my responsibilities as a citizen?* a. To be a good citizen -- Romans 13:1 calls for us to be subject to the governing authorities. 1 Peter 2:13-15 calls for us to submit to "/every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake... for this is the will of God that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men/." 1 Peter 2:17 says, "Fear God. Honor the king." Simply stated we need to obey the laws of this land. Of course, we know about the exception (Acts 5:29), but in this nation I am not convinced we have reached that point *yet*. While there are things we can condemn, thus far in most cases it is a matter of NOT doing what is permitted. b. To make society a better place. How can we do this? i. _First, by being a godly example_. Living, within the laws of the land to the letter (See Rom. 13:1-5) while at the same time being as godly as possible. The importance of being a godly example in this is not an option for us -- Matt. 5:13-16, Phil. 2:15. ii. */This nation needs more godly leaders/*. And everyone of us is a leader to some degree (simply stated - a leader is someone who has followers -- e.g. parents, teachers, simply being an example to others at work, not following the crowd, etc.) iii. */In this country we have the right to speak up and we should do so/*. In the Bible, Christians spoke up, even when it got them in trouble. John was beheaded for speaking up. Paul and his companions suffered often as they proclaimed the gospel. But it didn't stop them. I contend that in MOST circumstances today, we can speak up for what is right with respect and be fine. We have NOT yet reached the point in this nation, where Paul and John were, that is a blessing. While they were willing to speak up, what is keeping us from it? iv. */Vote!/* It is a privilege we have as citizens of this country. When we vote we DO have a voice in the moral direction of this country. That is why as Christians we need to weigh our decisions in light of what is best for God's cause. c. To pray for our leaders and this country -- 1 Timothy 2:1-2. How often do we do this? When we do pray for them what is our motive? d. */Can we exercise our rights to further the cause of Christ?/* Yes! Paul used his citizenship to further the cause of Christ -- Acts 16:27, 21:39, 22:25-29, 25:11 -- "I appeal to Caesar." _Why then are Christians told to be willing to suffer?_ 1 Peter 4:16. It is only when the laws of man conflict with the laws of God. That is the government makes it impossible to faithfully serve God. Then you take it patiently. This is DIFFERENT that using our rights and freedoms to make the society we are a part of a better place. Brethren we have NOT reached this point YET in America. e. Should we exercise our rights as citizens? We MUST! If we care about others, it really isn't an option. We need to do everything we can to make the world around us a better place -- Gal. 6:10. Having said all this, we need to give consideration to what is going on around us RIGHT NOW! In virtually every election now we are faced with moral decisions -- gambling, abortion, homosexuality, etc. This upcoming election is no different. We have the opportunity to stand up against sinful behavior, but will we? One might ask, "What's the big deal about same-sex marriage?" It means a great deal. *III. **Homosexuality is a sin!* a. What is homosexuality? Sexual desire or behavior directed toward a person or persons of one's own sex. Dictionary.com b. The Bible is clear in its condemnation of homosexuality. i. Genesis 19 -- the destruction of Sodom, Gomorrah and other cities in the valley. ii. Penalty under the Law of Moses -- Leviticus 18:22-24, 28 -- to be cut off; Lev 20:13. iii. Romans 1:24-27 describes it as uncleanness and vile passions, shameful, etc. iv. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 -- describes both partners in a male homosexual act -- the one who plays the part of the male (sodomites or abusers of themselves with mankind) and the one who plays the part of the female (effeminate). Of the behavior of both, it is said that such will not inherit the kingdom of God. v. Jude 7 is descriptive of the immoral behavior of Sodom in Genesis 19 calling it "strange flesh." c. "Same sex marriage" is based upon homosexuality. If homosexuality is sinful then same sex marriage is also sinful and unwholesome. i. The Bible defines marriage as being between a man and woman. 1. Genesis 2:18-24 the passage where this all begins. Read it and note what it says! 2. Jesus repeated portions of this in Matthew 19:4-6 when asked about divorce (which is a desire to end a marriage). 3. There are NUMEROUS examples of scripture that describe the as being between a husband and wife -- 1 Cor. 7:1-2, Eph. 5:22-33, Col. 3:18-19, 1 Peter 3:1-7, etc. 4. * NEVER* in scripture is a homosexual marriage endorsed or taught. ii. We need to stand up for what God wants in this matter. The question is, WILL YOU? Tonight, I want to continue this study by taking a closer look at what the Bible says about homosexuality and same-sex marriage. In particular, I want to examine the arguments that are made to defend both homosexuality (in some forms) and same-sex marriage between loving consenting homosexual adults. We have already shows that it is sin, but how will you answer the one who doesn't think so 0R the one who is indifferent toward these things. I also want to talk about the consequences of ignoring these matters. *IV. **"Same-sex marriage" and the Bible* a. Those supporting "same-sex marriage": i. Admit that there is NO passage with gives an example or specific endorsement of same-sex marriage. ii. _However, they cite Genesis 2:18 which says_, "/It is not good that man should be alone/." Some argue that since there are some who are predisposed to homosexuality (i.e. born that way) that for them to not be alone means they can marry one of the same sex. They argue that the reason Adam and Eve were told to "be fruitful and multiply" was because the world needed to be populated. They note that now it is different. */Answer:/* God did see it was not good that man be alone. That is why He created WOMAN! And from the beginning the ONLY union He has sanctioned involves a man and a woman, NOT a man and a man OR a woman and a woman. Note Moses' explanation after he creates woman in Gen. 2:24, "Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife; and they shall become one flesh." Jesus reemphasized this in Matthew 19:4-6 noting that what God has joined together do not let man separate! Hebrews 13:4 -- Marriage is sanctioned by God. Let us NOT pervert it! iii. _They would also argue that any passage that deals with loving and proper treatment of one's spouse would apply to them_. They note that because the husband and wife is the usual relationship that is the reason it is given as an example. */Answer:/* EVERY passage that deals with the relationship of marriage partners is ALWAYS heterosexual. 1 Cor. 7:1-2, Eph. 5:22-33, Col. 3:18-19, 1 Peter 3:1-7, etc. iv. _They argue that in the Bible there are at least 8 different family/marriage types_ (polygamous, levirate, concubines, slaves, victims of rape, etc.). The point is that the Bible does not identify marriage as exclusively as a union between one man and one woman. Therefore, to define it as such is wrong. */Answer:/* There were different types of relationships in the Bible, MOSTLY in the Old Testament. I readily admit that I do not have the answer as to why God tolerated or regulated some of these, but they are NOT a part of the New Law. Furthermore, NONE of them justify homosexual behavior in ANY form! v. _Three examples of same-sex relationships. _ 1. *NOTE:* /In each of these examples it is admitted that there is no implicit indication of sexual activity; however, as they read they see a sexual relationship as a probability./ 2. */Ruth and Naomi/* -- Ruth 1:16-17 where Ruth promises to stay with Naomi. In fact in vs. 14, it says, "Ruth clung to her." The argument is made that the word "clung" is the same word as "cleave" in Genesis 2:24 which says that a man shall leave his father and mother and cleave to his wife. Therefore, they reason it is possible for their relationship to have been sexual. */Answer:/* As you examine the purpose of the book of Ruth, it leads to the lineage of David (and ultimately Christ -- Matt. 1:5-6). We find at the end of the book of Ruth that she marries Boaz (Ruth 4:10). As to the word "cleave" it simply describes the way something is inseparably bound together. That ought to describe the marriage relationship, but it also applies to other things (Josh 22:5 -- cleave to God, Ezek 3:26 -- your tongue cleave to the roof of your mouth, etc.). Ruth was simply there for Naomi. Nothing sexual in it! 3. */David and Jonathan/* -- 1 Samuel 18:1-4, 20-21 -- concerning marrying Michal (Saul's daughter), 20:41- when David is about to flee because of Saul's hostility. 2 Samuel 1:26 a love that surpassed that of women. */Answer:/* David and Jonathan were close friends. David had many wives and lusted after women as we know (Bathsheba -2 Sam. 11-12). 4. */Daniel 1:9, Daniel and Asphenaz/* where it says that Daniel had been brought into favor and good will with the eunuchs. Arguments are made based upon the word "good will" which is translated in the KJV as "tender love." Much is made of that word implying it could have a sexual connotation. In fact the word is sometimes translated "womb" -- cf. Gen. 49:25. */Answer:/* It simply means that Asphenaz thought highly of Daniel and perhaps they were close friends. Nothing else is implied! The word is often described as mercy. In fact, most of the time there is NO sexual connotation attached to it. Cf. Neh. 9:31 where he is praying to God he says, "/Nevertheless in Your *great mercy* you did not utterly consume them/..." vi. _As to the above passages condemning homosexuality they simply redefine the sins._ 1. In all the above and other passages they cite that the sins would refer to homosexual activities such as rape, pagan ritual, prostitution, child molestation, etc. They say the condemnation is NOT against a consensual, loving relationship by two people of the same gender. 2. Genesis 19 was either the sin of rape or bestiality (going after strange flesh -- an angel instead of a man). 3. 1 Cor. 6:9-11, etc. all have reference to non-consensual sex (e.g. an unwilling slave). 4. Romans 1 which speaks of going against nature, they argue for a heterosexual to engage in homosexuality is what is condemned. They reason that if one is born with homosexual tendencies then it would be wrong for them to marry one of the opposite sex because THAT would be against nature. 5. */Answer:/* Read the texts. That is NOT what is said. IT is a typical twisting of scripture to make it say what they want it to say! b. Furthermore consider the following in answering the arguments. i. */EVERY passage that in ANYWAY addresses homosexuality ALWAYS condemns the activity. Under the Old Law it even brought death. Even if one could change the meaning of any one passage on this subject, that STILL would not negate the overall tone of scripture condemning this sin./* ii. Furthermore, IF scriptures condemn homosexuality then it would of necessity also condemn same-sex marriage. If not, why not? That is why the homosexual must explain away EVERY passage of scripture that condemns homosexual behavior BEFORE they can consider a same-sex marriage as acceptable to God. iii. */We MUST respect the word of God/*. Most homosexuals who profess to be followers of God adopt a liberal view of scripture. What that means is that they loosely interpret it and claim that it is full of error. _Respecting scripture also includes the silence of God_. It is admitted that the Bible is silent on same-sex marriage. Therefore, it should be rejected on that foundation alone -- 1 Cor. 4:6, Rev. 22:18-19, etc. iv. */As to the nature of man/*_. Sin is ALWAYS sin._ Even if one has a tendency toward sinful conduct they are NOT excused. I would venture to say that MOST OF US have some tendency toward something sinful -- but we cannot use that as an excuse to say, "that is who I am" or "that is how God made me" and keep sinning. Note 1 cor. 6:11 -- "/Such were some of you/..." Could the drunkard who was born that way excuse himself? Could the greedy soul that was raised in wealth excuse his covetousness because it is the only way he knew growing up? We know better. But whether or not homosexuality is hereditary is a hotly debated topic and not all agree. *V. **Why should I care?* a. Brethren, we have the opportunity to stand up against this sinful behavior and we need to! Not too long ago, 4 state judges declared that in California to restrict marriage to a union between a man and a woman was unconstitutional. As a result there was a rush to the courthouses to file for numerous same-sex marriages. If the constitution of the state is not amended then marriage will be redefined to include the joining together of any two people, regardless of gender. The results could eventually include the following: i. More immorality taught in our schools. Currently a part of curriculum involves teaching kids about marriage. What happens if the definition of marriage is changed? Rest assured, some WILL include "same-sex marriage" in their teachings. This will NOT be helpful as we try to teach the gospel without compromise! ii. Possible persecutions as we preach against homosexuality - understand that these actions are not harmless (acceptance of gay marriage). They are part of an agenda to moralize their behavior and FORCE all to accept them. It may take years to happen, but if we don't do what we can now -- it will be sooner rather than later! iii. An ungodly society a step closer to total rejection of God -- God destroyed Sodom and other cities because of this sin! What will happen to us as we continue to degenerate? Again, as Christians we simply need to do what we can to slow it down! iv. We make it more difficult for the next generation to stand up for the morality of the Bible (What happens when a homosexual married couple seeks to join the church -- with or without sincere motives?) Brethren, it is just a matter of time! The question is HOW MUCH TIME? v. Rejection of our freedoms to assemble and speak out our convictions without more persecutions than already exist. In time, we will not be able to assemble freely and preach against this AND OTHER ungodly conduct. b. Because as a Christian I should want to make the world and the society around me a better place. God EXPECTS me to care! Think of the lukewarmness of Laodicea. i. 1 Timothy 2:1-2 -- we are told to pray for our leaders. The goal is that if possible we might live a quite and tranquil life in godliness. If our goal is to live peaceably with all men we ought to do whatever we can to make that peace possible. That means taking advantage of our rights and privileges of the society we are a part of. ii. I believe that when we put all these things together that we ought to do whatever we can to make society a better place, and that includes voting. And as we do we ought to be thinking about we can further God's cause in so doing. And thus we can see the sin of homosexuality and therefore same-sex marriage. Brethren, sin is sin and we have an opportunity to stand up for our convictions in the area I have been preaching about this morning. We have the opportunity slow down the moral decline that is all around us. If we stand back and do nothing can we truly claim innocence when the results of ungodliness worsens around us? Let us not neglect this opportunity, whether it be this issue or ANY issue we have the opportunity to stand up for our faith with! Think about it. Some of the material for this lesson was taken from the following websites: http://www.protectmarriage.com/ http://www.religioustolerance.org/hom_marj.htm - a site which presents their Biblical case in support of homosexuality and same-sex marriage. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20081011/0d02ec3b/attachment-0001.html From richard at thetford.dot5hosting.com Sun Oct 12 16:25:49 2008 From: richard at thetford.dot5hosting.com (Richard Thetford) Date: Sun, 12 Oct 2008 15:25:49 -0600 Subject: [Biblemat] Walking in the Light (10/12/08) Message-ID: <20081012212938.16A4DBC046@dumbledore.whizardries.com> Walking in the Light "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path" (Psalm 119:105) October 12, 2008 www.thetfordcountry.com --- INFORMATION: Walking in the Light is published each week by Richard Thetford. You are encouraged to visit the web site at www.thetfordcountry.com and then click on "Richard's Home Page" to view numerous sermons, articles, radio program scripts, class material and other information. If you know of someone who would like to subscribe to "Walking in the Light," please send their name and e-mail address to richard at thetfordcountry.com --- CONTENTS: "A Swarm of Gospel Be's" (Richard Thetford) "Let the Church be the Church" (Ron Lloyd) "Youth" (Samuel Ullman) SENTENCE SERMONS --- A SWARM OF GOSPEL BE'S Richard Thetford Have you ever noticed all the Be's that are swarming around in God's word? As individuals that God has created and placed here on this earth we must realize that without the Be's in life there can be no honey. Without being the kind of person that God has asked us to be there will be no sweet reward for his children. Let's look at several of the gospel Be's that are found in the Bible, which are there so we can know what we must do to be right in God's sight. We first must Be transformed to prove what the will of God is. Paul said; "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect" (Rom 12:2). Once one sets in their mind to be transformed to do what God wants them to do they must then Be obedient to the word of God (Titus 3:1). Through obedience to God's word one will realize that they need first of all to become a Christian and dedicate their life to God. To become a Christian requires one to Be baptized to wash away their sins. Ananias asked Saul "And now why do you delay? Arise, and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name" (Acts 22:16). Peter tells us that it is only through baptism that we can Be saved (1 Pet 3:21). Once one becomes a Christian through baptism, then they are ready to be all the other things that God has asked them to be while they live their life here on earth. Every Christian is told by Jesus to Be faithful. In Revelation 2:10 Jesus said "...Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life". A Christian needs to have a deep faith in God and know that someday they'll spend an eternity with Him. It is because of that kind of faith and hope that Christians should constantly Be steadfast and Be unmovable as the apostle Paul points out in his letter to the Corinthians. "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord" (1 Cor 15:58). When a Christian becomes so dedicated to their effort of God's will that it will not prove to be a burden, but a blessing to them. One can earnestly Be contented because they know that God will provide every need that they may have (1 Tim 6:8; Matt 6:33). A Christian that is pursuing after righteousness can Be zealous (Rev 3:19) for God but the Christian also realizes that faith alone will not be pleasing to God. A Christian understands that they must Be a doer of God's will for their faith to come shining through. James says "But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves" (Jam 1:22). A dedicated Christian knows that their WALK of life, not their TALK of life, shows others where their faith really is! A Christian must Be strong in the Lord (Eph 6:10), and always to Be ready for the coming of Christ because no one knows when he will appear again (Matt 24:44). This is why you will see a dedicated Christian treating each day like it was the last day - A Christian lives his life one day at a time for the cause of Christ (Matt 6). A Christian strives to Be holy (1 Pet 1:16), and always wants others to Be reconciled to God, for the apostle Paul says; "Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were entreating through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God" (2 Cor 5:20). There are so many other gospel Be's of the Bible. Here are just a few others that a Christian should be: Be patient (Jam 5:7), Be of the same mind (Rom 12:16), Be temperate (Titus 2:2), Be sober (1 Thes 5:8), Be wise (Matt 10:16), Be worthy (Phil 1:27), Be kind (Eph 4:32), Be long-suffering (1 Thes 5:14), Be gentle (Titus 3:2), and Be merciful (Luke 6:36). As you can see the gospel is filled with a swarm of Be's that we as Christians should put into practice in our daily lives. Remember, the more "Be's" you possess, the "sweeter" you'll Be! --- LET THE CHURCH BE THE CHURCH Ron Lloyd Pioneer preachers, in battling denominationalism, often appealed to passages such as Jer 6:16 which says: "Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls..." and Col 3:17 "And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him." As they preached these scriptures from God's holy word they said, "Let the church be the church." So should we! Much of the battle is now concentrated upon liberal attitudes and ways within the church, within our own memberships. Young people and inexperienced older members must often be reminded that the church was not, and is not today, a social, recreational or health center. It is a spiritual center. To correct the situation, people in every congregation must be willing to accept the challenge given Gideon, and "Throw down the altars of Baal" (Judges 6:25). Sounds radical, doesn't it? But it is simply that which Truth requires. --- YOUTH Samuel Ullman Youth is not a time of life; it is a state of mind; it is not a matter of rosy cheeks, red lips and supple knees. It is a matter of the ill, a quality of the imagination, a vigor of the emotions; it is the freshness of the deep springs of life. Youth means a temperamental predominance of courage over timidity of the appetite, for adventure over the love of ease. This often exists in a man of 60 more than a boy of 20. Nobody grows old merely by a number of years. We grow old by deserting our ideals. Years may wrinkle the skin, but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul. Worry, fear, self-distrust bows the heart and turns the spirit back to dust. Whether 60 or 16, there is in every human being's heart the lure of wonder, the unfailing childlike appetite of what's next, and the joy of the game of living. In the center of every heart there is a wireless station: so long as it receives messages of beauty, hope, cheer, courage and power from men and from the Infinite, so long are you young. When the antennas are down, and your spirit is covered with the snows of cynicism and pessimism, then you are grown old, even at 20; but as long as your antennas are up, to catch waves of optimism, there is hope you may die young at 80. --- SENTENCE SERMONS It is easier to say what you think than to tell what you know. Sin will cause the cup of joy to spring a leak. No person truly lives until he learns to love - as God's word teaches. The world crowns "success", but God crowns faithfulness. To attain true greatness one must be clothed with humility. When your faith fails to obey God, it is dead and worthless. The great use of life is to spend it for something that will outlast it. A lot of people who see their duty look the other way. One who does not respect the person he faces in the mirror, will not respect others. --- SERMON Come and Learn - Go and Teach (with PowerPoint Charts) www.thetfordcountry.com --- 1414 Hawk Parkway, Unit C Montrose, CO 81401 (970) 626-5558 www.sanjuanchurchofchrist.org ASSEMBLY SCHEDULE Sunday Bible Study..........10:00 A.M. Worship......11:00 A.M. Wednesday Bible Study......6:30 P.M. Evangelist/Editor Richard Thetford Building: (970) 249-8116 Home: (970) 626-5558 E-Mail: richard at thetfordcountry.com Web Site: www.thetfordcountry.com --- RICHARD THETFORD 1491 Canyon Drive Ridgway, CO 81432 (970) 626-5558 E-Mail: richard at thetfordcountry.com Web Site: www.thetfordcountry.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... 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Name: not available Type: image/gif Size: 6692 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20081012/c45abe42/attachment-0005.gif From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Mon Oct 13 03:29:53 2008 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Mon, 13 Oct 2008 04:29:53 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] A) PART-TIME CHRISTIANITY Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. A very good Monday morning to each and everyone. May God bless you and yours. Here is an article from my files. PART-TIME CHRISTIANITY We all know of people who claim to be Christians, yet do not regularly attend services. Some may show up on Easter or Christmas at some "church" and think that's enough. It's the whole mindset that Christianity is NOT a way of life but instead a part-time plan. We must be especially careful that we do not engage in part- time Christianity. We do that when we pick the time and place to practice our faith instead of being consistent every moment of every day. When we choose to sin, neglect our relationship with Christ or let the world squeeze us into its mold, we become part-time Christians. Jesus told us to take up our cross daily and follow Him (Lk. 9:23). He didn't suffer an agonizingly cruel death on the cross so that we could pick and choose when we want to follow Him. Why do some turn their back on our Savior and in effect tell Him to step out for a little while? Usually it's because they are thinking only of themselves. Yet a Christian is one who has died to self. He is not longer a slave to sin but to righteousness (Rom. 6:6,7,17,18). As Paul said, "...it is not longer I who live, but Christ lives in me..." (Gal. 2:20). There is nothing part-time about following Jesus. We must not fall into the trap of thinking we can put on or take off Christ like a piece of clothing. When difficulties come, the Christian can't call "time-out" or put Jesus on hold. Christianity is a way of life. "And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father" (Col. 3:17). ---------- Shane Williams in The Lilbourn Light, Vol. 9, Nos. 4,5, August/September, 2008.


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New MapQuest Local shows what's happening at your destination. Dining, Movies, Events, News & more. Try it out (http://local.mapquest.com/?ncid=emlcntnew00000002) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20081013/579f37d2/attachment-0001.html From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Mon Oct 13 03:30:03 2008 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Mon, 13 Oct 2008 04:30:03 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] S) THE SCHEME OF REDEMPTION IN TYPE (4) Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. Here are some other articles under this particular heading. Use to the glory of God. THE SCHEME OF REDEMPTION IN TYPE (4) The correspondence existing between a type and its anti- type should be so clear and pronounced as to enable one read- ily to perceive the likeness of the latter to the former. For this likeness to be discernible the elements of form, character, relat- ion and design should be sharply drawn in each. This is necess- ary in order that those valuable lessons which the type purports to tach may be learned by all who study, and that the profit there- from may be accessible to all. There are grave dangers associat- ed ith an endeavor to treat as a type that which, at best, is quest- ionable of being a type. It is evidently true that a person, or thing, may possess a typological value in a given particular feat- ure and be without any typical significance in other aspects of his or its character, relation or design. Too, to seize upon this single feature and then take recourse to the storehouse of one's imagination to supply that which is otherwise lacking to make out a full-bodied adumbration is to act rashly and recklessly. With such observations I am most anxious to proceed cautio-usly and conservatively in the presentation of this subject, as well as all others which have to do with the truth of God, and which so deeply affects the destinies eternally of men. Having formerly given some attention to Moses and Melchizedek as being types of the Messiah as a prophet and priest, respectively, I wish to consider some events and institutions which afford an enlightening source of study when viewed as typifying the plan of salvation realized in the church of Christ. In thus considering these we should be fervently anxious to be governed in our sur- vey with the question, "is this true?", rather than desiring to dis- cover something connected therewith that is new. Truth divine and eternal needs not the aid of vain imagination to supplement, furbish or adorn it; all it requires is to be studied, believed and obeyed to render happy those who are the objects of its bene- diction. The Salvation Of Noah: -- Following the advent of sin in the world, by its introduction in the deception and consequent trans- gression of Eve, it rapidly multiplied as the race of man increas- ed. The offensiveness to God became so intolerably aggravated as to lead Him to resolve the destruction of sin in destroying the world and all life therein. Anticipatory thereto Jehovah tendered to man His intention of bringing a flood of sufficient proportions to effect such a destruction, a flood of water that would produce a universal inundation and thereby render extinct all life. Since all vegetable and animal life had been created for the well-being and sustenance of man, there could be no relevancy in destroy- ing man and leaving other and lower forms of life on the earth. Equally sensible would be the provision to preserve animal life for propagative purposes contingent to a remnant of the human race being saved from the impending destruction. Hence, in a study of the significance of the Noahic salvation, it is well to bear in mind that the salvation or preservation of such animals as were taken into the ark were not thus preserved save as they were vital to the earthly live of man and sacrificial ends. Their destruction or preservation was determined not on the basis of any merit or demerit attaching to them, for they were, and are, destitute of both; the presence of sin modified not at all the char- acter or purpose of their existence directly. The Provident Father wisely provided for all that was and is for our good both originally and continuously. With the Mosaic account of God's announced purpose to destroy man we note the thrilling statement that gave hope in the hour of despair: "But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord" (Gen. 6:8). There follows a description of Noah which affords an explanation of, and a justification for, his being the recipient of Divine favor. He was a just man, perfect in his gener- ation and he walked with God. It would be difficult to compress within such limits of expression a more expansive and intensive compliment than here found relative to Noah. The intolerable wickedness of the generality of mankind rendered justifiable the doom of destruction designed by God, and, but for the character of this person, the extermination of mankind evidently would haver been wrought. There springs from the heart of a grateful acknowledgement of our indebtedness to Noah as we apprecia- te the fateful crisis which existed in that hour, and the acute con- tingency suspended on the character of this individual. To all who are inclined to regard their own concern it should be profit- able for them to reflect on the fact that the behavior and conse- quent character of Noah was of supreme concern to the race of mankind, as well as of great interest to heaven. The preservat- ion of the human race turned on the fact that one man found favor in the sight of God, and this favor secured by virtue of his character. The perfection ascribed to him was, of course, a relat- ive one evaluated in comparison with the degeneracy of his con- temporaries. (More will be posted on this subject tomorrow, the Lord willing, JWS).


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New MapQuest Local shows what's happening at your destination. Dining, Movies, Events, News & more. Try it out (http://local.mapquest.com/?ncid=emlcntnew00000002) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20081013/b19f80f6/attachment-0001.html From ZekeFlores1 at cs.com Mon Oct 13 10:03:09 2008 From: ZekeFlores1 at cs.com (ZekeFlores1 at cs.com) Date: Mon, 13 Oct 2008 11:03:09 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] S> Stumbling Blocks Message-ID: Here's a sermon I hope you can use. You can access a pdf file of it as well as an audio file at our website: angletonchristians.com. Just click on the "Sermons" tab and look under the "Christian Living" heading. Zeke Flores Kiber Street church of Christ Angleton, TX angletonchristians.co ******************************************************************* Stumbling Blocks Matt 18:1-9 Zeke Flores Intro: Jesus pronounces condemnation on those who cause them that believe in Him to falter A. Calls them ?stumbling blocks? and says they are inevitable. 1. ?Stumbling block? is from Gr ?skandalon? ?Originally the name of the part of a trap to which bait is attached, hence the trap or snare itself.? (Vine?s) 2. Came to be known as anyone or anything that causes hindrance, impedes progress, or occasion to sin. B. Stumbling is not fun! 1. Stubbing your toe hurts! Twisted ankles are painful. Years ago after an accident in which I broke an ankle and shattered a kneecap I stumbled for months. 2. Worse still to stumble spiritually. a. Can feel like ?I?ve fallen and I can?t get up!? b. Even worse is to the cause of stumbling for someone else as the results are eternal. C. Let us explore the causes of stumbling with the intention of keeping ourselves and others from it. I. Who Can Stumble? A. A look back at man?s history shows that no one is immune. 1. Eve - Deceived by a snake - 1 Tim 2:14 2. Adam - Not deceived, just dumb! 3. Cain - Destroyed by faithlessness and jealousy 4. David - Fling with Bathsheba almost ruined him 5. Solomon - Ruined by too many women 6. The Jews - Disobedient, forced into captivity 7. Peter - The ?rock? sunk like a rock 8. You / Me? Truth is, ANYONE can stumble. a. Matt 26:41, 1 Cor 10:12 II. WHAT Causes One To Stumble? A. There are as many answers as there are people with desire 1. However, many of these fall into basic categories B. Ignorance of God?s Word 1. ?My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge? Hos 4:6 2. Certainly, if one doesn?t know the way, it?s easy to get lost! That is why God is so adamant about making good use of our faculties in discerning His will. a. Eph 4:17-24, 5:15-17 C. Idols 1. Idols are alive and well in modern America. They take many shapes and forms abut always yield the same result: Separation from God a. Surely we can see that placing an inordinate priority on anything is unhealthy. 2. Money and Career - Matt 6:19-21 a. While money/career can be useful tool in building a comfortable and useful life, what happens too often is that instead of mastering $$, it masters us! b. A London newspaper offered a prize for the best definition of money. It was awarded to a young man whose definition was, "Money is an article which may be used as a universal passport to everywhere except heaven and as a universal provider of everything except happiness." c. Materialism is the great killer of spirituality today; it is IMPERATIVE that we don?t let our capitalistic society drown us! 3. Recreation - Luke 8:14 a. After working hard all week, people feel as if leisure time is owed to them and no one is going to take it away! Some work harder at having fun than they do at their job! Then, there?s no time left for God and His work. b. With so many fun things to entertain & distract us, we must keep focused else we forget our duty. c. Matt 18: 8-9 - Jesus warns about where we go, what we see, & what we do III. WHO Causes Us To Stumble? A. Since Jesus? words in Matt 18 were referencing mostly people, let?s consider how others can make us stumble with a view to avoiding becoming someone like that. B. Family / Friends - Luke 12:51-53 1. While it?s not His will that families divide, fact is they do! Because we feel more at ease with family/friends, sometimes they are the ones we most abuse! 2. The answer is to love family, work with them and be the example you would want them to be. C. Preachers - Luke 11:52 1. Called ?lawyers? in Jesus? day; well versed in law and expected to teach it correctly. Surprise! They didn?t! a. Brings to mind some lawyer jokes: What do you call 1,000 lawyers at the bottom of the sea? A good start! b. Speaking of ?deep? preachers, sometimes they?re not so deep, they just muddy up the water so you can?t see the truth! Lots of ?deep thinking? preachers trying to change the way we look at Scripture. 2. The answer is to study (2 Tim 2:15) and check out the preacher?s words just like the Bereans did (Acts 17:11, 1 John 4:1) D. Other Christians - 1 Cor 8:9-13 1. Paul?s point is that the strong use forbearance, not privilege, that they exercise love, not ?right? and rather sacrifice the right than imposing one?s will upon another. The principle applies to many things today that ?strong? Christians indulge in while the weak struggle with them. 2. The answer is to love & serve one another a. Gal 5:13, Rom 14:13 E. Christ - 1 Cor 1:23, 1 Pet 2:6-8 1. Sometimes we stumble because we think His requirements are too hard or we have a mistaken concept of Him. a. ?Blessed is he who keeps from stumbling over Me.? Luke 7:23 2. The answer is to recognize who Jesus is (1 Pet 3:15), what he requires (John 14:15), and make EVERY EFFORT to do His will (Luke 13:24). Conc: Many other stumbling block could be discussed but the most important thing is to learn to recognize them, whether they are placed before you or you place them before others. A. Remember also that much of life is what YOU make of it. 1. Isn't it strange that princes and kings And clowns that caper in sawdust rings And common folk like you and me Are the builders of eternity. To each is given a bag of tools, A shapeless mass and a book of rules; And each must make, ere time is flown, A stumbling-block or a stepping-stone. (R. L. Sharpe, Major Edward Bowes, "Verses I like," Garden City Publishing Company, Inc., 1937) B. INV ************** New MapQuest Local shows what's happening at your destination. Dining, Movies, Events, News & more. Try it out (http://local.mapquest.com/?ncid=emlcntnew00000002) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20081013/8add2287/attachment-0001.html From thomasc at msu.edu Mon Oct 13 21:57:34 2008 From: thomasc at msu.edu (Craig Thomas) Date: Mon, 13 Oct 2008 22:57:34 -0400 Subject: [Biblemat] S>Those Not Fearing God Message-ID: <20081014025737.61648BC48F@dumbledore.whizardries.com> Brethren, If anyone is interested, most of the sermons I post also have a Powerpoint available. Just send me an e-mail and I'll send the Powerpoint. Please give the title when making a request. Thanks!! ********************************************************************************************************************************************************************************** Those Not Fearing God Romans 3:10-18 I. Introduction: 1. In Romans 3:10-18 Paul quotes from Isaiah and graphically describes this sin-sick world. 2. The root of mankind?s sin problem can be traced to one source: ?There is no fear of God before their eyes.? (Rom. 3:18) 3. Today, let?s look those not fearing God. Those not fearing God II. Discussion: 1. Say There Is No God: A. There are many more people than you might think that don?t believe God exists. (1) U.S.: 3-9% atheists/agnostics; 8.8-26.8 M people. (2) Some countries much higher: Sweden 46-85% atheists/agnostics; 4.1-7.6 M people (total population only ~9 M)(all statistics from adherents.com). (3) I had one person smugly tell me that ?97% of persons with advanced degrees in the scientific community? are atheists (I guess that places me in the ?elite? 3%!). (4) These are those admitting to being atheists/agnostics; in practicality, there are many more! (known by works) B. The Bible takes God?s existence to be a fact (Gen. 1:1; Psa. 19:1; Rom. 1:20; Acts 17:28; Heb. 11:6). C. Only a fool declares there is no God (Psa. 14:1). D. Madalyn Murray O?Hair was a famous atheist. She was the plaintiff in the Supreme Court case (Murray v. Curlett, 1963) that banned prayer in school. She was murdered in 1995 by some of her own followers. Wonder what she believes now? Lk. 16:27-31 2. Do Not Trust In God: A. The phrase on our money (?In God We Trust?) is truly ironic! (1) For a short time after 911 many ?turned? to God. (2) No such thing in our current economic crisis! B. Those who fear God, trust in God (Psa. 7:1; 73:28; Job. 13:15; Psa. 62:5-8; 1 Tim. 4:10). C. Where do you put your trust? 1 Tim. 6:17 3. Do Not Love God: A. It should come as no surprise that most don?t love God (e.g., Jn. 15:18; Rev. 2:4). B. Loving God should be our top priority (Mk. 12:30). C. To have true love for God requires more than words (1 Jn. 5:3; 2:3-5; 4:20-21; 3:17). D. How?s your love? Matt. 24:12 4. Sin Against God: A. What is sin? 1 Jn. 3:4 B. Most don?t take sin seriously (e.g., disease, momentary lapse of judgment, someone else?s fault, etc.)(Rom. 6:23; Isa. 59:1-2). C. Do you take sin seriously? Heb. 10:26-31 5. Resist The Powers Ordained Of God: A. Many disregard civil authority (e.g., speeding, cheat on taxes, circumvent govt. regulations). B. Failure to obey and respect civil authority is a serious matter! Rom. 13:1-7; 1 Pet. 2:13-14 C. Certainly when government oversteps their authority we ought to obey God (Acts 5:29), but otherwise we must give government its due (Matt. 22:21; Eccl. 8:2). 6. Do Not Abhor Evil: A. The Psalmist provides a very unflattering picture of those not abhorring evil (Psa. 36:1-4). B. Yet, many are experts at doing evil; even those claiming to be God?s people (Jer. 4:22; Mic. 3:2; 2 Tim. 3:1-5). C. We must hate evil! Psa. 52:3; Amos. 5:15 D. In our wicked society it?s easy to become jaded to evil and its influence (Psa. 97:10; Rom. 12:9). 7. Take God?s Name In Vain: A. I?ve noticed a real shift in what many consider to be profane language. B. I truly beg your pardon, but must illustrate this point truthfully. (1) Movies will often ?bleep? out the ?f? word or the ?s? word. (2) Yet many don?t ?bleep? when God?s name is taken in vain (e.g., g*d d*mn, Jesus, etc.). C. God?s name is important! Psa. 111:9; Phil. 2:9-11 D. Those taking God?s name in vain will not escape punishment (Ex. 20:7; Lev. 24:10-16). E. Let us venerate (?To regard with respect, reverence, or heartfelt deference.? American Heritage Dictionary) God?s name (Lev. 22:32; Matt. 6:9). 8. Take God For Granted: A. Both non-Christians and Christians may take God for granted: (1) Non-Christians: Failure to be thankful to God leads to a degrading spiritual spiral downward (Rom. 1:18-21; 1 Tim. 3:2). (2) Christians: failure to give diligence (2 Pet. 1:5-11); forsaking assemblies (Heb. 10:25); failure to properly consider one another (Phil. 2:1-4); failure to be thankful (). B. Let us be determined never to take God for granted and be ever thankful (Psa. 116:17; Eph. 5:20; Heb. 13:5; Lk. 17:11-19). 9. Deny God?s Power: A. There were several examples in the Bible of those who denied God?s power. (1) Sarah (Gen. 18:13-15). (2) The ten spies (Num. 13 & 14). (3) Sadducees (Matt. 22:29). B. Many today deny God?s power: (1) Reject the authenticity, accuracy, inspiration of the Bible ?In this ?sacred? book of family scandals we find filth, sex orgies, cannibalism, atrocities, sex perversions, incest, bloody violence unparalleled in any other chronicle in all the literature of the world. Fortunately, not one-third of the human family has ever heard of the Christian Bible; not one-tenth of the Christians have ever read it, and no two who have read it agree as to its meaning. Won't you help get this book out of the hands of our children, out of decent homes, and out of hotel and motel rooms? --Frank C. Hughes (famous atheist) ?It staggers the imagination how anyone in his right mind could read the Bible and believe that it was written by a wise, just, and loving god.? American Atheists, Inc. ?The day will come when the mystical generation of Jesus by the Supreme Being as his father, in the womb of a virgin, will be classed with the fable of the generation of Minerva in the brain of Jupiter.? Thomas Jefferson, 1823. (2) May ?accept? the Bible but deny flood, virgin birth, resurrection, miracles, etc. ?Most modern liberal theologians have generally rejected the virgin birth. They regard it as a religious myth that was added to Christian belief in the late first century CE and was triggered by a Greek mistranslation of the book of Isaiah from the original Hebrew. Its purpose was to make Christianity more competitive with contemporary Pagan religions in the Mediterranean region, most of whom featured their founder having being born of a virgin. Without the claim of a virgin birth, it is unclear whether Christianity could have survived. (religioustolerance.org) ?Although the virgin birth cannot be understood as a historical-biological event, it can be regarded as a meaningful symbol at least for that time." --Hans K?ng, a Catholic priest and scholar in, "On Being a Christian," ?The ?days? of creation in Genesis 1 cannot be literal --Shane Scott, preacher and former teacher at Florida College ?Geologically, the flood of Noah was very short, a mere hiccup; although the spiritual significance would prove to be enormous. It would not be likely that such an event would leave much of any geological record, especially if it was a world flood in the sense of their view of the local world, as used in the New Testament for the spread of the gospel. The '93 floods of the upper Mississippi, though widespread in destruction, have left very little of permanence in the regional geology other than some new sediment deposits in the Mississippi delta.? Hill Roberts, preacher and teacher at Florida College (3) Accept the Bible, obey gospel, but wallow in unbelief not relying on God?s power to overcome (10 spies). C. How firm is your belief in God?s power? Eph. 3:20 10. Do Not Obey God: A. Not obeying God is the biggest mistake you?ll ever make! 2 Thess. 1:7-9; Heb. 5:9 B. We need to change our attitudes about obeying God (1 Jn. 5:3; Deut. 6:24). C. Are you obedient to God? 1 Pet. 1:14 III. Conclusion: 1. Do you fear God? 2. Remember, to fear God: A. Is ?the beginning of wisdom? (Psa. 110:10; Prov. 1:7; 9:10). B. Is ?the whole duty of man? (Eccl. 12:13-14). 3. Show your wisdom today by submitting your will to His will! Adapted from a sermon by John Isaac Edwards entitled Men Without Regard For God, in Gospel Sermons by Three Generations of Gospel Preachers, Edwards Publishing, 1997, pp. 87-88. "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord." (1 Corinthians 15:58) ************************************************************************* M M III Craig V. Thomas M M M M I Just a Christian (Acts 11:26) M M M M I 350 Pineridge Lane M M M M I Sandusky, MI 48471 M M M III E-mail: thomasc at msu.edu Phone: 810-648-5009 (home) Phone: 810-404-3402 (cell) ************************************************************************* "Perseverance is that quality of character that sees a thing through in spite of adversities and even though results are not immediately visible." John Witt "The greatest battles of life are fought out daily in the silent chambers of the soul." David O. McKay -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20081013/c49551ea/attachment-0001.html From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Tue Oct 14 04:39:17 2008 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Tue, 14 Oct 2008 05:39:17 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] S) THE SCHEME OF REDEMPTION IN TYPE (5) Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. Here is another installment of this particular study. Use to the glory of God. THE SCHEME OF REDEMPTION IN TYPE (5) The Typical Character Of Noah's Salvation: -- The salvation of Noah was a physical salvation from a physical destruction. Our salvation today is a spiritual salvation from a spiritual destruct- ion. The type is, therefore, to be regarded as inferior in worth to the antitype, and such a characteristically true of the relation existing between the type and antitype. Also, Noah's salvation being physical in nature it was temporal in duration; whereas, our salvation being spiritual it is to be, it should be, eternal inas- much as the spirit of man is eternal. In giving thought to the anal- ogy existing between these two salvations we should note the following points: 1) the condition and fate of the world; 2) the re- lation of the party to the world; 3) the means employed to effect a deliverance from the world; and 4) the state and condition of man subsequent to the deliverance. First, then, let us notice the condition of the world which rendered desirable the deliverance of Noah from it. So far as we can ascertain, it was a desirable place to live in physically and materially considered. It had its seasons and produced its fruit; it was climatically adn scenically adapted to the physical desires of men, and offered every attraction to the fleshly minded element of human society. Why should one desire to be translat- ed to a new world? Being attracted by, exclusively interested in and devoted to the then present world was responsible for their disregard for God and the consequent corruption wrought by their ever- increasing sinfulness. "And God saw that the wicked- ness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually" (Gen. 6:5). "And as were the days of Noah, so shall be the coming of the Son of man. For as in those days which were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered into the ark, and they knew not until the flood ame and took them all away; so shall be the coming of the Son of Man" (Matt. 24:37-39). From this be it observed that the censure is not directed against the legitimate use of food and drink, neither the proper interest in and observance of the marriage institution; but the description here given is one of licentiousness, that of giving paramount, if not exclusive, attent- ion and interest to the fleshly and worldly attractions rather than restraining such appetites to their proper place, and giving preferred and supreme attention to godliness. This licentious and corrupt state of society occasioned the Divine resolution to destroy the world; and yet, with all the wickedness then prevail- ing God exercised a measure of longsuffering marvelous in its graciousness. This term simply denotes that Jehovah allowed or tolerated for a long time the condition to continue in order; to afford an opportunity abundantly sufficient for them to reform and escape the condemnation threatened. The antediluvian world was thus cursed and contaminated by sin, and God designed its purification by destruction -- a purification to be attained by means of the flood of waters, and affected by the de- struction of the evil that had corrupted it. When we turn from the description we have of the world -- the age -- then existing to the present antitypical world we must be deeply influenced by the correspondence observable. As al- ready noted the Savior drew an impossible parallel, frightening even, between the two "as it was in the days of Noah -- So shall it be". The apostle John confidently tells us that "We know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in the evil one". Too, Peter concludes his second letter with a gripping description of the fate of the world -- "Knowing this first, that in the last days mockers shall come with mockery, walking after their own lusts, 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. For this they willfully forget, that there were heavens from of old, and an earth compacted out of water and amidst water, by the Word of God; by which means the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished; but the heavens that now are, and the earth, by the same Word have been stored up for fire, being reserved against the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men" (2 Pet. 3: 3-7). He further avers that when this time comes "the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall be dissolved with fervent heat, and the earth and the works that are therein shall be burned up." John appeals to Christians to "love not the world, neither the things of the world; and that if any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the vainglory fo life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof; but he that doeth the Will of God abideth forever" (1 Jno. 2:15-17). With this cursory notice of the parallelism of the antediluvian and present worlds, let us give some thought to the next point; namely, the relation that Noah sustained to the world that then was, and the antitypical suggestiveness related thereto. Noah was in the world, physically attached to it and a part of it. From it he had to be delivered if he escaped the destruction than impending. For him to have relied exclusively on his super- ior moral and spiritual character to have secured his safety, while disregarding preparation divinely prescribed, would obvio- usly resulted in his destruction. The threatened ruin being a phy- sical one he had to be physically delivered from it. Consistent with his character and expressive of his faith he employed approximately a hundred years in making the preparation requir- ed along with preaching through the Spirit to those in the impris- onment of sin a message of doom and a way of escape. His faith in the warning of God produced a salutary effect on him; it created an awareness of the danger then present and threaten- ing. He was not enamored with the then present world as to be indifferent to those interests of a contrary and higher kind. Even today the basic need is for men to be convicted of sin and its fearful consequences, and in conjunction with such a convict- ion be filled with an awareness of the present insecurity contras-ted with the blessings of that kingdom which cannot be moved. To the Ephesians, Paul wrote: "And you hath He quickened who were dead in trespasses and sins; wherein in time past ye walked according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the sons of disobedience." These were, therefore, formerly in and of the world, and, consequently, until delivered or made alive were dead in sins and under condemn- ation. In his salutation to the Galatians, Paul invokes the grace and peace upon them from God the Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ "who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil world." Christ, as our Savior, is our Deliverer; adn in delivering us from this present world He there- by saves us from sins. (More will be posted on this subject to- morrow, the Lord willing, JWS).


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New MapQuest Local shows what's happening at your destination. Dining, Movies, Events, News & more. Try it out (http://local.mapquest.com/?ncid=emlcntnew00000002) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20081014/c40b85d2/attachment-0001.html From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Tue Oct 14 04:39:05 2008 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Tue, 14 Oct 2008 05:39:05 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] A) A COUPLE OF POEMS Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. A very good Tuesday morn- ing to each and everyone. May God bless you and yours. Here are a couple of poems that you might like: A COUPLE OF POEMS THE LOST SHEEP "Twas a sheep, not a lamb, that strayed away, In the parable Jesus told; A grown-up sheep that had gone astray >From the ninety and nine in the fold. Out on the hillside, out in the cold, 'Twas a sheep the good shepherd sought, And back to the flock safe into the fold 'Twas a sheep the good shepherd brought. And why for the sheep should we earnestly long? And as earnestly hope and pray? Because there is danger, if they go wrong, They will lead the lambs astray. For the lambs will follow the sheep, you know, Wherever the sheep may stray; When the sheep go wrong, it will not be long 'Til the lambs are as wrong as they. And so with the sheep we earnestly plead, For the sake of the lamb today; If the lambs are lost; what a terrible cost Some sheep will have to pay." ------C.D. Miller. I LOVE YOU MOTHER "I love you, mother," said little John; Then forgetting his work, his cap went on, And he was off to the garden swing, Leaving his mother the wood to bring. "I love you, mother," said little Nell, "I love you better than tongue can tell." Then she teased and pouted half the day, 'Til mother rejoiced when she went to play. "I love you, mother," said little Nan, "Today I'll help you all I can," To the cradle then she did softly creep, And rocked the baby 'til he fell asleep. Then stepping sofly, she too the broom And swept the floor and dusted the room. Busy and happy all day was she, Helpful and cheerful as child could be. "I love you, mother," again they said, Three little children going to bed. How do you think the mother guessed Which of them really loved her best? ----- Joy Allison.


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New MapQuest Local shows what's happening at your destination. Dining, Movies, Events, News & more. Try it out (http://local.mapquest.com/?ncid=emlcntnew00000002) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20081014/ee706787/attachment-0001.html From kerux at bellsouth.net Tue Oct 14 07:00:38 2008 From: kerux at bellsouth.net (Kent Heaton) Date: Tue, 14 Oct 2008 08:00:38 -0400 Subject: [Biblemat] A>Surviving The Financial Crisis (Kent Heaton) Message-ID: <09DD2F3F1E454485BE64C82B984B724F@D2381J91> Surviving The Financial Crisis (Kent Heaton) A financial crisis occurs when the crisis of man's soul is dependant upon the financial condition of his heart. Samuel Johnson said, "The love of money has been in all ages, one of the passions that have given great disturbances to the tranquility of the world" (Rambler, October 6, 1750). How remarkable man is as the only creature that puts such worth and value upon printed paper. An animal foraging through a wilderness will pay no attention to shiny pieces of gold to search for food and water; knowing that food and water give life, not gold or silver. Dee Bowman said recently that more people are upset about their earthly treasure than they are about their heavenly treasure. If people worried as much about their soul as they do their money what a change would take place in the world. Jesus plainly reminds us of the value of both: "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Matthew 6:19-21). If the focus of our life is only upon the treasures of this life then we are men most miserable. We can gain great wealth one day and lose it the next day. There are no guarantees when it comes to riches. The value of our riches can only be measured by the fear we have of losing them. Riches in heaven can not be taken away by man. Our reward in heaven does not fade away and no one can steal it away. Paul affirms, "I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day" (2 Timothy 1:12). There is nothing within the arsenal of money that can give you what God can give. The possession of riches is not sinful but securing our hearts to the temptation of riches is what will bring about woe and misery. "But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment. For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content. But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs" (1 Timothy 6:6-10). How do we survive the financial crisis? Trust in God! "Be ye free from the love of money; content with such things as ye have: for himself hath said, I will in no wise fail thee, neither will I in any wise forsake thee" (Hebrews 13:5). "The image of Caesar is money, the image of God is man. Give money to Caesar, and give thyself to God" (Tertullian, De Idol. 15, c.211 A.D.). Our hopes and dreams should not be gauged by the flow of Wall Street or our local bank. The sure deposit of our hearts within the gates of God's house will bring about security that is everlasting. Life is not about riches and certainly in death riches remain. The proverb says, "Shrouds have no pockets." The man Job lost all his earthly wealth but retained his godly wealth - and died a richer man because of it. Where our heart is will be where we find our treasure. Kent Heaton 207 NE Fourth Avenue Trenton, Florida 32693 (H) 352-463-6916 (O) 3793 (C) 352-283-3889 www.trentonchurchofchrist.com NEW: AUDIO FILES www.northfloridabiblecamp.com If we ever forget that we are one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under. (Ronald Reagan) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20081014/9541cfff/attachment-0001.html From terrywbenton at bellsouth.net Tue Oct 14 07:38:27 2008 From: terrywbenton at bellsouth.net (Terry W. Benton) Date: Tue, 14 Oct 2008 07:38:27 -0500 Subject: [Biblemat] Amazing Quote Games #12 Message-ID: <519E4172F8C24F72957387C698C8795C@TerryPC> Amazing Quote Games #12 Evolutionists try to frame quotes from creationists as "out-of-context" so as to try to undermine either the integrity of the quote or the integrity of the creationist quoting from the evolutionist. Here is another example of the amazing quote games that are played when creationists quote from evolutionists. _____________________________________________________________________ Quote #12 "The Eldredge-Gould concept of punctuated equilibria has gained wide acceptance among paleontologists. It attempts to account for the following paradox: Within continuously sampled lineages, one rarely finds the gradual morphological trends predicted by Darwinian evolution; rather, change occurs with the sudden appearance of new, well-differentiated species. Eldredge and Gould equate such appearances with speciation, although the details of these events are not preserved. ...The punctuated equilibrium model has been widely accepted, not because it has a compelling theoretical basis but because it appears to resolve a dilemma. Apart from the obvious sampling problems inherent to the observations that stimulated the model, and apart from its intrinsic circularity (one could argue that speciation can occur only when phyletic change is rapid, not vice versa), the model is more ad hoc explanation than theory, and it rests on shaky ground." (Ricklefs, Robert E., "Paleontologists Confronting Macroevolution," Science, vol. 199, 1978, p. 59) This is from a review of the book "Patterns of Evolution as Illustrated by the Fossil Record", and the section that has been replaced by ellipses is as follows: They suggest that change occurs rapidly, by geologic standards, in small peripheral populations. They believe that evolution is accelerated in such populations because they contain a small random sample of the gene pool of the parent population (founder effect) and therefore can diverge rapidly just by chance and because they can respond to local selection pressure that may differ from those encountered by the parent population. Eventually some of these divergent, peripheral populations are favoured by changed environmental conditions (species selection) and so they increase and spread rapidly into fossil assemblages. So Ricklefs disagrees with the idea of Punctuated Equilibria. But does he disagree with the idea of evolution? Apparently not: The fossil record clearly is inadequate for many purposes. To be sure, one can discern general trends in morphology and diversity within phylogenetic groups. At the family to class levels of taxonomy, most paleontologists agree that adaptive radiations occur in brief bursts, often after the decline of ecologically related groups, and are followed by long periods of evolutionary quiet. And later: The patterns we observe in biological communities and evolutionary radiations are the sum of many lower-order processes and interactions. And even though Ricklefs disagrees with Punctuated Equilibria, he doesn't discount it completely: Even though Eldredge and Gould may be proven right, their model, and other recent models in paleontology, should not be accorded the status of a major synthesis. - Jon (Augray) Barber http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/quotes/mine/part1-1.html ____________________________________________________________________________________________ My Reply: Here Barber puts the ellipsis back into the quote, which changed nothing, and then had to admit "so Ricklefs disagrees with the idea of Punctuated Equilibria". Well, that is just part of the matter. The reason for the theory of Punctuated Equilibria was to solve a problem posed by lack of obvious connection in the fossil record. "The punctuated equilibrium model has been widely accepted, not because it has a compelling theoretical basis but because it appears to resolve a dilemma." That is primarily why the quote is brought to the public attention by creationists. Paleontologists have started accepting the theory because: " It attempts to account for the following paradox: Within continuously sampled lineages, one rarely finds the gradual morphological trends predicted by Darwinian evolution". Barber could not charge creationists with taking this quote out of context, so his effort was to try to do something to make it appear that creationists do something sneaky and dishonest with this quote. The two things Barber did was to supply the part that was not quoted, as if to say, "see, those sneaky creationists didn't quote the whole thing". That is part of how these guys play the Amazing Quote Games. But, in supplying the ellipsis that was not quoted, Barber did not show that it changed the meaning of the text and context at all. After the effort to supply the missing part of the quote (which is to imply that creationists did not supply it because they were trying to do something sneaky and dishonest), the next thing Barber does is to show something else the creationist did not quote. This tactic in the game is to act like the creationist did not quote another thing the evolutionist said that proves that the evolutionist DOES believe in evolution. It is the bait and switch tactic. In this effort Barber implies that the reason the creationist quoted the above was to claim that Ricklefs does not believe in evolution. So, Barber quotes something else that Ricklefs said to prove he DOES believe in evolution. Then he implies "see there, that sneaky creationist was wrong about Ricklefs. He does so believe in evolution". The truth is that the creationist was not making any point at all about what Ricklefs believes about evolution. In fact, the reason for quoting the evolutionist is not to prove he doesn't believe in evolution, but to show that evolutionists recognize the reason why the theory of punctuated equilibrium came into play, and it was not because of evidence, but to help solve the dilemma that the fossil record poses for the Darwinian theory of gradualistic evolution. But, that is how the evolution defenders play the Amazing Quote Games. The reader can judge which side is being sneaky and dishonest. The quote is good and in context. Creationists should bring to the attention of the public and know that it went through the TalkOrigins context filter in flying colors and with the added bonus of having the ellipsis filled that further confirms the point. So, here it is again with the filled-in material. Feel free to take it back out if it is too much that is unnecessary to the major point: "The Eldredge-Gould concept of punctuated equilibria has gained wide acceptance among paleontologists. It attempts to account for the following paradox: Within continuously sampled lineages, one rarely finds the gradual morphological trends predicted by Darwinian evolution; rather, change occurs with the sudden appearance of new, well-differentiated species. Eldredge and Gould equate such appearances with speciation, although the details of these events are not preserved. They suggest that change occurs rapidly, by geologic standards, in small peripheral populations. They believe that evolution is accelerated in such populations because they contain a small random sample of the gene pool of the parent population (founder effect) and therefore can diverge rapidly just by chance and because they can respond to local selection pressure that may differ from those encountered by the parent population. Eventually some of these divergent, peripheral populations are favoured by changed environmental conditions (species selection) and so they increase and spread rapidly into fossil assemblages. The punctuated equilibrium model has been widely accepted, not because it has a compelling theoretical basis but because it appears to resolve a dilemma. Apart from the obvious sampling problems inherent to the observations that stimulated the model, and apart from its intrinsic circularity (one could argue that speciation can occur only when phyletic change is rapid, not vice versa), the model is more ad hoc explanation than theory, and it rests on shaky ground." (Ricklefs, Robert E., "Paleontologists Confronting Macroevolution," Science, vol. 199, 1978, p. 59) If you want just a small quote from an evolutionist about why the theory of Punctuated Equilibria was introduced by Eldredge and Gould, then the following is very useful and suitable for that purpose: " It (punctuated equilibria, TWB) attempts to account for the following paradox: Within continuously sampled lineages, one rarely finds the gradual morphological trends predicted by Darwinian evolution".(Ricklefs, Robert E., "Paleontologists Confronting Macroevolution," Science, vol. 199, 1978, p. 59) Terry W. Benton Visit: www.pinelanechurchofchrist.com Dan Billingsly vs. Terry W. Benton Exchange on the Four Gospels at: http://www.pinelanechurchofchrist.com/SiteFiles/157/Benton%20Billingsly%20Debate.doc -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20081014/cb0580bf/attachment-0001.html From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Wed Oct 15 04:53:59 2008 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Wed, 15 Oct 2008 05:53:59 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] S) THE SCHEME OF REDEMPTION IN TYPE (6) Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. Here is the sixth portion of this particular study. Use to the glory of God. THE SCHEME OF REDEMPTION IN TYPE (6) A question of paramount merit to us is how this salvation is accomplished and by what means it is wrought? The salvation of Noah is expressly avowed to be a type of our salvation by the apostle Peter. To his statement we shall take recourse in seek- ing an answer to this point. "For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit; by which also He went and preached unto the spirits in prison, whi- ch sometime were disobedient when onece the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few that is, eight souls were saved by water. The like figure whereunto even baptism doth now save us (not the putt- ing away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good consci- ence toward God) but the resurrection of Jesus Christ; Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto Him" (1 Pet. 3: 18-22). Both with respect to Noah and ourselves salvation is the object secured: salvation from the destroying flood on the part of Noah, and salvation from sin sought and secured by us today. In either instance the salvation is that of being saved from, and, hence, involves a separation or deliverance from. Noah wasn't saved in the flood, but rather from it. Even so, are we saved not in our sins but from them. By faith Noah, being warned of god of things not seen as of yet moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house. And thus did Noah according to all that God commanded him, so did he. Directed by faith and impelled by godly fear Noah moved -- he didn't sit still and depend on faith alone to effect his salvation. It merits notice that God spoke and Noah believed; he believed, and that belief produced fear, and the fear moved him. Whether fear or hope, or both, are the resultant forces of faith de- pends on WHAT is believed. They are equally legitimate issues of faith and are proper motivations when arising from a faith created by a "thus saith the Lord." False fears and false hopes rest on a false faith; and a false faith is the product of false testi- mony. The point of likeness stated by Peter is the SAVED BY WATER in the case of Noah and the fact asserted that BAPTISM DOTH ALSO NOW SAVE US. While none deny that he was saved by water, many, unfortunately, vehemently deny that bapt- ism saves us. Even some gospel preachers, apparently in an effort to make the gospel more palatable, have been known to say that baptism doesn't save us, but that the blood of Christ saves us. As a matter of fact the Word of God ascribes salvation to a number of causes and conditions among them both the blood of Christ and baptism in this language before us. Peter doesn't say that the ark was a type of the church, but he express- ly affirms that the salvation by water of Noah is the type of our salvation by baptism. How, then, does correspondence obtain? Water effected the separation, hence the deliverance, of Noah from the world that then was and the destruction which engulf- ed it. Likewise baptism, in washing away our sins, effects our separation from, or deliverance from, those sins attaching to our souls thereby freeing us from all the guilt and consequences of all the evil we may have ever done. Glorious thought and com- forting the assurance thus afforded those who have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine delivered unto them, having thereby been made free from sin. In the new world, redeemed and renovated by the purging waters of the flood, Noah worshipped his God and offered on a newly built altar burnt offerings of every clean fowl and beast which had been preserved for sacrificial purposes. His was a new life in a new world, freed from the contaminating influences of the old. We who are Christians are new creatures in Christ, having been translated from the power of darkness into the king- dom of God's dear Son, in whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins. We, having been raised up to walk in newness of life are dead to sin, and are to live no longer therein. And seeing tht all these things are to be dissolv-ed, while living in the world here, we are to look for a new heav- en and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteosness. Having been risen we are to set our affections on things above and not on the things of the earth, which things are to pass away event- ually and everlastingly. ----- Bryan Vinson in The Preceptor, Vol. 1, No. 8, June 1952.


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New MapQuest Local shows what's happening at your destination. Dining, Movies, Events, News & more. Try it out (http://local.mapquest.com/?ncid=emlcntnew00000002) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20081015/9c5a7bdd/attachment.html From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Wed Oct 15 04:53:48 2008 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Wed, 15 Oct 2008 05:53:48 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] A) THE MYTH Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. A very good Wednesday morning to each and everyone. May God bless you and yours. Here is an article from my recent files: THE MYTH Once we decide to obey God completely, it's easy to assume that the rest of our life will run smoothly. If it does, we think this proves that we're doing God's Will. If we run into obstacles, how- ever, we're quick to conclude that we must be doing something wrong or God is unhappy with us. Rather than question our measuring stick, we question our dedication, and sometimes even God. It's a myth to believe that if we obey God, everything will al- ways go well. Being dedicated to God means going with Him even when things don't go our way. In fact, as you consider the growth of the church in the 1st century, the Bible is clear that the gospel advanced during times of suffering. Although Paul was imprisoned when he wrote to the Philipp- ians, his adversity didn't cause him concern. His objective was to preach the gospel and he didn't question that goal just becau- se he had been arrested. He made the most of the circumstanc-es and continued to proclaim Jesus even to his captors. His im- prisonment furthered the gospel! "Now I want you to know, brethren, tht my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel, so that my imprisonment in the cause of Christ has become well known throughout the whole praetorian guard and to everyone else, and that most of the brethren, trusting in the Lord because of my imprisonment, have far more courage to speak the Word of God without fear" (Phil. 1:12-14). How would you and I react if we were in Paul's shoes? Would we question our faithfulness, God's love for us, or perhaps question if there was even a God? Don't be fooled by the misleading notion that life will be easy if you obey God. God doesn't always remove difficulties; He uses them for your good and for His glory. (Paul told Timothy to preach the word in season and out of season. Meaning that it was not going to all be smooth sailing as he told people of their sins. He also said that he himself was not trying to please men, but God. He also said that we should be aware when all men speak well of us. If we preach the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, we are going to step on some people's toes and they just might try to get back at us in some way, JWS). ------ Shane Williams, The Lilbourn Light, Vol. 9, Nos. 4,5, Aug/Sept. 2008.

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New MapQuest Local shows what's happening at your destination. Dining, Movies, Events, News & more. Try it out (http://local.mapquest.com/?ncid=emlcntnew00000002) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20081015/ee5af9b9/attachment.html From preacherref01 at verizon.net Thu Oct 16 00:16:17 2008 From: preacherref01 at verizon.net (Thomas Thornhill) Date: Wed, 15 Oct 2008 22:16:17 -0700 Subject: [Biblemat] Where is Your Treasure? Message-ID: <48F6CE21.9060907@verizon.net> Greetings Brethren, Here is a short talk I presented Wednesday night. The idea and some of the thoughts came from Kent Heaton's article, Surviving the Financial Crisis. Anyway, use it as you see fit. Tom Thornhill Jr. www.roseavenue.org (562)867-4416 Bellflower, CA 90706 *WHERE IS YOUR HEART?* Matthew 6:19-21 says, "/Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; *20 *but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. *21 *For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also/." There is no question that we are living in difficult times. The economy is in a downward spiral. People's net worth is drastically decreasing. We are seeing panic and those who depend most upon the world are in the greatest trouble. What amazes me about all this is why it is happening? Do you realize that what is causing the world to go into recession (and possibly into depression) is one commodity? PAPER! I may be ignorant about financial matters but the truth is the physical condition of the world is not much different today than it was a year or two ago. But the vast majority of people are in worse shape physically and financially today than just a few months ago. Why is this? PAPER! Now the Bible doesn't have much to say about paper, but the underlying cause behind this paper push is something the Bible has MUCH to say about -- GREED! What we are witnessing is the effects of GREED. Paul warned Timothy, "/For the love of money is the root of all (kinds of) evil, from which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pieced themselves through with many sorrows/." (1 Tim. 6:10). Those who have made their fortunes by taking advantage of everyone else are responsible for our present condition. Those who wanted something that they did not earn or could not pay for (the Bible calls this covetousness) are responsible for our present condition. Those who are panicking because the physical things they cherish most are in danger of disappearing are responsible for this present condition. But who is NOT responsible for this? The answer is God! It is NOT the positive principles of the Bible that have caused this mess (i.e. obeying God's word in all things). It is the abandonment of those principles. Who will make it through these times just fine? It is those who have their priorities right! Those who are "other-worldly." So I ask, WHERE DO WE STAND? Where is OUR heart? We as Christians claim to put God first. But do we? How are we faring as we see our dollars worth less than before? I am fearful that it is not just the ungodly that are panicking right now. What do we need to be doing about this? The answer is: ? *_Evaluate your priorities_* -- Now is a good time to take a look at what is REALLY important to you. 2 Cor. 13:5, "/Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Prove yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? Unless in deed you are disqualified./" ? *_Be content with such things as you have_* -- "/Now godliness with conferment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content/." (1 Tim. 6:6-8) ? *_Reinvest_*. Last week I heard financial investors say to pull money out of their accounts and put in safer places (like under a mattress). I say, as Jesus did, "/Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you..." (John/ 6:27). As the text we began with says, "lay up for yourselves treasure in heaven." If you find yourself like the rich, young ruler in these times -- you better do something about it while you can. ? *_Trust in God to take care of you!_* Matthew 6:33, "/Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you/." God will take care of you. Even in these things we need to apply that trust. I am reminded of what Paul said in 2 Tim. 1:12, "/For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that day/." Do you really trust God. It is in difficult times that men often turn to God. Now is a difficult time. While I do not recommend waiting for such, today, like any other is an opportunity to make your life right. Will you? Where IS your treasure? If it is not in heaven, do something about it right now! -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20081015/ec72e531/attachment-0001.html From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Thu Oct 16 05:46:11 2008 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Thu, 16 Oct 2008 06:46:11 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] A) OUR HEAVENLY HOME Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. A very good Thursday morn- ing to each and everyone. May God bless you and yours. Here is an article from my recent files: OUR HEAVENLY HOME The very thought of a lovely home brings to mind some of the sweetest thoughts a human mind can have of earthly things and relationships. I call to mind my home of many years ago with a mother and daddy, a sister and two brothers, who loved each other and were concerned with each other's welfare. But sometimes there were things that would come up and could have destroyed the blessings we had there. We made it through. But now the home is being broken up. My mother and daddy are dead. One of my brothers passed away in 2000. I have a brother and sister left from that beautiful and happy home. But what I want to say is this: Our heavenly home will be different. In our heavenly home there will be: ... Eternal Companionship And Fellowship: -- And I look forward to this. We will have eternal fellowship and companionship with the Father. Our heavenly home is designated as "My Father's house" (Jno. 14:2). There we will enjoy the Father's love, con- cern and care throughout eternity. There will be such a contrast to those who are lost. In Heaven God will wipe away all tears from our eyes; there will be no more death, nor sorrow, nor cry- ing, there will be no more pain. How joyous it will be to have such an environment. The reason for this: The former things are passed away. Not only will there be fellowship with the Father but also with His Son. Jesus says in Jno. 14, "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." And also with the Holy Spirit. In Lk. 3:21,22 we read, "it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened, And the Holy Spirit descended in a bodily form lie a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, 'Thou art My beloved Son; in Thee I am well pleased." Not only companionship and fellowship with the Godhead but we read in Rev. 7:11, "...and all the angels stood round about the throne." We will be with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit and "all the angels." But add to this what we read that Jesus said in Matt. 8:11, "And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven." "For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first...Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord" (1 Thes. 4:16,17). In our home in Heaven we will have ETERNAL COMPANION- SHIP AND FELLOWSHIP with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, the angels adn also with the saved of all the ages. -------- Cecil F. Cox in Gospel Power, Vol. 15, No. 40, Oct. 12, 2008.


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New MapQuest Local shows what's happening at your destination. Dining, Movies, Events, News & more. Try it out (http://local.mapquest.com/?ncid=emlcntnew00000002) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20081016/08dbbe2b/attachment-0001.html From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Thu Oct 16 05:46:24 2008 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Thu, 16 Oct 2008 06:46:24 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] S) THE USE OF SCRIPTURE IN PREACHING Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. Here is a study from my files. Use to the glory of God. THE USE OF SCRIPTURE IN PREACHING Nearly twenty-five years ago, my wife and I left a large liberal congregation in which we grew up, met, and married. There were many reasons that led us to make this change, but one thing was at the top of the list -- the content of sermons preached I still remember sermons preached by well-meaning brethren in which one Scripture was read, followed by thirty minutes of illustration, personal experience, and humorous anecdote. Once when an older preacher visited who used "book, chapter, and verse," he was scoffed quietly and viewed as simple-mind- ed, quaint, and "old-fashioned." When we left and began to worship with a biblical congregat- ion, there was a clear difference in the emphasis upon Scripture. Members of the congregation were urged to test each point and follow in their Bibles. Now, after I have myself been preaching for nearly twenty years, I sense that this may be slowly changing More and more sermons preached by (well-meaning) brethren (both young and old) no longer put the emphasis upon the text. It is not that the content is unsound; the emphasis is simply not on the text of Scripture. If the content is sound, what difference does it make whether a preacher emphasizes the text? First, it shifts the focus of the message. If the message focu- ses upon the text, the message focuses upon the One who re- vealed the text -- God. If it does not, the focus shifts to the preac- her. Second, it weakens the force of our appeal. It makes little sense for us to call the world "back to the Bible," if the text of the Bible plays a secondary role in our message. It matters little what we think or say, but what God has said matters infinitely. Third, it demonstrates a denominational approach to wor- ship. Many in the world consider worship something that is ob- served rather than something in which we mutually participate. Brethren over the last two centuries have demonstrated a dis- tinctive difference in this attitude as we have called upon hear- ers to test what is said by the standard of the Word. If Scripture is not the emphasis, then we are asking our hearers to trust our word as if we are "clergy" enlightening the "laity." That is not God's way! How can we avoid such pitfalls? Consider four suggestions 1. Ask the people to turn to the Scriptures with you: -- A good test of whether or not our emphasis is on Scripture is this question -- "Would someone hearing my sermon need to have a Bible with him/her?" My wife and I have always taught our child- ren to bring their Bibles to services and follow along with what is taught. When they have studied with preachers who do not emphasize Scripture, it becomes unclear to them what they should do. I have seen these eager minds sit with Bibles in their laps -- for no purpose. The process of turning the pages of our Bibles to study the lesson presented is a valuable spiritual exercise. It aids in mem- ory. It trains us to teach others. It reinforces the validity of what is taught. Obviously, we must be considerate of visitors to our assemblies who do not know the Bible well enough to follow us, yet consideration of the visitor is not accomplished by placing the emphasis in the wrong place. We want to show guests the importance of using the Bible as our sourcebook and authority. 2. Limit the use of illustrations: -- Many preachers have been frustrated by the fact that we can present numerous points from Scripture which no one seems to remember, yet when a humor- ous illustration or personal experience is cited, everyone seems to remember that. It is tempting to think that since people respond better to these kinds of things we should emphasize what touches people's hearts. That may or may not be the case. not all humor, illustrations, or personal experiences are improper. However, their value rests ultimately in the degree to which they lead us to embrace the text of Scripture, not in their own execution. 3. Understand the purpose of preaching: -- Preaching is a unique work. The preacher is not a public speaker -- although he speaks publicly. The preacher is not a salesman -- although he attempts to persuade his audience to "buy the Word and sell it not." The preacher is not an entertainer -- although the good heart will enjoy the presentation of God's Word. The preacher is a servant, entrusted with the task of bringing the message of the gospel to others. Sometimes that message is embraced. Sometimes it is rejected. We do the best we can to persuade and implant this mess- age in the heart of the hearer, but we trust the power of God to accomplish this -- not our own eloquence or technique. Paul praised the Thessalonians, declaring "When you received the Word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the Word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe" (1 Thes. 2:13). As uninspir- ed preachers, the only way we can be certain to present the "Word of God" and not the "word of men" is through an emphas- is upon the text of Scripture. 4. "Hide behind the cross": -- We used to hear prayers in which one would ask that the preacher "hide himself behind the cross." It is more than a cliche. It is a call to place the emphasis on the message, not the messenger. The thought is grounded in Paul's own declaration, "For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus' sake" (2 Cor. 4:5). There were times when Paul's preach- ing was criticized (2 Cor. 10:10). But he made a conscious choi- ce to emphasize Christ rather than self in order that "faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God" (1 Cor. 2;5). By not means should preachers be sloppy or deliberately awkward, but sometimes we must make conscious choices not to do or say things that could shift the emphasis away from Christ and upon ourselves. Personal judgment may differ here. What I see as an illustration of the text you may see as "preach- ing self." Even so, we must work to avoid this pitfall. My God help us to exalt His grandeur and the power of His Word in every sermon we preach! -------- Kyle Pope in Biblical Insights, Vol. 8, No. 3, March 2008.

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New MapQuest Local shows what's happening at your destination. Dining, Movies, Events, News & more. Try it out (http://local.mapquest.com/?ncid=emlcntnew00000002) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20081016/8a2e8d5a/attachment-0001.html From bgreen at tycom.net Thu Oct 16 21:15:16 2008 From: bgreen at tycom.net (Bill Green) Date: Thu, 16 Oct 2008 21:15:16 -0500 Subject: [Biblemat] mormon help Message-ID: Hello all, I have recented started a discussion with a female Mormon from Utah. She saw on my myspace page that I am a preacher for the church of Christ, and ask me to discuss the differences in our beliefs. My question is, where to start? I must confess, I have not spend a lot of time studying Mormons. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for your time and help. Have a good evening. Brotherly, Bill Green -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20081016/e19dc344/attachment-0001.html From disciple_of_iesus at hotmail.com Thu Oct 16 22:20:47 2008 From: disciple_of_iesus at hotmail.com (Ethan R. Longhenry) Date: Thu, 16 Oct 2008 23:20:47 -0400 Subject: [Biblemat] Churches of the New Testament Now Available for Pre-Ordering! Message-ID: Greetings, everyone. We hope that all is well with you. Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be a Christian in the first century? What would it be like to meet with the church in Philippi or Ephesus? What would go on in their assemblies? In Churches of the New Testament, written by Ethan Longhenry, we explore the world of first century Christianity by examining what Scripture reveals about the local churches of God's people. We examine background information about the geography and history of each city, as well as whatever is known about the founding of the church there. We also consider what instruction was presented to each church and why, and consider Biblical and historical evidence to see what happened to the church after the first century. Ultimately, we attempt to figure out what lessons can be learned from the example of each church. Centuries may separate us from the churches of the New Testament, but their examples, instruction, commendation, and rebukes can teach us today. Explore with us what can be learned about God's intentions for His church according to the Scriptures in Churches of the New Testament! Churches of the New Testament will be available in late October or early November 2008. You have the opportunity to take advantage of a pre-ordering special: order now and receive free shipping! The book is $13.00 and available through DeWard Publishing. For more information and/or to order the book, please visit http://www.deusvitae.com/faith/churchesnt/index.html Pre-ordering will be available until the end of October. If you would like an autographed copy, please contact me at deusvitae at hotmail.com and we can make arrangements. Thanks for your interest! Ethan Ethan R. Longhenry / deusvitae at hotmail.com Evangelist, church of Christ in Norwalk, Ohio [norwalkchurch.org] Homepage: deusvitae.com AIM: Deus Vitae / ICQ: 28317056 Y! IM: discipuliiesus From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Fri Oct 17 05:04:37 2008 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Fri, 17 Oct 2008 06:04:37 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] A) DO MIRACLES OCCUR EVERY DAY? Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. A very good Friday morning to each and everyone. May God bless you and yours. Here is an article from my recent files: DO MIRACLES OCCUR EVERY DAY? What does the Bible teach regarding miracles? Is it true, as some claim, that miracles are happening every day? In reality, even during Bible times, miracles did not occur "every day." Miraculous activities for the most part were confined to certain periods of Biblical history. These included the miracles of the creation week. Then when Israel was in Egyptian bondage, God sent the ten plagues, caused Israel to cross the Red Sea on dry land, fed them with manna, and on occasion also miraculously gave them water. Later, the ministries of the prophets Elijah and Elisha were characterized by numerous miracles. The next "cluster" of miracles was during the ministry of Christ, and final- ly, during the establishment and spread of the church. Obvious- ly then, miracles were not "evenly distributed" over the centur- ies of Biblical history, but rather were used by God only at certain times, to meet unique needs, and to accomplish specific purposes. Among the many miracles Jesus performed we read of His healing the man with an amputated ear by simply touch- ing him (Lk. 22:50,51). Honestly, do you see tht every day, or any day? When there was a great tempest in the sea of Galilee, Jesus "rebuked the waves and the sea and there was a great calm" (Matt. 8:23-26). On another occasion, on that same sea, Jesus came unto His disciples walking on the water (Matt. 14:26). Jesus miraculously fed 5,000 men plus women and children with five loaves and two fishes (Matt. 14:15-21). There are three recorded occasions where Jesus raised the dead. These include the only son of the widow of Nain (Lk. 7:11-17). Jarius' daughter (Matt. 9:18-26) and Lazarus (Jno. 11). These are but a few, a very few of the miracles Jesus did. The purpose of Jesus' miracles is stated in Jno. 20:30,31: "And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His discipl- es which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name". That purpose has been accomplished. Further, Mark gives us insight into the purpose of the miracu- lous when he writes, "And they went out and preached every- where, the Lord working with them and confirming the Word through the accompanying signs" (Mk. 16:20). Reference is made to the salvation which began to be spoken by the Lord, "and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various mira- cles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His Will" (Heb. 2:3, 4). The purpose of the miraculous then was to reveal and to con- firm the Word of God. There was a time limitation on the miracul- ous. Gifts such as tongues, prophecy and knowledge (miracul- ous) whould cease (1 Cor. 13:8-10) with the completion of the revelation. God's power has not ceased. His presence and glory are evident all around us. We are abundantly blessed by Him (Acts 14:17; Jas. 1:17). He hears and answers prayer (Jas. 5:16). When the revelation of truth was completed, and had been fully confirmed, the miraculous ceased, having accomplish- ed its purpose. -------- Leon Mauldin via Gospel Power, Vol. 15, No. 40, Oct. 12, 2008.


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New MapQuest Local shows what's happening at your destination. Dining, Movies, Events, News & more. Try it out (http://local.mapquest.com/?ncid=emlcntnew00000002) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20081017/01a07229/attachment-0001.html From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Fri Oct 17 05:04:50 2008 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Fri, 17 Oct 2008 06:04:50 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] S) CREATION: ESSENTIAL BIBLE DOCTRINE (1) Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. Here is a study from my files. Use to the glory of God. CREATON: ESSENTIAL BIBLE DOCTRINE (1) It is essential to know God. Jesus said, "This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent" (Jno. 17:3). One of the essential elements in our knowledge of God is the understanding that He is the Creator of everything other than Himself. By "Himself" I, of cour- se, refer to God's threefold Divine Being: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. That said, I am convinced that we must con- sider it essential to acknowledge truth about God's creation and understand its implications. In critical passages of Scripture, the Holy Spirit establishes the essentiality of accepting God as Creator and all that the Bible teaches concerning the subject. Believing that "faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" and that "without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to Go must believe that He is," we readily accept that "by faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the Word of God" (Heb. 11:1-6). All in heaven worship Him who lives forever and ever saying, "You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and by Your Will they exist and were created." Almost twenty years ago, I was introduced to Jack Cottrell's three volume work dealing with man's knowledge of God. One of those volumes entitled God, the Creator provides some intrig- uing suggestions about the biblical doctrine of creation and the implications of our belief in what the Bible says about creation. If you read chapters three and four of that book, you will recogni- ze some of the basic points contained in these articles. Cottrell said, "God's highest purpose in creation -- to be glorified -- is ful- filled in the highest way through the creation of persons in His own image, personal beings who can acknowledge God's glory as manifested in His works and who can praise and adore Him on account of it. Without the presence of rational creatures, the universe would be like a book with no reader, a voice with no one to hear, a beautiful house with no inhabitant" (127). Creation From Nothing: -- I believe that God originally created all material substance from nothing. He used only His own mind and energy. God is omnipotent. That does not simply mean that He is stronger than anyone else. It means that He is all powerful. He can do whatever He chooses because He is unlimited in pow- er. Believing that, it is no unreasonable for me to believe that God used His power to create all material things. Now since He created all things and nothing but Himself existed prior to creat- ion, God must have created all things from nothing. We use the words "create" and "creation" to refer to a variety of resourcefulness. "Generation" refers to bringing something "new" into existence from one's own existence. When a child is born, his/her human form is generated by parents through natural processes. That is not the creation we are discussing. "Formation" takes place when one brings some- thing "new" into existence by reconstituting elements in the mat- erial realm around him. We can only in a limited way (certainly not a material sense) claim that Henry Ford's automobile and Frank Lloyd Wright's buildings were "creations," because they used and were built upon what was already there. The "new" things of craftsmen all pale before God's creation because He originally brought forth from nothingness without any pre-exist- ing materials. Now, let us look at God's own definition of what He did. "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth." First, this opening statement of God's Word, the Bible, Gen. 1:1, affirms the existence of God before matter this denying atheism and pantheism. Further, it affirms creation thus denying materialism. "In the beginning" refers to the time at which all matter, the heav- en and the earth, may date the commencement of its existence. The word "created" is translated from the Hebrew word bara' which refers to the initiating of something new. Even though the word itself does not inherently necessitate creation from noth- ing, it is important to note that after its creation, the earth was said to be "formless and void." For God to simply "form" unformed matter out of unformed matter is not rational. The only sense to be made out of these words is that God brought matter from non-existing nothingness and formed it. The Gospel according to John repeats the substance of this declaration when it says, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and Word was God. He was in the be- ginning with God. All things were made through Him, and with- out Him nothing was made that was made" (Jno. 1:1-3). "In the beginning" mimics the opening words of Genesis and sets the stage. The Word (God, the Son) existed before all things made by Him existed. The beginning is when they came into existen- ce. Nothing was made that was not made by Him. Therefore, all things were created by Divine power from non-existence. By inspiration, the apostle Paul wrote, "As it is written, I have made you a father of many nations, in the presence of Him whom he believed, even God, who gives life to the dead, and calls those things which do not exist as though they did" (Rom. 4:17). Two great Divine works are clearly affirmed here: creation from nothing that exists and resurrection from death. Hebrews chapter 11 verse 3 directly states "that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible." As previously cited, that same verse reminds all that "by faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the Word of God." That is how God created. He spoke and matter resulted when there had been none before. Notice also that not only here but in the first chapter of Genesis each time God did something new on a subsequent day, the text says, "And God said..." Creation resulted from the Word of God. He had only to speak and what He spoke came into existence. This implies instantaneous creat- ion. While the Bible places God's creation within the very limited time time of the six earth days, it also reveals that what God created from nothing required nothing more than the millisec- ond it took for Him to speak it into existence. The Psalmist said, "By the Word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of His mouth...For He spoke, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast" (Psa. 33:6-9). ------ (More will be posted on this subject tomorrow, the Lord willing, JWS).

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New MapQuest Local shows what's happening at your destination. Dining, Movies, Events, News & more. Try it out (http://local.mapquest.com/?ncid=emlcntnew00000002) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20081017/971451ad/attachment-0001.html From kerux at bellsouth.net Fri Oct 17 06:35:02 2008 From: kerux at bellsouth.net (Kent Heaton) Date: Fri, 17 Oct 2008 07:35:02 -0400 Subject: [Biblemat] A>There is only one (Kent Heaton) Message-ID: There Is Only One (Kent Heaton) In the antique world, owning the only copy of an ancient manuscript or possessing the only artifact from the ancient world suggest great value. If there is only one copy of a piece of music from Beethoven scholars would recognize its great worth. There is only one original Constitution of the United States signed by the early fathers. The value of one is evident. There is only one God. There is only one Savior. There is only one book containing the word of God. There is only one church. There is only one way to salvation. There is only one eternal rest. The Bible is the only place the principle of one is denied by those who accept it in every other part of life. From the garden of Eden God told man there was only one way of truth. "The Lord God commanded the man, saying, "From any tree of the garden you may eat freely; but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die" (Genesis 2:16-17). Man chose to ignore that law and was expelled from the garden. There was one truth and because of their disobedience, Adam and Eve were punished. When Moses brought the Law to the people of God in Exodus 20 the first commandment was "You shall have no other gods before Me" (Exodus 20:3). The prophet Isaiah declared the word of the Lord: "Turn to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth; For I am God, and there is no other" (Isaiah 45:22). There is no other God but Jehovah God. There is no Allah, no Buddha, no other God but the one true God. There is only one Savior. Jesus plainly taught the oneness of His relationship with the Father in John 14:6 - "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me" (John 14:6). Jesus is the only way to the Father; the only truth that comes from the Father; and the only life man can have is through Jesus Christ. There is only one way man can find the Father and that is in Christ. That leaves out Moses, Elijah, the Pope, Mohammed, Joseph Smith, George Bush and Kent Heaton. The Bible is the only book given to man that reveals the mind of God. Paul said, "All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work" (2 Timothy 3:16-17). There is no other revelation from God (2 Peter 1:13-21). Paul warned that angels were not permitted to change the word of God (Galatians 1:8,9) This leaves out the Koran, the Book of Mormon or disciplines written by man as inspired revelations from God. There is only one church. Ephesians 4:4 says there is "one body" and Ephesians 1:22,23 says the body is the church. There is only one New Testament church. Jesus said He would build "My church" and He died for only one church (Matthew 16:18; Acts 20:28). There is only one church that is nearly 2,000 years old and the churches of men cannot make that claim. There is only one way to salvation. The book of Acts is filled with stories of those who obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine that delivered them from sin. Upon hearing the word of God they believed it and confessed Christ as their Savior; repenting of their sins and having their sins washed away in the waters of baptism became children of God (Mark 16:15,16; Acts 2:38; Romans 10:9,10; Luke 13:3; Romans 6:3-6). There is only one place of eternal rest - Heaven (Revelation 21 & 22). Kent Heaton 207 NE Fourth Avenue Trenton, Florida 32693 (H) 352-463-6916 (O) 3793 (C) 352-283-3889 www.trentonchurchofchrist.com NEW: AUDIO FILES www.northfloridabiblecamp.com If we ever forget that we are one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under. (Ronald Reagan) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20081017/4a93bb12/attachment.html From tedwards at onemain.com Fri Oct 17 14:49:49 2008 From: tedwards at onemain.com (tedwards at onemain.com) Date: Fri, 17 Oct 2008 14:49:49 -0500 Subject: [Biblemat] B> Gospel Observer 10/12/08 Message-ID: <48F8A60D.216.171899F@localhost> ____________________________________________________ THE GOSPEL OBSERVER ____________________________________________________ "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations...teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:19,20). ____________________________________________________ October 12, 2008 ____________________________________________________ Contents: 1) Does the New Testament Teach That the Wicked Will Be Punished Eternally in the Lake of Fire? (Irvin Himmel) 2) A Beautiful Life (Gilbert Alexander) 3) News & Notes ____________________________________________________ -1- Does the New Testament Teach That the Wicked Will Be Punished Eternally in the Lake of Fire? by Irvin Himmel It is asserted sometimes that God punished the wicked in Old Testament days, but that He is shown to be loving. and compassionate in the New Testament; therefore, the Old Testament concept of punishment for sin is thought to differ from the New Testament concept. What Jesus Said: Let us begin by noting what Jesus Christ said on this important subject."And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell" (Matt. 10:28). The word for "destroy" that Jesus used here means "to devote or give over to eternal misery" (Thayer's Greek English Lexicon). "Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?" (Matt. 23: 33). This was the question which our Lord put to the Pharisees and scribes. Depicting the final judgment of the wicked, Jesus said, "Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels...And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal" (Matt. 25:46). Our Lord made three points clear in this passage: (1) The wicked will be given "punishment." (2) It will be "everlasting" punishment. (3) It will be in the "fire" prepared for the devil and his angels. What Peter Taught: Now notice what the apostle Peter had to say on this subject. "For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly; And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly . . . The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished" (2 Pet. 2:4-9). Peter here gave three arguments to show that God will reserve the unjust to be punished. First, God did not allow sinful angels to escape judgment. Second, He spared not the wicked world of Noah's day. Third, God condemned Sodom and Gomorrah. What Paul Wrote: No writer in the New Testament spoke more clearly on the subject at hand than Paul. "...The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power" (2 These. 1:7-9). Paul taught that in the judgment God will render to every man according to his deeds. "To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honor and immortality," God will render "eternal life." "But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness," God will render "indignation and wrath, Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile" (Rom. 2:6-9). What John Stated: We often think of John as the apostle of love because he had so much to say about love, but John, like the Lord and the other apostles, understood that the wicked will be punished in the lake of fire. Hear John's testimony. "And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever" (Rev. 20:10). "And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire" (Rev. 20:15). "But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: Which is the second death" (Rev. 21:8). Conclusion All that any of us can know about the punishment which the wicked will receive is what God has disclosed in the Scriptures. If we cannot believe what the Bible says about hell, why believe what it says about heaven, or anything else? God is loving and kind; but at the same time, His divine law demands that there be some penalty for violation. Justice could not be served in the absence of punishment for the wicked: It is for God, not man, to decide on the penalty for sin. Let us not presume to be wiser than God. -- Via Truth Magazine XIX: 11, p. 162, January 23, 1975 ____________________________________________________ -2- A Beautiful Life by Gilbert Alexander The finest adorning in life is not an outward adorning of the body, but rather dressing oneself in the beauty of holiness and righteousness. While the outward adorning of the body is pleasing to the eye and physically appealing, the inward adorning of a meek and quiet spirit appeals to the heart and soul and makes one's life rich indeed. David speaks of "the beauties of holiness" (Psalm 110:3); and Paul, quoting from Isaiah 52:7, says, "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things!" Again, the Psalmist says, "For the Lord takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the humble with salvation." Isaiah says, "I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels" (Isaiah 61:10). How shallow and hollow indeed is a beautiful countenance behind which is a corrupt and immoral life. We often sing, "Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me," but we know that the prophet has said of the Christ, "He has no form or comeliness; and when we see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him" (Isaiah 53:2). The beauty of selfless sacrifice is seen in its finest hour in the suffering and death of Christ. "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends" (John 15:13). Of the life of Jesus, Peter stated it simply, "...who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him" (Acts 10:38). The people of God can do little to improve their physical appearance, but each one can adorn his life with meekness and holiness, doing good and sharing, "for with such sacrifices God is well pleased" (Hebrews 13:16). The beauty of the Lord's church is in its purity as a cleansed body, and the continued purity of the church depends upon the purity of the lives of all the saints. "A little leaven leavens the whole lump"; therefore, we must "purge out the old leaven" so that we may be a new, unleavened lump (I Corinthians 5:6,7). How beautiful is a life of "golden deeds," of kind and compassionate words and works, of pure and wholesome speech, of a meek and submissive attitude (I Peter 3:3-6), of a genuine respect for others and unpretended love of the brethren, of a holy and harmless life of doing justly, loving mercy, and being ready unto every good work, of a heart in which is no guile! How beautiful is the simplicity of worship: hearts that are attuned to the will of God, voices blending together in songs of praise, heartfelt prayers of supplication and thanksgiving, the solemn yet joyful fellowship of the Lord's Supper, the earnest exhortation and edification of the church through teaching, and the sacrifice of our financial resources to the Lord's work! Let the words of "A Beautiful Life" ring in our hearts as each of us gives himself diligently to the task of being "a worker who does not need to be ashamed" (II Timothy 2:15). Surely the "beautiful people" are the godly people who shine as lights in a dark world of sin and degradation! -- Via The Bulletin of the Church of Christ at New Georgia, June 1, 2008 ____________________________________________________ -3- News & Notes Let us continue to remember Charles Walker (Haley Patrick's grandfather) as he is recuperating from his recent heart attack and surgery. Let us also keep our shut-ins in our prayers: the Shuffs and sister Pine. If you are visiting with us today, we are glad and thankful for your presence. Please feel free to come again! ____________________________________________________ CHURCH OF CHRIST 102 Rushing Road (at the Hampton Inn) Denham Springs, LA 70726 Sunday: 9:15 AM, 10:00 AM, 4:00 PM evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (225) 667-4520 tedwards at onemain.com http://home.onemain.com/~tedwards/go DIRECTIONS: Take the Denham Springs exit (exit 10) off I-12. At the end of the exit ramp, turn north (on Range Avenue). Go about a stone's throw to Rushing Road. (You'll see a Starbucks, Circle K, and two other gas stations -- with each on each corner.) Turn left on Rushing Road, and go less then 0.3 of a mile. Hampton Inn will be on the right. We assemble in its meeting room, which is close to the main entrance. ____________________________________________________ From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Sat Oct 18 02:47:07 2008 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Sat, 18 Oct 2008 03:47:07 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] A) GOD HAS SPOKEN Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. A very good Saturday morn- ing to each and everyone. May God bless you and yours. Here is an article from my recent files: GOD HAS SPOKEN "Preach the Word! Be ready in saason and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they wil not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables With these words Paul exhorted Timothy to do the work of an evangelist" (2 Tim. 4:2-5). We live in a time of "heaping up teachers." Religious teach- ers abound. They appeal to all sorts of desires in order to draw and hold their audiences. One may use comedy. Another may profess to do miracles. Still another may dress in white or in splendid robes. Some of the teachers preach a message of mat- erial health and wealth. Most, if not all, of them teach a doctrine of faith alone. James chapter two is certainly not a favorite text with them. Neither is Heb. 5:8,9. Great throngs of people gather to be entertained and comforted by them. Having received their fill of false assurance, the people depart, still guilty before God, convinced that all is well with their souls; and the teachers go their way with coffers filled with worldly riches. Meanwhile, teachers of truth speak to small audiences, teach- ing the lost ones why they are lost and exhorting them to believe what God has said, to turn from their sins in repentance, to ack- nowledge their faith in Christ as God's Son, and to be baptized into Christ so that their sins will be forgiven. They then, who obey the gospel, are urged to walk in newness of life (Rom. 6:3,4 having become children of God (Gal. 3:26,27). These teachers of truth emphasize the love and grace of God, personal responsibi- lity to obey God and to continue in fellowship with God as obed- ient children who carefully follow His Word in all that they do. The obedient ones live in full assurance of true faith; and the teachers of truth continue in their work, unacclaimed and even shunned by the world, seeking out the few who are willing to hear God's message of salvation in its entirety. Neighbor, where are you? Are you in this picture? ------- Gilbert Alexander. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20081018/689450b8/attachment-0001.html From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Sat Oct 18 02:47:16 2008 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Sat, 18 Oct 2008 03:47:16 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] S) CREATION: ESSENTIAL BIBLE DOCTRINE (2) Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, JIm Sasser here. Here is the second part of this particular study taken from my files. Use to the glory of God. CREATION: ESSENTIAL BIBLE DOCTRINE (2) Creation of the Invisible: -- At this point, we should observe that God's creative genius did not stop with the material creation. Paul said, "For by Him were all things created, tht are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thron- es, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him" (Col. 1:16). Notice again, that by saying that all things were created by Him and for Him, Script- ure is affirming that nothing existed previous to it being created by God the Son. It, therefore, was created from nothing! But notice here that God also created the invisible things in heaven and on earth: i.e., invisible spiritual beings as well as visi- ble material beings. Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni "created" his Pieta in the basilica of St. Peter's in Rome, his image of David in Florence, and his Creation of Adam on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican. But in no way does Michelangelo's Creat- ion of Adam compare to God's "creation of Adam"; nor would Michelangelo have claimed such. In each of his creations, Miche- langelo was using pre-existing materials: stone, marble, and oil. We may acknowledge that God "formed" man (his body) and every beast of "the dust of the ground" (Gen. 2:7,19), but that in itself does not include the creation of life, soul and spirit, which is not made of matter. God "breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being." God created life (human and animal) and He created spirits and gave them to men and women who because of that will live eternally. David said, "For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well" (Psa. 139:13,14). We will live forever because God made us adn God wills it, not because we possess some eternal quality of being. God only has "life in Himself" (Jno. 5: 26; 1 Tim. 6:16). It is impossible for Him to not exist. God only is eternal. We had no existence prior to God's creating us. And we are totally dependent upon His upholding the existence of our personhood, our spirits, according to His Will and by His Word. (More will be posted on this subject on Monday, the Lord willing, JWS). -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20081018/e69f5ad1/attachment-0001.html From jmickells at juno.com Fri Oct 17 16:55:26 2008 From: jmickells at juno.com (Jimmy R Mickells) Date: Fri, 17 Oct 2008 16:55:26 -0500 Subject: [Biblemat] Gospel Meeting Message-ID: <20081017.165527.3632.2.jmickells@juno.com> GOSPEL MEETING Despite what some say, I don?t think that the days for having successful gospel meetings are gone. I do believe that the days are passed when we simply plan a meeting, invite a preacher to come and present some lessons from God?s word, and great numbers of people show up, and many are brought to the Lord as the results of very little effort on behalf of the local church. There are too many TV shows to watch, too many places to go be entertained, and too many other things for families to be involved in for them to come to a church service where the gospel is being preached without members personally inviting and encouraging them to attend. It is going to take a greater effort on our part today than it may have taken some twenty to thirty years ago. What can I do to help make this gospel meeting a success? There is no denying the fact that each member has responsibilities to the local church of which he/she is a member. Notice the words of the apostle Paul, when he wrote to the church at Ephesus, ?from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love? (Ephesians 4:16). I can?t do everything, but there are some things that everyone can do. If we will do our part, this will be a very successful meeting. I can pray for the meeting. Prayers can be offered for the visiting preacher that he may do his job well. That the lessons he has selected will be those that are most needed. That just the right person will be there on the night that he presents the appropriate sermon for them. I can supplicate God on behalf of the other members, that He might aid them as they serve Him and others in the community. Be sure and pray for those that you have invited and work to accomplish your prayer by presenting them with the opportunities to attend. Maybe you can have them in your home for a meal; offer to pick them up at a certain time; or after services to go have a cup of coffee, etc. Do what you can to encourage them to be present. We each can approach the throne of our Creator and Redeemer and ask His help in doing His work. I can be present each night of the meeting. Just think; if every member is present every night there would be well over a hundred there at each service, not counting the visitors. That would greatly encourage all members to see such participation and zeal on the part of so many. Remember what the writer of the book of Hebrews said, ?And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching? (Hebrews 10:24,25). I have seen on occasion members invite someone from the community, that person came, the member who invited them was not there, and then the visitor never returned. Such speaks volumes about the Christian. May we each make plans to be present at every service, to encourage others, to honor God, and to be taught and edified ourselves. I can participate when coming together in such an assembly. It was said of Ezra, ?For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel? (Ezra 7:10). We need to prepare our hearts to receive the word of God as well. As the Bereans, we must be sure that the things taught are indeed found in the Scriptures (Acts 17:11). Once we see that they are without doubt from God?s Holy Book, we must then make application of those principles. It may mean that drastic changes must be made but nonetheless I must either remove or add what is necessary to please my Father. Part of my participation is to sing with the song leader and pray with the one leading in prayer. My mind must be centered upon all aspects of our worship so that the Lord will be pleased with my effort to serve Him and that all might receive the needed edification. Remember, it is not what others can do, but what ?I? can do! Are you willing to do what you can to make this meeting a success? It is my hope and prayer that we will all be workers together with God to accomplish the greatest amount of good to His glory (2 Corinthians 6:1). Jimmy Mickells ____________________________________________________________ Click for free quote on refinancing your mortgage. http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/fc/Ioyw6i3m3eQxd4kGo47SvHaQfbnQFFjXeyVYAIRONTl5Zv7c5yqmt2/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20081017/467cec8c/attachment.html From tforrestsr at netzero.net Sat Oct 18 15:08:13 2008 From: tforrestsr at netzero.net (tforrestsr at netzero.net) Date: Sat, 18 Oct 2008 20:08:13 GMT Subject: [Biblemat] Questions Message-ID: <20081018.150813.29319.3@webmail24.vgs.untd.com> Brethren: I am conducting an unofficial survey for my own use and hope you will respond to these two questions. 1. In order to go to heaven must one be baptized, immersed, for remission of his/her sins? 2. Is instrumental music in the worship services of the church a salvation issue? Thank you in advance for responding. Tom ____________________________________________________________ Get your dream car or truck. Click here. http://thirdpartyoffers.netzero.net/TGL2241/fc/Ioyw6i4uZUg2YfcxKMzeJw25SWRuY8J3t3AsheI6O89IXhqzqxvaJ2/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20081018/06967a1a/attachment.html From thornhill1 at frontiernet.net Sat Oct 18 18:45:39 2008 From: thornhill1 at frontiernet.net (thomas thornhill) Date: Sat, 18 Oct 2008 18:45:39 -0500 Subject: [Biblemat] The Buckhorn Teacher 10-19-08 Message-ID: <03D72DBB14494D7EBA706F5EABA8FEDC@your4dacd0ea75> THE BUCKHORN TEACHER "Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching." 2.Tim.4:2 Buckhorn church of Christ - Thomas Thornhill - editor. 13675 Hwy 341, Randolph MS 38864-9117. Tel. 662-568-2960. Cell 662-419-5378. E-mail thornhill1 at frontiernet.net Vol.7 October 19, 2008 No.11 Will Only Those In The Church Of Christ Be Saved? You may have heard the joke about the man who goes to heaven and is given a tour. He comes to a giant stone wall and hears shouts of joy on the other side. He asks the guide why the wall is there and who is on the other side. The guide says, "Shhh, those are the Catholics. They think they are the only ones here." I have heard the joke told with various religious organizations put in the place of Catholics - Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons, Baptists, even church of Christ. Usually any religious group who holds to a viewpoint that heaven is exclusively reserved for a particular group of people falls beneath such criticism. If you have ever told anyone that you are a member of the church of Christ, at some time you have probably had to field the question, "Don't they believe that they are the only ones going to heaven?" How do you answer that question accurately and tactfully? The challenge with such a question is that it can't be answered with a simple yes or no without being misunderstood. Say "yes," and you are viewed as judgmental and leave people to think that you believe that anyone with a "church of Christ" label has a free pass to eternal life. Say "no" and you open the door to let them believe that God has little concern for wide variations in doctrine and religious practice and will let any good person into heaven. Let's consider how to answer this question. Yes, only those in the church of Christ will be saved. What must be understood is that "church of Christ" is not the designation of a denominational group of believers, but a designation of possession. It designates that group of people who belong to Christ and belong to God. If you don't belong to God and His Son, then you will not be saved. This raises the question, "Who belongs to Christ?" Only the word of God can reveal the answer. "For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's descendants, heirs according to promise." (Galatians 3:26-29). That's pretty clear isn't it? Those who have faith in Christ Jesus and have put on Christ in baptism belong to God and His Son. But God has more to say about this. "Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires." (Gal.5:24). Who belongs to Christ? Those who have put off the works of the flesh, walk by the Spirit and thus produce the fruit of the Spirit in their lives (Gal.5:16-23). These are those who belong to God and His Son. They are the church that belongs to Christ. They are the ones who will be saved. But somebody asks, "Will Baptists be saved or will Methodists be saved, etc.?" Well, the Bible doesn't say anything about these groups, so we can't assume that they will be saved. Those who are saved are God's group of people - the church that belongs to Him and His Son. The question that each person must answer for himself is, "Do you belong to Christ?" And the only way to answer that question is to ask, "Have you come to God in the way He has prescribed in His word, the Bible?" If not, then you will not be saved and therefore not part of the church that belongs to Christ. That sounds pretty harsh and exclusive but once again, these are not my words. Listen to God, "And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12). Either you are saved by Christ in the way He has prescribed and belong to Him, or you are not. Either you are in the Lord's church through the grace of His blood, and faith and obedience in His name, or you are not. There are a couple of qualifications to this answer. The first, is that one is not saved by an attachment to a name, but by surrender to the Lord. One may identify oneself as a member of the Lord's church, but if he hasn't surrendered his heart, his mind and his will to the will of God, then he can call himself whatever he wants, but he will not be saved. Jesus said, "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you, depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.'" (Matt.7:21-23). One is not saved by confession alone. Second, the question remains, "Is it possible for one to go to heaven that has come to salvation by trusting in the Lord, turning from sin and being baptized into Christ, but then erred by identifying himself with the wrong group?" I have met those who have made such claims after then have begun to work and worship with the Lord's church. In those cases, they had studied God's word independently of denominational teaching and creeds and came to the right conclusion concerning salvation, but failed to discern the difference between denominationalism and the church. For those still caught in such situations, we can only hope to have opportunity to teach them the word of God more accurately and leave their salvation to the Sovereign Judge of mankind. While the salvation of the Lord is now open to all, God saves those who have accepted His salvation on His terms. Those who have done so, He adds to His church, His group of people, who reside with Him eternally. - Norm Webb Jr. If a person wants to be saved, he will search the New Testament and examine the church he reads about there. He will seek for truth, not for silly things that mean nothing as far as the Lord is concerned. - author unknown -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20081018/e2b01073/attachment-0001.html From tssullivan at charter.net Sat Oct 18 20:43:23 2008 From: tssullivan at charter.net (T. Sean Sullivan) Date: Sat, 18 Oct 2008 20:43:23 -0500 Subject: [Biblemat] The Messenger Vol 003 Iss 034 Message-ID: <7F41ED58A21F4A10BC212EF168654D4B@sean1a4c1f786> T he Messenger 2008 Published Weekly by Main Street Church of Christ 306 West Main Street, Newbern, TN 38059 731-627-3514 Bulletin Editor: T. Sean Sullivan VOLUME 003::ISSUE 034:: October 19, 2008 ARTICLE ONE: A Better Way to Live ARTICLE TWO: Exhortations to Live By Article One: A Better Way to Live Introduction: Are you a "godly" person? Would you like to know what "godly" means before you apply it to yourself? Do your actions, activities, words, and thoughts reflect a respect for God? To respect God is to take Him at His word. There are several mentions of "godliness" in the New Testament from which we learn that it is an essential ingredient in the life of every Christian. We are told to pray for godliness (1 Timothy 2:2). We are e to exercise toward godliness (1 Timothy 4:7). We are to pursue godliness (1 Timothy 6:11). Godliness is a needed ingredient in our success and we need to know it better, seek it better, and live it better. Let's take the time to study the word "godliness": so we might know what the term actual means; see it as a better way of life; and we might take on that better life. What Is Godliness? Godliness is.living with the proper respect and adoration for God and His word. It is a way of describing righteousness or piety. Godliness is a life altering profession. Godliness directs us toward morality, modesty, uprightness, and goodness. Our lives must reflect our "professing of godliness" (1 Timothy 2:10). Godliness described by example, the purest description of Godliness would be seen and heard in the life of Christ. At different times in His life we are shown godliness by His statements. John 4:34 "My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me". Even to the point of obedience leading to death Jesus proclaims. "Not as I will, but as You will" Matthew 26:39. If you know what Jesus meant by those words then you know what godliness means-an unconditional desire to serve and please God. Where Is Godliness From? Godliness is what I want where can I get some? You can't buy godliness. Godliness must be learned. We are taught to respect for God's word throughout the Scriptures. The fence posts Deuteronomy 4:2; Proverbs 30:6; Revelation 22:18. Do not add to or take away from "My word." The warnings are clear. We can learn godliness the hard way. The prodigal son is a good example of the hard way (Luke 15:11-32). We can charge out on our own, it is our own decision we can do what we want. Again, however, the warnings are clear. There is a way that seems right to a man it is the way of death (Proverbs 14:12). It is not within man to direct his own steps (Jeremiah 10:23). He who does the will of the Father in heaven [will go to Heaven] (Matthew 7:21-23). Godliness can be learned the easier way. Accepting God on all points and seeing the benefits. Psalm 119:100-105 tells us the we will benefit with guarded feet, righteous ways, knowledge and wisdom. Simply submitting to His revealed will. God has provided direction for all of us in every situation we may find ourselves in. His word is the perfect gift (James 1:17-18). His advice is for real-life (2 Peter 1:3). His direction is clear (John 8:31-32). His offered hope is freedom (Romans 6:16-18). His pathway is better (Proverbs 14:12; Galatians 5:22-25). Godliness at Work Noah's example of godliness: Genesis 6:13-21 God instruct Noah to build an ark and gathered animals and food. Noah's godliness is clearly made known in verse 22. "Thus Noah did". Genesis 7:5 "Noah did all that the Lord commanded Him." Paul's example of Godliness: Paul respected God above all else. Always had (Acts 23:1; Philippians 3:5-6 "Hebrew of Hebrews"). When he followed the Old Covenant he did so with his fullest ability. When Paul was told that a new covenant with God had been established. He followed it with the fullest of his ability. No matter the cost. We know the things that Paul suffered for the sake of the gospel (2 Corinthians 11:22-28). He understood that it was God's will and he would not shy away from paying any cost to do it. Conclusion: Are you a "godly" person? Would you like to know what "godly" means before you apply it to yourself? Do your actions, activities, words, and thoughts reflect a respect for God? To respect God is to take Him at His word. There are several mentions of "godliness" in the New Testament from which we learn that it is an essential ingredient in the life of every Christian. We are told to pray for godliness (1 Timothy 2:2). We are e to exercise toward godliness (1 Timothy 4:7). We are to pursue godliness (1 Timothy 6:11). Godliness is a needed ingredient in our success and we need to know it better, seek it better, and live it better. Success is salvation: Respect for God leads one to obey His directions: God has asked that you believe (Hebrews 11:6), repent (Acts 17:30), confess His Son (Matthew 10:32), and be baptized for the remission of your sins (Acts 2:38). Have you done that? Are you showing a respect for God in your life? ~tss Article Two: Exhortations to Live By Every word of inspired scripture is full of purpose and meaning. The words of "old" were written for our "comfort and learning" (Romans 15:4). The words of the "new" are the doctrine of Christ (2 John 9), words to abide in always (John 8:31-32), and words from which all of our actions are framed (Colossians 3:17). Among those many words we have a number of statements that exhort us: Statements that encourage faith, zeal, and purity of truth. Statements that, even though short, are power-packed. They direct us on the pathway of duty. There are many examples of these statements such as Matthew 7:13 "Enter by the narrow gate"; John 14:15 "I you love Me, keep My commandments"; James 1:22 "be doers of the word and not hearers only". We are going to consider three exhortations from First Thessalonians, chapter five. In the last few verses of this chapter are all exhortations and let's consider these few so that we might put them to work in our lives. 1 Thessalonians 5:16, "Rejoice always" What a declaration! Not only proclaimed by Paul, but endorsed by the Spirit and delivered from God. There is a certainly a Divine expectation that Christians will have reason to rejoice. Not just once in a while, but "always". This is not the only place where we are instructed to find this level of expressed joy. Paul earlier in Philippians 4:4-7 says "Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice". What do we have to rejoice over? There is rejoicing in the freedom from sin and its oppression (Romans 6:16-18). Sin separates us from God in spiritual death (Romans 6:23) but Jesus has provided for our reconciliation (Romans 5:10-11) and hope (Romans 5:1-5). As Paul says we "rejoice in the hope of the glory of God" in other words, our true rejoicing is found in the hope of seeing the "glory of God"-Heaven. We also rejoice over God's continuous care: (1 Peter 5:7). God has not only provided for our reconciliation and our everlasting spiritual home but everyday we can rejoice in the knowledge of His care. There is much to rejoice in as we always keep in mind our many blessings in Christ. 1 Thessalonians 5:17, "Pray without ceasing" Prayer is a great privilege. Pray is an endless line of communication between the Almighty God of Heaven and our own hearts. We are instructed to open our hearts to God in prayer. Jesus taught us to use prayer in this life and expected us to pray -Luke 11:1-4 "When you pray, say." Prayer is a channel through which we cast our cares on God (1 Peter 5:7). Prayer is effective. We know that God hears and answers prayers (1 John 5:14-15). James declares, "The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much" (James 5:16). An effective prayer is one that is made with fear and reverence without doubt (1 Timothy 2:8; James 1:6-7). Prayer is comforting. We use prayer to seek the life that God provides by following the instructions found in Philippians chapter four. Paul says, "Be anxious for nothing". Then he let's us in on the key to successfully releasing ourselves from anxiety when he says, "Let your request be made known" (Philippians 4:6). We must use prayer and trust that God hears and will answer according to His own will; it is this confidence in God that allow us to experience peace that other do not know (Philippians 4:7). Peter teaches is to cast "all your care upon Him." (1 Peter 5:7). We have a Father in Heaven that cares for us. God has revealed that He will listen to our prayers. This is the same God and Father that sent His Son Jesus Christ to die for us, for our sins (John 3:16). This is the same God and Father who delivered the plan of salvation to us in His word (Acts 2:38). This same God loves, and cares for, us (Matthew 7:7-11). Never stop seeking God's care. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 "In everything give thanks" Perhaps at first this statement seems unrealistic and odd. How can we be thankful for hardships; bad days; or tragic situations? Everything means "every" "thing" so there is no way out with by definition. There must be something about this exhortation that we are missing without some further thoughts. Why "everything"? It is possible to find a point of thanks in the good and the bad of life? We must know that "all of our life's affects" have resulted in the persons we are. Paul in Philippians 4 opens our eyes to this concept (Philippians 4:4-13). "Be anxious for nothing.with prayer and supplication with thanksgiving". Paul later in the same context declares "in whatever state I am in to be content" and "I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me". Paul was aware of the both the easy and hard sides of life: and realized thankful benefit in both. There is much to be gained through hard times: the proving of faith (1 Peter 1:6-9); the growth of perseverance, character, and hope (Romans 5:1-4); and our own completion (James 1:2-4). Conclusion: Paul was finishing His first letter to the brethren at Thessalonica and with exhortations he set them on the right path-if they would listen. He describes his word as the "will of God in Christ Jesus for you". God wants us to be: happy: "rejoicing always"; prayerful: "without ceasing"; and thankful: "in everything". This unique approach to life is available only in Christ. Christians has the assurance of Joy, Prayer, and Hope that all things in this life are only helping them make it home. Do you desire great meaning in your life; something to look for beyond our temporary hardships? God has a plan for you to find His better way, Are you ready? ~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 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20081018/f3f60d81/attachment-0001.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/jpeg Size: 2886 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20081018/f3f60d81/attachment-0001.jpe -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/gif Size: 9535 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20081018/f3f60d81/attachment-0001.gif From crxtra at gmail.com Sat Oct 18 22:59:34 2008 From: crxtra at gmail.com (Steven C. Harper) Date: Sat, 18 Oct 2008 20:59:34 -0700 Subject: [Biblemat] A> The Blessings of Delays Message-ID: <000001c9319f$1a127c70$4e377550$@com> From: TRUTH & REASON, a bulletin of the Glendale church of Christ, Glendale, AZ. Editor: Steven Harper October 19, 2008 The Blessings of Delay In this current society of 'instant' everything, we do not tolerate delays well. Not so long ago, we were amazed at 'instant' cameras that produced a picture we could hold in our hands within minutes. For those without the 'instant' cameras, we were soon blessed with 'one-hour photo' development; it wasn't 'instant' but we tolerated it. Now, we have digital cameras that can show us the picture immediately after it has been taken - no need to wait for any development! I would imagine many of us would be highly perturbed if we were 'forced' to shoot an entire roll of film, take it out of the camera, and drive to a local photo developing center, and then wait about a week to get the pictures. [That is how it used to be not so long ago.] And we are not much on waiting anywhere else, either. When we drive to or from our place of work, we want traffic to be moving smoothly and no accidents or construction that might slow us down; when we walk up to the checkout line at the store, we get upset if someone is in front of us with eleven items [one item over the limit]; when we go to a fast food restaurant, we start wondering if someone forgot our order if it's not handed to us by the time we finish paying; and for those of you who use the Internet frequently, we get really upset nowadays if the web page we are visiting isn't fully loaded within five seconds. We hate standing in line, we hate waiting, and we hate delays! Unfortunately, the dislike for waiting and delay carries over into spiritual and moral matters, too. Some are so unwilling to wait that they indulge in immoral acts simply to attain instant gratification. Some want the latest game system but do not have the money to buy it, so they steal it instead of working to obtain the money to buy it legitimately; some young folks, fueled by the sexually-suggestive lyrics of the songs that are played unendingly on radio, the near-pornographic videos on television, and the immodest dress of those around them, cannot wait to satisfy their sexual urges and they engage in physically-risky sexual behavior whenever they have the opportunity, instead of waiting until they are married [it is always spiritually dangerous]; and, as we are finding out, some who wanted that 'All-American Dream' of owning a home, but really could not afford the payments, lied about their income to be able to 'qualify' and the lenders willingly lied to those who funded the loans because they really wanted their commissions. As a result of this desire for 'instant gratification' and the get-it-while-you-can attitude that has infected our society, we are reaping sorrow and heartbreak - not happiness. While this is going to sound strange to many of us, the reality is that sometimes delays are a blessing! Oh, it may not seem like it during the unbearably long time we are being delayed - whether a delay of a day, an hour, a few minutes, or even a few seconds - but we may be able to look back on that period as a 'blessing in disguise' - if we take the time to look back. On the other hand, maybe we all have acted hastily in those times and looked back with regret, wishing we would have delayed our actions just a little longer. Think about what King Saul lost because he did not wait (1st Sam. 13)! After waiting some time - but not long enough - for Samuel to come and bring God's blessings and advice with him, Saul unwisely offered the sacrifice (v. 8). When Samuel asked Saul about his hasty actions, Saul tried to convince Samuel that he 'couldn't help himself' - he "felt compelled" to offer the sacrifice (v. 12). Samuel rightly chastised Saul for his hastiness, and revealed that his actions [sin] would cost him his kingdom (vv. 13, 14). If Saul had waited, he could have remained as king, but he did not. If only he had waited! On the positive side, we see the command of Jesus to the apostles, given shortly before His ascension, "not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father" (Acts 1:4). We know, from later readings, that they did wait in Jerusalem and it was there that they received the outpouring of the Holy Spirit (2:1-4) - just as had been prophesied and just as Jesus said. But what if they had not waited? What if they, while waiting for something to happen, got tired of waiting or simply too impatient, and they set out on their own? Well, we know that they would not have received the blessings of God! God had determined that the gospel would begin to be preached in Jerusalem (Isa. 2:2, 3) and Jesus plainly told them it would (Acts 1:8); if any one of those apostles had not remained in Jerusalem, it is certain they would not have been a part of God's blessings, or of His great work of spreading that gospel to the world. Now, let's make a personal application: Marriage. Are you one who is unmarried and looking for a lifetime mate? Have you been looking for awhile and not found that godly man or godly woman to whom you can commit yourself in marriage? Are you feeling a little anxious? You may be thinking it is time to adjust [i.e., lower] your standards because you cannot seem to find the 'right one' for you. Maybe you are thinking about looking at young men or young women whose views and beliefs about God and His word don't agree with yours. Keep waiting. If the 'right one' never comes along, you will still have your soul, and you should never trade a few years of your life for eternity. It is worth the wait. And even should you find the 'right one' for you, there is no need to rush into the marriage. Just because someone claims to be a believer doesn't mean he or she will be necessarily compatible. They may have habits and interests that you despise, yet you overlook those things while dating, thinking 'He will change once we are married.' Don't believe it. Exercise a little patience and give yourselves time to see one another for who you really are. Waiting might just prevent a life of unhappiness. Jobs and Moves. At some point in our working lives, we will be given an opportunity to move up, or to move to another location. Sometimes, we rush into those decisions without much thought and we end up paying a spiritual cost. Maybe it is a position that takes us away from the work we could be doing for the Lord; maybe it is a location where we are unable to meet with other believers; maybe it is simply a position where the spiritual atmosphere is such that we are weakened and discouraged. Don't make a quick decision based only on monetary gains. Remember, our choices will affect us, and our families (1st Cor. 15:33). Life and Salvation. When we look around at the world in which we live, with its increasing ungodliness, we may wish for a quick end to it all. Some may be thinking it would be better if we left this life or that God would just send His Son so it all would come to an end. I'm all for wanting to get to heaven, too, but I believe it would be better to wait. I say this because God is "not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance" (2nd Pet. 3:9), and for that reason, has delayed the end to give the lost time to obey. As disciples, our interest is in saving souls and if time ended, that opportunity would be gone! And if you are one of those who has not yet obeyed the gospel count your blessings! God's longsuffering - His delay - is your salvation (v. 15). Though He certainly has the right to destroy this earth for its many sins, He has chosen to delay the end simply because He wants all men to come to repentance and be saved (1st Tim. 2:3, 4). Not every delay is a reason for complaint. Wherever you are in life, whatever your situation, and whatever choices face you, don't rush into anything and don't complain simply because life is making you wait; things are not always what they first appear to be. You may look back someday on these times and be thankful you waited. Or you may wish you had waited. -- Steven Harper -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20081018/d88b2484/attachment.html From richardson9 at charter.net Sun Oct 19 06:34:57 2008 From: richardson9 at charter.net (richardson9 at charter.net) Date: Sun, 19 Oct 2008 4:34:57 -0700 Subject: [Biblemat] Science class book Message-ID: <20081019073457.E7HOY.310846.root@mp16> Brethren, One of our brothers here, a school board member, after expressing his concerns over evolution being taught in the school system, was told by the school superintendent that if he could find a reputable science book which taught creation, she would consider changing the books used. Could any of you suggest where such a science book (preferrably a series covering all ages) might be found which, at the least, would include the Bible account of creation as another view to be considered? Thank you, Dan Richardson richardson9 at charter.net From richard at thetford.dot5hosting.com Sun Oct 19 18:10:51 2008 From: richard at thetford.dot5hosting.com (Richard Thetford) Date: Sun, 19 Oct 2008 17:10:51 -0600 Subject: [Biblemat] Walking in the Light (10/19/08) Message-ID: <20081019231330.B2C58BC19B@dumbledore.whizardries.com> Walking in the Light "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path" (Psalm 119:105) October 19, 2008 www.thetfordcountry.com --- INFORMATION: Walking in the Light is published each week by Richard Thetford. You are encouraged to visit the web site at www.thetfordcountry.com and then click on "Richard's Home Page" to view numerous sermons, articles, radio program scripts, class material and other information. If you know of someone who would like to subscribe to "Walking in the Light," please send their name and e-mail address to richard at thetfordcountry.com --- CONTENTS: "Showing Partiality" (Richard Thetford) "Does God Accept Your Worship?" (Carrol R. Sutton) "Strong and Weak Tea, Strong and Weak Christians" (From Biblical Preaching) "Joseph - Never Defeated" (Lalo Enriquez) SENTENCE SERMONS --- SHOWING PARTIALITY Richard Thetford It is in our nature to be partial to certain things. None of us have the exact likes and dislikes for things of this life. Showing partiality for certain material things is not bad and adds to variety. If everyone liked the same things, there would be no need to ask someone what they liked or didn't like. But there is a sin of partiality spoken of in James 2:1-13. When we exhibit an attitude of personal favoritism to one individual over another, then we are sinning. Every Soul is Important We must keep in mind that every human being has a soul and everyone is special in the sight of God. Verses 2-3 is talking about an individual that attends the assembly that is dressed very well and another one that is poor. In the case of the well dressed man special treatment is given to ensure that he receives only the best. The other man (the poor man) is not given the best. Partiality has been used in this case and it is pointed out by James that this is wrong. When we show partiality over people then we are in fact saying that "one soul is more important than the other" based solely upon the outward appearance of an individual. So, how do we work at overcoming this problem that we might have? Look at verse 8. If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself," you do well. If we really do look out for others as we love ourselves then we will not ever have this problem of showing partiality. --- DOES GOD ACCEPT YOUR WORSHIP? Carrol R. Sutton Some people say: "It does not matter how we worship. I can worship God any way I want to and God will accept my worship." Friends and brethren, is this what the New Testament of Jesus Christ teaches? Is it? Let us see. Ignorant Worship In speaking to the Athenians, the apostle Paul said: "Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious. For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you" (Acts 17:22-23). It is obvious from the reading of this passage that God does not accept this kind of worship! Ignorant worship is vain worship! Vain Worship In Matthew 15:7-9 Jesus said to some religionists of the first century: "Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men." It can be clearly seen from this passage that worship is vain when people teach for doctrines the commandments of men, although they may draw nigh unto God with their mouths and may honour God with their lips. Their heart is far from God when they teach and are directed by the doctrines of men. God does not accept this kind of worship! Will-Worship In Colossians 2:18-23 the apostle Paul mentions some things and then says, "Which things have indeed a show of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh." Will-worship is worship directed by and is after one's own will. It is self chosen and for this reason it is a departure from God's wisdom and way. However pious and plausible it may seem and regardless of how beautiful it may appear, it is folly and thus it is in vain. God does not accept this kind of worship! True Worship In John 4:23-24 our blessed Lord said: "But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth." It is quite obvious from this passage that it does matter how one worships God. God said that worship "must" be "in spirit and in truth!" We dare not say otherwise. Please examine your worship in the light of these and other Scriptures and see if God accepts it. TRUE WORSHIP COMES THROUGH STUDY (2 Timothy 2:15) --- STRONG AND WEAK TEA, STRONG AND WEAK CHRISTIANS (From Biblical Preaching) Consider the difference between a strong and weak cup of tea. The same ingredients, water and tea, are used for both. The difference? The strong tea results from the tea-leave's immersion in the water longer, allowing the water to get into the tea-leaves and the tea into the water. The longer the steeping process, the stronger the cup of tea. In the same manner, the length of time Christians spend in God's Word determines how deeply they get into it and how it gets into them. Just like the tea, the longer Christians are in the Word, the stronger they become. --- JOSEPH - NEVER DEFEATED (Lalo Enriquez) The Old Testament story of Joseph is one of the most beautiful in written literature. It is found in Genesis chapters 37-50. It's a wonderful story of never giving up; of faith in the midst of trial. Because of his complete trust in God, he would not acknowledge defeat. Beginning at age seventeen much tragedy would befall him. His brothers, out of envy, sold him to slave traders who then took him to Egypt. As a slave to an Egyptian official, he was falsely accused of attempted rape and was thrown in prison for several years. In all his trials, Joseph would not be defeated. He never lost hope, and because of this he was blessed. He eventually became a ruler in Egypt, second only to Pharaoh. And, he eventually brought his family to Egypt, saving them from the great famine that plagued the world at that time. It would do well for us to read this story often, especially when we're pressed down with problems. We'd be wise to apply to our lives it's beautiful truths of faith and perseverance under trial. There's absolutely no excuse to lose faith in God and to give up. God knows our problems. He wants to bless us. But only if we maintain our faith and trust in Him, and only if we keep doing those things that are right in His sight. --- SENTENCE SERMONS Gentleness is strong and real strength is gentle. A clear conscience is a good tranquilizer. Faithfulness to God is true success. A true friend is one that knows us and yet loves us. Unless you stay humble, you will stumble. A strong faith weakens fear. When you share joy you multiply it. You hear many echoes in the world but only a few real voices. The best goodness is genuine and habitual goodness. --- SERMON Unacceptable Worship to God (with PowerPoint Charts) www.thetfordcountry.com --- 1414 Hawk Parkway, Unit C Montrose, CO 81401 (970) 626-5558 www.sanjuanchurchofchrist.org ASSEMBLY SCHEDULE Sunday Bible Study..........10:00 A.M. Worship......11:00 A.M. Wednesday Bible Study......6:30 P.M. Evangelist/Editor Richard Thetford Building: (970) 249-8116 Home: (970) 626-5558 E-Mail: richard at thetfordcountry.com Web Site: www.thetfordcountry.com --- RICHARD THETFORD 1491 Canyon Drive Ridgway, CO 81432 (970) 626-5558 E-Mail: richard at thetfordcountry.com Web Site: www.thetfordcountry.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20081019/d43cdcf9/attachment-0001.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... 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Name: not available Type: image/gif Size: 7369 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20081019/d43cdcf9/attachment-0005.gif From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Mon Oct 20 04:41:30 2008 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Mon, 20 Oct 2008 05:41:30 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] A) SOME THINGS WE SHOULD DO Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. A very good Monday morning to each and everyone. May God bless you and yours. Here is an article from my recent files: SOME THINGS WE SHOULD DO There are many things that we (as Christians) should do. Let us consider a few of them in this study: 1. Study To Be Quiet: -- In 1 Thes.4:11 Paul said: "Study to be quiet and to do your own business..." The NASV says: "make it your ambition to lead a quiet life..." The thought is to strive earn- estly. "Being quiet" indicates "tranquility arising from within, cau- sing no disturbance to others" according to W.E. Vine. Also see 1 Tim. 2:2. 2. Redeem The Time: -- Paul said: "Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time" and "Redeeming the time, because the days are evil" (Col. 4:5; Eph. 5:16. "Redeeming time" is the idea of "buying up for oneself...buying up the opport- unity...making the most of every opportunity; turnign each to the best advantage, since none can be recalled if missed." (W.E. Vine) NOTE: We should not waste time but make the proper use of it! 3. Seek First The Kingdom Of God And His Righteousness: -- Jesus said: "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His right- eousness, and all these things shall be added unto you" (Matt. 6:33). See also Matt. 10:35-37; Mk. 10:28-30; Lk. 9:23; Titus 2:11, 12. 4. Fight The Good Fight Of Faith!: -- Read and study carefully: 1 Tim. 6:12; 2 Tim. 2:3; 4:6-8; Eph. 6:10; 2 Cor. 10:3. 5. Love In Deed And In Truth!: -- Read and study carefully 1 Jno. 3:17,18; Jno. 13:35; Jas. 2:14. 6. Contend Earnestly For The Faith!: -- Jude 3 says "It was need- ful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earn- estly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints." NOTE: W.E. Vine says this means "To contend about a thing, as a combatant..." Cruden says it means "To stand by and defend." We withstand all who would pervert the gospel. Also read and carefully study Acts 15:2,7; 17:17; 19:8,9. The above verses certainly indicate that Christians should earnestly contend, i.e., discuss or dispute for the faith which was once delivered to the saints! ------ Carrol R. Sutton in The Instructor, Vol. 45, No. 10, Oct. 2008. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20081020/65253db1/attachment-0001.html From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Mon Oct 20 04:41:40 2008 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Mon, 20 Oct 2008 05:41:40 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] S) CREATION: ESSENTIAL BIBLE DOCTRINE (3) Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. Here is the third and final part of this particular study. Use to the glory of God. CREATION: ESSENTIAL BIBLE DOCTRINE (3) Creation With Purpose: -- God chose to create out of His own free will: "But our God is in heaven: He does whatever He pleas- es" (Psa. 115:3). "You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for you created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created" (Rev. 4:11). Why did He do all this? God had purpose in the creation which He made. Was it some emotional desire of a spontaneo- us type? Or did God determine thoughtfully that He would crea- te? Certainly, it was the latter. Was it for the sake of the creature that He created? Or was it for His own sake? We might say both. If we use the figure of an adoptive parent, there is a desire on the part of the prospective parents for a child to extend the family. But there is also a desire to embrace, enrich, and enhan- ce the live of the orphan child. God has certainly provided for us richly (1 Tim. 6:17; Jas. 1:17; Acts 14:17) and that is wonder- ful testimony to His goodness and love. Nevertheless God said, "Even every one that is called by My name: for I have created him for My glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him" (Isa. 43:7). In Eph. chapter one, Paul affirms that God created us and then recreated us in Christ primarily for Himself: "having predes- tined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, accord- ing to the good pleasure of His Will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He has made us accepted in the Beloved" ( Eph. 1:5,6). God created man to glorify Himself. That was not egotism and vanity. God is God. God deserves praise and honor. In receiving that from His creatures, He is not usurping a place that is not rightfully His. It is not presumptuous in light of that He determined to make everything from nothing. Remember, man did not even exist before. A father is not presumptuous to ex- pect honor and respect form his children when he is an honora- ble person. Why is all this so important? It important not only because we owe our very existence to God, the Creator; but because He has recreated us in Christ. The same creation terminology is used to describe our redemption and spiritual existence that is used with reference to our physical existence. "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new" (2 Cor. 5:17). "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them" (Eph. 2:10). "That you put on the new man, which after God is crated in rightousness and true holiness" (Eph. 4:24). "And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created him" (Col. 3:10). How marvelous are all His works! -------- C.G. "Colly" Caldwell in Truth Magazine Vol. 52, No. 4, April 2008. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20081020/a92cd63a/attachment-0001.html From thomasc at msu.edu Mon Oct 20 07:27:29 2008 From: thomasc at msu.edu (Craig Thomas) Date: Mon, 20 Oct 2008 08:27:29 -0400 Subject: [Biblemat] S>Why Do You Worry? Message-ID: <20081020122732.1C5EFBC4AE@dumbledore.whizardries.com> Brethren, If anyone is interested, most of the sermons I post also have a Powerpoint available. Just send me an e-mail and I'll send the Powerpoint. Please give the title when making a request. Thanks!! ********************************************************************************************************************************************************************************** Why Do You Worry? Matthew 6:25-34 I. Introduction: 1. Our lives are so fast paced: jobs, school, homework, housework, yard work, family functions, recreation, and a thousand and one other things we ?have? to do press upon us each day. 2. There is always more that needs to get done than time for getting it done. There is always more month than paycheck. 3. There are truly problems galore (Job 5:7; 14:1). So much so that stress is really our number one health problem. A. Stress from these sources already mentioned. B. Stress from the world around us (e.g., upcoming election, economic crisis, national and world events). C. Stress from being a Christian (2 Pet. 2:7-8). 4. Stress is inescapable. As Dr. Stanley J. Sarnoff said, ?If you had to define stress, it would not be far off if you said it was the process of living. The process of living is the process of having stress imposed on you and reacting to it.? 5. Fortunately, the Great Physician has a prescription for stress: Matthew 6:25-34. II. Discussion: 1. No Divided Loyalties: A. I don?t think it is mere coincidence that Jesus teaching of dealing with worry comes on the heels of vs. 24. B. We spend so much of our time in this world in emotional and spiritual misery because we fail to totally give ourselves to God! Matt. 22:37-38 C. If we allow anything (riches, lusts, or even worry) to successfully compete for our dedication to God we lose (Matt. 11:28-30; Phil. 4:7; 2 Cor. 10:5; Phil. 3:13-14). 2. Life Is More Than The Physical: A. Matthew 6:25 (Matt. 4:11) B. Dr. Robert Elliot said, ?Rule #1 is: Don?t sweat the small stuff. Rule #2 is: It?s all small stuff!? C. We need to continually remind ourselves what?s really important (Matt. 16:26; Heb. 9:27; 2 Cor. 5:10). D. I learned so much from cleaning out the homes of my father and Sherry?s mother. All that ?stuff? we think is so important will one day be totally meaningless. In fact, most of it will end up being someone else?s problem! 3. God Will Care For You: A. Matthew 6:26, 28-30 B. Worry comes from a lack of faith ?O ye of little faith!? C. As surely as God provides for nature, He will take care of the pinnacle of His creation (Gen. 1:27; Psa. 23). 4. Worry Does No Good: A. Matthew 6:27 B. Someone said, ?Worry is like a rocking chair. It will give you something to do, but it won?t get you anywhere.? C. The point is that worry serves no useful purpose. What changes by worry? What problems does worry solve? Truly, ?Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?? D. One wise sage said, ?Worry is interest paid on trouble before it is due.? William Ralph Inge E. Worry, in fact, is counterproductive! It absorbs time that could be spent in positive activity. F. Eliminating worry from our thoughts doesn?t mean we take a Pollyannaish view of life. It means we put our complete faith in God and put the past in its proper place (Phil. 3:13-14). 5. Want Happiness? Get Your Priorities Straight: A. If we desire true happiness and peace of mind we simply have to get our priorities straight! Matthew 6:33 B. Where does worry come from? (1) Guilt of sin (Prov. 13:15; Psa. 38:1-8). (2) Knowing right, but not doing it (Jas. 4:17; Acts 20:35). (3) Failure to be humble (1 Pet. 5:6-7). (4) Failure to ?wait on the Lord? (Psa. 27:14; 37:5). (5) Fear (Psa. 56:3-4). C. What?s the answer? Matt. 6:33; 2 Kgs. 19:14; 1 Pet. 5:7; Phil. 4:6-7 6. Take Life One Day At A Time: A. Matthew 6:34 B. Some people experience their troubles three times: First in anticipation, second in realization, and third in living it over again (actually; over and over and over ). C. Mark Twain once said, ?I?ve known a lot of troubles in my life, and most of them never happened! Man is prone to worry about what he thinks is going to happen.? D. We don?t know what the future holds (Jas. 4:13-14) so our only rational choice is to take one day at a time! Phil. 4:11-13 III. Conclusion: 1. Five keys to successfully deal with worry: A. Grow your faith: remember what Jesus said? ?O ye of little faith!? There is not shortcuts to growing our faith (Rom. 10:17; 2 Pet. 1:5-11). B. Trust in God?s power (Matt. 6:30; Eph. 3:20). C. Wait on the Lord (Psa. 27:14). D. Glory in tribulations (Rom. 5:3-4; Jas. 1:2-3; 1 Pet. 1:6-7). E. Prayer (Phil. 4:6-7; 1 Pet. 5:7). 2. Remember, God?s desire (). Adapted from a sermon by Titus Edwards entitled Worry, in Gospel Sermons by Three Generations of Gospel Preachers, Edwards Publishing, 1997, p. 61. "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord." (1 Corinthians 15:58) ************************************************************************* M M III Craig V. Thomas M M M M I Just a Christian (Acts 11:26) M M M M I 350 Pineridge Lane M M M M I Sandusky, MI 48471 M M M III E-mail: thomasc at msu.edu Phone: 810-648-5009 (home) Phone: 810-404-3402 (cell) ************************************************************************* "Perseverance is that quality of character that sees a thing through in spite of adversities and even though results are not immediately visible." John Witt "The greatest battles of life are fought out daily in the silent chambers of the soul." David O. McKay -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20081020/b9061af6/attachment-0001.html From dmartinbtbq at comcast.net Tue Oct 21 09:11:34 2008 From: dmartinbtbq at comcast.net (Don Martin) Date: Tue, 21 Oct 2008 08:11:34 -0600 Subject: [Biblemat] "Consistency, Thou Art A Jewell" Message-ID: <005d01c93386$ed315fc0$6401a8c0@533034B8A6DF4D9> "Consistency, Thou Art a Jewell" By Don Martin I am not sure as to the author of, "Consistency, Thou Art A Jewell," but is an axiomatic truth. I just read and reviewed an email sent out by a preacher, a preacher whose name I elect not to now supply. In this email, he is lamenting over a condition that is prevailing in a certain country where a number of preachers have regularly gone to preach the gospel. While there are matters with which I agree resident in his email, there are also some statements that I think represent a growing number of preachers in the church today. I would like to lovingly challenge these sentiments in the hope that such challenge will cause us to think and attempt to be a little more consistent. Anterior to noticing some of these statements, let us appreciate that consistency is presented throughout the New Testament as a static trait that is to characterize all Christians, not just preachers. Consider Paul's enjoined command: "58: Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord" (I Cor. 15). Moreover, not only is inconsistency condemned, but it is often a sign of a perhaps deeper and more consequential sin: the sin of hypocrisy (cp. Matt. 23: 1-3). In reality, consistency is a matter that requires effort on the part of us all. It is good that from time to time, we examine our teaching and life to see if there is any detected inconsistency and attempt to remove it. I realize and freely concede that there are areas in which we are allowed "freedom of views," areas that are relatively inconsequential. I am currently teaching the book of Revelation and one would be worse than an arrogant fool to even think that he possesses the exclusively correct exegesis to all 404 verses comprising the Apocalypse of John. If one wanted to draw lines of fellowship because his count revealed 407 verses, I would not deem such, even if I missed it by three verses as a point of fellowship and sharp controversy. I say this, all the while striving for accuracy in all matters, even the small and comparatively inconsequential. To more fully illustrate what I am attempting to say, should a teacher of Revelation contend that the "...thousand year reign" of chapter twenty is literal and political and that there will be a "second chance" for the lost subsequent to the Great Judgment Day, I would view this error as calling for sharp contention, because it is spiritually consequential (cp. Acts 15: 2). Regarding the mentioned email and sentiments, the author in referring to a doctrinal belief that is not inconsequential said: "...Is everyone a false teacher who does not have exactly the same understanding that I have? Can we not sit down and study with someone and calmly resolve differences without resorting to childish name-calling.....?" I am all for dialogue and even public debate to have before the people the real issues. However, the sentiment, "...Is everyone a false teacher who does not have exactly the same understanding that I have?" plays down the need of "contending for the once delivered faith" and reduces truth to mere subjectivism (Jude 3). I again quote: "During my 2004 visit, it seemed things were better, but since then, it seems divisive spirit has arisen again, although not as before." Without attempting to fully determine the full contextual meaning involved in the immediately above, there is the mentality that any who challenge manifest error of the type we are discussing are automatically divisive. If so, Jesus, Paul, John, and other New Testament writers and preachers were divisive (Matt. 5-7; Gal. 4; I John 1). When the devil is able to promote ecumenicalism among God's people (unity-in-diversity), the climate is right for the introduction of every imaginable false doctrine. Another reflective quote: "Another thing that has been mentioned is that some in your area said they did not want Ron Halbrook to come where they are, but then when he told them he was coming, he was allowed to do so. I have been told that ..... (people withheld) are not confrontational, and rather than say "No" to someone, they would go ahead and agree." I have absolutely no first hand knowledge of such as just mentioned. However, such does happen and reminds us of the inconsistency Paul observed on the part of Peter, which inconsistency Paul said was hypocrisy and he publicly rebuked it (Gal. 2: 11ff.). The preacher continues: "With respect to Matthew19: 9 the majority view is that if man puts away (divorces) his wife because he is tired of her (or for whatever reason), but not for sexual immorality, then neither has the right to marry, Even if some years later he marries another woman, his former wife is still not free to marry, because the divorce was not 'for fornication.'" I am not so sure that the majority still believe the above. However, whether the majority or minority believe something is irrelevant as far as determining the scriptural veracity is concerned. I again quote: "Ron's position is stated in his own words as he wrote that if a man 'has unlawful sexual relations with another (whether before or after he wrongly puts away his true mate), his true mate has scriptural grounds to reject or put him away. That might involve countersuing in the courts if he has suit for divorce pending. But if he has already been granted a divorce by the courts of man, the laws of man make no provision for her act. So far as the courts of man are concerned, legal issues such as property rights have already been settled and there is nothing else to be said in the realm of human law. But if he commits adultery (before or after his action in the courts of man), there is something else to be said by divine law- by the moral and spiritual law of the court of God. She now may put away, reject, or divorce him as a moral and spiritual act'" (study Notes by Ron Halbrook). That's a lot of words. To sum it up, take the case of man who puts away his wife because he got tired of her, as mentioned earlier. There was no adultery with another woman. Then perhaps ten years later he marries another woman. Then, according to Ron, she may divorce him 'in her mind' and be free to marry another. That is his position, from his own words. I have serious questions abut that, and so do the majority of the brethren in the US. Even others on the staffs of Truth Magazine do not agree with him on that, but they do not call him a 'false teacher'." Notice, again, the words: "I have serious questions about that, and so do the majority of the brethren in the US. Even others on the staffs of Truth Magazine do not agree with him on that, but they do not call him a 'false teacher'." Beloved, I not only maintain that the current Guardian of Truth Foundation has no right to exist as another means for Christians to pool their resources and perform the collective and corporate preaching of the gospel (God has supplied His entity for such collective work and the silence of the scriptures forbid man-made entities, I Tim. 3: 15), but that such orders as the Guardian of Truth Foundation (Truth Magazine) are an example of glaring and intolerable inconsistency among the brethren who are involved in such orders and works. Yes, we have our own form of denominational ecumenicalism. As mentioned in the quote, a number on the board of the Guardian of Truth Foundation as well as staff writers for Truth Magazine know and believe the truth on such matters as marriage, divorce, and marriage to another. Yet, they are in fellowship with fellow board-members who advocate blatant error and encourage, by their false doctrine, adultery and churches accepting such adultery, thus, involving churches in immorality (cp. I Cor. 5)! The President of the Guardian of Truth Foundation advocates multiple causes for divorce. The scriptures only teach one cause: The fornication of the guilty mate (Matt. 5: 32, I Cor. 7: 5ff.). Florida College has assumed the role of not just an academic entity, but a purveyor of Christianity (see their Website). Again, we have seen a conglomerate of false doctrines through the years held by various men associated with the college. Just as regarding the Guardian of Truth Foundation, error is often tolerated and even protected in the environs of Florida College. Many look to Florida College as THE PRODUCER of preachers and elders for churches of Christ (Church of Christ Seminary); hence, doctrinal inconsistency is promulgated. While I do not agree with everything said in the quoted email, I certainly understand his concern. How can the Guardian of Truth fellowship and have on their board a man such as Ron Halbrook and then pronounce a man such as Wally Little a false teacher (this is what the quoted author asks)? We should consistently have serious problems with all men who are the purveyors of false doctrine. Also, we should experience an obligation, all things equal and understood, to label these men as false teachers. To fail to do so is not only inconsistent, but it allows error to spread throughout the brotherhood. "Consistency, Thou Art a Jewell." (I am not sure as to the original audience of the quoted author or the design of his email. I have chosen not to provide his name because his identity is not germane as far as the purpose of this article is concerned. Also, while Ron Halbrook presents circumstances for a put away person to marry another, I am not sure Ron strickly embraces the "mental divorce only" position.) From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Tue Oct 21 09:51:00 2008 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Tue, 21 Oct 2008 10:51:00 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] A) ARE WE ALL SINNERS? Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. A very good Tuesday morn- ing to each and everyone. May God bless you and yours. Here is a question from my files: ARE WE ALL SINNERS? Let us look at a passage of Scripture that relates to this: "For let none of you suffer as a murderer, or a thief, or an evil doer, or as a meddler in other men's matters: but if a man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God in this name. For the time is come for judgment to begin at the house of God: and if it begin first at us, what shall be the end of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous is scarcely saved, where shall the ungodly and sinner appear?" (1 Pet. 4:15-18). Please notice the distinction which God makes between the Christian and the sinner. Christians glorify God by their lives in the "house of God," which is "the church of the living God" (1 Tim. 3:15). Sinners are those who "Obey not the gospel of God." If there were nothing else in the Bible to answer the above question, this should do it. But there is much more in the Scriptures that declare the same thing. Many seem to think that because Christians do commit sins from time to time, that that puts them into the same category as all sinners. But that is just not true. Let us look at another passage of Scripture. "And this is the message which we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him and walk in the darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: but if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, adn the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His Word is not in us" (1 Jno. 1:5-10). That passage makes a number of points. The difference be- tween a Christian and a sinner is not one of degree, or "how much." It is a matter of relationship. The Christian is in fellow- ship with God, the sinner is not (vss. 6,7). For one who is living in sin, "walking in darkness" (not obeying the gospel), to claim fellowship with God makes him a liar. But Christians walk in the light and have fellowship with God (vs. 7). And the basis for that fellowship is that the blood of Jesus "cleanses us from all sin." The "sinner" does not have that constant cleansing as the Christian does, because he is not "in Christ" (Gal. 3:26,27) and is not walking in the light. If one is not "walking in the light," he is not in fellowship with God (1 Jno. 1:5,6). The fact that Christians, those in the church of the Lord, com- mit sins does not break their fellowship with God, for the blood of Jesus cleanses them and keeps them in God's fellowship. So that, as Paul writes, "Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not reckon sin...There is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus made me free from the law of sin and of death" (Rom. 4: 8; 8:1,2). The Christian is one who is constantly trying to live for Christ. The sinner usually is living for himself, and according to his own will. God makes it very clear in these passages of Scripture. The Christian is one who is "in Christ" and in His church. The sinner is one who is not in Christ and is not in His church. The Christ- ian is "walking in the light" and is in fellowship with God because of the blood of Jesus Christ. The sinner is walking in darkness and is not in fellowship with God, because he is not cleansed with the blood of Jesus Christ. (Let us hasten to say, just here, that there is a possibility that a Christian can so sin as to have his name blotted out of the Book of Life. If he himself, leaves the path of light and begins to walk in darkness again, he is like the sow that had been washed but begins to wallow in the mire of sin again. When one becomes a child of God by obedien- ce to the Gospel of God, this does not necessarily give him a stamped ticket into heaven. He must talk the talk and walk the walk that is laid out for him in the Gospel of Christ. Because the gospel is God's power unto salvation to everyone who believes. As a Christian, he still will stumble from time to time and commit sin, but he is to recognize his sin, confess it, repent of it, and pray God to forgive him. Just as Simon the sorcerer was called upon to do in the 8th chapter of Acts. JWS). ---- Clem Thurman in Gospel Minutes, Vol. 57, No. 38, Sept. 19, 2008. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20081021/2151a6fd/attachment-0001.html From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Tue Oct 21 09:51:13 2008 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Tue, 21 Oct 2008 10:51:13 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] S) THE PROMISE AND THE GOSPEL (1) Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. Here is the first part of a study on this subject from my ancient files. Use to the glory of God. THE PROMISE AND THE GOSPEL (1) Man's failure to rightly divide the Word of God has resulted in mental confusion as to the purpose and plan of God for human redemption. This failure and confusion has resulted in one of the great hinderances to Christianity: A bigotted and per- verted Judaism. Judaism stood in the way of the progress of the gospel in Paul's day; and it is seen today in some form in al- most every denomination. Pre-millennialism, Sabbatarianism, infant covenant relationship are just some of its forms. Previously, we have pointed out that God made a twofold promise to Abraham. (The Promise and The Law). In that prom- ise He assured Abraham He would make of him a great nation and give to that nation the land of Canaan; and in a second pro- mise He assured him, "In thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed" (Gen. 12:1-3,7). It was also pointed out that the nation-land promise was fulfilled when Abraham's descend- ants came out of Egypt as a nation and possessed the land of Canaan under Joshua's leadership. The promise was uncondit- ional, and it was fulfilled. A covenant was made with Israel in which their retention of the land was definitely conditional. They violated that covenant, were cast out of the land, and today have no promise from God other than that of salvation in Christ, through the Gospel of Christ (Rom. 1:16,17). The Spiritual Promise: -- It is to this promise of salvation that we now turn our attention. To the Galatians Paul wrote, "Know therefore that they that are of faith, the same are sons of Abrah- am. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles (nations) by faith, preached the gospel beforehand unto Abraham, saying 'In thee shall all the nations be blessed'" (Gal. 3:7,8). This is the spiritual promise of Gen. 12:3, and is universal in its scope. This promise can be traced throughout the Old Testament. In Isaac the seed should be called (Gen. 21:12), therefore the posterity of Ishmael are dropped. Later God appeared to Jacob and repeated the promise, "and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed" (Gen. 28:14). As a result of this choice of Jacob by the Lord, the posterity of Esau are like- wise not traced by inspired writers. The history becomes a hist- ory of the children of Jacob. Years later, when Jacob's posterity had become twelve large families, the Spirit said through the aged patriarch, "The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, until Shiloh come: and unto Him shall the obedience of the peoples be" (Gen. 49:10). The sceptre is the symbol of regal command, and in it's earl- iest form it was a long staff, which the king held in his hand when speaking in public assemblies. When he sat upon his throne he rested it between his feet, inclining it towards himself. The idea of the prophecy being that Judah was to rule, to have the chieftanship, till Shiloh come. Shiloh is here used as a personal name -- the name of Him whose right it should be to rule and to give rest (Keil and Delitzch). This one whose right it should be to rule, should be of the tribe of Judah. In David the promise is further narrowed from the tribe to the family. The great warrior-king who had led Israel in her battles, conquering foes and casting down citadels held by the enemies, wished to close his career by erecting a temple to Jehovah. From the time of Israel's conquest of Canaan by Joshua to the time of David, the ark of the covenant had been housed at Shiloh in the tabernacle made in the wilderness. But God sent Nathan the prophet who said to him, "Moreover Jehovah telleth thee that Jehovah will make thee a house. When thy days are fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, that shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for My Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom for ever. I will be his Father, and he shall be My Son" (2 Sam. 7:11-14). This prophecy had a twofold fulfillment. Immediately, it was fulfilled in Solomon; this is determined by the remainder of the passage. But its ultimate fulfillment was in Jesus Christ. Peter used the passage in his sermon on Pentecost, declaring that Jesus was raised for the purpose of fulfilling the promise (Acts 2:29-36). The writer of Hebrews quotes from it (vs. 14), when he said, "I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to Me a Son" (Heb. 1:5), applying it to the Christ. The prophecy has been and is now fulfilled in Christ: its ful- fillment is not something in the future, to be realized when the Lord returns. This is clearly evident from the fact that as the seed of David, He should be "set up," with His kingdom and throne established, while David should "sleep with his fathers." David and the fathers are asleep now, and the seed of David was to reign while they are asleep. If, as claimed by the pre-mill- ennialists, He is to enter into His reign upon His return, at which tme, according to the contention, the righteous shall be raised, it will have to follow that neither David nor the fathers will be among the righteous, for they will have to be asleep while He reigns or the prediction fails. But the truth is, there is not to be two different resurrections, separated by a millennial reign on earth, adn the truth also is that the fathers and David sleep now, and while they sleep, Christ, the seed of David, reigns on the throne of David over the kingdom of God promised Him. Further, according to promise, this seed of Abraham should be born of a virgin (Isa. 7:14); the government should be upon His shoulder, with power to open and shut, none hindering (Isa. 22:22); while through Him should be made an everlasting coven- ant, "even the sure mercies of David" (Isa. 55:3). (More will be posted on this subject tomorrow, the Lord willing, JWS). -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20081021/6d07fd69/attachment-0001.html From blackwelderr at gmail.com Tue Oct 21 12:18:24 2008 From: blackwelderr at gmail.com (Roger Blackwelder) Date: Tue, 21 Oct 2008 12:18:24 -0500 Subject: [Biblemat] Consistency, Thou Art a Jewell Message-ID: <747a5bf10810211018h45fd4be7o17f2c3bc7d847dbf@mail.gmail.com> Ron Halbrook did a meeting for us last year; it was the first time I'd met him. He preached on Divorce/Remarriage but did not take the mental-divorce position some have attributed to him. In fact, in conversation, he seemed to deny ever holding the position. The article, "Consistency, Thou Art a Jewell," includes a quotation from "study Notes by Ron Halbrook." Does someone have a copy of these notes that can be verified to be original with Ron Halbrook or is this someone quoting someone else quoting someone else....? If he genuinely holds the mental-divorce position, I would object to having him for future meetings, in spite of the fact that he has some close friends here. But hearsay isn't going to do it. Does anyone have verifiable evidence...a audio sermon of him preaching this in his own voice...or a published article by him in which he teaches mental divorce? Roger Blackwelder Chapman Acres church of Christ Huntsville, AL -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20081021/361e77bb/attachment.html From jerry at eldorable.kscoxmail.com Tue Oct 21 15:14:48 2008 From: jerry at eldorable.kscoxmail.com (Jerry Blount) Date: Tue, 21 Oct 2008 15:14:48 -0500 Subject: [Biblemat] Jerry's Christian Jottings So you believe in God... But what is God Message-ID: <65CA41F6433A49EC83EF5BBB2506D90E@dadsdell> Jerry Blount to the list First a housekeeping matter, then today's article. After serving first as an elder here for some 12 years, then in tandem with that, a preacher here for the last 8 years I am leaving the Pleasant Valley congregation to start a new work on the east side of Wichita, Ks I have always wanted to start a congregation from scratch. In the Wichita city limits there are some 350,000 people and two conservative congregations (there are 3 more in the extended area of some 500,000). Those groups are on the west side of town. There is a huge need for such a work . Anyway, the logistics of all that are a little numbing. for this effortthis kind of Jerry Blount Now today's article . . . So you believe in God. But what is God? (The essence or nature of God) Now Mount Sinai {was} all in smoke because the LORD descended upon it in fire; and its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked violently. When the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and God answered him with thunder. Exodus 19:18-19 Have you ever contemplated this question? It is a legitimate question. "Who is He" is often interspersed with "What is He?" For example, "God is love." I John 4:8. Is this an attempt to answer "who" or "what?" I guess I would almost have to respond by saying, "both." "God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." John 4:24 "What" He is obviously affects "who" He is. Who and what He is also obviously affects what He wants from us. Today I wish to approach this from an evidences standpoint. and look a little deeper into what the Bible actually reveals to us about "what" God is. I also wish to compare this insight with the laws that drive the universe. What the Bible reveals about God is exactly what the universe demands for God to be. in order for God to be its creator. Let's begin by allowing the Bible to introduce a summary statement concerning the nature of God. "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. For, even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools," Romans 1:18-22 Notice that Paul declares in no uncertain terms that God has made some things evident. Two things in particular stand out; 1) Eternal power 2) Divine nature (a vast incredible mind-intelligence) Paul obviously postulates what today is called "intelligent design." Who God is takes a Bible. What He is has been clearly revealed. So. can a nuclear physicist believe in God? Most don't seem to. but should they? Let's consider Albert Einstein. We know him for his famous equation E=MC2, presented in 1905. This took awhile to bloom but it eventually led to a nuclear bomb. Note that for the first time in human history, there really was no doubt that energy was absolutely related to the material world. Energy directly correlates with the material world. If you rip the material world apart you will release incredible quantities of energy. Can we put it another way? "But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up." II Peter 3:10 If you are going to "destroy" the elements what are you going to get? Well, 2000 years ago Peter said it would come with a roar and in intense heat (release of energy). Did he formulate the exact correlation E=MC2? Obviously not. But did Peter get it right? Oh yeah! As a side note, in virtually the same breath Peter also had accurately described the mindset so common today. "Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with {their} mocking, following after their own lusts, and saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? For {ever} since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation. For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the word of God {the} heavens existed long ago and {the} earth was formed out of water and by water." II Peter 3:3-5 Are things as they have always been? No, they are not. The universe is decaying as we march ever closer to our end. This concept which is today formulated in different ways is exactly as Peter had also said it would be. Frankly this accuracy should help us to believe that what he says will be (through the Holy Spirit) is what really will be. "But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men." II Peter 3:7 Consider Paul's application of this same knowledge.. "Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; for our God is a consuming fire." Hebrews 12:28-29 Really? Is God a consuming fire? Well, He is a creating powerful intelligence. that also says He will consume the elements with an intense heat and a roar. That fits well with what we now know from consuming small amounts of those same elements! Let's move on. The Large Hadron Collider This past month they have fired up the Large Hadron Collider built on the Swiss and French border. LHC for short. It has been 20 years in the making. In a nutshell it is a giant circular tunnel 17 miles around built 300' underground. It's design is to accelerate two different streams of energy/particles to near the speed of light going in opposite directions and then smash them into each other. What's the point? To see if they can create what scientists have nicknamed the "God particle." Don't misunderstand the term "God particle," it is a pejorative term not a respectful one. They are searching for yet another "missing link" in the fundamentals of our universe while denying it'sits creator. It is an attempt to create what they believe to be one of the original, fundamental pieces of the universe. Mankind has succeeded in tearing matter apart but has not in a meaningful way been able to reverse the process. Interestingly the Bible gives the missing link in particulear physics accurately as well. "The wicked, in the haughtiness of his countenance, does not seek {Him.} All his thoughts are, "There is no God." Psalm 10:4 These men are looking for the God particle when they should be looking for God. They are trying desperately to solve the riddle of mass. Energy has no appreciable mass. So how can incredible amounts quantities of energy take on weight? They have correctly theorized that there must be a way that such can be done. Their answer is that there must be a particle they are missing. So they are trying re-create creation itself in order to find it. So can you create something from nothing? Well, as matter of fact you can. It has been done before. "Now faith is the assurance of {things} hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the men of old gained approval. By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible." Hebrews 11:1-3 Image:HumptyDumpty.jpgChristians have "understood" that things made were not made out of visible things for 2000 years. What these scientists are searching for, we Christians have known to exist for a long time. These men in their pursuit of themselves may well demonstrate the truth of Hebrews 11:3 before all the world. They may be the first ones in history to really "make" matter rather than just changing it around a bit. It is not too difficult with our level of technology to bang around between hydrogen and helium for example, but too actually create mass is going to be interesting. What does it take to do that? Incredible amounts of energy. Ripping matter apart is not nearly as difficult at putting it together. i.e. they are try to put Humpty Dumpty back together without tearing him apart in the first place. Now consider this. and remember that it does not come from an article in today's National Geographic. It was written 2000 years ago. To be the creator. where must God come from? Paul gave Timothy a straight up answer to that very question. Orion Nebula"until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which He will bring about at the proper time--He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see. To Him {be} honor and eternal dominion! Amen." I Timothy 6:14-16 The creator of heaven and earth dwells in unapproachable light (energy!). E=MC2.? To create mass God must have, (or be) an incredible source of energy. He didn't need to work for 20 years and spend 10 Billion dollars to bang two streams of particles together. "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters. Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light. God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light day, and the darkness He called night. And there was evening and there was morning, one day." Genesis 1:1-5 The issue of light and darkness, energy and matter, life from non-life, and the boundary lines of each were wrapped up in some seven days. God created the world. and the Bible is the Word of God. God is exactly what both His Creation and His Bible reveal Him to be. Yours in Christ Jerry Blount 131 Hillside El Dorado Ks, 67042 3163204321 www.JerrysChristianJottings.info -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20081021/8fdfab3d/attachment-0001.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/jpeg Size: 5414 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20081021/8fdfab3d/attachment-0008.jpe -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/jpeg Size: 6764 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20081021/8fdfab3d/attachment-0009.jpe -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... 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Name: not available Type: image/jpeg Size: 12642 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20081021/8fdfab3d/attachment-0013.jpe -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/jpeg Size: 21723 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20081021/8fdfab3d/attachment-0014.jpe -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/jpeg Size: 8926 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20081021/8fdfab3d/attachment-0015.jpe From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Wed Oct 22 05:45:11 2008 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Wed, 22 Oct 2008 06:45:11 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] S) THE PROMISE AND THE GOSPEL (2) Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. Here is the second part of this particular study. Use to the glory of God. THE PROMISE AND THE GOSPEL (2) The Promise Fulfilled: -- As one opens the New Testament he finds a genealogy tracing the lineage of Jesus back through David to Abraham -- therefore, "the seed of Abraham." One hears an angel announcing that a virgin should conceive and bring forth a son, fulfilling the prediction of Isaiah, (Matt. 1). Also is heard the declaration of the angel that "the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of His father David" (Lk. 1:32). After Christ's ascension, Paul declared the fulfilment of the promise, "I will give you the holy and sure blessings of David" (Acts 13:34). And Jesus said to the church at Philadelphia, "These things saith he that...hath the key of David, he that openeth and none shall shut, and that shutteth and none openeth" (Rev. 3:7) These could not be future in their application; they are present. The seed of David now reigns on the throne of David, over the only kingdom God ever promised Him. The spiritual phase of the promise was thus fulfilled in Jesus Christ. The land and nation promise had been fulfilled in Israel's possessing the land of Canaan. It was of these two promises the apostle was writing when he declared, "Now to Abraham were the promises (plural) spoken, and to his seed. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one. And to thy seed, which is Christ" (Gal. 3:16). The law, which came in four hundred and thirty years after the promise, did not affect either promise; both were fulfilled as a matter of Divine promise (vs. 17). Both promises were clear and distinct; each had a definite fulfilment and that independent of the other. The two promises were never confused in the mind of a New Testament writer: and no New Testament writer ever connected a New Testament promise or teaching with the land and national promise but always with the spiritual. The Law And The Spiritual Promise: -- Again, this raises the question, "What then is the law?" The law was a national law, given only to the fleshly house of Israel (Deut. 5:1-6). It was given not only to a particular people, the Jews, but for a specific reason: to restrain until a definite time -- till the seed should come (Gal. 3:19). When the seed, the Christ, came, it was taken out of the way, and God made a new covenant. One of the clearest declarations concerning the making of a new covenant is found in Jer. 31:31-34. This covenant of the fut- ure, which God would make, should be 1) NEW, "I will make a new covenant." 2) It should be DIFFERENT, "not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers", referring to the cov- enant made at Sinai. 3) The new should be SPIRITUAL IN NAT- URE, "I will put my law in their inward parts, and in their heart will I write it" -- this would affect the intellect and affections, hence, would necessitate teaching. 4) INFANT COVENANT RE- LATIONSHIP WITH GOD SHOULD BE ELIMINATED under the new, "for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith Jehovah." They all shall have been taught to know the Lord before entering into this covenant, not after, as under the old. For, being circumcised the eighth day, the Jewish boy had to be taught afterward to know God. 5) FOR- GIVENESS SHOULD BE COMPLETE, "I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin will I remember no more." The New Covenant, the covenant of promise, fulfills all of these characteristics. The passage is quoted by the writer of Hebrews (8:8-12), and declared to have been fulfilled in Christ (vs. 6). Both covenants, the old and the new, were enacted upon "promises," but the latter upon "better promises." The Old Covenant, which pertained to the land and nation promise, was taken out of the way when Jesus was nailed to the cross. Christ came to fulfill it and to accomplish all things (Matt. 5:17,18); on the cross He declared all things finished and the Scripture accomplished (Jno. 19:28-30). And the apostles who wrote later declared it to have been removed (2 Cor. 3; Eph. 2:14- 16; Col. 2:14; Heb. 10:9,10). (More will be posted on this subject tomorrow, the Lord willing, JWS). -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20081022/f1caf913/attachment-0001.html From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Wed Oct 22 05:44:59 2008 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Wed, 22 Oct 2008 06:44:59 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] A) THE DEVIL'S TOOLBOX Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. A very good Wednesday morning to each and everyone. May God bless you and yours. Here is an article from my recent files: THE DEVIL'S TOOLBOX My handy-man friends have always said that if a person has the right tools, he can do anything. Well, the devil is crafty for evil, and he can do many things to upset God's Work among earth dwellers. But, as the apostle says, "We are not ignorant of his devices" (2 Cor. 2:11). In your toolbox you might have many tools, and some which are absolutely required: hammer, pliers, screwdriver, and perhaps another favorite or two. Below are three of the devil's most useful devices: Deceit: -- Eve was misled in the Garden of Eden, and today the great majority of the world has been lied to as well. Many do not believe in God, in a devil, or in sin. To them, evil is in the eye of the beholder, not in disregarding God's order. God has put us in this world to seek truth, and when we fail, our failure says something about our character. (Acts 17:26-28; Heb. 11:6). Truth is always on God's side: in religion, in relationships, in science, in politics, and in all other areas of human endeavor. Lies are always on the devil's side, to accomplish whatever his twisted schemes might be. "Little white lies" might do as much harm as big black ones. In September '99 NASA confessed that a $125 million Mars orbi- ter was lost because Lockheed had used English units of meas- urement in their programing while NASA was using metric units. Small error, gigantic losses. Those who belittle Eve's beguile- ment in the garden should consider the plight of the world lost for god and the cost of recovery. Christ on the cross, and our struggle for right in a world dominated by the devil. (Jno. 3;16; 1 Jno. 5:19). Seduction: -- Satan told Eve an outright lie, but the apparatus which pushed her "over the top" was the sensual appeal of the fruit. "And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave to her husband with her; and he did eat." (Gen. 3:6). One of the main elements of being human is to rise above the primal urges, to be accountable for one's actions. The devil uses the power of lust, sensuousness, greed, malice, envy, and pride to manipulate men and women "over the top" of their know- ledge and training. Folks know better than to forsake God, com- mit adultery, lie, steal, and pervert, but the appeal of the flesh makes sin palatable. Judas Iscariot may have been disillusioned over Christ's mission, but the allure of that thiry pieces of silver was just too much to pass up. (Matt. 26:14-16; 27:3-5). King Saul fooled him- self into thinking that he had done God's will, to destroy all the Amalekites and even their livestock, as commanded, but he over- looked the absurdity that he had brought the enemy's leader, Agag, right back to camp to face Samuel the prophet. However, the "icing on the cake" was the acquisition of the best of the sheep and the oxen which he paraded back with the idolatrous king. In the end, Saul was nothing less than disobedient. (1 Sam. 15). When a person might know better than to disobey, the power of temptation can draw him right into the embrace of sin. Discouragement: -- At the time of Elijah's victory over the proph- ets of Baal on Mt. Carmel, one would think that Elijah would be elated with joy and bold with confidence, but Jezebel's threat to kill him robbed him of his courage. "Now, Lord, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers!" (1 Kgs. 19:1-4). The divil wants us to think that the obstacles to serving God are just too high, that the odds of overcoming good with evil are too great, and that our power to defeat evil is simply not enough. But God's word says, "Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." (Jas. 4:7). The devil does not want us to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Hope -- that desire mixed with expectation by which Christians are saved -- is an ungly four letter word to the devil. (Rom. 8:24). We might not make the world everything God would have it be, but we can leave our marks on the lives of others, just as Elijah did. (Jas. 5:17-20 RSV). To overcome the devil's tricks, we must first be aware of them. To overcome deceit, a knowledge of the truth must be acquired. To stand above temptation, we must have determined self-control. And the problem of discouragement demands cour- age, plain and simple. The devil presents other challenges along the way, but overcoming these are a necessary start. ------ George Hutto in Tidings, Vol. 23, No. 10, Oct. 2008. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20081022/fa8cf2ff/attachment-0001.html From ZekeFlores1 at cs.com Wed Oct 22 09:32:37 2008 From: ZekeFlores1 at cs.com (ZekeFlores1 at cs.com) Date: Wed, 22 Oct 2008 10:32:37 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] W> AngletonChristians.com Update Message-ID: Please visit our site for a timely sermon titled "Relativism Rules!" It deals with the "politically correct" attitude that permeates our society and upholds the absolute truth of God's word. Go to www.angletonchristians.com and click on the "Sermons" tab. You can download a text version (either RTF or PDF) format of many lessons as well as a WAV audio version of many sermons preached here at the Kiber Street church in Angleton, Tx. While there, visit our "Featured Article" page for a timely lesson titled "Popularity Without Principle: written by Jere Frost. Thanks, Zeke Flores Kiber Street church of Christ Angleton, TX www.angletonchristians.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20081022/ad045c2e/attachment.html From dmartinbtbq at comcast.net Wed Oct 22 10:26:38 2008 From: dmartinbtbq at comcast.net (Don Martin) Date: Wed, 22 Oct 2008 09:26:38 -0600 Subject: [Biblemat] The first resurrection," question/answer Message-ID: <010201c9345a$9481b800$6401a8c0@533034B8A6DF4D9> Don Martin with question/answer 1, 000 in our Bible Questions work since July 18: Hello Mike, Thank you so much for your question and for making use of Bible Questions. Please do so again. http://www.biblequestions.org Please check out Bible Truths http://www.bibletruths.net Go to the archives section of these sites for material and also go to the archives search page and type in any subject or word you wish to explore. New material is constantly being added to both sites. Any help you can give us in telling others of these sites will be greatly appreciated. If you are interested in really learning more about the Bible, there is an online Bible study course located in Bible Truths. While on the home page, scroll down and enter. While on the Map Site Page, click on "Online Bible Study Course" in the table. Click on http://www.bibletruths.net to go there. You asked: What is the first and second resurrection? Reply: The text to which you appear to allude is Revelation chapter 20. In verse five, the "first resurrection" is mentioned (see also vs.. 6). Some have mistakenly tried to prove, using Revelation 20: 5, that there will be two literal resurrections consisting of the saved and the lost, respectively, and that they will be separated by a literal thousand year period of time. This view is part of the doctrinal platform known as "Premillennialism." However, John 5: 28, 29 shows there shall be only one literal resurrection, it shall consist of the lost and saved, and it shall occur on the same day. When we carefully look at the "first resurrection" mentioned in Revelation 20: 5, 6, it is apparent that this resurrection is not referring to a literal bodily resurrection of all the dead, but rather to a spiritual resurrection of certain ones, not all, who have died for Christ and that the resurrection is a lifting up or act of ascendancy provided them during the thousand year reign of Jesus. The "first resurrection" does seem to imply a "second resurrection." The "second resurrection" would be the resurrection to which Jesus referred in John 5: 28, 29, the resurrection of all the dead at the Judgment Day. To read more of "Premillennialism," go to www.bibletruths.net and enter through the door on the home page. When on the Site Map page, click on "Archives and Index" in the directory and then scroll down to the Subject Index Box on the Archives page. Click on "Premillennialism" in the box. The first article you shall see is, "The Truth About Premillennialism." Here is an excerpt from the article: "...Premillennialism contains about 20 related and sequential doctrines. As a matter of act, there are numerous conflicting views within the climate of Premillennialism. A few positions which are generally true of "Premillennialism" are: The kingdom is not presently in the world, the church/gospel age (in which we now live) is a substitution arrangement (Jesus failed to set-up his Kingdom and was crucified) and it is not the purpose of the substitute system to convert the world, and we are now in the latter stages of the church age, etc. (please see the sequential list at the end of this article, addendum)...." Thanks again for your good question and for your interest in spiritual matters. I recommend that you print out this email for future reference (web addresses, etc.). You may print out any material you desire in both Bible Questions and Bible Truths (see the copyright provision at the bottom of the home page in Bible Truths). Cordially, Don Martin From tedwards at onemain.com Wed Oct 22 11:55:27 2008 From: tedwards at onemain.com (tedwards at onemain.com) Date: Wed, 22 Oct 2008 11:55:27 -0500 Subject: [Biblemat] B> Gospel Observer 10/19/08 Message-ID: <48FF14AF.4332.8683DA@localhost> ____________________________________________________ THE GOSPEL OBSERVER ____________________________________________________ "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations...teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:19,20). ____________________________________________________ October 19, 2008 ____________________________________________________ Contents: 1) The Dead in Christ Shall Rise First (Ron Daly) 2) Behold! (Jeff May) 3) God Expects Man to Understand His Will (Aude McKee) ____________________________________________________ -1- The Dead in Christ Shall Rise First by Ron Daly Paul wrote in his first letter to the Thessalonians, that when the Lord descends from heaven, "the dead in Christ will rise first" (1 Thess. 4:16). Apparently, Paul had reason to be concerned that some of the Christians in Thessalonica were uninformed regarding the status of fellow-believers who had died. He wrote to them so that they would not grieve. He states that when the Lord descends from heaven the dead saints will not be forgotten, nor left behind. They will rise before the living are caught up to meet the Lord in the air! "For this we declare to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will by no means precede those who have fallen asleep" (v. 15). The apostle is not affirming any of the doctrinally erroneous presuppositions of the premillennial heresy. His point is not that the dead saints will rise and be caught up in "the rapture," a contrived theory of premillennialists. Instead, he implicitly indicates that the dead saints will not be abandoned, but they will rise to meet the Lord together with those who remain. The following verbal phrases constitute the immediate context of Paul's words, in which actions are ascribed to the Lord and his saints: "The Lord himself ... will descend (katabesetai) from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise (anastesontai) first. Then we who are alive, who are left (perileipomenoi), will be caught up (harpagesometha) in the clouds together with them to meet (apantesin) the Lord in the air, and so we will be (esometha) with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage (parakaleite) one another with these words" (vv. 16-17). Notice the word "then" in verse 17. It translates epeita which in the present context is emphatic, and the term means "after that, in the next place." The Greek-English Lexicon of The New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, Bauer, Arndt-Gingrich-Danker, 284, indicates that epeita is used "to denote succession in enumerations, together with indications of chronological sequence." Paul's point seems to be, immediately after the dead saints rise the living saints will join them to meet the Lord in the air. The text does not teach a partial resurrection, i.e., that some of the dead, those who are in Christ will be raised at the Lord's coming, but the wicked dead will remain in the graves for several more years. In the 1 Thessalonians' text Paul's primary focus is on "we who are alive" in Christ and "the dead in Christ." He is not denying a general resurrection of all the dead, he simply discusses one class of dead persons who will rise. This seems to be the category about which the Thessalonians had inquired, or at least were concerned. Please consider that Paul does not say, "Only the dead in Christ shall rise," but he says, "The dead in Christ shall rise first." Let us ask, first in relation to what? The word "first" is a translation of proton, an adverb which in this text means "first of all, first in order." Before the living ascend to meet the Lord, the dead in Christ will be raised and both groups shall be caught up to meet the Lord in the air. According to numerous New Testament texts when Jesus comes to judge the world, all the dead will be raised. "Do not be astonished at this: for the hour is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and will come out those who have done good, to the resurrection of life and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation" (John 5:28-29). Peter and John caused much annoyance to the priest, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees "because they were teaching the people and proclaiming that in Jesus there is the resurrection of the dead" (Acts 4:1-2). Paul affirmed that he was "on trial concerning the hope of the resurrection of the dead" (Acts 23:6). Paul made his defense to Felix the governor, proclaiming "that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous," and he declared that he was on trial "about the resurrection of the dead" (Acts 24:15,21). The apostle said to the people of Athens that God "has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed . . . they heard of the resurrection of the dead..." (Acts 17:31-32). "For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised..." (1 Cor. 15:52). In his second letter to the Thessalonians, chapter 1:7-9, Paul states that when the Lord is "revealed from heaven" (the equivalent to "the Lord himself will descend from heaven" in the first letter, 4:16) vengeance will be inflicted on the wicked, but he will be glorified in the saints. Therefore in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, Paul is not teaching a partial resurrection of some of the dead, neither is he indicating that there will be multiple resurrections of all the dead. There will be only one literal resurrection of all the dead. -- Via Guardian of Truth XLI: 4 p. 10-11, February 20, 1997 ____________________________________________________ -2- Behold! by Jeff May When God gave us the Bible, His intent was that we would be captivated as the greatest story that has ever been told is unfolded before us. In fact, there is a single word that appears at monumental moments. It's the word "behold." This word is meant to work like a stop sign. It basically means, "Stop. Look at this and marvel!!" Consider a few impressive moments when we see it. "Behold, a virgin shall be with child and bear a son, and they shall call his name 'Immanuel'" (Matthew 1:23). Childbirth itself is a marvel. Just ask any mom and dad. However, this was the marvel of all marvels. A virgin gives birth to the Son of God. Jesus, the Word, became flesh and lived among us. He left a world of splendor and praise to be cramped for nine months in the confines of a womb. He would soon emerge into a world that would despise Him and would not leave Him alone until He was in a tomb. Here was a baby born to die. Yet, in that birth and in that death, our salvation is made possible. Behold! "Behold, the lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world" (John 1:29). I would have had a hard time living in Old Testament times. Offering those lambs would have been difficult for me. I'd be like the man Nathan told King David about in Second Samuel 12. I'd probably take my lamb and let it grow up with me and my children, letting my cup down for it to drink and allowing it to sleep next to me. I can't fathom sinning and then having to go and get that lamb, place my hands on it and kill it. But this is no ordinary lamb. This is Jesus, the Lamb provided by God to take away all our sins. Behold! "He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come see the place where the Lord lay...Behold I have told you" (Matthew 28:6-7). With expert precision, the Roman soldiers executed Jesus like any other man. He was dead when He was taken from Calvary's hill. They made sure of it. All of that changed on the first day of the week. With an earthquake, angels rolled away that stone and Jesus came forth from the grave gaining victory over Hades and death. The marvel of His resurrection transformed eleven scared men into the boldest men that have ever lived. They beheld a risen Lord and went to their graves never recanting their story. Behold! "Behold, what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us that we should be called the children of God" (I John 3:1). Isn't it a marvel that, if we are Christians, the God of the Universe calls me and you His sons and daughters? What love! Behold! "Behold, He is coming with the clouds and every eye will see Him" (Revelation 1:6). One day while the world slumbers in spiritual laziness, the archangel's voice will sound, the trumpet will blast, all our heads will turn heavenward and, behold, there He will be with the angels of heaven on the clouds. Now isn't that going to be a sight? Do you ever gaze into the clouds and imagine it? Will you be ready? See what I mean? The next time you run across the word, stop and behold! -- Via The Exhorter, Oakland church of Christ ____________________________________________________ -3- God Expects Man to Understand His Will by Aude McKee In Matthew's account of the Great Commission, Jesus said, "Go ye therefore and teach all nations..." Why would Jesus, the Son of God, tell his apostles to go and teach people if what they were going to teach could not be understood? Did not Jesus, in the command, necessarily imply that the material to be taught was simple enough to be understood and that those to be taught were capable of understanding? One of the answers to our present-day situation was given by Jesus a long time ago in Matt. 13:15: "For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and l should heal them." Jesus placed the blame for not understanding squarely at the feet of those who heard the teaching. They closed their own eyes, stopped their own ears, and hardened their own hearts so that they did not understand! Incidentally, had you thought about the fact that if a thing is understood by two individuals, they necessarily will understand it alike? If two people disagree on something, one or the other (or both) did not understand! If one person "understands" baptism to be sprinkling, and another "understands" it to be pouring, then neither of the two really understands what the New Testament teaches. Even the Greek word for baptism means "immersion." In other words, it is impossible to "understand" baptism incorrectly. So if you and I disagree over something the Bible teaches, we both need to keep studying. When we both really understand we will agree. ____________________________________________________ CHURCH OF CHRIST 201 Rushing Road (at the Hampton Inn) Denham Springs, LA 70726 Sunday: 9:15 AM, 10:00 AM, 4:00 PM evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (225) 667-4520 tedwards at onemain.com http://home.onemain.com/~tedwards/go DIRECTIONS: Take the Denham Springs exit (exit 10) off of I-12. At the end of the exit ramp, turn north. Go about a stone's throw to Rushing Road. (You'll see a Starbucks, Circle K, and two other gas stations; with each on each corner.) Turn left on Rushing Road, and go less then 0.3 of a mile. Hampton Inn will be on the right. We assemble in its meeting room, which is very close to the reception counter. ____________________________________________________ From dmartinbtbq at comcast.net Wed Oct 22 14:27:50 2008 From: dmartinbtbq at comcast.net (Don Martin) Date: Wed, 22 Oct 2008 13:27:50 -0600 Subject: [Biblemat] PowerPoint Updates Message-ID: <00cd01c9347c$467dac00$6401a8c0@533034B8A6DF4D9> Don Martin sharing new PowerPoint material: I just thought I would mention that I just published a new batch of PowerPoint sermons to www.bibletruths.net When on the home page, enter through the door and click on "PowerPoint Sermons" in the directory on the Site Map page. Here are some of the new titles: "Justification" (intended to be a series of three). "Be At Peace Among Yourselves" "When There are no Elders" "A Working Brain" "Such as I have Give I unto Three" (series of two). "The Bible and Judging" (series of two). Again, I have deliberately created these presentations so the user can effect minor change to accommodate their own style. Let me know should you experience any user problems, please. When you download them from Bible Truths, you can have access to user notes that I have provided. Also, feel free to email these files as a track for others to read and see (be sure they have PowerPoint installed or have the viewer, availed in Bible Truths). There are now hundreds of sermons in both the regular sermon section and the PowerPoint section. I hope this material will be of some practical use to you. From J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com Thu Oct 23 04:43:36 2008 From: J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com (J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com) Date: Thu, 23 Oct 2008 05:43:36 EDT Subject: [Biblemat] S) THE PROMISE AND THE GOSPEL (3) Message-ID: Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here. Here is the third and final part of this series on this particular subject. Use to the glory of God. THE PROMISE AND THE GOSPEL (3) The Law And The Spiritual Promise: Continued: -- But, someone may ask, how much was included in the term "law" as used by writers of the New Testament? Adventists claim that only the "ceremonial" law was abolished, and not the "moral" law -- thus making a distinction the Bible does not make. Some, who would retain instrimental music in worship, and who wish to justify it by an appeal to the Psalms, would reject the law but retain the Psalms. However, the New Testament writers include in the term "law" the whole of the Old Covenant: law, prophets and Psalms. Paul included Genesis when he quoted Gen. 16:15, referring to it as "the law" (Gal. 4:21). Jesus included Deuteronomy (Deut. 6:5) and Leviticus (Lev. 19:18) when He answered the law- yer's question, "Teacher, which is the great commandment of the law?" (Matt. 22:36-40). Paul included Exodus (Exo. 20:17) when he quoted as law the tenth commandment, "For I had not known coveting, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet" (Rom. 7:7). Jesus included Numbers (Num. 28:9,10) when He said, "Have ye not read in the law?" and referred to the priests profaning the Sabbath (Matt. 12:5). Jesus quoted from the Psalms and referred to them as "law" (Jno. 10:34; Psa. 82:6) And Paul included the prophets when he said, "In the law it is written" (1 Cor. 14:21), and quoted Isaiah (Isa. 28:11,12). There- fore the whole of the Old Covenant, the first five books of law and the prophets and the Psalms are included. This law was given to Israel and has now passed away as a covenant and as a law under which men live and serve. The New Covenant And The Spiritual Promise: -- The New Cove- nant of promise; it is "the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus" (Rom. 8:1,2); it is "the word of truth, the gospel of your salvat- ion" (Eph. 1:13); it is the "everlasting covenant," dedicated with the blood of Christ (Heb. 13:20). The covenant of the promise now includes "all nations," "the whole creation" (Matt. 28:18-20; Mk. 16:15,16). Its circumcision is of the heart, not of the letter, in which the individual becomes a "new creature in Christ," in which all racial and social distinctions are wiped out. In summarizing, let it be emphasized that God made two promises to Abraham, a nation-land promise, tho which nation there was given the law of Moses to govern them in the land. The promise was fulfilled in all points. The other promise was a spiritual promise, fulfilled in Jesus Christ. The fulfilling of neit- her was affected by the law. The law was given to the nation to govern them in the land. the new law, the law of Christ, was given to the spiritual posterity of Abraham to govern them in the spiritual kingdom. Its promises are spiritual, culminating in the resurrection from the dead and the possession of the eternal in- heritance. The old was sealed by the blood of bulls and goats, the new by the blood of Christ. The apostle concludes by showing that today all are sons of God by faith, i.e., by the law of the faith of the gospel, when bap- tized into Christ (Gal. 3:26,27), and that these children are Abrah- am's seed, heirs according to promise. For the C