I Don’t Understand

Some things I don’t understand:

• I don’t understand how men who were once faithful Gospel preachers can preach a perverted “gospel” based on fantasy instead of fact (II Timothy 4:2; Galatians 1:6–9).
• I don’t understand why congregations put up with or fellowship preachers who have left the faith (I John 1:6–10; II John 9–11).
• I don’t understand how anyone can think that instrumental music in worship is authorized (or more beautiful) than singing that comes from our hearts (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16).
• I don’t understand how anyone can think that God’s Word changes just because his—or a family member’s—situation in life changes (Matthew 5:32; 19:3–9).
• I don’t understand how anyone can believe that the Spirit works directly on the heart of some unless he believes that God is a respecter of persons (Proverbs 24:23; John 7:24; Acts 10:34–35).
• I don’t understand why faithful Gospel preachers are ridiculed, abused, and even fired for doing what God has told them to do (I Corinthians 1:23; II Timothy 4:2).
• I don’t understand how anyone can love the things of this world and expect to be loved by the Father (I John 2:15–17).
• I don’t understand how God could love such a one as I and be willing to give up His Son to die as a sacrifice for me (John 3:16; Romans 5:8).
• I don’t understand pain, suffering, and death, but I do know that one day these will be no more (Revelation 21:3).

I don’t understand such things, but I know that if I endure faithfully to the end, God the Father will explain it all to me on that Day (II Timothy 4:7–8)!

Danny Box

HOW DO YOU SPELL C-R-O-S-S

“See”

Look at Calvary. Don’t turn away. I know it’s not easy. What is done to Him is shameful. I know. But look closely! Past the spittle. Beyond the blood. There. In His eyes. Friend, that is love. It is love for you! See the nails in His hands and feet, fastening Him to a tree He created for man’s use. Look at the love He has for you!

“Are”

Are you able to see that He bled for you? Are you willing to admit that you are lost without Him? Are you ready to submit to His will, to obey Him, and to live for Him? Are you prepared for eternity? Are you convinced?

 “Oh”

Hear His cries of pain and agony. The death of a thousand deaths. Bitter moans of His disciples. The gasp of heaven’s angels. The sorrow of a Father for His only begotten Son! The gasps and exclamations of a hateful mob.

“SS”

That’s the hiss of the beguiling serpent. The one who is bruising the heel of the perfect One (Genesis 3:15), putting God the Son in the tomb. This is the moment of his triumph. Though resurrection will soon bring the ultimate victory for Christ and hope for man, at the cross of Calvary the devil must be enjoying his front row seat. Doesn’t he anger you? Disgust you? Motivate you? Live for Jesus. Don’t live for the snake!

Friends, the cross spells the difference between heaven and hell, hope and helplessness, joy and sorrow, day and night! The cross spells life!

“And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross…” (Ephesians 2:16).

Author Unknown

Jehovah Versus All the Gods of Egypt?

Ramses the Great: the Man and the Myth. About 20 years ago I went to Dallas for that exhibit. It was impressive to learn about the man, but there was myth! The claim was made that Ramses was the Pharaoh of the Exodus. It is my conviction the date of the exodus was ca. 1446 B.C. It is my conviction that the Pharaoh of Egypt at the time of the exodus was probably Thutmosis. Moses and Pharaoh observed God’s “Ten Lesson Course” as God came to the tenth plague.

“For I will go through the land of Egypt in that night, and will smite all the first-born in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: I am Jehovah” (Exodus 12:12). The one true God took on all the gods of Egypt and overcame many idol gods that belonged to Egypt:

1. Water of the Nile became blood, water was undrinkable. (Exodus 7:14-24). The spirit of the Nile was called Hapi, the goddess of the Nile was called Tauret, and the Nile was considered the bloodstream of Osiris.
2. The plague of frogs covered the whole land. (Exodus 8:1-15). Egypt looked to frogs as the goddess of birth, and named this goddess Heqt or Hekt.
3. Next the lice came upon men and beasts alike. (Exodus 8:16-19). Seb or Geb was Egypt’s earth-god. Remember the lice came from the dust at the hand of Moses.
4. Next came the swarms of flies. (Exodus 8:20-32). The flies came only upon the land of Egypt and not in Goshen. Egypt had a fly-god called Uatchit.
5. The plague of murrain (diseased livestock) was next. (Exodus 9:1-7). Egypt had many gods fashioned as bulls or cattle; Apis, Ptah, Hathor, Mnevis…
6. The plague of boils affected only the Egyptians. (Exodus 9:8-12). Sekhmet was the goddess of epidemics, and Serapis was their god of healing. The latter god was in the form of a serpent. Look at the insignia of medical institutions today and behold the serpent! Yet, Egypt’s magicians were unable to appear before Pharaoh because of this plague.
7. The plague of hail mingled with fire followed. (Exodus 9:13-35). Egypt had a sky-goddess that was appropriately named Nut. Isis and Seth were the deities of Egypt to protect the crops. Shu was the god of the atmosphere. (His name was mentioned quite frequently during the 4th plague).
8. Then it was time for the locusts to make an appearance. (Exodus 10:1-20). Serapia was the protector of Egypt from locusts! Recall that Isis and Seth served as protector of crops. The crop loss in Egypt was 100%.
9. Then came three days of darkness. (Exodus 10:21-29). The sun-gods of Egypt were myriad; Ra, Atum, Horus, Amon-ra, et al. There was no light in Egypt for three days. Egypt even had a god of the sunset, Tem. But, there was no sunrise neither sunset for three days. There was light in Goshen.
10. The final plague was the death of the first-born. (Exodus 12:29-36). Pharaoh was considered a god and his first-born died. Heqt or Hekt was the goddess of birth, and Meskhenet presided at childbirth. Selket or Serqa was Egypt’s guardian of life.

Jehovah God went “against all the gods of Egypt” and won hands down!

Jess Whitlock

Where Millions Miss the Way

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Chart - Where Millions Miss the Way

Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death

“Give me liberty or give me death” is attributed to Patrick Henry in a speech he gave as he addressed the Virginia Convention in 1775. At this time of year we think on these types of things which helped form our nation and helped our forefathers decide to join together to fight against the tyranny directed toward this land by Great Britain. 

This same sentiment was also employed by our founding fathers as they forged together a document declaring our independence and used the phrase: Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

Unfortunately, many only think about liberty or the freedoms we enjoy around the first part of the month of July or Memorial Day or some other day set aside for such thoughts and celebrations.    

Sadly, many fail to realize that a different liberty is attainable and is a premise well known by students of the Bible.  The Word of God of the New Testament is called the “Perfect Law of Liberty” by James as directed by the Spirit in James 1:25.   In Galatians 5:1 we see that having escaped the bondage of sin in obedience to the gospel, we are to stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free. He has made us free from sin through His blood which we contacted in the watery grave of baptism. 

It is also important to understand that in order to be blessed of God, we must continue in that “perfect law of liberty”.  It is understood as James 1:23-25 tells us that we cannot just hear the word and forget it, but must also be a doer of the work. “For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:  For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.”

The blessing of which James wrote is to be realized not only in this life, but after this life as well. In John 12:48 we see what Jesus said would judge us.  “He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.”  

In James 2:12 we see that the words of James affirm what Jesus said.  “So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.”

If we do not apply the Law of Liberty and live by it, we will be as those described in Revelation 21:8 and will take part in the second death. “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.”

Dennis Strickland

Jesus' Testament

By means of a “last will and testament,” men indicate the desired disposition of their property at death. The title page of the latter section of our Bibles reads, “The New Testament of Jesus Christ.” While uninspired publishers supplied this title page, the inspired text refers to itself as the will or testament of the Lord:

For where a testament is, there must of necessity be the death of him that made it. For a testament is of force where there hath been death: for it doth never avail while he that made it liveth (Hebrews 9:16–17, ASV).

The immediate context (vv. 11–15) makes it clear that the will/testament of the Christ is in view in the quoted verses.

 Several parallels exist between the making and execution of human wills and the making and execution of Jesus’ last will and testament:

• While living, one may dispose of his property as he desires. However, when he dies, if he has a will, his estate will be dispersed only to those named in the will and according to its conditions, if any. Jesus gave many blessings, including forgiveness of sins, on various conditions during His earthly life, but since He died, His written will prevails.
•  A will takes effect only when its maker dies. This fact is no less true of the Divine will of Jesus than of human wills (Heb. 9:16–17). Jesus referred to the blood He shed on Calvary as “my blood of the new testament” (Matthew 26:28, KJV), signaling that it would go into effect at His death. This fact coincides with Paul’s statement that at Jesus’ death on the cross, he took the Old Testament “out of the way, nailing it to the cross” (Col. 2:14). It will be in effect as long as the world stands (Matthew 28:18–20).
• A person must be qualified to write a will. Human testators must have attained majority, be of sound mind, and not be influenced by coercion or by a mind-altering chemical substance. Jesus was qualified in every respect, possessing Divine wisdom and knowledge (John 12:49). He was not subject to coercion (John 10:17–18). None can invalidate His will. He declared, “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my word shall not pass away” (Matthew 24:35).
• A new will voids all previous wills. While living, one may replace or revise a will several times, but at death, only the last one he made has legal standing. God gave a testament/covenant through Moses to Israel fifteen centuries before Jesus was born. However, God made a new covenant/testament for all mankind through His Son. He “took away” the first one in His death (Hebrews 10:8–9). Thus Jesus “nailed to the cross” the first testament’s authority (Colossians 2: 14). One finds true religion only in the New Testament, not in the old (Hebrews 1:1–3). Only the last will of the Lord is in force.
• One must meet the conditions of the will to be an heir. One does not inherit merely on the basis of desire, feelings, or belief that he should, but upon meeting the will’s provisions (Matthew 7:21–23). Only God’s children are heirs (Romans 8:17) of the inheritance that is “incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away” (I Peter 1:4). These are named in the “book of life” that will be opened at the “reading” of Jesus’ will, otherwise known as The Judgment (John 12:48; Revelation 20:11–15).

 The principal aim of each one of us should be to so submit to the will of the Christ that He will inscribe—and keep—our names in the book of life as beneficiaries of His Testament.

Dub McClish

The 5 B’s of Baptism

There is much confusion about baptism. Many do not believe that a person must be baptized to be saved from his sons. Others say baptism is necessary for salvation. Some say sprinkling or pouring are acceptable forms of baptism. Others say only immersion in water is acceptable. There is only one way to settle the confusion about baptism. We must go to the New Testament, which is the law for all men today. What does the Bible tell us about baptism? Its teaching is clear on this subject. Let us notice the five “B’s” of Bible baptism.

First, baptism is a BURIAL. Notice the apostle Paul’s statement in Romans 6:3-4: “Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were into His death? Therefore we were buried with him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” Paul states clearly that baptism is a burial. To bury something is to cover it completely. Sprinkling or pouring will not substitute for the burial which baptism demands. In fact, the word “baptism” itself means “to immerse, dip, plunge.” Bible baptism is a burial.

Second, baptism is for BELIEVERS. Bible baptism is for those who can show they believe in Jesus, the Son of God. In Mark 16:16, Jesus said, “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.” No where in the New Testament will one find a person baptized who was not able to express his belief in Christ. In Acts 8:12 we read, “But when they believed Philip as preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized.” Notice that “both men and women” were baptized, not little children. Why? Because baptism is for believers, not babies. Babies are born innocent. They are not guilty of the sins of their parents, as some teach (Ezekiel 18:20). Jesus used little children as examples of humility, and said we must become like them to enter the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 18:1-5). Would Jesus use sinful children as examples of what we must become to be pleasing to God? Certainly not!

Third, baptism is BEFORE the forgiveness of sins. Jesus made this clear in His statement, “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.” Jesus said belief AND baptism bring salvation. He did not say belief brings salvation, and then one is baptized. One cannot be saved without baptism. In Acts 22:16, Saul of Tarsus, a man who believed in Christ, repented, and confessed Jesus as Lord, still had to be baptized to wash away his sins. There is not a single instance in the New Testament where anyone was said to be saved until he was baptized. Baptism comes BEFORE forgiveness.

Fourth, baptism is the BIRTH of the Christian. It is the beginning of the Christians’s life. In John 3:5, Jesus told a man named Nicodemus, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” To be born of water and the Spirit involves being baptized in water in obedience to the teaching of the Holy Spirit. How does the Spirit teach us? He does so through the Word of God. In the New Testament we learn of the importance of being baptized in water. So it is the Spirit who teaches us to be baptized as we read His Word. This is what the apostle Paul meant in I Corinthians 12:13. “For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body – whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free – and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.” Paul says all must be baptized into the body of Christ, which is the church (Ephesians 1:22-23). It is by the teaching of the Spirit through the Word that we learn of our need to do this. Then, we must “drink into one Spirit,” which means we are to continue to study the Word which the Holy Spirit has given – the New Testament. We must grow in our knowledge of God’s Word, and we must remain faithful in the one church (Revelation 2:10).

The final “B” is that Bible baptism is where the BLOOD of Christ is applied to cleanse us from our sins. Can a person be saved from his sins without the blood of Christ? No! But only in baptism is the blood applied from Heaven to take away our sins. The blood of Jesus was shed in His death. The soldier pierced the side of the slain Savior of the world, and “...immediately blood and water came out” (John 19:34). Then, in Romans 6:3-4, Paul speaks of being buried in the “likeness” of Christ’s death through baptism. The blood that was shed in Christ’s death is reached only in the likeness of His death – baptism. In Revelation 1:4-5, John says Jesus washed us from sins in His blood. When does that washing take place? It is the washing of baptism. Remember what Ananias said to Saul of Tarsus: “And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” When we look at Acts 22:16 and Revelation 1:4-5, we conclude that in baptism the blood of Jesus is applied to wash away our sins.

We should never forget the five “B’s of baptism. They remind us of what the Bible teaches about this very important subject. The Bible says baptism is a BURIAL. It is for BELIEVERS, those who can express their belief in Christ. It comes BEFORE forgiveness of sins. It is the BIRTH of the Christian, and it is where the precious BLOOD of Jesus is applied to wash away our sins. Have you received BIBLE baptism?