“Your Problem Is That You Are Just Unloving…”

Has anyone ever told you that? I have heard that a few times through the years, and things similar to it: “You are too negative,” “You need to be more concerned with the spirit of the law and less concerned with the letter of the law,” and more. Prior to finishing any article (this one included) I ask myself several questions about what I have written—Is it correct? Is it needed? Is it balanced? Are there two or more ways of seeing the issue considered? Have I proven my point clearly? Am I speaking the truth in love?

I love the Lord—first and foremost. I love my brothers and sisters in Christ. I love the lost—alien sinners and erring brethren. I love the liberals—they are lost, mistaken, misguided (sometimes), ignorant (sometimes), and even hypocritical, but I love them anyway. I hope to call to their attention the error of their way that they might repent before Jesus comes or they die; for, lacking such repentance, He will spew them out of His Mouth. Every line of this article, like them all, is written with love.

Is it unloving to point out the error of one’s way to him? Jesus did it. Paul did it. Peter did it. In fact, if you took out every book of the Bible that says something to us about the importance of living right and not living wrong, what would you have left? Not much. While it might be unpleasant to read of your sin, please stop accusing me (and others) of being unloving because we earnestly contend for the faith. If we did not love, we would not try to correct.

If what you read on these pages is wrong, prove it, and let me know; I do not wish to go to hell for teaching false doctrine. If what you read on these pages is right and proves that you are doing something that is wrong, repent—for judgment surely comes. If you are proven wrong and you still refuse to repent then you are the unloving one for Jesus said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”

I remember an old saying about throwing a rock into a pack of dogs—which one barks first? Make sure that what you are doing is proper—it would be a shame to come so close to the truth only to miss heaven because of liberalism in whatever form. I do love Jesus. I do love you and long for your salvation. That is why I try to reach you with the truth.

Tim Smith

"That Ye May Know"

These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God (I John 5:13). Confidence (John 5:14) and assurance (I John 3:19) are products of the above verse. They are the birthright of the faithful (Hebrews 12:14–16). Radiating from confidence and assurance is hope. It means:…favorable and confident expectation. It has to do with the unseen future, Romans 8:24,25. Hope (a) the happy anticipation of good (the most frequent significance) e.g., Titus 1:2; I Peter 1:21; (b) the ground upon which hope is based, Acts 16:19; Colossians 1:27, “Christ in you the hope of glory;” (c) the object upon which the hope is fixed, e.g., I Timothy 1:1 (W.E. Vine, An Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, p. 232).

We may conclude that, if one cannot know his salvation, it is then impossible to have confidence, assurance, and thereby hope. Without these we are no better off than the alien sinner (Ephesians 2:12).

How sad when men are so self–willed, contentious, and hard–hearted that they will deny the simple and plain teaching of I John 5:13. Assuredly it is pride and willful ignorance gone to seed! But, as if denying these spiritual blessings were not enough, some must publicly teach contrary to I John 5:13. Lamentably, they must be marked for the false teachers they are (II Thessalonians 3:14–16).

We understand better why some are always troubled, perplexed, and distraught. They are sure of nothing and trust not the promises of Christ. Such is nothing less than refusing to take Christ at His Word. It is disbelief! Assuredly, the “eternal life” of I John 5:13 for the earthly pilgrim is in promise. It is yet to be and it is conditional (Revelation 2:10), but we have no more evidence what will be than we do of that which has been. It all rests on the truthfulness of Christ’s Word. We know our alien sins are forgiven by the same evidence that gives us knowledge pertaining to our eternal inheritance (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; I Peter 3:21; I John 1:7; 2:3–5, 29; 3:19–21; 5:11–14; II Timothy 1:12; I Corinthians 15:58). How then is it possible to know the one and not the other? We might as well declare that one cannot know he is lost as to teach that one cannot know he is saved! The evidence for knowing either one comes from the same divine standard—the Bible (II Timothy 3:16–17; II Peter 1:3–11). To all the doubters, we say with James and Peter:

“Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.… Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator” (James 1:21; I Peter 4:19).

With these sentiments in mind, we can, with confidence, sing:

I know that my Redeemer lives, and ever prays for me;

I know eternal life He gives, From sin and sorrow free.

I know that unto sinful men His saving grace is nigh;

I know that he will come again to take me home on high.

Any Christian (?) singing the preceding song, and at the same time declaring that we cannot know we are saved, is not aware of his inconsistency, is hypocritical or mentally unstable. In any case, the Lord’s Word has little or no effect on his thinking.

A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject; Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself (Titus 3:10–11).

David P. Brown

Principles of Scriptural Giving

We are not giving what is ours. We do not give to God a portion of what belongs to us. Instead, we are giving back to Him part of what is His. Our decision is not how much to give, but how much of God’s blessings we can afford to keep (Romans 14:8; Haggai 2:8).

Giving is to be according to our prosperity. The more we have, the more we are to give. We are to give as we have been prospered (I Corinthians 16:2). What we have is only temporary. We do not own what we have. God’s bounty is only ours to use for a short time. Our possessions are part of our gifts from God. We will give account to Him of the way we have used them (I Timothy 6:17-19).

Giving is a spiritual matter. Paul speaks of our giving to God as a service (II Corinthians 8:4). It is an evidence of our sincerity and is a proof of our love (II Corinthians 8:8, 24).

Our generosity will be rewarded. Although reward can never be a proper motive for giving, we have God’s promise that He will not forget us and will reward us for our liberality. Read Proverbs 11:24; Matthew 25:29; Malachi 3:8-10.

Giving begins in the heart. The tabernacle was built in the wilderness with gifts that were given from hearts that were stirred to sacrifice for God (Exodus 25:1). Our purpose must begin in our heart, and must be translated to action (II Corinthians 9:6-7).

The Lord knows our gifts. We can hide from men, even the IRS. Yet, we cannot hide from God. He knows our hearts. He sees our motives. He observes how much we give. Our giving is one way to serve Him who is the Source of all things. Let us understand that giving is serious business. It affects our relationship with God. It affects where we will spend eternity.                                  

Author Unknown

Hold to God's Unchanging Hand

The Bible is under attack, but, then, it always has been by those enslaved to Satan, The world has consistently hated the restraints God’s law places on them. They delude themselves with the empty hope that their eternal destiny is not hell although the Bible says it is.

Denominational people do not consider themselves as being part of the world, but they are. They make no effort to believe or practice what the Bible teaches. In fact, they readily ignore, twist, pervert, or explain away any part of God’s Word that does not conform to their humanly-devised theories. Then, in arrogance and pride, they claim such rebellion is pleasing to God! In what way are they different from the rest of the world?

Only one group of people has the approval of God—those who submit to His will in humble, faithful obedience (Matthew 7:21-23). Obeying God’s will involves, among other things, complying with the conditions of salvation and being added by the Lord to His church (Acts 2:38; Colossians 2:12-13; I Corinthians 12:13).

It is not, never has been, and never will be, the place of man to sit in judgment on the law of the all-wise God (James 4:11-12). Mere men have never been given the power to add to or take away from God’s Word in even the most minute way (Deuteronomy 4:2; Galatians 1:6-9; Revelation 22:18-19). On the contrary, men are repeatedly warned of the severe consequences they can expect if they do.

Even in the church of Christ a certain element (who are more worldly than like their Savior) is continually assaulting some portion of God’s will. God’s people have always done this. Israel was warned about it repeatedly, yet she was in rebellion far more than she was faithful.

This has also been a problem in the body of Christ. Apostasy is condemned in the strongest terms (Matthew 7:15; Acts 20:29-30; I Timothy 4:1-3; II Timothy 3:1-5; 4:3; Revelation 22:18-19). Still, for whatever cause, some brethren refuse to speak where the Bible speaks and be silent where it is silent (I Peter 4:11). They do not believe in the verbal inspiration, inerrancy, or the authority of God’s Word, and they are working diligently to destroy your faith.

We do not have to let their worldly wisdom undermine our faith in God’s Word. They may have advanced degrees, but remember: their training was not in the Bible; it was in theology—what infidels to pure Christianity think about God and His religion. This is a classic example of misguided men, who love the sectarian world more than Christ and His will, trying to change pure Christianity into another man-made sect. To believe them is spiritual suicide (Galatians 1:6-9).

Al Brown

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

Evil Companions

“Evil communications [companions] corrupt good manners [morals]” (I Corinthians 15:33). The choice of personal associates is very important. To go wrong here could cause one to lose his soul. There is an old proverb that says, “There were two dry logs and one green log, but the dry logs burned up the green one.”  Our associates could destroy us. We all need congenial society. The kind of people with whom we associate is a sure sign of our character.  We are the result of our choices. One may be ever so sound in the Faith, but if he frequents the company of corrupt men he will soon become as they are. We should be careful of our company because of what we are. Evil companions will not tolerate us unless we adapt to their so-called “lifestyle.”   Our dedication to Christ should be so complete that we will shun evil companions. Half-hearted men lead only half a life. The only way to keep character up is to live up to the highest standard at all times —Jesus Christ. Paul said, “Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them” (Ephesians 5:11).

G. K. Wallace

Lord, To Remember Thee

The greatest privilege to me,

O, Lord, is to remember Thee

I don’t as often as I should,

And that’s why I’m not always good. 

O, Lord, I would remember thee,

Because of Thy great love for me.

I do not know Thee personally,

But I do love Thee intimately.

Lord, Thy memorials are Divine,

They make me glad that I am Thine.

The emblems of the Cup and the Bread,

Remind me You died in my stead. 

O, Lord, help me to do what’s right,

So when this faith shall end in sight,

That I’ll live on that Golden Shore,

Where Christian’s shall forget no more. 

O. D. Wilson – Deceased