A Modern Parable

A certain man moved into our community.  He did not fall among robbers who beat him and left him dead.  He just moved in.

By chance, a certain Christian who was his neighbor was going down that way, and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side, saying to himself, “I’m almost late now for my appointment, so I can’t stop to visit.  Anyway, very likely someone has already invited him to attend the services of the church.”

In like manner, another Christian, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side saying, “Some people might go and invite this man to church, but I’ll just wait until the subject comes up, then I’ll say, ‘pardon me, I hope you don’t get the impression I’m a fanatic on religion, but if you get a chance, you might like to visit our services Sunday.  That is, if you feel like it…”

But a certain member, as he journeyed, came to him and courteously welcomed him to the community.  During the conversation he invited him to church services, told him how much he would enjoy the simply worship, and particularly emphasized how easy it would be for him to get acquainted if he came to Bible study.  He left by saying, “I’ll be by to pick you up next Sunday at 9:15.”

And he did, bringing him to the building and introducing him to the elders, the preacher and other friends.  Then he took the stranger to the proper class and told the teacher, “Take good care of him, and after I get out of my class, I’ll come and get him and sit by him during worship, and if I can render any further service, I’ll be glad to do it.”

Which of these three, thinkest thou, proved neighbor to him that had newly moved into the community?

Author Unknown

Gospel and Doctrine

For some the Gospel of the New Testament is completely different from the doctrine of the New Testament. Because of this supposed difference some have concluded such things as: fellowship is to be based on Gospel but not doctrine; the Gospel is for non-Christians and doctrine is for Christians; preachers are to preach the Gospel, and therefore a preacher cannot be hired by a congregation of the church for him to preach in that place regularly; a preacher is to preach the Gospel and “leave everyone else alone” by staying away from doctrines upon which men differ; withdrawing fellowship should not be done because of doctrinal differences, etc. We have all seen these ideas advocated and practiced. Because of the importance of understanding these terms, I want to briefly consider the legitimacy of this distinction.

Gospel

First, the facts and foundation of the Gospel is the death, burial and resurrection of Christ (I Corinthians 15:1-2). These facts must be believed in order for a person to be saved. Without believing that Jesus died for our sins, was buried, and rose again the third day, man will remain lost because he will die in his sins (John 8:24). But the Gospel is not just those facts. In describing the second coming of Christ (when He comes to judge all humanity), Paul indicated that those who “obey not the gospel” will be lost (II Thessalonians 1:9). The Gospel facts cannot be obeyed, but the commands of the Gospel must be obeyed. The commands to be obeyed in the Gospel are revealed in Romans 6:3-6, “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life…Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.” The process of a believer repenting of sins (Acts 17:30) and being baptized for the forgiveness of sins portrays the death and burial of Christ. When that person rises from the watery grave of baptism, the resurrection of Christ is portrayed in symbol. Rising to walk in newness of life indicates continued faithful obedience. The Gospel includes facts, but the Gospel is also something which must be obeyed by man in order to be saved!

Doctrine

Secondly, doctrine simply means teaching and is sometimes s translated. We read of the early Christians continuing steadfastly in the “apostles’ doctrine” (Acts 2:42). The apostles’ doctrine would be a reference to what the apostles taught. The apostles were given their message by the Holy Spirit (John 14:26; 16:13). During the first century that message (the apostles’ doctrine) was spoken orally; now the New Testament is that same message (the apostles’ doctrine) in written form (Ephesians 3:3-5). Christians today must continue in the apostles’ doctrine. We must teach what they taught. What they taught had to do with the obligations of Christians and non-Christians. The apostles’ doctrine is not just about the responsibilities of Christians in remaining faithful, but also about non-Christians and their obligations in order to be saved. The apostles’ doctrine is the entirety of the New Testament. The New Testament speaks of “sound doctrine” (Titus 2:1). Sound (healthy) doctrine is the New Testament without alterations of any kind.

Gospel and Doctrine

Thirdly, in the New Testament the Gospel is not only directed toward non-Christians and in the New Testament Doctrine is not exclusively for Christians. The Gospel is preached to Christians according to Romans 1:15-16; the Gospel in Mark 16:15-16 is to be taught to non-Christians. The Christian must obey the Gospel or be lost (II Thessalonians 1:8-9); so must non-Christians. In the New Testament Doctrine is directed toward Christians (Titus 1:9) and Doctrine is directed toward non-Christians (Acts 5:25; 13:12). The non-Christian will be lost without obeying the Doctrine (Romans 6:16-17); the Christian who rejects the Doctrine will also be lost (II John 9-11; Titus 1:9-11). Christians will be saved by the Doctrine (II Timothy 3:16-17). Clearly there is no difference in the New Testament between the Gospel of Christ and the Doctrine of Christ! No legitimate distinction can be made. Both terms refer to the same body of teaching. This same body of information is also called the Faith, the Truth, the Way, the Law of Christ, the Word.

 It Does Matter

There is only one Gospel that saves (Galatians 1:6-9; Romans 1:16); it is the same as the Doctrine of Christ (II John 9-11). Deviations from that Doctrine (the Gospel) break our fellowship with God. We must not fellowship those who are not in fellowship with God. It does matter what we teach and practice on doctrinal matters! The message of Jesus, the apostles’ doctrine, must be taught to others in its purity (II Timothy 2:2). We will all ultimately give an account to God of our lives based on the standard of the Gospel, the Word (John 12:48). The doctrine that we believe and practice must be the Doctrine of Christ, the Gospel of Christ!

Lester Kamp

Scripture Snaps - Ephesians 4:26

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IN ONE GENERATION

Joshua’s days were glorious ones. He was a minister to Moses, servant to God, captain of the host of Israel and conqueror of Canaan. The people were faithful during his time (Judges. 2:7).  Then there arose an unfaithful generation (Judges. 2:10).  Things can change very quickly.  If children are allowed to grow up without God's word, the same thing will occur in the Twentieth Century.   Apostasy can and does happen.  It happened to the church at Ephesus (Ephesians 2:1; Revelation 2:4) Also see Galatians 5.4 and I Timothy 5:12.  But in Judges 2 we find certain things which brought about apostasy.

From our text we see that the first step to apostasy was their SPIRITUAL ILLITERACY (vs. 10).  This ignorance of God's word has and will bring a great fall to many people.  It is said that the Bible is the best selling book of all time.  The American Bible Society sold 70 million Bibles last year.  I wonder just how many are read and studied.  Of course we know that there is no way to know God without the word, and one cannot please God without knowing Him (Hebrews 11:6; II Thessalonians 1:8).  Someone has said, and rightfully so, “We have never before gone to worship so often and studied so little.”  Spiritual illiteracy is rampant today.  The word must be studied so as to be “furnished unto every good work” (II Timothy 3:15-17).  If we are not really careful, we, too, will raise a generation which know not the Lord and His word.  Keep your Bibles open and we will not find the doors of heaven closed.

From Judges 2 we also find that apostasy came because they ABANDONED GOD.  They “forsook the God of their fathers” (vs. 12).  When we raise a generation of children without the word we have serious problems because they will abandon the God made known therein.  Safety is found when we stay near to God.  James 4:8 states that we are to “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.”  God never abandons us; it is our decision to move away from Him (Isaiah 59:1-2).  We can help save a generation by teaching and showing our allegiance to our Father in heaven.

The people went into apostasy also because they DEGENERATED INTO IDOLATRY (vs. 12-13).  Notice that they “followed other gods, of the gods of the people that were round about them” (vs. 12).  Sin is progressive.  It begins with thought and progresses into action.  As Israel began to fellowship the people around them, they began to act like those idolatrous nations.  We are warned against such (Romans 12:1-2; I Thessalonians 5:22; I Peter 2:11).  A generation can be saved if we will practice the age old principle of running from all evil circumstances (Proverbs 4:27; 14:16).

Apostasy brings about the anger of the Lord (vs. 14-15).  It happened to Israel when there arose a generation that knew not God.  We face the same problem today.  We must not raise a generation that rebels against God and His word.  It can be overcome with the disposition of Joshua when he said, “As for me and my house we will serve God” (Joshua 24:15).  Apostasy must be avoided because there is a heaven to gain and a hell to avoid.  May God be our guide as we raise our families.  If we will allow Him to rule in our lives, generations will be saved.

Author Unknown

DO WE REALLY CARE FOR OR LOVE THE LOST?

Often times we sing the song, “Does Jesus Care”.  This is a very comforting song and is often sung at funerals.  There is a joy that fills the heart, especially when we sing the chorus, “O yes, He cares, I know He cares, His heart is touched with my grief; when the days are weary, The long night dreary, I know my Saviour cares.”  How do we know he cares?  Well, the Bible tells us he does and how much.  Jesus cares for you and me so much until he was willing to die for us that we might live.  He has proven his love for us.  Jesus left all the beauties and glories of heaven and came to this sin-cursed earth in order to pay the ransom price for the sins of man.  (Philippians 2:5-8).  In Luke 19:10 we read, “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

 How much do we really care for the lost?  How much do we love them?  John said, “My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.”

1. How much do you love your own soul?  Do you talk righteously but do not act so?  Do you really want to go to heaven?  Do you quickly find an excuse for not serving the Lord or do you faithfully serve him?  Do you attend all the services of the church possible and work for the cause of Christ?  If not, why not?  If your soul is saved, it will be because you love God, His Son, the church, the Bible and your soul more than anyone or anything in this life.  Jesus said, “If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple...so likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.”  (Luke 14:26, 33)     I know some do not love their own soul for they will not attend worship or serve the Lord.  Some of you have been pleaded with time and time again, but continue to give some silly excuse for not faithfully serving God. 
2. Do you love the souls of your children and grandchildren?  You do not unless you are a faithful, dedicated example of Christianity.  Oh, you say, I provide for them well.  I give them a good house, car, boat, etc.  I cook, iron, etc. for them.  Yes, but that wasn't the question.  The question was, “Do you love the souls of your children and grandchildren?”  Parents have an obligation to bring up their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord and yet, many seem to think they are doing someone a favor when they bring their children to Bible classes and worship service once in a while.     Parents, how can you look your children in the face and say, “I love you.”, and then not be faithful in services and not work for the saving of lost souls.
3. How much do you love the soul of your husband or wife?  Do you set the best example for him or her?  Does your mate know that God comes first even before him or her?  Do you act un-Christian?  Do you curse, swear, get mad, fuss, drink, etc.?  Do you ever invite Christian friends into your home that your mate may get to know them and to appreciate them?  It seems that some couldn't care less if their mate is lost.  How much do you care?
4. How much do you love the lost in the community?  Do you say, “Yes, I want them to be saved and go to heaven,” but never do anything toward their salvation?  Do you believe the world is saying of the church today, “Those people really care about lost souls?”
5. How much do you love your unfaithful brethren?  Paul said, “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.”  (Galatians 6:1).  How many of the unfaithful have you contacted lately concerning their soul?  Have you even considered their unfaithfulness?  James said, “Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.”  (James 5:19, 20)

Remember, we are to love in deed and in truth.  Brethren, how much do we really love the lost?

Author Unknown

THE GLORIOUS CROSS

The centerpiece of God’s plan to redeem sinful mankind—yea, of history—is the cross of Jesus Christ. The Gospel is the “word of the cross” (I Corinthians 1:18). The cross is “the power and wisdom of God” (23–24). The cross is the great “peacemaker” between Jew and Gentile and between God and sinful men (Ephesians 2:16; Colossians 1:20). Christians should therefore glory in the cross (Galatians 6:14).

The cross significantly demonstrates so many extraordinary facts

• The awfulness of sin. Most people glorify and laugh at sin, but God and His Son did not and do not. Sin is so repugnant to Deity it took the horrors of the cross to save us from it. The Righteous One suffered on the cross for the sins of the unrighteous (I Peter 3:18). Without His shed blood there is no forgiveness (Hebrews 9:22b). Only by His sacrifice could He “put away sin” (v. 26b).
• The love of God and Christ for Mankind. God’s love caused Him to give His Son to save us (John 3:16). God demonstrated His love for sinners in the death of His Son (Romans 5:8). Christ expressed His love for us on the cross (II Corinthians 5:14). God so loved us that He sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins (I John 4:10). God’s love and the cross are inseparable (John 3:16).
• The price of redemption. Christ gave himself a ransom for all (I Timothy 2:6). He “purchased” the church with His blood (Acts 20:28). He “gave himself up” for the church (Ephesians 5:25; Titus 2:14). He redeemed us “with precious blood” (I Peter 1:18–19). He “gave himself for our sins, the he might deliver us out of this present evil world” (Galatians 1:4). There could be no redemption without the cross.
• The wickedness and cruelty of men. Isaiah foretold that Jesus would be “despised and rejected” (Isaiah 53:6–8). Judas betrayed Him for 30 coins. At Jesus’ first trial, Peter, one of his “inner circle,” denied three times he knew Him. The Jewish rulers so hated Jesus that they violated the law and ignored justice. A frenzied and irrational mob cried for His crucifixion. Pilate and Herod abused Him, and Pilate delivered Him to the cross, publicly admitting He was innocent. The cross revealed the depths of cruelty and wickedness to which sinful men can plunge as they slew their only Savior.
• The nobility of meekness. To the many taunts and wild charges, “he opened not his mouth” in self-defense (Isaiah 53:7; Matthew 27:14). Although His captors spat upon Him, struck Him, mocked Him, scourged Him, and finally nailed Him to the cross, He offered no resistance or defense. “When he was reviled, he reviled not again” (I Peter 2:23). He refused to call the angelic army, awaiting His orders, to rescue Him (Matthew 26:53). Truly, they did not take His life; He laid it down (John 10:18). Jesus on the cross is meekness perfected.
• Unqualified obedience to God. Jesus came to do His Father’s will (John 6:38). He went to the cross because God required it for our redemption—there was no other way (Mat. 26:39). Jesus’ obedience took Him to the cross—the ultimate demonstration of obedience (Philippians 2:8).

The first stanza of John Bowring’s poem says it well for every saint:

In the cross of Christ I glory,
Tow’ring o’er the wrecks of time;
All the light of sacred story
Gathers round its head sublime.

Dub McClish

More Bible!

“Why take my Bible to church? I never use it.” “My [preacher] doesn’t use the Bible; he just tells stories.” {We} speak of being “a people of the Book.” But is that only in name?   In a growing number of churches, the Word of God is not referred to as it used to be. In some churches hearing the Bible in any significant way is rare.   Even the best of churches would benefit from Scripture being heard more. In too many of our churches there is a famine for the Word of God, as well-meaning [preachers] attempt to substitute sermonettes and stories for dynamic Biblical preaching. The result is a growing hunger for the Bible. (“Putting the Word Back in Worship,” Ministry, July 2001).

What a sad commentary on the present condition of the church in many places today! Among those who used to be known as the “people of the Bible,” the Bible is only “rarely” heard “in any significant way.” What a shame! Do we not still recognize the power of God’s Word? Shouldn’t the assembly of God’s people be a place in which the Word of God is heard regularly?   Shouldn’t preachers of the Gospel preach the Word (II Timothy 4:2) as Paul instructed? If we expect our people to be edified and “grow... in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (II Peter 3:18), shouldn’t the Bible be referred to, quoted, read and preached? If it is the case where you attend that the Word of God is not heard very often, let’s commit ourselves to emphasizing again God’s Word in classes and in worship! Many reasons could be stated regarding the importance of this activity. Let’s notice only a few of them.

1. When the Word of God is neglected, we have denied ourselves of the power of God (Romans 1:16). The power to save is in God’s Word! Since the power to convert is in the Word, souls are being lost when “sermonettes and stories” describe the content of the messages in our worship. Souls will not be converted to Christ and His church if they hear only amusing stories and entertaining illustrations from the wisdom of men. Many of us need to wake up (Romans 13:11-12). It may be later than we think! Souls are dying without the saving Gospel of Christ. 
2. When the Word is not heard, many lose their spiritual appetite (Matthew 5:6), and the result is spiritual death from starvation (4:4).When a person is born into the kingdom, he naturally has the craving for the “sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby” (I Peter 2:2). When those individuals are not fed a proper diet of God’s Word, they become first become weak and then die. When they are fed other things they may think they are full, but what they have eaten provides no spiritual nourishment. New and older Christians need the Word of God that they might grow.
3. When the Word of God is not emphasized, then Christians cannot grow in their knowledge of our Lord (II Peter 3:18). Worship assemblies and Bible classes are not to be the only time Christians open their Bibles and study from God’s Word; but it is certainly the case that when we are together we should be able to gain more knowledge about our Savior. How can Christ and Him crucified be preached without preaching and teaching God’s Word? 
4. When the Word of God is not thoroughly taught, how can we be edified? Paul told the Ephesian elders, “And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified” (Acts 20:32). Is it any wonder that there are so many weak Christians when we see the famine of the Word of God (Amos 8:11) which exists in so many congregations today? The Word of God is that which is able to build up and encourage those who are Christians!
5. When the Word of God is not known, then Christians are unable to distinguish between error and Truth. When the Word of God is preached and taught, then those that hear are reproved and corrected by the authoritative Word of God (II Timothy 4:2). One reason that so many are being swept into error today is because they are not hearing and/or heeding God’s Word.    Many of these people do not know the difference between the Gospel and a perversion of the Gospel (Galatians 1:7), simply because they have not heard or studied the Word of God. It is indeed sad when one can be present during any worship service or Bible study period without hearing much, if any, from the Bible.
6. When the Word of God is not in mind, it is impossible for Christians to “continue steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine” (Acts 2:42).   What is the “apostles doctrine”? It is the message that these inspired men taught orally during the first century which was then through inspiration written down so that we might read and understand the Will of God (Ephesians 3:3-5). It is the “pattern of sound words” (II Timothy 1:13), and that pattern must be followed. But if we are not exposed to the pattern (we do not know what it is), then we are lost.

Many other reasons could be cited for placing a proper emphasis on God’s Word in our assemblies and otherwise, but these should suffice. We need more Bible – personally, privately and publically, collectively! Let’s restore the Bible to its proper place in our worship – in all of our assemblies!  Note: The quotation at the beginning of this article came from an unusual source. Ministry is a Seventh Day Adventist publication. The [ ] which appear in the quotation show where I have replaced the word “pastor” with the word “preacher,” and the { } show where I replaced the word “Adventists” by the word “we.” The article described so well what is taking place in so (too) many congregations of the church today that I borrowed these words. Other religious groups are apparently experiencing the same problems we are. It is sad indeed that many of our brethren don’t even recognize the problem. The author of the original article emphasized the public reading of Scripture, but I believe the problem can be solved only by more reading, preaching and teaching of God’s Word. We must do a better job!

Lester Kamp