Author: Stan Cox

Invitation delivered by: Joshua Jackson

Josh discusses the importance of grace in speech, pointing out that the use of Euphemisms (substitutes for profanity and blasphemy) are inappropriate for Christians.

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Luke’s gospel does not begin with the promise of Jesus’ birth, but that of John the Baptist.

Zacharias, a priest who ministered in the temple during the days of Herod the Great, was visited by an angel of God with the news that he and his wife would have John as their son.

Zacharias and Elizabeth (the cousin of Mary, Jesus’ mother, cf. vs. 36), had no child. Elizabeth was barren, and they were an elderly couple. Regardless, God made the promise to give them a son. Later, when Mary questioned the possibility of her, as a virgin, conceiving a child, Elizabeth’s pregnancy was given as a sign that, “with God nothing will be impossible” (cf. vs. 34-37).

John the Baptist was a great man who served as the forerunner of Jesus Christ. He was the object of prophecy (Isaiah 40:3; Malachi 4:5-6), and received the highest praise from Jesus Himself, “Assuredly, I say unto you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist” (Matthew 11:11).

John the Baptist’s promised birth was another thread in the tapestry of God’s great scheme of redemption.

“Paul, an apostle (not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead)” (Galatians 1:1).

Paul’s defense of himself as an apostle of the Lord revolved around one point — that he had obtained the authority for his apostleship from Jesus Christ. That fact alone made his claim to apostleship legitimate. Conversely, if his claim had originated from men’s authority, it would not have been legitimate.

The same is true for us. Regarding our faith and practices, both individually and collectively, the only question that matters is, “Is it from man, or through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead?” If it is from God, then no other justification is needed for what we do. If it is from man, then no matter the justification we put forward, it is unacceptable to God.

It is amazing that most of the religious world does not recognize this fundamental truth. To broach the subject among them brings cries of “intolerance” and “Phariseeism.” Even those who claim to accept the “Lordship” (authority) of Jesus Christ are uninterested in vetting their practices with Him. May we never exhibit the same willfulness. Think about it, brethren!

Medical science affirms what the Bible proclaims, that life is in the blood. God gave the animals as food for Noah and his family, but gave the admonition, “But you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood” (Genesis 9:4). This prohibition against eating blood was repeated under the Old Law, as the Israelites were warned, “Only be sure that you do not eat the blood, for the blood is the life; you may not eat the life with the meat” (Deuteronomy 12:23). In both prohibitions the reason for the limitation is given, life is in the blood.

Interestingly, this prohibition against eating blood is given further explanation in the Lord’s words to Moses, recorded in Leviticus 17:10-12, “And whatever man of the house of Israel, or of the strangers who dwell among you, who eats any blood, I will set My face against that person who eats blood, and will cut him off from among his people. For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul. Therefore I said to the children of Israel, ‘No one among you shall eat blood, nor shall any stranger who dwells among you eat blood.’”

Continue reading “Blood and Redemption” →

In the Apostle Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians, he discusses their repentance, following his previous letter of admonition. The Corinthians exhibited proper indignation (toward self), and by their actions were vindicated in the eyes of God and man.

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I recently was sent an article titled, “Do We Have A Catechism?”, written by Ken Green. The form the article took, and the comments following, indicate that brother Green had posted it to his Facebook page.

Though brother Green gave no specifics in the article, it was critical of the preaching and attitudes of Christians in the past. Notice the following two quotes:

We do not have catechism classes that insist on the rote learning of the proper responses to various questions about God, Christ, the Holy Spirit, the church, faith, baptism, worship, and other doctrines. But, by and large, our people have done quite well in memmorizing (sic) things they can recite on a moment’s notice, while, too often, having little understanding of the material and never really growing in the grace and knowledge of the Lord.

But there was a stretch of many years when at least a couple of generations grew up in our churches without hearing much about love, grace and forgiveness and how we’re supposed to treat each other, and it had some devastating effects.

Brother Green took issue with the call made for “distinctive preaching” and said that what was meant is that we should be “reciting the catechism.” It is becoming fairly common to hear a rather dismissive attitude towards the faith and practice of earlier generations of Christians. This is unfortunate.

Continue reading “In the News: Criticizing the Five Step Plan” →

In the last issue of the Electronic Gospel , Jeff Smith wrote about the practice of most Christian denominations to celebrate religiously the birth of Jesus on December 25th. The date is actually an example of the Catholic church appropriating a pagan celebration (the winter solstice celebration of the sun god). Jeff commented:

“It probably seemed logical to keep the holiday and dedicate it to the son of God instead, but a number of assumptions are necessary to add Christmas to a sparse biblical calendar.”

I like the phrase “sparse biblical calendar.” Jeff later pointed out, “The danger, then, is in going beyond what the New Testament does say, but also in minimizing the significance of the one ritual that really is on the church’s calendar. The first day of the week, without regard to season…”

God determined that we come together on Sunday to worship him. One Sunday is no more important than another, but they all are extremely important. It is on that day we celebrate the Lord, with a memorial feast commemorating his death. We do this because it is God’s will. The only authority for the elevation of some days above others, and the observance of Christmas day as the birthday of Jesus in particular, is the tradition of man. This is simply not sufficient (cf. Matthew 7:21-23).

John 12, in the account of Jesus’ triumphal entry into the city of Jerusalem before his death, intimates the true nature of the Glorification of the Son of God.

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Malachi 3:13-14 reveals a time in Israel where men spoke “harsh words” against God. Such showed an inappropriate attitude of men toward God, that unfortunately is seen in our time as well.

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I recently came across an internet article listing the 5 most hated YouTube videos in internet history. This list was based upon the number of “thumbs down” designations given. Fifth on the list is the music video, “Baby”, by teen pop singer Justin Bieber. First on the list is a young lady who videotaped her opinion that the earthquake and resultant tsunami that devastated Japan was an answer to prayer, that God might convince the atheist of His existence. Interestingly, the girl later admitted that her video is a hoax, deliberately outrageous with the intent of provoking the ire of viewers.

Continue reading “The Intolerance of Toleration” →

Invitation delivered by: Jeremiah Cox

Jeremiah uses the example of Paul, who was sincere even when persecuting Christians, to establish the truth that sincerity is serving God is insufficient. We must also be living in accord with His will.

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The lesson text is from 1 Corinthians 1:18-ff. A proper explanation of the concept of God’s “weakness” and “foolishness” is given, with proper applications.

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By looking at the conversions contained in the 8th chapter of the book of Acts, it is possible to correct several commonly held false doctrines.

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Invitation delivered by: Stan Cox

Stan uses the text of Philippians 4:10-ff, to establish the truthfulness of the adage, it is better to give than receive. Paul was blessed by the gift given by the Philippians, but the church received the greater blessing.

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John 17 and other passages are used to establish that unity can be obtained only as disciples submit to the authority of Jesus Christ in doctrine and conduct.

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