Category: Subject Index

The gospel of Christ is God’s power of salvation (cf. Romans 1:16). When it is preached, it convicts the hearts of those who are honest and sincere. In the preaching, the message is what is important, not the messenger. That is not to say that God will not hold accountable those who preach, but are hypocrites. He will. That is not to say that when a messenger is personally unworthy of the message that it may not have a negative impact. I very well may.

However, whenever the gospel is preached it is a good thing! No matter if the motivation is impure or pure, no matter if the messenger is unworthy or worthy. Paul understood this, and rejoiced, though the preaching of the gospel may have impacted his own comfort and safety. Preaching the gospel will not save the preacher if his heart is not right, but it certainly has the ability to save the one who hears it. Praise God for His word!
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Paul wrote, “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God” (Colossians 3:1). The phrase “if then” refers back to his statement in the previous chapter, “buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead” (2:12).

Those who have been baptized have been raised with Christ. The blessings given by God at baptism (the “remission of sins” cf. Acts 2:38), require a response on the part of those who are born again to this new life. We are to “seek those things which are above.”

The idea that man has no part to play in his own redemption is very wrong. Paul wrote, “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?” (Romans 6:1-2). He also admonished the Philippians to “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure” (2:12-13).

Have you been raised to a new life? Then you need to ask yourself whether you are doing “His good pleasure” or your own. You are now a child of God, and it is your responsibility to “seek those things which are above.”

In 2 Thessalonians, Paul wrote, “Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle” (2:15). The word “traditions” here refer to practices established by inspiration. They come from God.

In Matthew 15:9, Jesus quoted the prophet Isaiah, saying, “And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.” Here Jesus refers to practices established by men rather than God.

Some are not interested in keeping traditions with regard to religious service. In fact, some go so far as to criticize the “traditional”, while establishing their own, man-made practices instead.

We freely admit to cherishing and holding fast to our traditions. Our traditions are 2,000 years old. They originate in the mind of God, not men. They are worth embracing!

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In John 4:24 Jesus said, “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” The context reveals that the only acceptable worship is that offered in accord with God’s will. That is why Jesus endorsed the worship of the Jews (in Jerusalem), rather than the worship of the Samaritans.

The text also indicates that under the dispensation of Christ, the location of worship is of no consequence. The idea that God is limited to a particular place (Jerusalem, a mountain) is debunked by Jesus. This is because God is Spirit.

This truth requires that acceptable worship be offered in “spirit.” The worshipper must be engaged – it is an act of adoration to God, which comes from a sincere, reverent, and fully committed heart.

The worship of Israel was condemned by God during the time of Amos. They said, “When will the New Moon be past, that we may sell grain? And the Sabbath, that we may trade wheat?” (8:5). They weren’t interested in worship, they were only going through the motions. Though the form of worship was in accord with God’s will, the proper spirit was not present.

We are right in demanding that worship to God follow the form revealed and regulated by His will. We must be equally adamant that those who worship Him be fully engaged, with devotion and love for their God.

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God imposed upon Israel a peculiar famine in His judgment against them. They would not have access to “hearing the words of the Lord” (Amos 8:11). Today, some voluntarily refrain from the nourishment God’s word supplies.

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As 2016 nears, it is time to examine our Christian walk, determine areas that need improvement, and resolve to better serve the Lord in the future.

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Invitation delivered by: Stan Cox

The Apostle Paul and other eyewitnesses of the resurrected Jesus have absolutely no doubt that He is the Christ!

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What is your attitude toward sin? The world in general are dismissive of the entire concept. A few years ago there were expressions of derision when our President referred to terrorists at “evildoers.” It seems that the idea of inherent evil is not too popular in our day. However, God used the term. In fact, the term is found 17 times in the text of the New King James translation. One example of this is in Isaiah 31:2, where the prophet promised, “Yet He [God] also is wise and will bring disaster, and will not call back His words, but will arise against the house of evildoers, and against the help of those who work iniquity.” It seems that God not only identified some as “evildoers”, but also proclaimed His strong opposition to their works.

Continue reading “Looking at sin through God’s eyes” →

This life will end some future day,
Another life will then begin;
Are you prepared for that event,
Just after death, — What then?

Just after death, — O! Answer me,
Where will you spend eternity?
When time on earth shall cease to be,
Just after death, — What then?

E.M. Bartlett (1928)

The writer of Hebrews informs us, “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation” (Hebrews 9:27-28).

While many are unsure of what will happen at death, the Christian is confident in his hope! As Paul wrote to the Thessalonians, “But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation” (1 Thessalonians 5:8).

Where will you spend eternity? In the blessed presence of the God of heaven? Or eternally separated from Him, in torment? This life is preparatory. It is God’s intent that you live so as to secure a more permanent and exceeding glory!

This lesson explains how Christians, called “sons of the Day” by Paul in 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 are to prepare for the Lord’s second coming.

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Our faith in Christ should inform and impact every facet of our lives. If it does, we will walk in a manner worthy of our calling.

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Every TV episode and Movie begins the same way, with a recorded message containing the words: “Your mission, should you choose to accept it…”

I remember as a kid loving the Mission: Impossible television program. It had a group of “cool” spies who were able to accomplish the “impossible” because of their intelligence, bravery and gadgets. Each mission consisted of various stated objectives, authorized by some shadowy governmental agency. They were not freelancers, they followed the directives of the agency. Because of their abilities and position, they were give a job to do, and they did it.

The show came to mind recently as I involved myself in a study of the “mission” given by God to His church. The parallels are obvious, and illustrate the nature of God’s relationship to His people.

Continue reading “Mission: Possible!” →

Much is written about God’s attributes. We rejoice in His omnipotence and omniscience. It is because God is all powerful and all knowing that we have this wonderful universe in which to live. The complexity and wonder of the cosmos is beyond man’s comprehension, and we acknowledge that God is “higher” than us. “Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men” (1 Corinthians 1:25).

Another attribute of God that is worthy of our consideration is His immutability. James wrote, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning” (James 1:17). God does not change.

Change can be a good thing. We rejoice in the development of a child as they grow physically and socially. We consider maturation a good thing. Also, consider the need for man to change from a sinful life to one of righteousness. He must repent. Jesus said, “I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3).

However, God is perfect. He is mature, wise, righteous and good. He has established a relationship with man that allows us to depend upon that mercy, goodness and justness. The fact that God never changes allows us to rest in the assurance of His promises to the faithful. Because it is “impossible for God to lie” we have “strong consolation” (Hebrews 6:18). For this we are thankful.

A common question in science and common theme of science fiction is the potential of robots to become sufficiently complex to become conscious. That is, have self-awareness. In a sense, it would mean that they are alive, would have self-will, and (as happens often in Sci-Fi novels and shows) perhaps would rise up in revolt against mankind (cf. Terminator, among others). Like I said, science fiction.

There is a theory out there about how the brain works, called Quantum Brain Dynamics (it’s a real theory). It states that our brains not only give us the ability to hear, see, taste, feel, etc., — our brains also use quantum mechanics to create consciousness in us.

Continue reading “In the News: Consciousness & God” →

“But if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth” (1 Timothy 3:15).

The church of the living God is a house. The word house does not refer to a structure, but a family. God is the Father (Ephesians 3:14). Jesus is the Son over that house (Hebrews 3:6). Christians too are children, by adoption (Romans 8:15-17), and as such heirs of eternal life.

As a family, we have many blessings. These blessings are based upon our relationship with God. Among these blessings are the relationships we have with one another as fellow heirs. There is a primary obligation we have to one another, which is spelled out by John:

“If someone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also” (1 John 4:20-21).

Do you love your brethren? You should. We are part of a wonderful family!

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