4/13/18

"I'm Already a Christian!" by Trevor Bowen





http://insearchoftruth.org/articles/already_christian.html

"I'm Already a Christian!"

"But, I am already a Christian!" "Why should I study the Bible with you?" Although sometimes couched in defensive language, maybe uttered in disbelief, wonder, and even resentment, these words highlight a barrier to study among Christians, who may be members of differing denominations.
We may ask, "How important is unity to you as a Christian?" "How important should it be?" "Why should we even try to resolve these differences?" In short, the motivation for study between Christians of differing denominational backgrounds is two-fold: Unity and Salvation. Before we begin to examine these answers in some detail, let us consider the concept that generates these question.

"One Denomination is as Good as Another"

Christians occasionally become upset during Bible studies and discussions with other Christians from differing backgrounds. Why? Is it because we think we already know everything? I doubt it. Are we skeptical of the possibility of learning from another Christian? Probably not. Generally, people are freely open minded, as long as they feel they are under no obligation to accept what is being discussed. However, as soon as someone suggests that these differences matter, people often become unglued. Why? Many believe that "one denomination is as good as another"; therefore, any difference in judgment arising out of our differing denominational backgrounds is of no consequence to such a worldview. Consequently, if we adopt this belief, we have relegated denominations and all their variegated colors to the realm of opinion, or preference.
When it comes to opinions, one person's opinion is generally as good as another, especially in matters where no human is an authority. Those who press their opinions are often judged to be arrogant and oppressive. Therefore, it is no surprise that people who believe denominations to reside in the matter of opinion and preference, should be frustrated by those who believe that it is not a matter of personal taste.
In this article, we want to next examine the questions: Is the basis of choosing a church limited to a matter of our personal opinion? Who said that one denomination is as good as another? This may be a popular view and sentiment, but can this be supported by the Bible? What does the Bible say about denominations in general?

Unity

What is a "Denomination"?

The word "denomination" is a generic word, which can be applied to any group that has been classified and distinguished from other groups. Therefore, all the constituents of any given denomination have at least one common feature, which distinguishes them from members of other groups. For example, we sometimes use this word in relationship to money. In fact, cash can be grouped into "denominations" of bills, such as $5, $10, and $20. Unfortunately, Christians can also be grouped into denominations. Depending on the context, this religious application is quickly becoming accepted as the primary connotation for the word.
To name the denomination is to point out its distinction. By definition, if it can be named, then it can be categorized; therefore, it is separable on some level from the other groups. Consequently the word "denomination" is synonymous with division. Therefore, the very existence of Christian denominations manifests the lack of unity, which exists among those who would call themselves after Jesus Christ.

The Need For Unity

Sadly, many Christians have come to accept the current denominational structure. In doing so, we accept a tragic weakening of the church's influence upon the world. Jesus spoke of the tremendous need for unity in His prayer:
"I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me." (John 17:20-21)
How important do you consider it to spread the gospel and reach the spiritually lost and dying of this world? It was of paramount significance to Jesus, because that was the single most salient reason He came into this world ("to seek and to save that which was lost" - Luke 19:1-10; 15:1-32). However, when Christians exhibit a divided body, it indicates to the world that either Jesus is incapable of unifying people, or His people do not care that much about what He taught. Both are discouraging to the unbeliever, providing them great opportunity to blaspheme and to excuse their wickedness (II Peter 2:1-2; (II Samuel 12:9-14). Why should the alien sinner try to pick up the Bible, read it, and hope to understand it; if Christians already familiar with the Bible, cannot understand it alike? What hope does the outsider have of even beginning to understand it?
Is this good reasoning? No. Does it excuse them? No. But, do you really want to be the excuse that someone uses for not becoming a Christian?
Then He said to the disciples, "It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come! It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones. (Luke 17:1-2)
Would you not rather be a positive influence for convincing people of Jesus' true identity? Jesus said that unity is one of the most powerful, persuasive tools at our disposable. If He prayed for such a unity out of His love for the lost, is that not reason enough for His disciples to seek unity?
If Jesus' prayer and mission for reaching the lost is essential to us, let us leave our denominational backgrounds and seek a united church, built upon the only foundation that is capable of supporting such a goal - Jesus and His Word (II Timothy 3:16-17). How can we cling to denominations that are ultimately more interested in securing their own unique identity at the expense of reaching the lost?

Salvation

In addition to capitalizing on unity's potential success in evangelism, we must also consider the benefit to our own soul, if not that of our fellow Christian. How do we know that our choice to join a particular denomination will not have eternal consequences? Joining the "church of your choice" may be a favored expression among men, but can we find that recommendation written in Scripture? What feelings has God expressed regarding this denominational division?

The Command to Avoid Division

Although extending our evangelistic influence is a powerful positive motivation, God provides additional motivation by directly commanding us not to divide.
Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe's household, that there are contentions among you. Now I say this, that each of you says, "I am of Paul," or "I am of Apollos," or "I am of Cephas," or "I am of Christ." Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? (I Corinthians 1:10-13)
Do you know any denominations that are guilty of this very sin, even today? Do you know any churches that are named after men? How about a doctrine? Is it any better if a church sports the name of a peculiar teaching? Obviously not. What name should all churches and disciples of Jesus wear?
Admittedly, some will attack Paul's pleading as a sign of weakness ("Now I plead with you, brethren ..."); however, please note that the pleading is performed in accordance with the "name of our Lord Jesus Christ". This is not Paul's personal preference or opinion; rather, this statement reflects the will of our Lord, delivered by His authority. How will the Lord receive people who reject His will?
" Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'" (Matthew 7:21-23)
The Lord has clearly warned those who disobey His will by causing divisions. Furthermore, we should not take comfort in the fact that we did not originate the division associated with a particular denomination. If we adhere to a denomination, then we are lending our support and approving its continued existence. (Please recall that condoning sin produces guilt equivalent to committing the condoned sin - Romans 1:32). Moreover, we are discouraging those who are trying to follow the Lord's will regarding unity. Furthermore, we are following the divisive teachings and influence, which will have the following consequences:
And He spoke a parable to them: "Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into the ditch? A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher. (Luke 6:39-40)
Notice that both the divisive false teacher and his followers will "fall into the ditch". Does this refer to their error or the consequences of their error? Jesus observed that they were already blind, so falling into the ditch must refer to some consequence of their error. Also, please notice that there is no hope for the disciple to obtain a higher reward than that of his teacher. Therefore, if we follow a false teacher, who will be condemned for his divisive ways, then we cannot hope to obtain salvation, since our teacher will himself be lost (Titus 3:10-11). Consequently, if we follow denominations lead by divisive men and built on divisive doctrines not taught in the Bible, how can we expect to receive a reward better than those who started such denominations? If we desire to break this chain, then we must go back to the source. We must truly follow the Teacher, who obtained a higher reward (Psalm 119:97-102; John 6:45-48; Matthew 19:16-17; Hebrews 1:1-4).
Even if you consider yourself to be firmly grounded in the Lord's will, judging contrary believers to be ignorant or divisive, would you not consider studying for your erring brother's sake? If you were in his position, would you want someone to show you the truth? If you fail to study with him, the damage he may ignorantly cause both to himself and others will go unchecked, and you will bear partial responsibility, because you might could have stopped it (James 5:19-20; James 2:17; Matthew 25:31-46; Ezekiel 3:17-21; I John 3:14-18).

The Love of Truth

Most people, especially those who have been studying the Bible for a considerable time, will esteem themselves to be right until proved otherwise. It is somewhat natural to build confidence in one's understanding compared to another's understanding. However, how can we be sure that we are right, especially if we do not test our beliefs?
As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend. (Proverbs 27:17)
Each study with a friend, even a disagreeable friend, provides opportunity to test and prove our own understanding. It sharpens our grasp of beliefs that our disputant supports, and it enlightens our understanding regarding points of disagreement. If we only study with people who already agree with our own understanding, how can we hope that someone will reveal our error to us, since they share our prejudices? In some measure, our accepting invitations to study the Bible with those who disagree with us is a measure of our love for truth, since we are willing and open to subject our own beliefs to inspection and debate. Such exercises are fruitful in defending against the prejudiced convictions condemned in the following passage:
The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. (II Thessalonians 2:9-12)

Conclusion

Studying the Bible with a fellow Christian of differing beliefs can be challenging, even unsettling. Such studies always run the risk of bumping us out of our individual comfort zone; however, they are necessary as a means to achieving unity in the Lord's body. How can we resolve our differences, if we do not discuss them? Since unity is critical to reaching a lost and dying world, then all Christians should be interested and focused on obtaining unity, even if it means questioning and examining long held and cherished beliefs. Furthermore, we should be personally interested in such discussions, because any part we play in supporting divisive denominations will open us up to the danger of eternal judgment. We will all need grace on that Last Day, but why would we knowingly and willingly make ourselves vulnerable to that eternal judgment, which attitude is condemned in and of itself (Romans 14:23)? Even if we are sure of our eternal fate, why would we not try to reach our erring brother, who himself may be lost and may overthrow the faith of others? Finally, if we are still reluctant to give a reason for our beliefs (I Peter 3:15), then we should examine ourselves and ask the question, "Why?" If we are persuaded that we understand the Bible correctly, then we have nothing to fear. If we are persuaded that we love the truth above all else, then we have nothing to fear. If in spite of these reasons, we somehow manage to avoid defending our peculiar faith, we should fear the eternal judgment of the unvoiced motivation that is lurking within the shadows of our hearts.
Trevor Bowen

"THE EPISTLE TO THE COLOSSIANS" Basics For Living In Christ (3:1-11) by Mark Copeland

                     "THE EPISTLE TO THE COLOSSIANS"

                  Basics For Living In Christ (3:1-11)

INTRODUCTION

1. In chapters 1-2, Paul has maintained that Christ is "all-sufficient"
   in matters of salvation and overcoming sin - cf. Col 2:10

2. Beginning now in chapter 3, Paul gives some basic and practical
   admonitions that pertain to living a life in Christ

3. When carried out, these "Basics For Living In Christ" will assure
   that we find in Christ everything we need for this life and the one 
   to come

[The first admonition is found in verses 1-4...]

I. SEEK THE HEAVENLY (1-4)

   A. SET YOUR MIND ON THINGS ABOVE (1-2)
      1. Why is this so important?
         a. It is essential if we desire to be "transformed" - Ro 12:2
         b. It is necessary if we want to be able to "live according to
            the Spirit" - Ro 8:5-6
      2. How do we "seek those things which are above"?
         a. By directing our minds' attention to such things mentioned
            in Php 4:8
         b. More specifically, by setting our attention on the Word of
            God, where we find:
            1) Christ foreshadowed and foretold in the Old Testament
            2) Christ's life and teachings in the Gospels
            3) Christ's church in the Book of Acts
            4) Christ's fuller teachings in the Epistles
            5) Christ's encouragement and ultimate victory in the Book
               of Revelation

   B. FURTHER REASONS TO SEEK THOSE THINGS ABOVE (3-4)
      1. We "died" (3)
         a. This occurs when one is baptized into Christ, which is a
            burial into His death in which we are "crucified with Him" 
            - Ro 6:3-6
         b. We "died" to sin , that we might be free from sin and now 
           live with Christ - Ro 6:7-13
      2. Thus, we were also "raised with Christ" (1)
         a. Which occurs when one comes forth from baptism - Col 2:12
            ("...in baptism, in which you were also raised with Him...")
         b. We were raised so that we might "walk in newness of life" 
            - Ro 6:4
      3. Our life is "hidden with Christ in God" (3)
         a. As Paul wrote to the Galatians:  "I have been crucified with
            Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me;
            and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith
            in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." 
            - Ga 2:20
         b. We have denied self, crucified self, so it is now Christ Who
            is to live in us!
      4. When Christ appears in glory, so will we! (4)
         a. The first three reasons for us to "seek the heavenly" were
            based upon what has happened in the PAST
         b. This motivation is predicated upon what is promised for the
            FUTURE!

[And what a wonderful promise that is!  But to obtain that promise 
requires not only that we set our "minds" on things proper, but that we
properly deal with our "bodies" as well.

To put it another way, from verses 5-9 we learn that we must also...]

II. SLAY THE EARTHLY (5-9)

   A. WE MUST "PUT TO DEATH" THE SENSUAL SINS (5-7)
      1. Those that appeal to the "lust of the flesh"
         a. Fornication
            1) Grk., porneia {por-ni'-ah}
            2) A general term for any illicit sexual intercourse;
               includes adultery, homosexuality, lesbianism, bestiality
         b. Uncleanness
            1) Grk., akatharsia {ak-ath-ar-see'-ah}
            2) Uncleanness in a moral sense: the impurity of lustful,
               luxurious, profligate living
         c. Passion (inordinate affection, KJV)
            1) Grk., pathos {path'-os}
            2) Used by the Greeks in either a good or bad sense; in the
               NT in a bad sense, it means depraved passion, vile
               passions
         d. Evil desire (evil concupiscence, KJV)
            1) Grk., epithumia {ep-ee-thoo-mee'-ah}
            2) Desire, craving, longing, desire for what is forbidden,
               lust
      2. Also that which appeals to the "lust of the eyes"
         a. Covetousness
            1) Grk., pleonexia {pleh-on-ex-ee'-ah}
            2) Greedy desire to have more, covetousness, avarice
         b. Described by Paul to be equivalent to idolatry!
            1) For covetousness puts things in the place of God
            2) We are to set our minds on things above (where God is),
               but when we covet material objects we have our minds on
               things below, making such objects our idols!
      3. Motivation for putting these things to death
         a. To avoid the coming wrath of God! - Col 3:6-7
         b. It's one thing to do these things when we "lived in them",
            but in Christ we have "died to them"!

   B. WE MUST ALSO "PUT OFF" THE SOCIAL SINS (8-9)
      1. Sins of the "emotions"
         a. Anger
            1) Grk., orge {or-gay'}
            2) Movement or agitation of the soul, impulse, desire, any
               violent emotion, but esp. anger
         b. Wrath
            1) Grk., thumos {thoo-mos'}
            2) Passion, angry, heat, anger forthwith boiling up and soon
               subsiding again
         c. Malice
            1) Grk., kakia {kak-ee'-ah}
            2) Malignity, malice, ill-will, desire to injure
      2. Sins of the "tongue"
         a. Blasphemy
            1) Grk., blasphemia {blas-fay-me'-ah}
            2) Slander, detraction, speech injurious, to another's good 
               name; impious and reproachful speech injurious to divine
               majesty
         b. Filthy language (filthy communication, KJV)
            1) Grk., aischrologia {ahee-skhrol-og-ee'-ah}
            2) Foul speaking, low and obscene speech
         c. Lying
            1) Grk., pseudomai {psyoo'-dom-ahee}
            2) To lie, to speak deliberate falsehoods; to deceive one by
               a lie, to lie to
      3. The reason for putting off all these things:  we must complete
         in PRACTICE what we started in PRINCIPLE - Col 3:9b
         a. When we were baptized, we "put off" the old man with his 
            deeds (in principle)
            - Col 2:11-12; 3:9
         b. In practice, it does not occur overnight, thus the need for
            such admonitions as: "But now you must also put off all
            these..." - Col 3:8

[Finally, and briefly, we notice in verses 10-11  an admonition by
Paul which will be expanded upon in the next section (12-17).  He
encourages us to...]

III. STRENGTHEN THE CHRISTLY (10-11)

   A. FOR WE HAVE PUT ON THE NEW MAN (10)
      1. In baptism into Christ, we "put on Christ" - Ga 3:27
      2. Thus, in PRINCIPLE we also put on "the new man" who is renewed
         "according to the image of Him who created him"
      3. What we have done in PRINCIPLE (Col 3:10), we will need to do
         in PRACTICE (cf. Col 3:12)

   B. FOR THE GOAL IS "CHRIST IS ALL AND IN ALL" (11)
      1. To be renewed according to the image of Christ! - cf. Ro 8:29
      2. To become like Christ, and in so doing, destroy the barriers
         that have long divided man!

CONCLUSION

1. This is what might be called "the whole duty of man" in New Testament
   terms:  to be renewed according to the image of Christ!

2. To accomplish this goal, we must heed the admonitions of Paul and...
   a. Seek The Heavenly
   b. Slay The Earthly
   c. Strengthen The Christly

3. We will examine more what is involved in "strengthening the Christly"
   in the next study (verses 12-17)

4. For now, did you notice that everything in this chapter assumes that
   one has been "raised with Christ" (cf. Col 3:1, "IF THEN you were
   raised with Christ...")?
   a. How are we raised with Christ?
   b. Paul has already described how, in Col 2:11-13, where we learn
      that it is in baptism that God will raise one who has faith in the
      working of God!
   c. Have you been baptized into Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of
      your sins (Ac 2:38), and to be able to walk in newness of life
      (Ro 6:3-5)...?

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2016

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Baptism for the Dead? by Dave Miller, Ph.D.


http://apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=11&article=439

Baptism for the Dead?

by  Dave Miller, Ph.D.

“Otherwise, what will they do who are baptized for the dead, if the dead do not rise at all? Why then are they baptized for the dead?”
The most notorious interpretation of 1 Corinthians 15:29 is the one advocated by Mormonism—that people who are alive on the Earth can be baptized, and the efficacy of that baptism then is offered to those who already have died and are in the spirit realm. But this verse cannot be teaching proxy baptism as practiced by the Mormons. Many other passages eliminate that possibility by stressing the singular necessity of responding obediently to God in this life (e.g., Proverbs 11:7; John 8:24; Luke 16:26; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Hebrews 9:27). The Mormon view is in direct contradiction to what the Bible teaches from beginning to end. We have only this life in which to make our decisions, and when we leave this life, we have no further opportunities to repent (Luke 16:25-31; Hebrews 9:27).
At least four adequate explanations exist that avoid contradicting the rest of the Bible. First, “dead” refers to the “old man of sin” (Romans 6:6). We are baptized for the dead in the sense that we are baptized in water to eliminate the dead man of sin. Hence Paul was asking why one would be baptized to eliminate the old man of sin in anticipation of eternal acceptance if the resurrection will not be forthcoming.
Second, “dead” refers to the world of lost souls—those who are spiritually dead. “They” refers to the apostles and “baptism” refers to the baptism of suffering that the apostles endured in order to make known the Gospel to the world (alluded to in passages like Mark 10:38-39, Luke 12:50, Acts 9:16, and 1 Corinthians 4:9). Thus Paul was asking why the apostles would subject themselves to the baptism of suffering, in behalf of the spiritually dead people of the world if, in fact, no one has hope of the resurrection.
Third, “they” refers to those who are baptized in water on the basis of the preaching and teaching done by those who had since died. In other words, why would a person obey the command to be baptized, and thereby have hope of life beyond the grave, if the one who taught the person to be baptized has since died and will not be raised from the dead?
Fourth, Paul was using the logical argument form known as argumentum ad hominem—an argument based upon what men were doing at that time and with which the readers would be familiar. The Corinthians were familiar with people who practiced an immersion for the benefit of the dead. He used the third person pronoun “they” as opposed to “you” or “we.” New Testament baptism would have been referred to in the first or second person. This tactic of referring to what outsiders were doing (without implying endorsement) to make a valid spiritual point was used by Paul on other occasions (e.g., Acts 17:28; Titus 1:12).
These four possible interpretations each have contextual evidence to support them. None of the four contradicts any other Bible doctrine. What is critically important is that we not miss Paul’s point in 1 Corinthians 15. He brought up the subject of baptism for the dead for one reason: to reaffirm the reality of the resurrection. Christians were being drawn into the destructive heresy that the general resurrection is fictitious. In a setting where he ardently defended the actuality and centricity of the resurrection, he advanced two questions. If the resurrection and end-time events are not to occur, then “why are they baptized for the dead?” and “why do the apostles stand in jeopardy every hour?” (vss. 29-30). He wanted the Corinthians to face the fact that many things Christians do have meaning only if resurrection is an anticipated and ultimate objective. If when we die, that’s it—no future conscious existence—why take risks living the Christian life as the apostles frequently did? If this life is all there is, forget Christianity and live it up (vs. 32)! But resurrection is coming! So do not live this life indulging the flesh and mingling with those who will influence you to do so (vs. 33). Live righteously, and get your mind straight in view of your knowledge of the coming resurrection (vs. 34).

Cats and Dogs Reigning at Communion by Eric Lyons, M.Min.


http://apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=11&article=477

Cats and Dogs Reigning at Communion

by  Eric Lyons, M.Min.

Animals can be a great addition to a person’s life. They can serve as an unpaid, ever-dependable, and quite invaluable work force as they help the farmer plow a rough field or the blind person cross a busy city street. They can provide joy and companionship for young and old alike. They can be a boon to mental health, especially for sick children and the infirm elderly. Surely none among us would doubt the many benefits that accrue as a result of the presence of animals in our midst.
Some religious groups within Christendom, however, have crossed the line in accommodating the love that people have for their pets. In an article that appeared in The Wall Street Journal on March 10, 2004, Elizabeth Bernstein documented how a growing number of denominations are beginning to include pets as participants in their worship. “Churches such as Manhattan’s Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine have long held annual services to bless everything from rabbits to elephants,” said Bernstein. “All Saints Episcopal Church in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., has doubled attendance at its Sunday evening service since it began last summer to invite pets once a month.” This past January, however, the St. Francis Episcopal Church in Stamford, Connecticut, went even farther to include animals in worship when it began a new monthly program called “Holy Communion for pets.” In this “service,” cats and dogs actually “receive the host” and have “a special benediction” performed for them.
Unbelievable! I have long believed that the services of various groups claiming to be New Testament Christians were more of a circus than a legitimate, Christian worship service. Now, what little doubt I (or others) may have had, has been completely removed. The “sacred” has indeed become a “circus.” Soon, little children will be bringing their pet frogs, mice, lizards, and snakes to “eat the bread and drink the cup.” Blasphemy! The sacred memorial feast has been demoted to a snack session for Tom and Jerry.
A first-century church once trivialized the Lord’s Supper and was sternly rebuked by the apostle Paul. He warned:
Whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body (1 Corinthians 11:27-29).
Jesus gave His life to save mankind, not animals. He saves the immortal souls of penitent sinners who have the capability to know Him and obey Him (cf. John 3:16; Acts 2:38; Hebrews 5:8-9). Animals have no souls (see Thompson and Estabrook), nor do they have the cognizance to know Who Jesus is. Why, then, have certain religious groups within Christendom deviated so far that they will now even offer animals the sacred communion instituted by our Lord the night before His crucifixion? Obviously, it is all about numbers. As Bernstein reported, they want to “attract people.” Instead of preaching the true Gospel of Christ, which has the power to change sinners into saints (Romans 1:16), they have chosen to manipulate God’s Word and His sacred service “to their own destruction” (cf. 2 Peter 3:16).

REFERENCES

Bernstein, Elizabeth (2004), “Houses of Worship Reach Out to a Flock of Pets,” The Wall Street Journal, [On-line], URL: http://www.dowjonesnews.com/sample/samplestory.asp?StoryID=2004031004010005&Take=1.
Thompson, Bert and Sam Estabrook (1999), “Do Animals Have Souls,” Reason & Revelation, 19:89-92, December.

Take Courage! by Ben Fronczek

http://granvillenychurchofchrist.org/?p=111

Take Courage!

The Lord Said, “Take Courage”
In Acts chapter 22, after being arrested in the Temple area on false charges, the Apostle Paul is given an opportunity to talk about how at one time he was just as zealous as these Jews were but how things changes when he met the Lord on the road to Damascus. He told how he was blinded by the light, how the Lord spoke to him and how he was directed to go into Damascus to wait for instructions. He told them how Ananias came to him, restored his sight and then told him that God had chosen him to see the Righteous One (the Messiah) and hear words from His mouth. Ananias told him that he was now to be a witness (or the Lord’s spokesman), and then instructed him to get up and be baptized to wash his sins away calling on His name.
He proceeded to tell the Jews that after he returned to Jerusalem he was rejected because of his message and so the Lord instructed him to leave Jerusalem and to go off and preach to the Gentiles. (Read Acts 22)
After Paul had told them this, the Jews in the Temple again went crazy shouting and screaming to get rid of him. The Romans proceeded to haul him off into the barracks.
The next day we have an interesting story in ch. 23 when is brought out before the Jewish Sanhedrin and they begin to interrogate him. In all honesty Paul knew he couldn’t reason with these men and so after noticing that some of them were Sadducees and some were Pharisees Paul says something that would take their attention off him. Read Acts 23:6-10 “6 Then Paul, knowing that some of them were Sadducees and the others Pharisees, called out in the Sanhedrin, “My brothers, I am a Pharisee, descended from Pharisees. I stand on trial because of the hope of the resurrection of the dead.” 7 When he said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. 8 (The Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, and that there are neither angels nor spirits, but the Pharisees believe all these things.)
9 There was a great uproar, and some of the teachers of the law who were Pharisees stood up and argued vigorously. “We find nothing wrong with this man,” they said. “What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?” 10 The dispute became so violent that the commander was afraid Paul would be torn to pieces by them. He ordered the troops to go down and take him away from them by force and bring him into the barracks.”
Can you imagine being in Paul’s shoes? Here he is in jailed, and it seem like the whole city hated him. And why? For doing what the Lord told Him to do. What would you be thinking if it was you sitting there in jail? What would be your attitude? Confused, hurt, disappointed, abandoned, depressed?
From here on out Paul was a prisoner. During this time he wrote several books of the Bible by inspiration of the Holy Spirit of God. We call them the ‘prison epistles’ because of this. We can get an idea of what was going through his mind by what he wrote in these letters while in prison.
Now in this lesson we don’t have enough time to look at all the positive encouraging things Paul wrote in these letters. The letters were not only filled with awesome instruction, they were also filled encouragement. Just by reading them it doesn’t take long to realize that Paul was not a broken man. Rather, he himself learned the secret of how to be joy-filled even during the most difficult times.
It was in one of these letters from prison he wrote, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” He wrote this to those in Philippi in chapter 4:4-7
As we read in our text this morning, he is in jail…Now this is before he wrote all those other encouraging. I wonder what was he thinking that night?
Paul was a great man, but he was still just a man. He had real feelings and got discouraged like the rest of us. I believe he needed to feel God’s presence. He needed to know he wasn’t all alone.
Did you ever feel like that?
And so God shows up in his cell…just when he needed Him the most. Read Acts 23:11 “The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.”
We see 2 things that happened in the jail cell that night and then something else the following day.
#1 The Lord stood by Paul #2. The Lord spoke to Paul #3. & Then the Lord protects Paul
Let’s look at these a little closer.
#1. The Lord stood by Paul
What a beautiful phrase! In the church, we like to talk about the importance of making a commitment to Jesus and then keeping it…but let’s not forget that when we make a commitment to Jesus, He makes a commitment to us!
In Hebrews 13:5b-6 the author writes “God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” 6 So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?”
a. We need to understand that Jesus knows what we go through..
Just a few years earlier Jesus was in the same city as Paul, before the same council as Paul was in this text. He was also being tried for things which were not a crime, but rather for doing God’s will besides other good things. He may have been in the same jail. Both were called a blasphemer, heretic, and troublemaker. Both were physically abuse.
Jesus knew what Paul was going through. He’d been there!
We have a Savior who knows and understands what we are going thru, because He has been there, and He’s here with us today knowing what it feels like to be lonely, and rejected He knows what it feels like to grieve, even disappointed and discouraged & abused. He knows what it feels like to go hungry and to want. He’s been there!
Here we read that the Lord stood by Paul as the sympathizing Christ…
In: Philip. 4, Paul wrote, “The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Do you believe this? I hope that you do because it will make the difference when it comes to how well you handle difficult situations in your life. You can find peace or just get angry!
#2. Then the Lord spoke to Paul
What a blessing to have a God who speaks to us. Throughout history the Lord has spoken to His people. Whether audibly thru a bush, or on a wall, thru a prophet, or by means of ink on paper or by the Holy Spirit in one’s heart…He speaks, and often!
Hebrews 1:1-3 says  “1 In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. 3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.”
a. And what does the Lord say to Paul? “Take courage”. The Greek word used here can also be translated ‘be of good cheer, or cheer up), or take comfort or take heart’.
Jesus said same thing many times during his earthly ministry:
– He said it to the man who was a paralytic before He healed Him in Mt 9:2,
– And to the woman subject to on-going bleeding in Mt 9:22
– He said it when the disciples were frightened when they saw him walking on the water and thought He was some kind of ghost in Mt. 14:27
– And He told his disciples the same thing when He told them that He about to leave them but would not leave them alone. John 16:33
And He does the same for us; in our hearts, or thru a sermon, or thru an encouraging brother or sister in church, or sometimes in our own private times of devotion. Maybe even as we read scripture or a good spiritual book just the right message leaps off the page and speaks to us from God.
How many of you know of someone right now that could use some encouragement? People love encouraging, uplifting, positive people. In my opinion, when you set out to encourage someone, you are allowing God to use you to do His bidding.
c. The Lord also told Paul to cheer up and take courage because his next stop was Rome. Paul probably thought, “Wow Rome!” That’s what he wanted all along and was starting to wonder if he’d ever get a chance. But now all doubts are erased because God has said it. Just when he needed it the most, the Lord stood by Paul, and spoke him.
3. The next thing we see is how the Lord protects Paul Read 23:12-24 The next day these 40 men enter into a death pact together against Paul. The Lord had said “you’re going to Rome”, but these 40 say, “nah, you’re not going anywhere”. I wonder how long their oath not to eat or drink lasted? 
It’s amazing how God works. You know, God isn’t mentioned any more in this story. And yet you can see His hand at work throughout the rest of this chapter. And probably God worked in a way that Paul never imagined.
God didn’t smite the 40 with leprosy or blindness, or swallow them up in a fiery hole in the earth? No, He didn’t do anything that dramatic…instead, God used a little boy to foil their plans…
We read in v. 23-24 a small army of 470 trained soldiers were put to together to escort Paul away from these 40 lunatics. And it was all because one little boy eavesdropped and then had courage to go to the commander.
You may be going thru circumstances where you don’t see or feel like God is anywhere around…but don’t think for one second that He’s isn’t here… watching. In Matthew 10 Jesus told His disciples “29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. 30 And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”
You need to remember that He loves you. He wants to encourage you not to give up, to be of good cheer, to take courage, because He personally knows how hard this live can be. Maybe He’s using me this day to let you know that.
Listen and look for His encouragement. Even better yet, be the source of his encouragement to others. He loves you, and He will protect you.
(Closing Story) Just after WWII, American soldiers found a little cellar where Jews had hid out. Written on the wall one had written, “I believe in the sun, even when it does not shine. I believe in love, even when it is not shown. And I believe in God even when I cannot see Him work.”
May we be as faithful!

The Word of God, Food for the Soul by Alfred Shannon Jr.

https://biblicalproof.wordpress.com/2011/03/page/3/


What person would go into the finest restaurant, read their menu, order their most exquisite and delicious meal, and pay for it without eating it? Even so, we hear the finest words ever penned, all payed for by the blood of the Lamb of God, and we refuse to obey it. Man’s meal will only nourish us, but for a short space of time, but God’s Word will nourish us eternally. Read it, study it, learn it, and obey it, and grow in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Word of God, food for the soul.
Job 23:12; Ps. 119:103; Jer 15:16; Acts 17:11; 1 Tim 4:13; 2 Tim 2:15; 2 Pet 3:18

THE CRUCIFIXION OF HUMANITY by Jim McGuiggan

https://jimmcguiggan.wordpress.com/2017/02/

THE CRUCIFIXION OF HUMANITY

2 Corinthians 5:21 says Jesus Christ was “made to be sin.”
1 Corinthians 1:30 says Jesus Christ was made “wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption.”
Galatians 6:14 sees glory in the event that took place at and on the cross.
Romans 3:21-26 says that God’s righteousness is seen at and on the cross.
If we were to say that this is all the crucified Christ exhibited on the cross Paul would have set us straight right away. He would have said something like, “We can’t grasp all that has been demonstrated and exhibited on that cross. These truths I mention are various aspects of the fathomless truth that finds its source in a God so strange that He purposed to become a human even when He knew that humans would reject Him and turn on one another in unspeakable cruelty and heartlessness.”
On the cross we see the human family crucified!
In becoming one of us—a human as human as any human—and bearing our sins and our sufferings God who came to be one with us in and as the Lord Jesus is not only our fellow human, He is the representative human. He was only one human, there has been only one incarnation of God. He could live only one life and in that one life he tasted trouble and temptation and death for all humans (Hebrews 2:9; 1 John 2:2). See Acts 20:28 where the text that should indeed be followed has, “the church of God which he purchased with His own blood.”
When He died on the cross after living here on earth that life of positive, warm, loving and sinless holiness He exposed “the world” for what it is. As the Bible tells it, we turned loose a cosmic evil, the organized anti-God, anti-life, anti-holiness and anti-humanity force and we built a “world” without God and turned our eyes toward the one we made the prince of this “world” (John 12:31). Jesus would have hurled this accusation into the air as He hung on the cross: “Yes! This is what you are! This is what you do to humans! It is always what you do to them and it is ceaselessly what you do to them.”
It is the god and prince of that “world” that seduced humans into rejecting a God who offered them only glory and dignity and joy in life (2 Corinthians 11:3; Genesis 3:1-19; Romans 3:23). It was that representative of heartless and rapacious evil that crucified and continues to crucify the peoples of the world and use people of the world to do it to one another. And it was the God of Jesus Christ who permanently became one of the sinful human family and came to share all its suffering and to deal with the Sin and sins that lead to its crucifixion.
And it was that God, in and as Jesus Christ, who joined them on that killing tree and exposed and condemned the world of the evil one and has permanently and finally in Himself defeated the prince of this world. And that evil one will not cease to be the enemy of God and the hunter of the souls of humans. But his day is coming and so is the day of all those who make themselves his glad servants and are the hounds with which Satan hunts the souls of their fellow-humans.
He who knows what He knows knows why He has not already brought to a halt things as they are but according to His loving wisdom He went to the cross and from there proclaimed to the tormented world. “I am with you, I am your champion and representative. I am against all that is against you and what you now see as I hang here I mean to be the proof of that. But what is happening here is more than my suffering, it is your suffering too and it is my way to glory and that glory will be yours too.”
The crucifixion of Christ is the crucifixion of humanity! For He came as humanity’s champion and Savior and in His triumph He triumphs for the world against a “world” of evil and against all who choose to be the willing and rejoicing servants of that evil world.
The crucifixion of humanity is the crucifixion of Christ.
(O Holy and Almighty God won’t you help us to see that your loving suffering and glorious resurrection in and as the Lord Jesus Christ is not only for the Church. And won’t you open the eyes of the Church that has been by faith been baptized into the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus that it might proclaim that good news to the crucified of the world. This prayer of gladness and sadness is in the name of the living and glorified Lord Jesus.

Male and Female - God's Plan by Eugene Perry

http://www.oldpaths.com/Archive/Perry/Eugene/Charles/1922/Articles/roles.html

Male and Female - God's Plan
In today's society hairstyles, clothing, jewelry and oftentimes behaviour are suggestive of efforts to eradicate gender distinctions. We keep hearing and seeing the term "unisex".
This trend is of concern to thinking people because, in the judgement of many, it is a dominant cause of the ills of our time. Among these are broken and single family homes and absentee and/or non-functioning fathers. Children in such homes, all-too-frequently, in the absence of a male role model, grow up to be selfIsh, spoiled, lacking in self-discipline and unlikely to function properly as citizens and parents. Hence, the cycle repeats itself. Gender role confusion is also believed to contribute to the increasing incidence of abortions and homosexuality. The church is currently being weakened by the failure of men to exercise strong male leadership and the resulting tendency of women to challenge the concept. Thus society, the family, and the church are all being adversely affected by this problem.
What did God intend? There are those who hold that we cannot look to the Bible to determine this because, they claim, the writers of the scriptures were prejudiced by the culture of the time and hence tended to favour the oppression of women. Such an approach to scripture is unacceptable. It leaves man to judge what is cultural and what has continuing force on this and any other subject. Thus, the will of the infallible creator is being decided by His fallible creature. It smacks of Romans 1:22,23.
God made "male and female" in His image (Genesis 1: 27). Woman was created as a "help meet" (suitable helper) for man (Genesis 2: 18) and was intended to complement him in the marriage union (Genesis 2:24). This has led one writer to observe that woman was created after, from and for the sake of man.
The sometimes heard accusation that the Christian religion has been responsible for oppressive circumstances of women in the past is unfounded. Jesus, Paul and Christianity in general have been very much responsible for improvement in the lot of woman.
In the New Testament, Galatians 3:27, 28 clearly teaches that all people have equal access to salvation regardless of race, sex or status. This does not, however, override roles or functions uniquely and specifically defined in other scriptures. Differing roles do not make people superior, inferior or unequal.
There are two areas where God has seen fit to assign definitive roles to men and women (i.e. in the family and in the church). Both involve divinely instituted unions founded on love (i.e. the union of husband and wife in marriage [Ephesians 5:25-30] and the union of believers in Christ [1 Corinthians 13]).
When we examine 1 Corinthians 14:33-35, a response to a question unknown to us, we find women forbidden to speak in the public assembly of the church.
Although some, in their zeal to support changes, have taken the position that this restriction was given because of cultural circumstances of the time and thus does not apply to our times and culture, the "as also saith the law" of verse 34 and "take knowledge of the things I write unto you that they are commandments of the Lord" of verse 37 clearly refute such a position.
When we look at 1 Timothy 2: 11-14 where woman is forbidden to teach or have authority over man, it is even more obvious that the cultural argument cannot be applied. The reason given for this restriction goes beyond culture, back to the beginning.
Eugene Perry

Published in The Old Paths Archive
(http://www.oldpaths.com)

Bread, nails and "Therefore" by Gary Rose


Okay, I like this picture, the joke- everything about it!  The more I think about it, the more I see a reflection of human nature in it. By nature, human beings live their lives just the way the want, doing exactly what they want as long as they want to do it! In a way, they keep asking for "bread". And, they keep asking and asking and asking. Then, when confronted with the consequences of their lifestyle, they relent- maybe??? No obvious consequences, they go back to their previous lifestyle. Now, substitute sin for bread and the patience of God for "No" and I think you just may see where I am going with this.

Read on...


2 Peter, Chapter 3 (World English Bible)
  1 This is now, beloved, the second letter that I have written to you; and in both of them I stir up your sincere mind by reminding you,
  2 that you should remember the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior:
  3 knowing this first, that in the last days mockers will come, walking after their own lusts
  4 and saying, “Where is the promise of his coming? For, from the day that the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.”
(emphasis added vss. 1-4)
  5 For this they willfully forget that there were heavens from of old, and an earth formed out of water and amid water by the word of God,
  6 by which means the world that existed then, being overflowed with water, perished.
  7 But the heavens that exist now and the earth, by the same word have been stored up for fire, being reserved against the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. 

  8 But don’t forget this one thing, beloved, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
  9 The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some count slowness; but he is patient with us, not wishing that anyone should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
  10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fervent heat, and the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.
(Emphasis added vs. 8ff.)
  11 Therefore (emphasis added) since all these things will be destroyed like this, what kind of people ought you to be in holy living and godliness,
  12 looking for and earnestly desiring the coming of the day of God, which will cause the burning heavens to be dissolved, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?
  13 But, according to his promise, we look for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells. 

  14 Therefore,
(emphasis added) beloved, seeing that you look for these things, be diligent to be found in peace, without defect and blameless in his sight.
  15 Regard the patience of our Lord as salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also, according to the wisdom given to him, wrote to you,
  16 as also in all of his letters, speaking in them of these things. In those, there are some things that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unsettled twist, as they also do to the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.
  17 You therefore,
(emphasis added) beloved, knowing these things beforehand, beware, lest being carried away with the error of the wicked, you fall from your own steadfastness.
  18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.


From the passage- Will there be a judgment? When will it be? Why won't God just judge us and get it over with?

Listen- all my life things have been the same, people sin against God and nothing is done about it. Therefore many people have said to me- There is no God, because there is no punishment! 

Wait- What if an eternal God wants to do things HIS WAY and judge all human beings when HE WANTS to? 


Since this last statement is true, then what?

Therefore, vs 11ff.
We should be holy and Godly people and wait on God.

Therefore, vs.14ff.
We should be peaceful, without defect, blameless and wait on God.

Therefore, vs.17f.
We should beware of the wicked and grow in grace and knowledge.

Got any Nails?

Yes, on the cross of Jesus Christ, our Savior!!!