Hard to be Understood

Hard to be Understood

“No one can understand the Bible; it is just too hard for me to know what God is saying.” These words express the hearts of many, but are they true? Peter said that in parts of the Bible there are “…some things hard to be understood” (2 Pet. 3:16), but he does not say that even the hard things are impossible to understand.

There are vital truths to be understood.

There are vital truths to be understood.

An amazing truth about the Bible is that the most important truths are stated in a way that everyone can comprehend them. Let’s take time to look at the following vital truths of the Bible which are so simply stated.

Jesus is the only way any person can be saved. Is this true? Read the words of Jesus. “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). Is that hard to understand? A vital truth simply stated.

Those who do not believe in Jesus cannot go to heaven, even if they do good things. Read these words of Jesus. “If you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins” (John 8:24). Read them again and imagine the spiritual destiny of those who are still in their sins. A vital truth simply stated.

Not all religious people will be saved. Jesus said, “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’” (Matt. 7:22-23). If you wonder how this could happen, look at verse 21, “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.” A vital truth simply stated.

No man, without God’s help, can find the way to heaven. “It is not in man who walks to direct his own way,” and ‘’There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the ways of death’’ (Jer. 10:23; Prov. 16:25). A vital truth simply stated.

The Bible is the final source for all religious doctrine and instruction. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Tim. 3:16-17). A vital truth simply stated.

Look at how simply God has stated the most important truths. Think about this. It is not the “hard” things in the Bible that should concern us, nearly as much as the “easy” things in it. God has stated eternal truths. God has stated the most vital, eternal truths in the simplest language. Wise men will never overlook the simple truths of the Bible. Be wise!

Posted in Dan Jenkins | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Hard to be Understood

Justified by Works?

Justified by Works?

We are justified by our works! That’s right. Despite what many in the religious world might profess, the Bible clearly states that men are justified, “by their works.” This has even led some to question the authenticity of the book of James. However, the overarching message of the New Testament supports this idea. The difficulty often lies in the misunderstanding between works of “merit” and works of “faith” or “righteousness.”

One must consider all of scripture...

One must consider all of scripture…

No one who knows the Scripture will ever say that one merits or earns salvation by their works. But likewise no sound teacher would say that works of faith are non-essential.  James says one must:

Be “swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.” – Works of faith.
“Lay aside all filthiness and overflowing of naughtiness.” – A work of faith.
Receive the word. – A work of faith.
“Be doers of the word.” – Works of faith.
Continue in works of faith.
Care for the needy. – Works of faith.
Keep yourself unspotted. – Works of faith.

Faith without works is dead and cannot save. Show me your faith without works. I’ll show you my faith by my works. How does your faith shine by what you are doing? Remember, the goal is to hear the Lord say, “Well DONE!” Be obedient, and be faithful.

Posted in Tim Dooley | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Justified by Works?

A Look at the Sinner’s Prayer

A Look at the Sinner’s Prayer

For decades, crusades have been conducted around the world, and thousands have responded to give their lives to Jesus. Conscious of their sins, they are told to simply say the “sinner’s prayer.” Of even greater impact is the preaching by televangelists and church pastors who tell those who are lost that if they will say this sinner’s prayer, God will immediately forgive them of all their sins.

Is this what the Bible says?

Is this what the Bible says?

There are slight variations in the wording of this prayer, but they all have this format. “Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner, and I ask for Your forgiveness. You died for my sins and rose from the dead. I turn from my sins and invite You to come into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow You as my Lord and Savior. In Your name. Amen.” The lives of many have been changed, but a vital question must be answered. Does the saying of this prayer bring salvation?

When did this prayer originate? Google to find the answer. “Some affirm that it evolved, in some form or another, during the early days of the Protestant Reformation. Others believe it originated as late as the eighteenth century revival movement.” One study provides strong evidence that the sinner’s prayer originated in the early twentieth century.

Think of the implications of the preceding paragraph. It implies that the sinner’s prayer was unknown by the church in the first century. The church, directed by the apostles, told millions how to be saved, but never told them to pray this prayer. It is not found even one time in the Bible. It is not found in the Bible anywhere in any of the forms used today.

It is not found in the writings of church leaders of the second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, etc. centuries! It was never used for fifteen hundred years after the church began. It is not from the mind of God but from the imagination of mere mortals.

If the sinner’s prayer is God’s answer to the question of what one must do in order to be saved, then was not one single person saved beginning at the death of Christ until the sixteenth century? Surely something must be wrong with giving this prayer as God’s plan to save mankind.

Let me suggest the path every man should follow in finding salvation. Read the book of Acts. It is the history of the church from its beginning until near the end of Paul’s life. Read about the spread of the church around the world. Read the Divine record of people asking what they must do about their sins. Note that never was any man told to pray this prayer. The answer given was always the same. Honestly seek to find the answer to life’s most important question. Read the book of Acts. Discover for yourself. Then do what they did!

Posted in Dan Jenkins | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on A Look at the Sinner’s Prayer

Don’t Shirk Your Duties

Calling All Sinners!

Perhaps you have seen the old police TV show, Adam 12.  In this show as well as others the characters would be sitting “at large” in their vehicles and get a call on the radio: “calling all cars, calling all cars, please proceed to . . . .”  When they received this call, usually there was an urgent situation; it needed to be dealt with right away; any available cars were requested to go to this urgent situation.  Those police who neglected this call would be shirking their duties by not responding.

Will you fulfill your duty?

Will you fulfill your duty?

There are many “at large” today, but instead of responding to the urgent call to worship each week, they shirk their duty to God by not responding.  Are you one of those people who are “at large”?  God is “Calling All Sinners” today to attend the worship services of His church.  God doesn’t call you to attend “the church of your choice;” He calls you to attend the church of HIS choice!

In Acts 17:22-31 Paul the apostle called upon the people at Athens to stop worshipping idols and worship only God.  God demands that all obey this call (Acts 17:30, 31).  Idols are not necessarily made of sticks and stones; they can be made of silicon and tubes as well; they can be made of government paper, grass and dirt, wood and nails, and even of flesh and blood.  Anything that we place higher than God is an idol.

Are you worshipping in the church of God’s choice?  God is calling you to repent today.  If you need some directions answering the call, God’s church is here to help.  Give us a call and we will respond!  God bless you, and I love you.

Posted in Kevin Cauley | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Don’t Shirk Your Duties

Ungrateful for the Gift

Ungrateful for the Gift

In a couple of days, Christmas morning will once again be upon us. Countless children (of all ages) will awaken with excitement and make their way to the tree to finally open the many gifts left thereunder for them. Anxious parents and others who have patiently planned, purposed, purchased, put together, poured themselves into, and then packaged and placed so many precious expressions of their love and caring beneath the tree, will also be anxiously awaiting the excited expressions of loving gratitude on the surprised faces of those they have so sought to please…

Are you excited about what you have received?

Are you excited about what you have received?

However, in some cases, a cold, harsh, human reality will soon set in, as so many of those gifts of love – systematically planned and sacrificially purchased with only the best of intentions – will be unceremoniously cast aside, thoughtlessly tossed away, or rapidly returned to the store – totally unwanted, unloved, and unappreciated.

It is one thing to do that with those earthly items that are destined to perish with time (even though sometimes deeply hurting the loving giver in the process). It is quite another thing to do that with the greatest and most infinitely priceless and powerful gift you can ever receive in the entire universe though – hurting and rejecting almighty God and His great love more than you can possibly humanly imagine in the process.

From the Scriptures we understand that God, in His great and eternal love, mercy, and purpose, had a divine plan in place before time began, to give you the greatest of all gifts – eternal life, IN Christ Jesus our Lord (Rom. 6:23; Eph. 3:8-12; 1 Jn. 5:11-13, 20). Hence, God carefully wrapped His incredible gift in human flesh (Jn 1:14; Heb. 2:14-17), and gladly allowed His greatest of all gifts, to be placed upon – instead of under – a tree… just for you (Isa. 53:4-10; Acts 2:22-24; Gal. 3:13-14). This great gift of God’s love even comes with a perfect, priceless, and divinely-inspired instruction book on how to get the absolute best out of life (Psa. 19:7-11)!

However, one difference is that while today’s electronic gifts need to be recharged regularly if they are going to work correctly, when we receive God’s gift of eternal life in Christ Jesus, it is WE who must be regularly recharged by being plugged into both the Bible and the Lord’s church on a daily basis – lest we run out of power and die as well.

So, what are you doing with God’s great and priceless gift to you? Have you received it (Rom. 6:1-5)? Have you exchanged it (1 Jn. 2:15-17)? How often do you open the instruction book and study it (Jn. 6:68; Acts 17:11)?

For as many as receive Him… can become children of God (Jn. 1:12)!

 

Posted in Doug Dingley | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Ungrateful for the Gift