Does It Say Baptized

What Does It Say?

In the early 1970s, I was part of Camp CACY, Central Alabama Christian Youth camp, for several years. It was there that I became friends with Hudson Nichols, Gus Nichols’ youngest son. He was older than me, but wiser beyond the years he had lived. Hudson and I became close friends during that week, and we worked together every summer. I learned so much about dealing with camp life and young people. He was the best “camper” I have ever known.

Baptized

Does It Say Baptized?

There was an even greater lesson he taught me in those late night Bible studies (some of which lasted all night), and that is how to look at a verse and see exactly what boundaries are established by that verse. Those who sit in my classes will recognize his influence. After reading a verse, I often ask, “Now what does this verse say?”

Hudson and I would look at a passage, and he would ask me a series of questions. (1) What does it say? (2) What does it not say? (3) What does it imply? (4) What does it not imply? This approach to Bible study helps so much, especially when dealing with a difficult passage.

Let me illustrate how difficult this is. Mark 16:16 says, “He who believes and is baptized will be saved.” We would read this verse, and Hudson would ask me, “What does it say?” How would you answer that? I would answer various ways. I would say something like, “It says one cannot go to heaven without being baptized.”  Hudson would kindly say, “No, it does not.”  I might try again, saying, “It says baptism is essential for salvation.”  He would reply, “No, it does not.” Frustrated, I might try again, saying, “It says that one is not saved by faith alone.”  Again his reply was, “No, it does not say that.”

I would ask him to help me. He would ask me to read the verse again. Do you know what it says? It says, “He who believes and is baptized will be saved.” That is what it says! He would then ask me, “What does it not say?” There are several answers to this question, but an obvious one is that it does not say that he who believes and is not baptized will be saved.

What does it imply? It certainly implies many of the answers I gave after his first question. However, to find the implications one must first look carefully at what it actually says. What does it not imply? Among other things, it does not imply that unbaptized infants are lost.

Now, Mark 16:16 is rather easy, but the process is more difficult in other passages. However, the rewards of this approach are so helpful in dealing with very difficult verses. For example, what does Matthew 24:35 say? What does Revelation 1:1 say? What does Acts 8:15 say?  I owe a debt to Hudson and to all those who have helped me learn how to study.

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May God Rejoice

Joy In Heaven

Luke 15, which is often referred to as the “Lost Chapter of the Bible” in that contextually Jesus tells three parables about lost things (i.e. a lost sheep, a lost coin, and a lost son), is one of my favorite sections of Scripture. One of the things we get from this inspired text is the idea of joy in heaven (v 7). A common reference borne from these stories is that “the angels rejoice.” However a close examination of both the context and the original text tells us the focus is on the rejoicing of God. “Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents” (Luke 15:10).

rejoice

Cause God to Rejoice with your Life.

We also take notice that in each story the “owner” of the thing lost calls his friends to rejoice with him. In Matthew 18:10 Jesus says the angels of the little ones “do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.” This would lead us to believe that the angels do indeed rejoice, but their rejoicing is in response to the rejoicing of God, and that my friends should be our focus. God’s joy in us!

Recently a denominational preacher’s wife publicly stated that everyone just “do good for your own self.” “Do good because God wants you to be happy,” she said. “When you come to church, when you worship Him, you’re not doing it for God really. You’re doing it for yourself, because that’s what makes God happy.” Yet the Bible says, “Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams” (1 Samuel 15:22). And, “To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice” (Proverbs 21:3).

We need to understand that God does want us to be happy; He wants us to enjoy life (John 10:10), but not on our own terms! God knows what is best for us; He knows what will truly make us happy. What pleases God and causes Him to rejoice before the face of the angels?

Obedience. God wants us to obey His will because it is the source of all spiritual blessings (Ephesians 1:3). God’s love for us (John 3:16) and his desire to have a relationship with us (Ephesians 2:16) caused Him to send His Son to set an example of obedience (John 8:29; Hebrews 5:8–9) and living (1 Peter 2:21). Yes, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels when we obey God.

Repentance. The crux of our text is that God rejoices when even one sinner repents. It is important to note that the sheep that was lost was once safe in the fold. The coin was once a cherished possession of the owner. The son abode in the father’s house. But each ended up lost. God rejoices when the lost child comes back home.

Faithfulness. I have often stated that there is no greater word in the Bible than the word “faithful.” It will be the foundation of the greatest words our ears will ever hear. “Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord” (Matthew 25:21, 23). As John wrote, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth” (3 John 4), even so God rejoices over His faithful children in the presence of the angels.

Have you been obedient to the plan of God that saves men, redeems them, and reconciles them? If not, be sure you have given God no reason to rejoice over you. Are you faithful? Do you need to repent and come back home? If so, why would you do anything other than that which causes God to rejoice and saves you from His wrath (1 Thessalonians 1:10)? Do it today! Tomorrow may be too late.

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Mom and Wife

Mom Will Take Care of It

There is a story that is told of a fifteen-year-old boy who came home from school one day and found his mother sick in bed.  In an attempt to sound compassionate he said to her, “Don’t worry about dinner, mom.  I’ll be happy to carry you down to the stove.”

mom

Mom is in Control.

In most God-fearing homes, I dare say, no one is taken for granted more than the mother.  According to God’s design she is to be the keeper of the home – a good manager of the household (Titus 2:5).  Yet, in many instances, this honorable position seems to be a never ending, thankless and unappreciated job – after all, whatever we need, “mom will take care of it.”

The father may be the head of the household, but the mother is definitely the backbone.  She is the glue that keeps the family bonded together.  Her worth as a godly wife and mother “is far above rubies” (Prov. 31:10).  Let us therefore honor her and those like her (Eph. 6:2-3).

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Social Drinking

Social Drinking!

In general, it seems as if our generation is heavily influenced by the cultural changes that we have seen in the past several decades. While at one time not too terribly long ago, Christians would stand united against the evils of social drinking, sadly such is not occurring as it ought today. More young Christians are allowing Satan to infiltrate their thought processes and are vocally supporting social drinking. I recently heard of a congregation that is plagued with this very topic, and I know that she is not the only one. What do we need to remind ourselves about this controversial topic?

drinking

It’s just a little social drinking right?

Let us begin by examining how the Bible utilizes the term “wine.” A number of Hebrew words are rendered by the English “wine,” the most common of which are yayin (134 times) and tirosh (33 times). The basic term for “wine” in the Greek New Testament is the term oinos (33 times), which corresponds to the Hebrew yayin (see also Acts 2:13-15 [gleukos and methuo]). Thus, while the term in English always denotes an alcoholic beverage, the biblical term “wine” is a generic term, occasionally referring to fresh grape juice (cf. Isa. 16:10; Jer. 48:33—the juice in the grape). Sometimes, the Bible praised its ingestion (Song of Sol. 5:1; Joel 2:19), and other times, it condemns it as a beverage capable of producing intoxication (Eph. 5:18). Therefore, the Bible offers many warnings against the indiscriminate use of wine (Prov. 20:1; 21:17; 23:20-21, 29-35; Isa. 5:22; 28:7; Joel 1:5; Amos 6:6; Hab. 2:5; 1 Cor. 5:11; 6:10; Gal. 5:21; 1 Tim. 3:8; Titus 2:3). Sometimes, the Bible uses the term “wine” as a substance of medicinal value (Luke 10:34; 1 Tim. 5:23). Now, it is not a foregone conclusion that Paul commended inebriating wine to the young preacher, Timothy, since the evidence from antiquity exists to suggest that he was referring to the addition of grape juice to his drinking water for medicinal purposes. However, even if he meant for Timothy to add fermented or intoxicating juice to his diet, please note the following important points:

  • He had been abstinent up until this point.
  • The quantity he would add would be “a little.”
  • He would dilute the juice with water.
  • It was strictly medicinal in nature—not social, casual or recreational.
  • It took the directive of an apostle for Timothy to introduce it into his life.

In fact, one must not automatically assume that the wine itself possessed medical properties. The wine may have simply been the antiseptic means of purifying polluted water that Timothy had been drinking by killing germs and bacterial organisms. If so, then Paul was not commending wine, but commending a method of cleansing contaminated water. Moreover, the Bible sometimes employs the term as a symbol of the wrath of God (Jer. 25:15; 51:7; Rev. 14:10; 16:19).

One may respond by quoting Proverbs 31:6-7 in an attempt to show support for social drinking. Because of the multiple warnings in the Bible against drunkenness, we know that depression and poverty are not a license to sin. The context (Prov. 31:1) does not suggest that kings should not drink (Prov. 31:4-5) but everyone else can (Prov. 31:6-7). This mother is advising him to stay away from alcohol because it impairs judgment, leads to improper decisions and adversely affects those to whom he governs. Yet, by way of contrast, some people drink to forget. In essence, she is actually saying, “Let them do it, but as for you, manage the stress of your position to rule with equitable justice.” Of course, if it was true for the king, it ought also to be true for the Christian, of which Jesus Christ has made us kings (Matt. 5:13-16; 1 Pet. 2:11-12; Rev. 1:5-6)!

Others may try to justify social drinking based upon different cultures in differing countries and nations. Does the Bible sanction the use of alcohol in different countries according to custom? From everything that one may study about the subject of inebriating substances and from everything that the Bible teaches concerning itself, the gospel is the universal standard of ethics, morals, and right conduct. Thus, the child of God who is committed to Jesus is not going to pretend that he can drink wine in Italy, vodka in Russia, stout in Australia, lager in Germany, rum in the Caribbean, bourbon in Kentucky or champagne in France and be pleasing to God. We do not change our morality just by crossing state lines or international borders!

In conclusion, we know that alcohol is the #1 drug problem in America today. In a recent report from the World Health Organization, alcohol kills one person every ten seconds worldwide. In fact, it kills 3.3 million people worldwide every year, more than AIDS, tuberculosis and violence combined. Nevertheless, social drinking and alcohol consumption is accepted, endorsed, legalized, promoted and even heavily guarded politically. Indeed, consumption of inebriating beverages is on the rise. How sad! Instead of MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving), why should we not have MAD (Mothers Against Drinking), because we are not going to solve the problem of drunk driving until we solve the problem of drinking. Give liquor to our cats, and we are cruel; give liquor to a person, and we become the life of the party! Of course, we should not get our pets drunk, but neither should we allow our sons, daughters, business associates and friends to drink either, because if it is not fit for our pet, it is certainly not fit for humanity!

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Women Preachers

What Does the Bible Say About Women Preachers?

It is remarkable how much culture impacts the church in every generation. One of the issues now confronting Christians is the ever-increasing use of women as preachers in denominations. The pressure to be politically correct has kept some from speaking clearly about this matter lest they be viewed as male chauvinists or as discriminating against women. The reality is not “What does our culture demand?” but “What does the Bible say about women preachers in the assemblies of the church?”

women preachers

Today, it is not uncommon to find women preachers.

The answer is found in Paul’s first letter to the church at Corinth. The apostle mentions, in more than one place, of that time when the whole church came together in one place. In 1 Corinthians 11:17-34, he described the abuse they had made of the Lord’s Supper in that assembly, and then instructed them as to how it should be observed properly.

Then, in 1 Corinthians 14:23-40, he addresses behavior in worship again. Because of the abundance of spiritual gifts (1:7 shows that no N.T. church had more gifts) the worship was chaotic (14:26). He regulates this by giving specific instructions to those who spoke in tongues, the interpreters of tongues, the prophets and the prophets’ wives who were part of the problem. Tongues speakers were told to limit the number to two or three of them, and if there were no interpreters present they were not to speak at all. Prophets were told to be limited in the number who spoke unless something was revealed to another prophet in the assembly. The wives of the prophets (let your women, with the antecedent your being the prophets) were told to not interrupt their prophets but to ask their husbands, the prophets, questions when they got home.

The key verse to answer our question is found in the last phrase in verse 35. The prophets’ wives could not speak because “it is shameful for women to speak in the church” (1 Cor. 14:35). All women are included in these words. Two verses later, Paul shows that this was not a cultural, optional matter, but “the things I write unto you are the commandment of the Lord.”

Keep in mind that this letter was written to a Greek society where women were far more prominent in society than in a Jewish world (see Acts 17:12, 34). Paul’s words were against the normal practice in the culture of Corinth! His instructions are not tied to culture, but to the law (14:34) and to the commands of Jesus (14:37). Suggesting these words only deal with a first-century Greek culture ignores what God said.

What did God say about women preachers? That is all that matters. God said, Let your women keep silent  . . .  for it is shameful for women to speak in church.”

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