The Man Makes the Uniform

In the third episode of the fourth season (1963) of the Andy Griffith Show, Ernest T. Bass wants to join the Army. After some trouble at the recruitment center Ernest T. is turned away and he vows to get even with everyone. Once finally apprehended by Sheriff Taylor for doing what Ernest T. does best (breaking windows) the truth behind his desire to enlist comes to light. He wants a uniform. That will make him a man in the eyes of the girls and allow him to find a bride. He says, “I could have been hitched by now if I’d only had one. I got everything else but. I got looks, brains, personality, I kiss good. The only thing standing twixt me and sweet romance is uniform.”

Andy gives Ernest T. one of Barney’s deputy uniforms to appease him. But the fact is known; the uniform didn’t change the man. Just because you put on a police uniform does not make you lawman. Just because you put on a pair of “Dress Blues” does not make you a Marine. Likewise, just because you put on the name of Christian doesn’t make you a child of God.

The uniform doesn’t make the man!

Many come to the cross and desire to be saved, they confess that Jesus is the only begotten Son of God, and are baptized. But Paul says by inspiration that we are to arise to “walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4). In Colossians 3:1 we read, “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.” And in Romans 12:1-2, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

The uniform doesn’t make the man!

This is the difference between being baptized and being converted! For so many who call themselves Christians this idea is far too radical. They do not really want to be freed from their sins, just from the penalty of their sin. They don’t want this “new life” to encroach too much on the old one. The sad truth is that their lives really aren’t all that much different.

The uniform doesn’t make the man!

Jesus asked, “[W]hy do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say” (Luke 6:46)? More than a few of us need to read this passage and then take a hard look at our lives! When we stand before Him in Judgment he said we would say, “Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?” To which He will respond, “I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness” (Matthew 7:22-23)! Unless we are “converted…ye will not enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3).

The uniform doesn’t make the man!

When Ernest T. left the courthouse Andy says, “There goes a happy man.” And indeed Ernest T. left feeling good about himself. Many people are left to go their way feeling good about themselves by preachers and elders who care more about pleasing people than pleasing God. Jesus said true happiness comes to those who follow His example and keep His commands (John 13:17).

The uniform doesn’t make the man; the man makes the uniform!

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Divorce

What are the ways one can be divorced?

When looking at divorce, I had not realized it before, but every state in America has their own reasons for divorce; and they are not always the same.  For example: In Alaska one can get divorced for: Adultery, mental illness that proceeds 18 months, drug abuse, failure to consummate (sexually fulfill) the marriage, conviction of a felony, willful desertion of at least 1 year, cruel and/or inhuman treatments, if one in the marriage is personally insulted by the other, and drunkenness. Now, in New York it is different. The only reasons are: If both parties are legally separated for more than 1 year. Adultery. Willful desertion of at least 1 year. Imprisonment for 3 or more consecutive years. Cruel and inhuman treatment. Now, that is just 2 states in America.

But, let’s notice other areas of the world: In China First of all, in order to get a divorce, they must first liquidate all properties into cash. All except their clothes. If one is a bigamists (marries another while still married). Family violence by any family member. Anyone caught in gambling or drug-abuse. Both parties have lived separate lives for at least 2 years. In Africa The man is required at the time of divorce to give the woman the funding to maintain her current lifestyle by his salary and anything of the property she deems hers: no exceptions. Then, all of the remaining man’s possessions are confiscated by the government and sold leaving him with nothing. In Germany divorce is granted only by: Irresponsible attitudes Incompatibility. In Pakistan Islam does not believe in unlimited opportunities for divorce on trivial reasons. They believe that God has condemned the Muslims who use their legal rights of divorce except on legitimate grounds and in unbearable condition only. All of these from America to China, Africa, Germany and Pakistan shows that there are many variations to how one can be divorced.

So out of all of this confusion, rules and regulations, which ones are we able to pick? Well, what does God say? Jesus said, “Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.” (Matt. 19:9) Now, this is not sexual immorality as used in some translations. Fornication is the Greek word “porneia” which means sexual intercourse. This is the only meaning for fornication. That is it. This means that there is no other way that one can be divorced. Now some may say, “Well, my husband is abusive and has threatened me . . . Can I get a divorce? The Bible ask you, “Is this fornication?” If not, then no you cannot. Some may ask, “Well, what about annulments?” An annulment is a termination of an official and legal proceeding and if it is not for fornication, it is still a divorce. Fornication is just that, fornication. Well, some may say, “You know, my wife is just not as sexy as she use to be” or “We are not compatible anymore,” now can I get a divorce? The Bible still have the same answer for everyone: “except it be for fornication.” There are no exceptions to this rule! What part of “Except it be for fornication is unclear to the lawmakers and the people of the land?

You know Jesus reminds us, “Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.” (Matt. 19:6) Peter also reminds us, “We ought to obey God rather than men.” (Acts 5:29) Now, some may claim that this is not fair, but the simple truth is that God intended marriage to be between 1 man and 1 woman for life. It is not something that is to be dealt with lightly. Marriage is a union that God takes very seriously. Now, along these same lines, there is only one other reason for someone to remarry. The apostle Paul speaking with all authority said, “The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.” (1 Cor. 7:39) Death of a spouse is the only reason other than one committing fornication in marriage that one may become remarried. But, when the Christian remarries it is only to be in the Lord meaning that they are to be Christians less the worldly spouse tempt the Christian to live worldly again and pull him away from his first love, which is Christ.

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Gospel Meetings and Lectureships

When we think about the role that gospel meetings has played throughout history, our minds may go back to the days of revivals. In all actuality, revivals, by their purpose, were simply a mixture of preaching for the purpose of creating restoration or change in the lives of people. As such, the revival may be seen in the days of Hezekiah or Josiah, and the preacher may be seen in the prophets of old, the apostles of Jesus, or the first century Christians who heralded the saving message of Jesus Christ (i.e., Philip preaching in Samaria in Acts 8). More modern records of the influence that gospel meetings or revivals had will take our minds back to the eighteenth century when Jonathan Edwards preached his infamous sermon, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God,” or many of the other instances of revival preaching both here and abroad. Over the years, it has taken a number of different names, including protracted meetings, evangelistic meetings, or even tent meetings (many times held outside under a tent). While the practice of such decades ago would often span many weeks, such meetings have diminished over the years to the point of lasting just a few days, with many congregations of our Lord now choosing no longer to conduct them at all. We can also see changes to such by noting that day services (in addition to those held at night) used to be normal years ago—such is quite the rarity today. Our rich legacy consists of great preachers of our past who were quite successful in these gospel meetings (J. D. Tant, Marshall Keeble, Foy E. Wallace, Jr., G. C. Brewer, T. B. Larimore, N. B. Hardeman).

Nevertheless, times have indeed changed. Such preaching thrived in a time when preachers would boldly speak out against sin, Christians were much more aggressive with their evangelism, preaching was distinctive and forceful, exposing sin and condemning immorality without apology, and preachers would exhort those who longed to hear the spoken word of God toward obedience in clear language that included Bible examples.

We add to this the role that lectureships have placed throughout the years. Of course, the term “lecture” simply refers to a style of teaching—a teacher publicly speaks to a group of students, of which the practice goes back hundreds of years, and is a common form of education in higher institutions of learning. In the nineteenth century, “parlor lectures” began to become popular—the act of inviting guest speakers for private lectures. As far as our concern for religiously educational purposes, in the summer of 1936, N. B. Hardeman wrote H. Leo Boles a letter to say that he was thinking about a lectureship program for preachers to run for four weeks to suit the needs of preachers whose opportunity to receive the rich benefits of a college education were denied. In the letter, he pointed out that tuition to such would be free, and they would discuss such practical topics as church history, spoken English, vocal music, Bible geography and the preparation and delivery of sermons. Brother Hardeman then invited brother Boles to serve as a guest “teacher” for this lectureship, which began in January 1937. Sixty-five preachers from seventeen states attended this lecture program, with Foy E. Wallace, Jr., B. C. Goodpasture, Batsell Baxter, C. R. Nichols and others among the well-known speakers invited for this event. The lectureship was a great success, and Freed-Hardeman University has conducted such a lectureship ever since (they just held their 76th Annual Lectureship earlier this year).

What benefit and influence do gospel meetings and lectureships offer? Certainly, it underscores the public pronouncement of heralding the good news of the gospel. Lest we need reminding, Paul pronounced, “For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe” (1 Cor. 1:21). Gospel meetings and lectureships often bring out the passion and zeal in preaching. As one song leader humorously said to the preacher, “I like to follow your sermons with a rousing hymn—something that really gets the blood flowing again!” Jesting aside, the combination of uplifting singing and powerful preaching has provided quite the platform for the word of God to reach the masses effectively. Gospel meetings and lectureships provide an opportunity to underscore the power of preaching—overcoming ignorance, false doctrine and worldliness—just as Paul and his companions did time and again in synagogues, on Mars’ Hill and even by a riverside—anywhere people were willing to listen to the spoken word of God!

How sad that gospel meetings and lectureships are declining! May we resolve to restore the power behind the gospel of Jesus Christ (Rom. 1:16)!

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Souls Needing Teaching

“I Cannot Find Anyone to Teach About Jesus”

We think so often about the great commission which Jesus gave to the twelve to preach the gospel to every creature. Those taught were to do what Jesus had told the apostles to do—to go and make disciples of all nations and to teach those disciples to do the same. This is the nature of the gospel. We who have been taught must teach others about the Lord. That great commission has been passed down to us.

Our problem is that we tend to think that, while we want to teach others, we just cannot find anyone to teach. We are wrong! Think about the fact that the city, which more than any other city became followers of Jesus, was not found in Judea or Galilee. Though the disciples were with Jesus, they could not see anyone they could possibly teach in that city.

In John 4, we read of Jesus and His disciples in Samaria with His disciples. They left Jesus to go into the city to get food. Souls were all around them, but all they could see were food merchants. They viewed every Samaritan as spiritually unclean and not worthy of God’s favor. Outside the city, at Jacob’s well, Jesus was teaching an immoral Samaritan woman. If those in that city were seen as morally corrupt by the apostles, how much harsher was their judgment of this woman?

The Lord taught her. Look at what then happened. The woman left her water jar, went into the city and suggested to them she had found the Messiah (4:28-29). Many from that town believed in Him because of her (4:39). They came to Jesus and talked to Him. He entered this “unclean” city and taught for the next two days. “Many more believed because of His word” (4:41). They said, “We have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world” (4:42).

The disciples, like us, could not see the souls of those around them. They saw them simply as food merchants. Hear Jesus rebuke His disciples for thinking that sometime somewhere in the future they might find fertile fields. He said, “The fields are already white for harvest” (4:35).

You cannot find souls? Our problem is that we see merchants, not souls! Let me illustrate from what happened recently. A member of this congregation (Pearl) phoned to correct the name on her bill from Comcast. She talked to Carla and in the conversation brought up spiritual matters. She invited Carla to visit our services and Bible classes and continued teaching her. This past Sunday Carla was baptized into Christ. Why? Because a Christian did not see her as a merchant, but as a soul.

What about you? Are you seeing souls or merchants?

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The Full Grown Christian

Ephesians 4:13
“Till we all attain unto the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a full-grown man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:” (ASV) 

The life of a faithful Christian is characterized by a constant growth process.  When one becomes a Christian they are “born again” (John 3:7, 1 Peter 1:23), and they become a “new creature” (2 Corinthians 5:17).  This born again new creature is at that point a babe in Christ, (1 Corinthians 3:1).  Just like a literal new born baby grows and matures so does the born again spiritual babe in Christ, feeding on spiritual milk of the word that they may grow, (1 Peter 2:2).  The goal of every Christian should be to grow up into Christ, the head of the church, (Ephesians 4:15).  See also Colossians 1:10, 2 Thessalonians 1:3.

The full grown Christian is identified in scripture by a number of characteristics that when put together cause him or her to stand apart from the world.  John wrote in 1 John 2:15-17, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the vain glory of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.”

The goal of every Christian is to strive to live a life as close to Christ as possible, using His life and the lives of the Apostles as our examples (Philippians 3:16-17).  Thereby we grow and mature and become who God would have us to be.  Shining our light and setting the example for others to see.  The remainder of this study is going to focus on a number of the characteristics that all Christians should diligently strive to add to their own lives.  This is not an overnight process, but one that requires a lifetime of diligent work and upkeep as the Christian grows and matures spiritually. 

  1. First and foremost the full grown Christian is to be characterized by a life of love; To God (Mark 12:30, John 14:15, John 14:23-24); To other Christians, (John 15:11-17); to his fellow man, (Galatians 6:10); and to their enemies, (Matthew 5:44-48).  This is not just the feel good, warm and fuzzy kind of love we feel on the inside.  This is the self sacrificing “agape” love that is demonstrated by our actions.  1 John 3:16-18 “Hereby know we love, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But Whoso hath the world’s goods, and beholdeth his brother in need, and shutteth up his compassion from him, how doth the love of God abide in him?  (My) Little children, let us not love in word, neither with the tongue; but in deed and truth.”
  2. The full-grown Christian is patient: quietly and steadily persevering.  James 5:8, “Be Ye also patient; establish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord is at hand.”  See also
    Galatians 5:22, 2 Thessalonians 3:5, Hebrews 10:35-37.  We are to be patient with each other, patient with those outside the body of Christ and patient in our hope for eternal life.
  3. Tender Hearted: soft-hearted; sympathetic; Ephesians 4:32, “and be Ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, even as God also in Christ forgave you.”  See also Luke 1:78, James 5:11.  Jesus was tender hearted and we are to follow His example, 1 Peter 2:21, “For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example , that you should follow His steps: ”
  4. Hospitable; characterized by or betokening warmth and generosity toward guests or strangers.   Romans 12:13, “communicating to the necessities of the saints; given to hospitality.” See also Hebrews 13:2, 1 Peter 4:8-10.
  5. Not Striving with one another: to contend in opposition or resistance; 2 Timothy 2:24, “And the Lord’s servant must not strive, but be gentle towards all, apt to teach, forbearing,”  See also 1 Corinthians 3:3, 1 Timothy 6:4-6, James 3:14-16.
  6. Not a Brawler: someone who quarrels, squabbles or fights; Titus 3:2-3, “To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers , but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.  For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.” (KJV)  See also Romans 1:29-30, 2 Corinthians 12:20.
  7. Not a seeker of vain glory: being excessively proud of or concerned about one’s own appearance, qualities or achievements; Galatians 5:26, “Let us not become vainglorious, provoking one another, envying one another.” See also Luke 14:10-11, James 4:16.  Not to be seen of men; Matthew 6:1, “Take heed that Ye do not your righteousness before men, to be seen of them: else Ye have no reward with your Father who is in heaven.”  See also John 5:44, John 12:43, Luke 16:15, 2 Corinthians 10:18.
  8. Not easily angry; Colossians 3:8, “but now do Ye also put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, railing, shameful speaking out of your mouth:”  See also Matthew 5:22, Ephesians 4:26, Ephesians 4:31-32, James 1:20.
  9. Blameless and harmless: Doing nothing deserving of guilt and without the desire to hurt; Philippians 2:15, “that Ye may become blameless and harmless, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom Ye are seen as lights in the world,” See Also Luke 1:6, 1 Corinthians 1:8, 1 Thessalonians 5:22-23, 2 Peter 3:14.
  10. Righteous: living in an upright, spiritual way according to God ; Titus 2:12, “instructing us, to the intent that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly and righteously and godly in this present world;” See also 1 John 2:29, 1 John 3:7, Romans 1:17, Acts 10:35.
  11. Steadfast and unmovable; 1 Corinthians 15:58, “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, be Ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as Ye know that your labor is not vain in the Lord.”  See also Colossians 1:23, Colossians 2:5, Hebrews 3:14, 2 Peter 3:17.
  12. Not carried away by strange doctrine; Hebrews 13:9, “Be not carried away by divers and strange teachings: for it is good that the heart be established by grace; not by meats, wherein they that occupied themselves were not profited.”  See also Matthew 24:24, Acts 20:30, Romans 16:17-18, Galatians 1:6, Ephesians 4:14, Ephesians 5:6-7, 1 Timothy 4:1-3, 1 Timothy 6:3-5, 1 Timothy 6:20-21, 1 John 4:1, Jude 3.
  13. Watchful: vigilant or alert; closely observant; 1 Corinthians 16:13, “Watch Ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.”  See also Matthew 24:42-51, Matthew 25:13, Matthew 26:41, Mark 13:33, Luke 21:36, Ephesians 6:18, Colossians 4:2, 1 Thessalonians 5:6, 2 Timothy 4:5, 1 Peter 4:7, 1 Peter 5:8.
  14. Sober; 1 Peter 5:8, “Be sober, be watchful: your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour,”  See also 1 Thessalonians 5:6-8, 1 Timothy 2:9, Titus 2:2-6, 1 Peter 1:13, 1 Peter 4:7.
  15. Not Drunken; Ephesians 5:18, “And be not drunken with wine, wherein is riot, but be filled with the Spirit;”  See also Luke 21:34, Romans 13:13, 1 Corinthians 5:11.
  16. Not given to foolishness nor foolish speech; Ephesians 5:4, “nor filthiness, nor foolish talking, or jesting, which are not befitting: but rather giving of thanks.” See also Matthew 5:37, Mark 7:22-23, Ephesians 4:29, Colossians 3:8, James 3:4-6, 2 Peter 2:7, Titus 2:8, Colossians 4:6.
  17. Putting to death the lust of the flesh; Colossians 3:5, “Put to death therefore your members which are upon the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry;” See also Romans 6:6, Romans 8:13, Galatians 5:24.
  18. Submissive to others: unresisting or humbly obedient; Ephesians 5:21, “subjecting yourselves one to another in the fear of Christ.”  See also 1 Peter 5:5-6, Philippians 2:3-4.
  19. Submissive to the laws of the land; Romans 13:1, “Let every soul be in subjection to the higher powers: for there is no power but of God; and the (powers) that be are ordained of God.”  See also Titus 3:1, 1 Peter 2:13.  But where the laws of man conflict with the law of God, obey God, (Acts 5:29, Acts 4:19).
  20. Obedient to parents; Colossians 3:20, “Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well-pleasing in the Lord.” See also Matthew 15:4, Matthew 19:19, Ephesians 6:1-3.
  21. Obedient to those in authority; Colossians 3:22-23, “Servants, obey in all things them that are your masters according to the flesh; not with eye-service, as men-pleasers, but in singleness of heart, fearing the Lord: whatsoever Ye do, work heartily, as unto the Lord, and not unto men;”  See also Ephesians 6:5-7, Titus 2:9-10, 1 Timothy 6:1-2.  1 Peter 2:18-20, “Servants, (be) in subjection to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.  For this is acceptable, if for conscience toward God a man endureth griefs, suffering wrongfully.  For what glory is it, if, when ye sin, and are buffeted (for it), ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer (for it), ye shall take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.  For hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that ye should follow his steps:”  Do we have masters today?  What about those we work for and depend upon for our income?
  22. Growing in grace and knowledge; 2 Peter 3:18 “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ. To him (be) the glory both now and for ever. Amen.”  See also Colossians 1:10-11, 2 Thessalonians 1:3, 1 Peter 2:2.
  23. Rich in good works; 1 Timothy 6:18-19, “that they do good, that they be rich in good works, that they be ready to distribute, willing to communicate; laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on the life which is (life) indeed.”  See also Acts 9:36, 1 Timothy 5:10, Titus 2:14, Titus 3:8.
  24. Willing to give; 2 Corinthians 9:6-7, “But this (I say,) He that soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he that soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. (Let) each man (do) according as he hath purposed in his heart: not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.”  See also Luke 6:38, 2 Corinthians 9:10, Galatians 6:7-10.
  25. No lover of money; 1 Timothy 6:10, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil: which some reaching after have been led astray from the faith, and have pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” See also Titus 1:11, Acts 1:16, Acts 5:1-2.
  26. Able to teach others; 2 Timothy 2:2, “And the things which thou hast heard from me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.”  See also 1 Timothy 4:6, 2 Timothy 2:24, 1 Peter 3:15.
  27. Suffering hardship; 2 Timothy 2:3, “Suffer hardship with (me), as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.” See also 2 Corinthians 1:6, 2 Timothy 1:8, 2 Timothy 2:10, 2 Timothy 3:11, 2 Timothy 4:5, Hebrews 10:32, James 1:12.
  28. Proving themselves; 2 Corinthians 13:5, “Try your own selves, whether Ye are in the faith; prove your own selves. Or know Ye not as to your own selves, that Jesus Christ is in you? unless indeed Ye be reprobate.”  See also 1 Corinthians 11:28, Galatians 6:4, Hebrews 12:15.
  29. Forgiving; Colossians 3:13, “forbearing one another, and forgiving each other, if any man have a complaint against any; even as the Lord forgave you, so also do Ye:”  See also Matthew 6:14-15, Matthew 18:21-22, Mark 11:25-26, Luke 17:3-4.
  30. Husbands the head of the wife; Ephesians 5:23, “For the husband is the head of the wife, and Christ also is the head of the church, (being) himself the saviour of the body.”  See also Ephesians 5:25-28, 1 Corinthians 11:3.
  31. Wives in subjection to husbands; Ephesians 5:22, “Wives, (be in subjection) unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.” See also Ephesians 5:24, Colossians 3:18, Titus 2:5, 1 Peter 3:1.
  32. Women should dress modestly: free from showy extravagance with regard for decency; 1 Timothy 2:9-10;  “In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array”
  33. Rearing children in the nurture of the Lord; Ephesians 6:4, “And, Ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but nurture them in the chastening and admonition of the Lord.”  See also Colossians 3:21, 1 Thessalonians 2:11-12.

As mentioned at first, a Christian does not emerge from the waters of baptism mature and full grown in the faith.  It takes diligent work and perseverance.

Ephesians 4:13-15: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
KJV

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