Modern Day Revelation

What Does the Bible Say about Modern Day Revelation? 

Not long ago, we received an email from one of our website visitors who made some comments regarding a lesson he had downloaded and listened to.  He based his opinions on the belief that God is still making his will known through the means of modern day Revelation.  In other words, it is his belief that God communicates directly with man today through prophets and/or apostles just like He did in the past. 

The purpose of this lesson is to examine what the word of God teaches regarding modern day revelation in order to ascertain whether or not this is the truth.  The purpose of examining any doctrine which is different than our beliefs is so that we can ultimately compare it with our own and if need be, make any necessary corrections.  Paul commanded the Christians in Corinth to, “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves” (2 Corinthians 13:5). We are to subject ourselves to a critical self examination.  Our beliefs and practices must be “in the faith“, meaning according to God’s will.  

We have before us today a doctrine which claims modern day Revelation.  We in the churches of Christ believe that the written word of God is the inspired and complete Revelation of God, and that it is accurate, authoritative and sufficient to give us the information required for salvation.  In short, we believe everything we need to know in order to be saved is contained within the written record of God’s word.  It cannot be both ways, one or the other is truth.  What does the Bible teach about this? 

1).  The Bible states that God’s complete will for man was revealed in the first century when the church was established. 

Peter wrote in his second epistle chapter 1 starting in verse 2, “Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,  According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:”   According to Peter, all things that pertain unto life and godliness through knowledge of God was delivered at that time.  Peter stated in words impossible to misunderstand that all knowledge which was necessary to live a life of Godliness had already been given. 

If we will turn to Jude 3, we will find an interesting verse.  Jude 3, “...it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.”  The word I want to call our attention to in the original language is “Hapax” which is translated in the KJV and as “once” delivered.  This Greek word has a very specific meaning.  It carries the meaning of “once for all” of what is of perpetual validity, not requiring repetition.  Simply stated, The faith that was “once for all” [hapax], “delivered” is forever valid, and it will never need to be repeated.

The Bible plainly teaches that all we need to know in order to live a godly life has been fully revealed, is forever valid and does not need to be revealed again.  One must ask why additional revelation today would even be necessary since we know the early church had all the knowledge they needed revealed to them almost 2000 years ago? 

2).  The Bible states that scripture is inspired and sufficient.  

Now if we will consider 2 Timothy 3:16-17 which reads, “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 perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”  “All scripture”, meaning there is no scripture left out, is “inspired”, meaning revealed by God.  So we see now that everything we have recorded for us in the Bible is revealed by God.  That means all scripture is accurate, authoritative and trustworthy.  Paul went on to say that the man of God may be perfect, meaning complete.  Thoroughly furnished, or equipped, unto all good works.  When one is equipped with the knowledge required for all good works, that means there are no good works out there for which we are not equipped.  The Bible claims to be complete.  The Bible claims to be sufficient. 

So far we have learned that the Bible teaches that all we need to know in order to live a godly life has been fully revealed, is forever valid and does not need to be revealed again.  And what has been recorded for us by the direct revelation of God can make us complete and furnishes us totally.   Why would additional revelation be required today since the Bible teaches that everything we need to know was revealed and recorded almost 2000 years ago?

3)  The Bible teaches us that the word of God lasts forever.  

Since the Bible teaches that everything we need to know was revealed and recorded, the only other possible reason for revelation today would be if what was revealed and recorded has been corrupted and that we don’t have an accurate account of what was revealed in the first century.

Let’s consider 1 Peter 1:23-25, “having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever, because “All flesh is as grass, And all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, And its flower falls away, But the word of the Lord endures forever.” Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you” (NKJV).  Peter taught that the word of God is living and abiding which means continuing in its present condition.  He then taught that it endures forever which means to hold out against damage or corruption for all of time.  

If what we have today is not what was revealed and recorded in the first century then God’s word did not abide (continue on its present condition) and it did not endure (hold out against damage or corruption) for all of time.  1 Peter 1:23-25 is our assurance that what we have recorded for us today is what they had revealed for them in the first century. 

The Bible teaches us that everything we need to know for a life of godliness was revealed and recorded in the first century and preserved for all of time.  Since everything we need to know was revealed, recorded and preserved, then there is no reason whatsoever for additional revelation.  The early Christians had what they needed and we have today what they had then. 

4)  The Bible claims to be the exclusive source for truth.

Not only does the Bible teach that it is inspired, accurate, authoritative and sufficient, it also forbids going to any other source other than itself for instruction.  The inspired writers commanded their readership to not think, or go, beyond what has been written (1 Corinthians 4:6).  John wrote in  2 John 9, “Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God” (NASB). I used the NASB translation because it more accurately communicates what the original language meant.  The Greek carries the meaning of going beyond where one is authorized to go.  One can depart and abide not in the doctrine of Christ if one goes beyond, or goes too far. 

In Revelation 22:18-19 we read of God’s curse on those who add to or take away from His words.  This attitude echoes His sentiments regarding the Old Testament law as well.  In Deuteronomy 4:2, Deuteronomy 12:32 we see God’s express command not to add to or take away from the law of Moses.  Concerning this very thing, Solomon wrote in Proverbs 30:5-6, “Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.”  We do not live under the law of Moses today, but we can surely see from an examination of scripture that additions or subtractions of God’s will from any covenant was, and is, forbidden.  

5) The Bible teaches us that we are to reject the teachings of men. 

The Bible gives us severe warnings over perverting the gospel message.  Paul pronounced a curse on any who teach a gospel other than the one delivered in the first century (Galatians 1:8-9).  When John warned his readership not to go too far in 2 John 9 he went on in verses 10 and 11 to forbid any association with false doctrine at all.  2 John 10-11, “If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds” (NKJV). 

Which doctrine is John talking about here?  John says “does not bring this doctrine“.  Which doctrine is “this doctrine“?  This doctrine is the one John had, which was, and is the complete revelation of the knowledge of God’s will for man at the dawn of the Christian age.  This doctrine is the faith that was once for all delivered.  This doctrine is the one that thoroughly furnishes us unto all good works.  This is the doctrine that is capable of making complete and thoroughly equipping us for every good work.  This is the doctrine that lives and abides forever.   The scriptures teach us to reject anyone teaching any other doctrine and then warns us that if we do, we are a partaker in their evil. 

If a doctrine does not come from God, it has to come from man’s additions or subtractions from God’s word.  The Bible also teaches us that our worship is vain if we follow as doctrine the commandments of men (Matthew 15:9, Mark 7:7). 

The only way I know of to assure myself that I am not worshipping according to the commandments of men is to adhere strictly to the Bible which claims to be inspired, or coming from God. 

If there is divine revelation today, then the scriptures which recorded all the knowledge required to live a Godly life in the first century cannot be the exclusive source for truth which it claims to be.   If there is divine revelation today, then we would have to transgress the word of God in order to follow it. God is not the author of confusion.  He is not going to forbid going to any source other than what was revealed and recorded in the first century and then 18 centuries later, turn around and reveal something we need to know and then expect us to violate His original word in order to live faithfully.

So now are we to believe we have two sources for God’s truth, separated by 1800 years?  The oldest one claims to be inspired, accurate, authoritative, sufficient, perpetual and forbids us to go to something else for instruction.  And now, are we to believe that roughly 1800 years later we have… something else for instruction?  We have the new testament from the first century which forbids us to go to another testament and now in the 21st century we have another testament? 

Conclusion:

The Bible teaches us that we do not need modern day revelation.  When God delivered the knowledge necessary to live a Godly life, He delivered it all.  (2 Peter 1:2)

The Bible teaches us that the scriptures are inspired.  God inspired them all.

The Bible teaches us that the scriptures are sufficient and equip us to every good work.  Concerning the works of righteousness and obedience to God’s will, we have it all.  (2 Timothy 3:16-17)  We do not need additional Revelation.

The Bible teaches us that God’s word will endure and is preserved for us.  He preserved it all and it endured it all.  (1 Peter 1:23-25). We do not need additional Revelation.

The Bible claims to be the exclusive source of God’s word today.  Concerning any teaching more than or less than what can be found in the Bible, it excluded all.  (1 Corinthians 4:6, 2 John 9, Revelation 22:18-19)  There cannot be any additional Revelation.

The Bible is our sole instruction manual for living a godly life.  Any teaching which is less than what can be found therein is incomplete.  Any teaching which is more than what is revealed and recorded is too much.  Our course of action is clear and true.  God says his word is complete, we believe Him.  God says His word completely equips us, we believe Him.  God says His word is recorded by His inspiration, we believe Him.  God says His word endures forever, we believe Him. 

People living in the first century who obeyed the word of God then were saved.  They had what they needed, they were complete, they lived according to the revealed truth and were saved.  We have what they had.  We can obey the same faith they followed, believe how they believed, worship the way they worshipped and live how they lived in absolute assurance of the hope we have in Christ. 

Invitation:

God’s complete, inspired, enduring, accurate and authoritative word teaches us in Hebrews 11:6 that, “Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (NKJV).  We must believe and and have faith.

God’s complete, inspired, enduring, accurate and authoritative word teaches us in Acts 17:30 that God now “commandeth all men every where to repent“.  We must repent, “turn to God, and do works befitting repentance” (Acts 26:20).  

God’s complete, inspired, enduring, accurate and authoritative word teaches us in Matthew 10:32-33
“Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven” (NKJV).

God’s complete, inspired, enduring, accurate and authoritative word teaches us in Mark 16:16, “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned” (NKJV).  It also teaches us in John 3:5
“Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God” (NKJV).  We must be baptized, born again of the water and the Spirit if we are to have any hope of living in the kingdom of God.  Obedience to baptism is the only way God will forgive anyone of their past sins who are living today after the crucifixion of Christ on the cross.

God’s complete, inspired, enduring, accurate and authoritative word teaches us in Hebrews 5:9 that Jesus is the author of salvation for all who obey Him.  And in Ephesians 6:6 that our obedience must not be “with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart” (NKJV). 

And Finally, God’s complete, inspired, enduring, accurate and authoritative word teaches us in Revelation 2:10 to “Be faithful until death, and I [Jesus Christ] will give you the crown of life” (NKJV). 

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Homosexual Love Quiz

Six Question “Love Quiz” For Homosexuals

Recently, when Chik-Fil-A founder and president Dan Cathy exercised his First Amendment right to free speech by making remarks simply affirming that he believed in the biblical definition of marriage – that defined as being that one sacred and intimate union specifically between only a man and a woman – well, ever so sadly the self-deceived and unloving homosexual lobby along with their approving and ungodly counterparts which make up so much of the so-called ‘mainstream media,’ went to work to once again prove beyond any shadow of a doubt, the main point of this article – which is that true love is a apparently a completely foreign concept and/or experience to them. As they caterwauled and carried on with their usual, predictable, and biblically-ignorant cacophony of cries about how hateful, bigoted, homophobic, judgmental, and unloving he and all who believe as he does were, they, in their unbelievably hypocritical, hate-filled, prejudiced, bibliophobic, judgmental and unloving responses did what they always do and apparently always will do whenever faced with such: prove beyond any shadow of a doubt, their absolute lack of any understanding whatsoever of exactly what true love is, what it does, or how it acts.

Now if anyone reading this is offended by that, then I beg of you to please just finish the article and then determine whether or not the point is true. I must also say before continuing, how deeply saddened and sincerely sorry I am in some ways for the those who practice this abhorrent sin; not only for their eternal destiny (obviously), but also for the fact that the vast majority of them apparently do not have any idea whatsoever about what real love is, or how to react to it when ultimately faced with it. It seems that for the most part, many of them simply do not possess the capacity to either understand, receive, return, or properly respond to, real and sincere, genuine true love. And again, if anyone thinks that that is an unfair or factually unfounded statement, I would only ask that you simply and honestly consider the following, multiple choice, “Six Question Love Quiz For Homosexuals.”

Question #1: Let’s say you live in residential ‘row housing’ within the city limits. In front of your house there are two lanes of traffic going in each direction with cars parked along the curb in a continuous line. You are sitting on your small front porch watching the traffic fly by when suddenly you see your three year old child’s ball that they have been playing with roll off the porch, down the steps, along the walk, between the parked cars and into the two lanes of traffic. Now, which of the following is the most loving? Do you:

A). Shout out a warning at the top of your lungs to stop them from their deadly and destructive pursuit as you sprint out of your chair and down over the steps to do whatever it takes to stop their headlong rush into certain death in pursuit of that which they most treasure – this despite their probable piercing protestations to the contrary regarding your unwelcome and unwanted intervention?

B). Say nothing at all but just watch what happens next with very little interest in interceding to prevent the impending disaster, because you’re the type of person who believes that everyone has the “right to choose” and to do as they please no matter the lives it costs? (After all, it isn’t like they’ve insisted that you join them in their fatal pursuit anyway.)

C). Encourage and support their decision of certain death and self-destruction by purposefully throwing their ball towards the street, telling them it’s okay to chase it and that nothing will hurt them in their pursuit, even going so far as to seek to shame and silence any concerned neighbor who might possibly become aware of what is happening and suddenly seek to intervene and shout out a warning to stop that very action which will surely lead to their sudden death?

Which of the above answers, A, B, or C, is the most loving?

Question #2: You live in the suburbs. It’s one of those nicer, newer developments where the homes are perhaps only separated by a row of shrubs. You are out casually conversing with your neighbor one morning while her husband is working on the family car and your two families’ children are playing peacefully together in the driveway. All of the sudden, over your neighbor’s shoulder, you see one of the children go to pick up and drink from the open can of deadly poison brake fluid, just out of the peripheral vision of her husband. Now, which of the following is the most loving? Do you:

A). Scream out a blood-curdling warning at the very top of your lungs to stop them from their deadly and destructive pursuit?

B). Say nothing at all even though you know what they’re doing will destroy them in a very painful and horrific way, because after all, they haven’t insisted that you drink from it?

C) Encourage their decision of self-destruction by purposefully seeking to make sure you distract your friend by drawing her attention to another irrelevant and biblically-ignorant discussion in the meantime, meanwhile ensuring that the child engages in the deadly action that will surely destroy them?

Which of the above answers, A, B, or C, is the most loving?

Question 3: You go to visit your best friend of many years who lives on the 16th floor of an apartment building in the city. You arrive only to find the door ajar and your friend across the room with one foot out the window in their imminent and determined attempt to commit suicide by leaping to their death on the pavement below. Now, which of the following is the most loving? Do you:

A). Do everything possible in your love and power to prevent the approaching disaster that they would incur upon themselves if they continued in their deadly pursuit?

B). Say nothing at all but instead just simply stand in the doorway and watch disinterestedly what happens next without seeking in any way to intercede to prevent the impending disaster, because you’re the type of person who believes that everyone has the “right to choose” and do as they please? (After all, it isn’t like they’ve insisted that you join them in jumping anyway.)

C). Encourage and support their decision of self-destruction and certain death by insisting that it’s okay to jump, and in fact, that anyone who says any different whatsoever is simply a bigoted hatemonger who doesn’t love and support them like you do (maybe even going over to them at that point as a ‘friend’ and giving them a little ‘love’ shove in the destructive direction they have chosen, in order to show your ‘open-minded’ and overall support and approval of their decision of self-destruction)?

Which of the above answers, A, B, or C, is the most loving?

Question #4: You are a firefighter/EMT who has been called to assist on a disaster relief team called up into a recently tornado-struck and devastated area. While working to clear downed trees, you see a local resident who is about to stoop down and seek to remove a downed power line from his front walk. You know that the local power grid is still on and active. Please choose from the following, which of these three courses of action would be the most loving. Do you:

A). Do everything humanly possible to get his attention and prevent the deadly disaster that he is about to incur upon himself before your very eyes?

B). Say nothing, because after all, you’d hate to be so ‘unloving’ and ‘judgmental’ as to try to tell someone that the behavior they were engaging in would ultimately destroy them – and so, you stand by and say and do nothing in your ‘tolerant’ and ‘open-minded’ attitude… while you watch them fry?

C). Encourage their behavior, by shouting out to them when you see them stop and hesitate, to “…trust [you], it’s okay, [you] support their decision to do as they please; it’s their front walk, no one else’s, so go ahead, the grid is off, it’s okay, and that anyone who says otherwise hates them and just doesn’t want them to get their walk cleaned off anyway?”

Which of the above answers, A, B, or C, is the most loving?

Question #5: You live in the Midwestern southern states where the drought-driven wildfires have wreaked havoc on homes and farmlands this summer. Your elderly parents live therein, somewhat nearby as well, and at this point in their lives usually sleep in until around 9 A.M. You however, rising early at 5 A.M. and seeing the latest news report, learn that the wildfires are rapidly being wind-driven in the very direction of your elderly parents’ home. Please choose from the following, which of these three courses of action would be the most loving. Do you:

A). Get on the phone, and getting no answer, get in your car as fast as you possibly can and drive over to wake, warn, and get them out of harm’s way at all personal cost?

B). Not bother to warn them because you don’t want to interrupt their sleep and inconvenience them with what might seem to some to be an unloving and hateful course of action? (How is that even possible; that someone who even considers themselves remotely sane would actually have such a warped and sinful misconception of love and hate?!?)

C). Drive up near their house, quietly and stealthfully block their driveway to make sure that no one interrupts, disturbs, wakes or warns them because you support their “right to fry?” And if anyone dares to try to get by you to help them to escape the flames, you accuse those ‘unloving’ and ‘judgmental’ rescuers of being bigots and sleepaphobes?

Which of the above answers, A, B, or C, is the most loving?

And finally, ‘The Biggie’: Question #6: You have a friend or loved one who practices what God considers the abomination of homosexuality (See: Genesis 18:20, 19:1-7; Leviticus 18:22-30, 20:13; Jude 6-8).  You KNOW from even your most casual recent reading of God’s holy word, that He said time and again that those who choose to continue to impenitently practice this sinful abomination simply WILL NOT, EVER inherit the kingdom of God (See: Romans 1:18-22; I Corinthians 6:9-11; Ephesians 5:3-11; Revelation 21:8 and 22:14-15). Please very carefully consider and then choose which of the three following courses of action would honestly therefore, be the most loving. Do you:

A). Constantly and continually shout out a warning at each and every opportunity, and to do whatever you possibly, humanly can, to let those in this dire danger of fire and eternal damnation know where their destructive and deadly choice of lifestyle and course of action will undoubtedly, unquestionably, and undeniably take them?

B). Say nothing in your ‘open minded,’ ‘non-judgmental,’ and ‘to each his own’ attitude, because after all, you are a ‘live and let live’ kind of guy (or in this case, to quote an old Bond movie title, a “Live and Let Die” kind of guy)?

C). Encourage and support their deadly and self-destructive decision to pursue and practice this abomination like the biblically ignorant and ungodly politicians and entertainers who show their real hatred for homosexuals’ self destructive actions by pushing for the passage of more ‘hate crimes’ and same-sex marriage laws (like those accomplices and supporters of said sin mentioned in Romans 1:28-32)? This, sort of like the soldier I recently saw on the nightly news outside of Tulsa who was holding up a sign saying “I support Gays.” His sad sign of sin and self-deception could have just as readily and easily have read (and did indeed to those who know the bible): “I support the actions of those who wish to continue their souls’ trips into eternal destruction in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone. I do not love them enough to want to warn them of their impending doom, or to see anyone else warn them so that their souls may be saved on the day of judgment.”  In actuality it is pretty easy to see that it is all of those who thus favor, promote, approve, support, and encourage homosexuals’ self destructive actions that are the ones truly guilty of hate crimes of the worst kinds against homosexuals.

I must say that I certainly would not want anyone who would be as truly unloving as to choose anything other than “A” to ANY of the above questions ever babysitting my grandchildren. Would you yours? They would be (at the very least) indifferent and silent in the face of deadly danger, if not downright supportive and encouraging of them engaging in such self-destructive actions as: playing in traffic, drinking deadly poison, jumping out 16th story windows, playing with downed power lines, being incinerated alive, or far worse than any of the first five, choosing to engage in an abominable action that God promises will force Him to deliver those who continue to practice it over to burning and suffering forever in the “…everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matthew 25:41), where “they will be tormented day and night forever and ever” (Revelation 20:10).

Surely most anyone can agree that it is pretty easy to see when couched in these simple, common sense, and Scriptural terms, what true love both is – and isn’t. And this is why the point of this article, that we who love the Lord and the lost must continue to proclaim and defend, is that those who continue to practice, promote, and defend this heinous sin, apparently have no idea what true love is; because they refuse to warn those who are headed for eternal fire, according to God, of the danger that awaits them if they refuse to repent.

True love does not rejoice in sin but rejoices with the truth (I Corinthians 13:6). True love for Jesus obeys His commandments (John 14:6). And understanding and possessing true love for another would then mean that instead of continuing in these “same-sex” unions, if these partners truly loved one another as they claim they do, then they would want to set the pace, repent of their sin, and see their partner do the same so as to be saved, just like those in Corinth did (I Corinthians 6:11) – because they love them – instead of continuing down the road of deception, death and destruction. Isn’t that what true love truly does? Yes, it is. And if anyone who might possibly read this article thinks that it is either hateful, harsh, or unloving, I am truly sorry; sorry because you’ve apparently totally missed the whole point… but continue to completely make mine. God bless.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Love Jesus but Hate Religion?

Is The Church Important?

Over the years there have been a variety of statements (or mottos) expressing an ideology espoused by those who want Jesus “but not the church.” The newest of these is that one can love Jesus but hate religion.

In my experience those who profess such views are in reality just looking for an easy way out of what they see as an oppressive way of life. They want the grace of God that has been extended unto all men (Titus 2:11) but don’t want to be told what to do…by God or anyone else.

Now, if by religion or “church” one means a denomination or man-made organization or institution I am in full agreement. The problem is two-fold created by those who have perverted the gospel and religion and those who are tired of the hypocrisy, ignorant of the truth, or just simply rebellious and self-serving (Romans 16:18).

So the question is, “Is the church important?” “Can we hope to go to heaven without the church or religion?” Well let’s not suppose we know what God say, let’s listen to His Word.

1. Jesus didn’t come to destroy religion but to build His church and establish a one true religion for all mankind. Read and study Ephesians 2:11-22. In order to accomplish his mission to reconcile all men to himself he promised, “…I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18). Is the church important? It was important enough for Jesus to die on the cross and purchase it with his own blood (Acts 20:28).

2. In giving His life for us, and establishing the church, the Father gave Jesus all authority (Matthew 28:18), placing “all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church” (Ephesians 1:22). “He is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent” (Colossians 1:18). For us it means that we must do what He says. In fact He said that if we truly love Him we would do what He says (John 14:15). Is the church important? If we want the head of the church to be the head of our lives it will be.

3. Jesus is not only the head of the church he is “the Savior of the body” (Ephesians 5:23). The church and the body are the same thing. The body is where the blood is and where we are cleansed (1 John 1:7). It was the church to which the Lord added the saved (Acts 2:47). And when one is saved he is translated out of darkness and into the kingdom (Colossians 1:13). Is the church important? If we want to be saved it is!

 4. You cannot go to heaven if your name isn’t written there and if you are not in the kingdom. It is the names of those who are in the church that are written in heaven (Hebrews 12:23). And when Jesus comes again it is those who are in the kingdom that will go to be with Him in His home (John 14:1-3; 1 Corinthians 15:24).

Is the church important? The more pertinent question is, “Is the church important to you?” It will be if we want to be reconciled to God, if we are willing for Jesus to be the head of our lives and truly love Him, and if we want to be saved and go to heaven.

If it is important to us we will not forsake the services of the church (Hebrews 10:25). We will put the church first in our lives (Matthew 6:33). We will let our light shine (Matthew 5:14-16). We will practice pure and undefiled religion (James 1:27). If the church is important to us we will be obedient and faithful!

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Love of Money

Money is a useful commodity, money is essential to us in our society today. Money is used by us to educate ourselves, feed our families, purchase a home, and buy a car, also for clothing, health care, and other things. To suggest that we do not need money is silly. God has no problem with man providing the needs of life or of man working to gain material things for himself and his family, rather he insists upon man providing sustenance for his family — 1 Timothy 5:8, “But if any provideth not for his own, and specially his own household, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an unbeliever.” ASV

God understands that we need to have the things of life necessary to sustain us that is not a problem — the problem defined by God that relates to money is “The LOVE of money” (e.g.  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.” ASV)  The love of money is the inordinate passion for money — the uncontrolled desire followed by implementation of methods to acquire it regardless of the right or wrong of the process.

Christians ought never allow themselves to get caught up in he desire for material things, things which money can buy without examining carefully the method which they are determined to use in getting that desire satisfied. God understands the possibility that we may sin in the process of satisfying a desire (i.e. in this case, “lust”).

The love of money is the root (i.e. first cause) of all kinds of evil.” If we will remember that it is possible for us to want something with too great a passion (i.e. lust), we may be able to control our desire for things that money can purchase. All of us are subject to temptation, all of us are capable of failing in this matter, all of us therefore must be aware of the possibility that we may “LOVE” money too much. In (1 Corinthians 9:27, “but I buffet my body, and bring it into bondage: lest by any means, after that I have preached to others, I myself should be rejected.” ASV)  we are given an example by Paul the apostle on how we must be conscious of the passion within us and control our appetite for things.

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The Glorious Church

In Ephesians 5:25-27, Paul declared, “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” In this thoughtful text, Paul references the “glorious church,” and we ought to remember that it indeed is glorious! If we are not careful, we may look at all of the negative things that we are facing today, bemoan such with an attitude of “Woe is me!” and fail to remember that despite all of the evil and suffering ongoing in this world, we are still blessed to be a part of the glorious church! Why is the church so glorious?

The church is glorious because we have a glorious Father. The psalmist praised God when he exalted, “Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things, and blessed be his glorious name forever: and let the whole earth be filled with his glory; Amen, and Amen” (Psa. 72:18-19). Stephen preached that “the God of glory appeared to our father Abraham” (Acts 7:2). As members of the church of our Lord, all that we do should give the proper glory to our Heavenly Father (cf. John 15:8; Rom. 15:6)! In the superb Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught that disciples are to display their distinctive lives in such a way that God would receive glory (Matt. 5:16).

The church is glorious because it presents a glorious faith. Hebrews 11 paints such a vivid portrait of the great men and women of faith, and we may meditate and dream upon such for long periods of time. To consider the great faith that they displayed, we realize that they serve as wonderful examples for us, even today. Remember the great statement that Jesus told doubting Thomas: “Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed” (John 20:29). Many of us may know wonderful seasoned saints who truly are the “salt-of-the-earth” people—those whose faith we not only admire, but we also emulate! The church is glorious because as members of the church, we are able to present a glorious faith!

The church is glorious because we are a part of a glorious family. Indeed, the church is described as a wonderful family—“the house of God” (1 Tim. 3:15). As brethren—sons and daughters of our Heavenly Father (cf. 2 Cor. 6:18)—we shower one another with love and compassion. We provide special attention to those who are “of the household of faith” (Gal. 6:10). Where would we be without our church family? For this reason, is not the church glorious?

The church is glorious because we have a glorious future. The hope of the resurrection inspires us, as well as comforts us (cf. 1 Thess. 4:13-18). Thus, we set our aims, affections and aspirations to the skies above (Col. 3:1-2; Heb. 12:1-2), waiting for heaven to be a reality. Then, we may be able to dream of our future:

And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honor into it. And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there. And they shall bring the glory and honor of the nations into it. [Rev. 21:23-26]

Therefore, when times may get tough, we are able to set such aside and realize the glorious future for the church (1 Cor. 15:22-26, 51-58).

The church is glorious because we are marrying a glorious husband. The context of our beginning text of this article shows the relationship of the church with Jesus providing lessons for the relationship between husbands and wives. As we view the church as the bride of Christ, we see the beautiful imagery of a wedding taking place, emphasized also in Revelation 21:2-9. When we consider the glory of Jesus Christ, it literally may take our breath away and bring tears to our eyes (cf. Rev. 5:4-5). The apostle John declared of Jesus, “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth” (1:14). Let those words sink in—“we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father.” He prayed for glory from His Father (John 17:5), and one day, He will be returning in His glory—the same glory of His Father (Luke 9:26; cf. Matt. 16:27; Mark 8:38). The church is glorious because Jesus Christ, the head of the church (Eph. 1:22-23), is glorious!

Therefore, we ought never to lose sight of the fact that no matter how gloomy our future may perceive, we may look through the dark clouds that hover about us to see the many manifestations of the glory associated with the church! This sparks hope—hope that those who are hopeless in the world need to know and hear from us! May we ever be optimistic carriers of good news—we serve a glorious God who rules over a glorious church!

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