Bible Thoughts

April 18, 2004

One of the outstanding features of faithful men of the Old Testament was the conviction that caused them to stand for that which was right. Daniel willingly went into the lion's den, the Hebrew children suffered the fiery furnace, and Abraham left his home and country. Their examples inspire faith at present.

The apostles and early disciples are also prime examples of people having conviction. Paul gave up his former life, friends, and standing, in order to be a disciple. Epaphroditus(Philippians 2:30) was glad to hazard his life for the cause of Christ. Peter and John were imprisoned and Steven was stoned. What they believed, they stood for whatever the cost.

Our society has seen an absence of those willing to stand for what they believe. In a weak, wishy-washy approach, with the idea of offending no person and making no sacrifice, compromisers have a field day. We need to look back to the examples of the Bible in which faithful men stood for their faith and whoever disliked what was being taught from the word of God did not stop their efforts.

When one believes something, that person should have enough conviction to teach it. One should be strong enough to stand up for it and even defend it when necessary. And yet, it is next to impossible to get some religious teachers to discuss the Bible with you, much less to enter into a debate. Oh, for men of conviction at present. It is evident many religious teachers have nothing in common with the great worthies of the Old Testament and New Testament.

The unity that is found in Christ is produced as a result of following his commandments. When we submit to those actions commanded by the Lord, we become acceptable to him. The right to be a child of God can be had by either Jew or Gentile. When one obeys and follows the truth, the obedience will place a person in the one body(the church-Ephesians 1:22-23). One's physical relationships do not prevent him from being a subject of the gospel.

Obedience to the commands in the New Testament will cause one to be baptized in order to be saved and be added to the Lord's church. Such obedience is complete under the direction, and with the approval of the Holy Spirit. This places all obedient believers into a unity not enjoyed in error. Continuing to obey the will of Christ after baptism will place one in the body of Christ(the church) so that the disicple can be refreshed through the teaching of the Holy Spirit.

Peter encouraged people to "repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord"(Acts 3:19). When people obey the truths of the New Testament, they are made to "drink of the one spirit."

There is, from time to time, renewed interest in the hearts of men for religious activity. The evidence appears in the turning of people to "charismatic movements," fundamentalist approaches, individual accountability, and the rejection of formalism found in "orthodox" churches.

If you share that interest, let us challenge you with this thought: Why not go all the way back to the Bible? Why stop short of the goal of pleasing God by listening to what some "testimonial" has to offer, when you can open your own Bible and discover its plain truth?

Why not resolve in your heart that you will accept nothing religiously that cannot be proved by the word of God? Paul said it, "And whatsoever ye do in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father in him"(Colossians 3:17).

Why not resolve in your heart to reject anything in your religious activity that carries you beyond the law of Christ? "Whosoever transgresseth and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son"(II John 9).

Why not resolve in your heart that anything you have presented to you will be examined in the light of the scriptures? "These were more noble than those inThessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether these things were so"(Acts 17:11).

When Jesus was preparing His disciples to go into all the world and preach the gospel to each person, He stated, "Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth, for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come"(John 16:13). The statement of our Lord makes it obvious to Bible believers: the words of inspired men, as Paul and Peter, are as if they are the words of Christ.

Paul discussed the manner in which, God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit made it possible for divine truth to be revealed through the apostles. "Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual"(I Corinthians 2:13). The messages of the apostles are the continuance of making God's will known to men.

All of the will of Christ is not to be determined by the red letters of some Bibles. The will of Christ is the entire New Testament. Hence, the words of Peter, Paul, James, and the other inspired writers, become as binding as the words personally uttered by Christ.

God reveals some things regarding the future. We should believe these things and refuse to speculate about unrevealed things. "But the heavens that now are, and the earth, by the same word have been stored up for fire, being reserved against the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men." In that time nobody knows when, "the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall be dissolved with fervent heat, and the earth and the works therein shall be burned up." The believer in Christ has nothing to fear, for, "according to his promise, we look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness." "In all holy living and godliness" we are to look for and earnestly desire "the coming of the day of God." -Gospel Advocate, January 21, 1934, page 69.