Women Wearing Pants

Please explain Deut twenty-two five in light of women wearing ladies pants? Deuteronomy 22:5 reads, “The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman’s garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God.” The Book of Deuteronomy was given to the Israelites after the inauguration of Judaism, which took place at Mt. Sinai. Obviously, the precepts that are in Deuteronomy, as such, have no regulatory power respecting the God-given law that preceded Judaism (i.e., Patriarchy), unless something given by God under Patriarchy was also included in Judaism. However, does a law under Judaism necessarily apply to the religious age, in which we live (i.e., Christianity)? Again, if a law under Judaism is repeated under Christianity, then such a requirement has force now, not because it was a law under Judaism, but because it is a law of God under Christianity. Additionally, something that was a law under a previous God-given system of religion (i.e., Patriarchy, Judaism), though the specifics do not apply now since they are not included in the New Testament, may have some bearing today due to the principle involved. In this case, the New Testament does not forbid women from wearing garments usually worn by men. However, the principle that Deuteronomy 22:5 addressed is applicable today. That is, it has always been the case from creation through the present that God intends for men and women to occupy distinctive, complementary but different roles (1 Corinthians 11:3; 14:34-35; Ephesians 5:22-26; …

Separate Services for the Deaf

My name is John Thurne, I have been preaching to the deaf in Alabama and Tennessee. I am not presently preaching because I have been informed by the elders of my home congregation that I have to cease preaching to the deaf because we do not have a scriptural authority for a separate services. … My question is, 1. Is it wrong to have a separate service for the deaf? 2. The elders said it was wrong because of the Lord’s Supper, is it wrong to have the Lord’s Supper separately? 3. Did not Jesus command us to preach the gospel to every creature? Typically, interpretation, whether for the deaf or for other spoken languages, takes place in the same assembly of a congregation. In the case of the deaf, the interpretation occurs simultaneously with the spoken lesson without interruption or confusion since only one audible voice at a time is heard. Where two or more spoken languages characterize an audience, such as on some mission fields, a preacher speaks and then pauses while his words are translated to the other language. This latter situation is precisely what the inspired apostle Paul instructed the church at Corinth (1 Corinthians 14:26-33). Sometimes, in areas where a number of worshippers speak a language that is not shared by a larger number of worshippers, the two language groups will form separate congregations. Two such groups may have an agreement where they use the same facilities at different times, though they are essentially two distinct …

David, A Man After God’s Heart

How God can say of David a man after my own heart when he did all of those wicked things as recorded in the Bible? God wanted King Saul to be his favored servant, but Saul disobeyed God. More than that, Saul was not penitent. Therefore, God removed Saul from being king and sought another. “But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee” (1 Samuel 13:14). At least initially, God found his favored servant in David (1 Samuel 16:6-13). David did the bidding of God, and yet, like all mortals, sometimes he sinned. Some of his more notable sins, of course, include adultery and murder. Yet, with penitent heart, David turned back to God. The favorable reference to David does not gloss over David’s sins and may have applied to David more before the sins that we remember against him. It is possible, though, the favorable reference to David refers as much to him after his penitence as before he committed those ignoble sins. “And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will” (Acts 13:22). The Acts 13:22 reference is part of a summary of Hebrew history, which does not …

What Are Our Kids Learning?

(Christian Bible Teacher, Abilene, TX, Vol. 44, No. 6, June 2000, p. 148.) By the time the average American teenager graduates from high school, he or she will have spent more time consuming media outside of school — watching TV, movies, playing video games, surfing the Web, etc. — than time in school. According to the recently published Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation report, Kids and Media, average media consumption for children 8-13 exceeds eight hours a day. Compare this to the couple of hours a week our children attend Bible classes and we see a problem that most Bible class teachers confront regularly, as well as parents. What are our children learning? Our kids are learning from the mass media all the time their way of life and their morality. We know that mostly this is in contrast to the Christian way. Such things as living together before marriage, using foul language, homosexuality, divorce for any cause are presented as the normal way of life. Our kids are learning that sin is okay, and that there is actually no standard of morality, each is a law unto himself. Secondly, our kids are learning to be loyal consumers of the mass media’s version of reality, but not producers of their own versions which should be that of the Bible. Christian kids rarely have the opportunity to critically analyze media and produce the Christian response to media. Thus, most are blindly led to accept what they see and hear. Our children are learning subtly …

Quality Not Quantity

The phrase “Quality not Quantity” is commonly used in the training of restaurant personnel. The emphasis not being that numbers do not matter, but instead that quality service will create more profit for the company. Serving large quantities of people without utilizing quality standards will only drive away business while ensuring quality standards will bring more business. Satisfied customers will return and bring others with them. Compare a gourmet meal served to 3000 people by a world-renowned chef to the same meal served to one person by a greasy spoon country cook. Patrons to both establishments will receive full stomachs, but will they return to their respective restaurants? That depends on whether or not the chef and cook ensured the quality of their food and service. If either of them is more concerned with numbers and neglect quality, the patrons will have a bad experience and never return. On the other hand, if quality is ensured, the patrons will gladly return with their friends. Spiritually speaking, Peter served the Gospel in Acts 2, converting 3,000 souls. Philip served the same gospel to a single soul in Acts 8, thus converting the Ethiopian eunuch. They both “served” the same spiritual food and both saved souls. God provided both Peter and Phillip with the Holy Spirit to ensure quality because he cares for all souls. Second Peter 3:9 describes that fact to us by stating, “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing …

Forgotten Men of the Bible: Joseph

There are many Bible characters that we know much about. Such people are the subject of frequent studies and may even have whole books or chapters of books devoted to them and the lessons we can learn from them. There are other people mentioned in the Bible about whom we know very little. These people may only be mentioned in passing or are found in only one or two places in the Bible. Often times these people are overlooked, yet they appear in our Bibles for a reason. John 20:30-31 tells us that Jesus did many things that were not recorded in the Bible. The things that were recorded are to strengthen our faith. Second Timothy 3:16-17 tells us that everything in the Bible is from God and is for our learning. With this in mind, there can be no doubt that these little known, “forgotten” men and women of the Bible can teach us valuable lessons today. When most people think of the Joseph of the Bible, they probably think of the Joseph in the Old Testament. However, there are two other men in the Bible named Joseph. The first is the foster father of our Lord. The second provided a tomb for our Lord. First, consider Joseph, the foster father of Jesus. This man is only mentioned a handful of times in the Bible. In Matthew 1:16-24 we can read about the circumstances surrounding the birth of Jesus. This passage tells us that Joseph was espoused to Mary. This was …

Potential Danger in All Our Blessings

The proper use of physical blessings is essential to salvation. Like airplanes, automobiles or even fire, physical blessings of themselves possess neither good nor bad propensities for their employment. However, they have the potential of being used for good or evil. For instance, the airplane, neither good nor bad of itself, can be used for rescue and medical missions or for war. Automobiles may serve as ambulances or “get-away” cars. Fire can be used for warmth and cooking or to destroy. Blessings enjoyed by Christians, neither good nor bad themselves, can be abused to the harm of one’s spiritual welfare. Great intellect, higher education and abundant knowledge may be a curse to some Christians. While no depreciation of brainpower, scholarship or proficiency is intended, Christians must use lawfully and wisely whatever it is with which God has blessed them. Christians must demonstrate a humble and teachable disposition, like children (Matthew 11:25). “. . . Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3-4). However, Christians must also exercise intellect in religion (Matthew 22:37). “. . . we . . . desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding” (Colossians 1:9). Yet, particularly secular knowledge can make one “puffed up” and arrogant. God found the world in general and the Corinthian church …

Questions About the Genesis Flood

One of this planet’s most significant events, rivaled only the eventual end of the world itself, was the great Flood that is recorded in Genesis 6-8. Let us address two questions frequently posed regarding this catastrophe. Did the Flood Cover the Entire Earth? It is tragic that some equivocate on this subject. Willis avers: “There is simply not sufficient concrete information to allow a dogmatic judgment on this matter” (174). The view that the Flood was a mere local event was conceived about 300 years ago, and those today who subscribe to that notion do so because they have been influenced by evolutionary ideology. Note: “As with the Creation narrative, however, the evidence and arguments from science stack up overwhelmingly against a literal interpretation of the Flood story” (Sheler, 52, emp. WJ). And so, in deference to “science” (really, evolution theory) biblical data are either dismissed or manipulated so as to produce the desired result. But the evidence for a global Flood is overwhelming. (1) The Mosaic language could not be plainer relative to the extent of the Deluge. “[A]ll the high mountains, that were under the whole heaven were covered…And all flesh died that moved upon the earth” (Genesis 7:19, 21). While it is true that occasionally comprehensive terms are employed in a more limited sense, the context must demand such, and that factor does not obtain here. (2) A portion of the Flood waters came as a result of the fountains of “the great deep” being broken up (Genesis 7:11). The waters of “the …

Patience

Patience is a godly quality that each child of God should develop. “. . . O man of God . . . follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness” (1 Timothy 6:11). Patience in the life of a Christian is pleasing to God and contributes to personal happiness. “That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness” (Colossians 1:10-11). The development of patience often occurs by enduring unpleasant circumstances. “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience” (James 1:2-3). One word translated “patience” literally means “abiding under”; another word translated “patience” or “longsuffering” is defined as “long tempered.” Patience, then, is learning to live with inconveniences and difficult moments. The apostle Paul taught Christians at Rome that proper reaction to life’s difficulties can result in patience. Therefore, these unpleasant circumstances are not to be despised. “. . . we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience” (Romans 5:3). Paul also taught the Thessalonians to “be patient toward all men” (1 Thessalonians 5:14). Further, patience is especially useful to the Christian as he WAITS for the return of Jesus Christ. “Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive …

On Such a Day as This

What a beautiful day! From my vantage point, the horizon was framed beneath with green trees and a magnificent, perfect blue sky above. Puffy white clouds accented the sky and a friendly, warming sun shone overhead. A gentle, cool breeze complemented this delightful panorama. Adding to my appreciation of the day, former days were much less stunning. Though the calendar pages signaled the passing of seasons, the previous winter left only stubbornly, and it seemed that spring likewise gripped us jealously. When finally the lingering snow (upper Ohio River valley) and the relentless rain subsided, summer arrived in a fury of heat and humidity. This day, though, all that for now at least, was merely a memory. After all, August is expected to be hot and humid here. However, for a while, this day and perhaps a few coming, was flawless. Doubtless, even a beautiful day such as this would appear less promising if I were encountering hurtful circumstances, which I was not. I was not hungry (perhaps too well fed). I was not suffering. No worries especially pressed me or prompted any anxiety (though of course we all have anxious moments occasionally). I had a place to live and clothes to wear. My family was healthy and happy. All of my immediate family faithfully practiced primitive Christianity. I had purpose in life for now and eternity. I was happy, which was not a bad disposition through which to view the world. It was true, though, that not everyone shared the same enthusiasm for that day. For instance, I saw a funeral procession go …

My Sins Grieve Me

My sins (and your sins) grieve God. However, until my sins grieve me, my sins will continue to grieve God. Better than anyone else (including particularly insightful and pseudo-omniscient brethren), I am aware of my sins. I remember the sins of which I have been guilty and they bring me much personal pain. I regret every one of them and with renewed vigor through prayer and reliance on the Word of God, I hope to prevent their reoccurrence in my life. Grief for sin is a difficult disposition for mortals to adopt, though it is a spiritual posture that is essential and a prerequisite to forgiveness. Nehemiah wept and said, “Let thine ear now be attentive, and thine eyes open, that thou mayest hear the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee now, day and night, for the children of Israel thy servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against thee: both I and my father’s house have sinned” (Nehemiah 1:6). (See also Psalms 106:6.) When confronted with his sins (at an earlier time in Jewish history than the last reference), King “. . . Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord, and thy words . . .” (1 Samuel 15:24). However, as in this instance, the consequences of sin cannot always be undone (1 Samuel 15:26). Following Nathan’s parable and the pronouncement of the sins of adultery and murder, King David responded, “. …

Just Bible Stories?

It was almost time to get up Sunday morning and I dozed, sleeping just a little longer. I began dreaming of a large boisterous public gathering. These people were my neighbors. These were my people. They were angry and glad at the same time. Three besides me (two other men and a woman) were in the midst of this multitude, though not by choice. It seemed like just a dream (and of course, it was). But then, it seemed very real, as dreams often do. Suddenly, with a quick noise and a dull thud, reality echoed as a brother in Christ was beheaded. All sense of dreamland vanished. The mob cheered. As the sister in Christ was being led away to the same fate, she, calmly, looked back and said to me, “It’s my turn now, then yours and he will follow you.” I marveled at her composure and peaceful resolve. In the same instant, horrified, I woke from my sleep. For a brief moment I felt as though I had visited a century long past. It was a time in which Christians were severely persecuted for no other reason than for their Gospel faith. I had not been there. Those things did not happen, but it seemed so real, and frightening. Events such as these about which one can read in both testaments transpired thousands of years ago. To us, they seem little more than “just Bible stories.” It is difficult for you and me, as we sit comfortably in our auditoriums …

Wrestling the Bible

The apostle Peter made this observation about the apostle Paul’s epistles: Some of the Scripture that Paul wrote is difficult to understand. Therefore, uneducated and careless readers twist it or wrestle with it to make Scripture teach something false. To treat the Word of God in this manner is spiritually hurtful. “And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction” (2 Peter 3:15-16). To “wrest” means to wrestle with, fight against, twist or pervert. Also, some teachers and preachers pervert the Bible. Their false teaching condemns them and those who are taught by them. “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of” (2 Peter 2:1-2). Every student of the Word of God has a great responsibility to properly study the Bible to learn what it truly teaches. “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the …

Verbal Inspiration

Acts Chapter Two decisively proves “verbal inspiration” to be the true definition of “inspiration” as it pertains to the Word of God (Bible). That some sort of “thought inspiration” instead was bestowed upon the apostles and other writers of the Bible is absurd. Thought inspiration as a means of transmitting divine communication to mortal men would be ineffective and therefore useless in the production of a standard moral code. The inefficiency of supposed thought inspiration would completely negate definitive religion (no patterns, just a vague and subjective “love letter”). The Bible confirms the validity of verbal inspiration. Presumably, both proponents of thought inspiration as well as adherents to verbal inspiration concede that God is the Divine Author of the Bible. Surely, each acknowledges “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” (2 Peter 1:21). Incidentally, however, the two preceding verses forcefully, though indirectly, utterly dispel the possibility of thought inspiration. The definitive character of God’s Word is easily discerned from: (1) “We also have a more sure word of prophecy” (2 Peter 1:19a), (2) “no prophecy of scripture is of any private interpretation” (2 Peter 1:20). The two verses preceding these refer to the literal “voice” and words of God (2 Peter 1:17-18). The context, then, of 2 Peter 1:17-21 pertains to verbal inspiration — not thought inspiration. Now, consider the conclusive evidence for verbal inspiration found in Acts Chapter Two. First, as either thought or verbal inspiration disputants admit, …

I Am Dying!

I am dying! Yet, I am not surprised. I knew my life ultimately would come to this. Simple reflection on the births, lives and deaths of people around me, teaches me that death is a common experience of humanity. Further, the Bible instructs me of the certainty of death — and judgment. “Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble. He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not” (Job 14:1-2). “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27). No, as far as I know, I am not afflicted with a terminal illness. I have never been so sick that I was in danger of dying. Neither have I sustained a mortal wound. I have never suffered an injury from which I was not expected to recover. However, I adamantly affirm again that I am dying. Further, you are dying, too. Every living thing is in the process of dying. From the moment babies are born and begin to mature, they march throughout life toward their ultimate deaths (untimely and prematurely or expiration at the conclusion of several decades, Psalm 90:10). Since we refuse to acknowledge our vulnerability, we often live as though we will never die. Were a doctor to tell us we have only three months to live, we would with great urgency and much carefulness do those things that are the …

Council Against Faith

After Jesus resurrected Lazarus, the Jewish religious leaders were thrown into a quandary. “Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles. If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation” (John 11:47-48). Off the record, even the enemies of Jesus Christ acknowledged the miracles that he performed (John 3:2; 12:42). These miracles were intended to cause belief in the Lord and his Word (John 2:11, 23; 20:30-31). How wonderful to think, unobstructed in anyway, every honest heart would believe on Jesus Christ. Yet, this proposition horrified the religious leaders of the day, for they would lose their position at the helm of contemporary religion and the worldly esteem that accompanied it. Their solution was to erase the miracle under consideration; they plotted to murder Lazarus. “But the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death; Because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away, and believed on Jesus” (John 12:10-11). Unfortunately, there is still a council against faith today. The chief-executive-officer (CEO) is the devil himself. “But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them” (2 Corinthians 4:3-4). The …

Confessing Christ

Recognizing Jesus Christ to be the Son of God and the willingness to publicly state that belief is essential to salvation. “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Romans 10:9-10). Such a confession of Christ was required of the Ethiopian nobleman in Acts Chapter Eight. Immediately after he stated his faith in Christ, the nobleman was immersed in water for the forgiveness of his sins. “And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him” (Acts 8:36-38). Following a person’s baptism into Jesus, his whole life as well as his words become public statements of belief in Christ. Then, Jesus also confesses that one to the heavenly Father. “Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 10:32). Do you believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God? Are you willing to tell …

Christian Living

After one is saved from his past sins, and while he waits for the reception of eternal life following the return of Jesus Christ, a soul is called upon by the Bible to practice faithful Christian living. Titus 2:11-13 is one passage that speaks of this salvation, Christian living and hope of eternal life.  “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:11-13). Christian living involves one’s responsibility to conform to the moral code authored by God and recorded through divine penman in the form of the New Testament. This responsibility is shared by elderly men, elderly women, young women, young men, servants and elders — according to Titus chapters one and two. All of these groups of people must practice Christian living before God, in the Lord’s church, toward each other, among family members and in submission to civil government. The Book of Titus is filled with references to these relationships or Christian living and is worthy of careful and prayerful study. A summary of how a person can “live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world” includes being: blameless, not self-willed, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy money, not covetous, hospitable, sober, just, holy, temperate, one who holds fast the faithful Word of …

A Humorous Wedding

Several years ago I was called upon to perform a wedding for a man and woman who were both in their sixties. The bride wore a blue flowered dress and carried a bouquet of artificial flowers, glass vase and all. She was cute to behold, as she had a potbelly and appeared to be toothless. The groom came to the wedding in blue jeans and wore an old beige colored shirt. He was also a snuff user as it was showing in the crevices that extended down from the corners of his mouth. With the church building filled to capacity and time for the ceremony to begin, the groom turned and asked me in a loud voice, “Is ten dollars enough Larry?” I answered “Yes, that is fine.” The bride entered and the ceremony began. Part way through the ceremony, the groom got confused and started to kiss his bride. This of course caused some chuckles from those present. After the ceremony, the newly wed husband told me in jest that in the morning he was going to suggest to his bride that she should put his pants on and when she refused, he was going to tell her, “Just remember who wears the pants in this family.” After being married, they lived happily in a one-room shanty and when visiting the neighbors, the husband drove a riding lawnmower with his new bride in a cart behind him. [Editor’s Note: Preachers are invited to submit amusing incidents that have occurred over the …

The Brass Collection Plate

The following happened at a small country church near Freed-Hardeman University in Tennessee. Brother Eugene Hibbett, recently retired from Freed-Hardeman University, tells about preaching for a small country church in Tennessee where the husband of’ one of the members had attended for years, but had never obeyed the Gospel. One Sunday after the morning service, brother Hibbett went to his home, studied with him and was thrilled when the man agreed to return to the building to be baptized into Christ. Because it was a small congregation, the newly baptized brother was the only one taking communion at the evening service. They passed the bread, and he partook without incident. Similarly, he drank of the cup. But then they passed the offering plate. It was of old design, made of brass and rather deep. He looked at it, not knowing what it was, and finally — spit in it! Brother Hibbett says that after the man realized what he had done, he was so embarrassed that it took a long time to ever get him to come back.

Bible Characters Unscramble and Match

[Print page or select and copy to a word processor before printing page.] Unscramble the letters to reveal the Bible characterthen match the Bible character on the rightwith Bible character on the left that followed. SDAUJ                                 LOOMNSO IEHJAL   ROEDBHA IEL   SAHIEL LSUA   HATAISM VADID   LMASEU DINOGE   AVDID

Prophets of the Bible

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Animals of the Bible

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Not Worthy to Bear His Shoes

John the Baptist is known as a great Bible character. He was responsible for preaching and preparing the way for Jesus. John was not scared to preach what needed to be said. He was willing to do whatever was necessary to preach the good news of the coming Christ. Jesus said that no man had ever been born who was greater than John the Baptist (except for Jesus himself, Matthew 11:11). That means Jesus considered John greater than Abraham, Moses and Elijah. This makes John a very great man indeed. Yet, as great as John was, John did not think he was great. John considered himself as very, very low compared to Jesus. In Matthew 3:11, John said he was not worthy to bear the sandals of Jesus. That is a very important statement. In New Testament times, people wore sandals. The lowest job a person could have was carrying the sandals of someone else (and/or washing their feet). Many times the lowliest servant went with a master to carry his sandals. The lowliest servant would take the sandals off for the master when he arrived home. John said he was not even worthy of bearing the sandals of Jesus. So even though Jesus said that no man had ever been born greater than John, John says he is lowlier than the lowliest servant when compared to Jesus. This tells us how great John considered Jesus to be. Do you think of yourself as that low compared to Jesus? Many people think more highly of themselves than they should. But no one should think that way, especially when he thinks of Jesus.

All the Kingdoms

Jesus had not eaten anything in forty days. He was very hungry. And he was very tired and weak. Satan had tried to get him to turn a stone into bread. But Jesus had resisted using his miraculous powers to serve himself. He stayed with his mission to serve others. Satan then takes Jesus to the top of a high mountain. He shows Jesus all of the kingdoms of the world. He tells Jesus he will give him the power to be king over all of them and give him the great glory that would go along with that power. He would do this if Jesus would bow down and worship Satan. Now Satan is the father of lies. But I do not think Satan was lying about being able to do this. Notice that in Luke 4:6, Satan states that the ability to give Jesus this power and glory had been given to him. Jesus does not answer that Satan is lying. His response assumes that what Satan is saying is true. Satan had challenged God once before over Job. God had given Satan the power to do anything to Job that he wanted, except to kill him. It is very likely that God had given Satan the power to do all that Satan stated he would do for Jesus. That is what made this such a temptation for Jesus. He could have avoided being crucified. But Jesus knew that this was not the way he was to become the …

God Created the Genesis Flood

“And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. And the Lord said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them”( Genesis 6:5-7). God’s perfect creation was ruined when sin entered the world. After Adam and Eve’s expulsion from the garden, and Cain’s killing his brother, it appears that man very quickly gave himself over to every type of sin possible, so much so that “every imagination of the thoughts of his heart were evil continually.” It is hard to comprehend how this could happen, with Adam alive to talk to, and with God speaking to the fathers, it does not seem possible. But it happened, and now God repents he ever made man and vows to destroy man, beasts and fowls. He says. “And Behold, I even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; and every thing that is in the earth shall die” (Genesis 6:17). “A flood of waters upon the earth” was decreed by God, which would destroy all life that breathes air that was outside the ark, …

Man Is the Image of God

“And God said, Let us make man in our own image, after our likeness; So God created man in his image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them” (Genesis 1:26-27). Hominid (man-like creature) evolution has produced three principal levels of morphological organization linked by intermediate stages. There are the australopithecines (literally “southern-apes,” in fact “ape men”) and pithecanthropines (literally “ape-men,” in fact “true-men”), and the sapients (literally “wise-men,” in fact “modern men”). The intermediate stages between these major groups and the relationship that exist between them are all the subject of much research at the present time. (Michael Day, The Fossil History of Man) “We’re all just lucky to be here!” Steven J. Gould As you can see when we start to talk about where humans came from, there is a wide range of ideas. The atheist evolutionist says that man is just a product of “lucky” accidents that have occurred on the way to us becoming, for now, the most intelligent form of life on the earth. The creationist says that we are the crowning event in the creation of the world, made in the likeness of God. These two viewpoints are worlds apart and each one when believed causes us to think and act in a particular manner. Let’s examine the end results of each of these viewpoints. The evolutionist lists in the arrival of man at where we are now primitive primate, Proconsul, Ramapithecus, Australopithecus afarensis, Homo habilis, Homo erectus and Homo sapien as our …

Unity of the Faith

Religious leaders write and preach, “We have not arrived; we don’t have the unity of the faith yet.” Although maybe highly educated, those who espouse some such sentiment could not be more wrong. Further, words like these are really blasphemous and pose great potential harm to the church. The biblical phrase to which reference is made appears in Ephesians 4:13, in the context of verses 11-14. Much like the context of 1 Corinthians 13:8-13, the Ephesians 4:11-14 passage teaches the then partial revelations of God were to be replaced with complete, permanent revelations. Namely, the ministry of miraculously endowed apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers (Ephesians 4:11) was coming to an end. “Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away” (1 Corinthians 13:8-10). Partial revelations persisted “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” (Ephesians 4:13). The “unity of the faith” here addressed is equal to “that which is perfect” (1 Corinthians 8:10) or “the perfect law of liberty” (James 1:25; 2:12). “Unity of the faith” is also synonymous with “the faith which was once delivered” (Jude 3), “the law of faith” …

True Unity

Jesus prayed for unity. “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me” (John 17:20-23). (Emphasis added.) The apostle Paul also encouraged the Corinthian church to practice unity. “Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?” (1 Corinthians 1:10-13). (Emphasis added.) From both passages of Scripture, one learns that biblical unity requires singleness or oneness. Both passages place Jesus …

Freewill

Nothing should be more obvious than that sound, developed minds are able to make choices; this is called freewill. Dear reader, you freely exercised your willpower and chose to read these words. The fact that you make many choices or decisions daily proves that you have freewill. Mankind can and must also make religious choices; we have freewill in religion, too. However, these choices are more important than any of the choices we make every day. Choices made in religion affect one’s relationship with God. Therefore, making wrong religious choices or failing to realize that God expects one to exercise freewill is very serious. Such mistakes will prevent souls from living with God in heaven forever, after this life. Happily, our loving God recorded in the Gospel (New Testament) what choices in religion he desires us to make; God has not left us without guidance. Your friends in the churches of Christ are interested in making the correct religious choices, based on God’s teaching in the Bible. May we help you learn more about God’s teaching — so you, too, can more easily make the correct religious choices? The Bible is filled with references to freewill and religious choices mankind must make. One outstanding example is found in Joshua 24:15. There, Joshua, a famous Old Testament character, made this sober charge to the nation he was leading: “. . . choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served . . . or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me …

The Promises of God

Thousands of years ago, the God of heaven made three promises to a man best known as Abraham. Later, God repeated these promises to Abraham’s son, Isaac; much later, God again repeated these promises to Abraham’s grandson, Jacob. Two of these promises affect every living person today in a small way. However, one of those promises directly affects the salvation of everyone who ever lived, who lives now and those who will be born in the future. God told Abraham: “And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered” (Genesis 13:16). This promise to multiply the descendants of Abraham was repeated to him in Genesis 22:17 and told to Isaac in Genesis 26:4 and Jacob in Genesis 28:14. References to numbering Abraham’s descendants (commonly called the Jews) in Scripture and observation of millions now living proves that God caused this promise to come true. This is important to us because God also caused Jesus Christ our Savior to be born as one of Abraham’s descendants. Second, God promised Abraham that he would receive a large portion of land, stretching from the Euphrates River to the River of Egypt in the desert. “In the same day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates” (Genesis 15:18). Other verses in Genesis repeat …

No Convenient Season

There is no convenient season to be saved; there will never be a better time to be saved than now. There will never be a better time to begin a life of Christian service than now. The apostle Paul stood as a prisoner before a Roman governor named Felix and preached the Gospel. “And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee” (Acts 24:25). Though Felix had several other opportunities to hear Paul explain the Gospel, it appears that Felix never found his “convenient season” to be saved. Do not make the same mistake Felix made. Do not wait for a convenient season. Be saved now! Believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and Savior (John 8:24); repent of your sins (Luke 13:3); profess your belief in Jesus (Romans 10:10); and be baptized for the remission of your sins (Acts 2:38). Contact the churches of Christ today for encouragement and help to make your life right with God.

The Longest Sermon

Thousands of years ago, a preacher of God lived among many sinful people. This preacher preached for over a century to these wicked people about the coming punishment of God. Yet, not one person in the whole world besides this preacher’s family was obedient to God. This must have made the preacher very sad and it greatly displeased God. For 120 years, this preacher with the help of his family also built a large boat as God instructed them. Sinners laughed at the preacher and his family because of what he preached, for the godly way his family lived and because of the large boat that they built. Finally, God decided to flood all the earth and drown every person — except this preacher and his family (and the animals they took with them on the large boat). It was a terrible day since almost all people on earth died in that flood; only the preacher and his family survived. This preacher, of course, was Noah. The account of this universal flood is found in Genesis chapters six through eight. The apostle Peter called Noah “a preacher of righteousness” (2 Peter 2:5). In a sense, the same floodwater that killed the ungodly world also saved Noah and his family. These eight souls were separated by that water from the wicked world that died in the flood. The apostle Peter compares the saving affect of that floodwater in Noah’s time with the water of baptism. “Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while …