Repentance is first a decision to stop sinning. Second, repentance is the practice of righteousness instead of sin. Repentance, then, begins in the mind and afterward is demonstrated outwardly. However, repentance is neither a mental process alone nor is repentance reformation of life alone. True repentance involves the combined reformation of mind and body. John the Baptist gave the following instruction to some who claimed to have repented. “Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance” (Matthew 3:8). He called upon those to whom he preached to repent not only in word but also in action. Repentance is essential to obtain the forgiveness of sins; those who do not repent will be lost. “I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3). Repentance and baptism will take away sins. “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins . . .” (Acts 2:38). Since “all have sinned” (Romans 3:23), all must repent. “And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent” (Acts 17:30). God does not want anyone to be lost, but he desires everyone to repent. Though God patiently waits now, someday time will cease and judgment will begin. “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord …

There is an important difference between worldly sorrow and godly sorrow. Worldly sorrow leads to spiritual death and sometimes it leads to physical death, too. Godly sorrow leads to salvation and eternal life. “For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death” (2 Corinthians 7:10). The apostles Peter and Paul demonstrated godly sorrow and repentance for their sins against Jesus Christ. Peter publicly denied Christ and Paul was once a persecutor of the church. Both became life-long, faithful servants of Christ. Judas, though sorrowful after he betrayed Jesus for a bribe, hanged himself. He did not seek forgiveness and allowed his great sorrow to overpower him. A thief might be sorrowful only because he has been caught and he cannot avoid punishment. This thief will steal again. Another thief might be sorrowful for stealing, although he may not have been caught. This thief will stop stealing and attempt to return what he has stolen. The first thief had only worldly sorrow, but the second thief had godly sorrow. A biblical example of godly sorrow is found in Matthew 21:28-30. “. . . A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard. He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went. And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not.” The first son changed his mind …

(Gospel Advocate, Nashville, TN, Vol.142, No. 10, October 2000, pp. 24-25.) First, discipline will help by turning sinning Christians back to the Lord. What problem is more common in the church? Yet, most church leaders feel helpless to deal with it. According to Matthew 18:15-18, 1 Corinthians 5:5 and Galatians 6:1, this is the primary goal of discipline. God has given us a tool that we are not using! What usually happens when a member of a church sins in some serious1 or obvious way? Most often, nothing — at least nothing that will help correct the situation. Talking behind the person’s back, developing hard feelings against him or simply striking his name from the church roll — the most serious form of discipline for most churches — is not likely to do anything to bring the person back. What should happen, according to Matthew 18:15-18, is an all-out effort to get the person to repent. If he listens, Jesus says, you have gained your brother. There are no guarantees that every sinner so confronted will repent. But, contrary to popular belief, some do. It usually takes some time, but people have come back to the Lord, confessing their sins, after being disciplined as Matthew 18 teaches. I have no statistics on this, but even if only one in 100 returns to the Lord, isn’t that worth the trouble? Do we really mean what we say about the value of a soul? Practicing discipline will prevent many from being needlessly lost to the kingdom. …

Perhaps no passage better underscores that sin is a great separator than Isaiah 59:1-3, which reads: “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness.” No more tragic separation can exist than separation between any soul and the Father of Spirits. This truth was demonstrated at the crucifixion of Jesus Christ precisely when he took on himself the guilt of sin for humanity of all time; consequently, Jesus uttered: “. . . My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me” (Matthew 27:46). A biblical definition for what constitutes sin is concisely stated in 1 John 3:4. “Whosoever committed sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.” That New Testament era people are under a law of God is evident from James 1:25; 2:8. The law by which we are bound today and will be judged someday is variously alluded to in Scripture additionally as the Word of Christ (John 12:48; 14:23), the Gospel (Romans 1:16; Galatians 1:6-9), the Truth (John 8:32), Doctrine (Titus 1:9; 2:2; 2 John 9-11) and Commandments (John 14:15, 21). Throughout the New Testament (e.g., 1 Corinthians), especially through catalogs of sins (e.g., 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; Galatians 5:19-21; Revelation 21:8), God has abundantly revealed to man what conduct (sin) which if …

A BIBLE MIRACLE is a SUPERNATURAL event where NATURAL law is temporarily suspended. The difference between supernatural (miracles) and natural law (without miracles) is apparent when CREATION is contrasted with PROCREATION; though God initially made everything through miracles, subsequent generations of plant, animal and human life are the result of natural law (without miracles). To further illustrate, the so-called “miracle of birth,” though awesome, is a NATURAL rather than a SUPERNATURAL phenomenon; therefore, BIRTH ordinarily does not qualify as a Bible miracle. However, the birth of Jesus Christ truly did involve a miracle in order for his virgin mother to conceive (Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-37). The Bible is rich with references to miracles; Mark 16:17-18 and 1 Corinthians 12:8-10 each list types of miracles that are recorded in the New Testament. The PURPOSE of New Testament miracles was to: (1) identify the Messiah and instill belief in him (John 20:30-31); (2) provide a means by which man could receive new revelation from God (1 Peter 1:20-21; Matthew 10:20-21); and (3) confirm revelation to be God’s Word (Mark 16:20; Hebrews 2:3-4). The purpose of miracles has been fulfilled; and this fulfillment resulted in the collection and preservation of the New Testament. Today, the New Testament: (1) identifies the Messiah and instills belief in him; and (2) provides a complete revelation of God’s will for man in this age. Miracles, then, are no longer necessary. Additionally, Scripture foretold that the partial revelations received by miracles would be replaced with permanent, “perfect” revelation (we call it the New …

To what do the words churches or church of Christ (Romans 16:16) really refer? Does this biblical phrase have any reference to denominationalism? Is the church of Christ today merely one of several denominations that comprise the religious community? What is the church of Christ? Ironically, at least one prominent commentator exhibits in his writings a notion of the true nature of the church of Christ. Yet, he completely fails to realize that he and his fellows can or need to personally attain membership in it. Adam Clarke, for instance, refers to the “Church of Christ” as something that is aloof and distinct from denominationalism. Clarke treats the “Church of Christ” as a spiritual structure — built by Jesus Christ. Commenting on Galatians 6:10, Clarke writes: “Let us help all who need help according to the uttermost of our power but let the first objects of our regards be those who are of the household of faith — the members of the Church of Christ, who form one family, of which Jesus Christ is the head.” In his comments on 1 Corinthians 14:36, he pens: “Are you the mother church? that you should have rules, and orders, and customs, different from all others; and set yourselves up for a model to be copied by all the Churches of Christ?” Clarke also freely uses other biblical terminology descriptive of the one church of the Bible: “Church of God” (referring to the same verse). Of false teachers addressed in Romans 16:18, Clarke writes: “. …

Though it may seem incredible to many sincere religious people, the following statement is, however, true. God never intended the Old Testament to be his final revelation to mankind. Further, even more inconceivable to countless honest and devout individuals is the biblical fact that God has replaced the Old Testament with the New Testament. Jesus did not come to “destroy” (annihilate as though it never existed) the Old Law, but he did come to “fulfill” it (Matthew 5:17-18; Luke 24:44). The Old Covenant (Testament or Law) had a purpose, which once fulfilled, it was replaced by the New Testament. The Apostle Paul described the purpose of the Old Law in Galatians 3:22-29. “Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster” (Galatians 3:24-25). John 1:17 informs us that Moses delivered the Old Law, whereas Jesus personally brought the New Law (Gospel, the system of faith). One way in which it can be seen that God did not intend for the Old Testament to be his final revelation to man is by the Old Law’s inability to “justify” sinners. “And by him [Jesus] all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses” (Act 13:39). “Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of …

Long before “being gay” became a political issue, it was dubbed a divergent – but acceptable – lifestyle or was announced to be a natural orientation with which some are born, it was a moral issue. It is still a moral issue! Almighty God sternly condemns homosexuality and lesbianism. “For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: For even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet” (Romans 1:26-27). Because of these sins Sodom and Gomorrah suffered destructive temporal fire and their inhabitants will also suffer God’s “vengeance of eternal fire” (Jude 7). For these reasons, the churches of Christ urge anyone guilty of this sin to change. According to the inspired apostle Paul, one not only can change, some have changed and no homosexuals will inherit the kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 6:9-11).

God communicates with mankind today through the Bible. Christians speak to God through prayer. Further, prayer is an expression of the heart to God and may include praise, requests and thanksgiving. However, not all prayers are acceptable to God. God requires that prayers be sincerely offered for the right reasons. “And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward” (Matthew 6:5). Jesus spoke a parable in which he taught that acceptable prayers are offered with true humility (Luke 18:9-14). Prayers are not to be offered thoughtlessly but should be offered with great desire; the apostle Paul felt strongly about the subject of his prayers. “Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved” (Romans 10:1). Christians are urged in the New Testament to pray frequently; “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). However, only righteous souls who practice good Christian living can offer acceptable prayers. “The Lord is far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous” (Proverbs 15:29). “And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight” (1 John 3:22). Jesus prayed “Thy will be done” (Matthew 6:10) and the children of God must also pray according to the will of God. “And this …

Many of the names for God’s people that appear in the Old Testament are found in the New Testament, too. These names include: “members” (1 Corinthians 12:27), “disciples” (Acts 6:1; 20:7), “believers” (Acts 5:14), “saints” (Acts 9:13; 1 Corinthians 1:2), “brethren” (Romans 8:14) and “children of God” (1 John 3:1-2). Additional New Testament names for God’s people include: “beloved of God” (Romans 1:7), “heirs of God” (Romans 8:17) and “royal priesthood” (1 Peter 2:9). There is also a special, new name for God’s people used in the New Testament; that name is “Christian.” Several hundred years before the time of Jesus Christ the prophet Isaiah foretold of a new name that God would give his people. By divine inspiration he wrote: “For Zion’s sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth. And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the Lord shall name” (Isaiah 62:1-2). (emphasis added) Isaiah taught that once the Gentiles gained entrance into the kingdom (which is the church), all of God’s people would “be called by a new name, which the mouth of the Lord shall name.” After the admission of Cornelius and his household the new name, CHRISTIAN, was given to God’s people. The new name Christian appears three times in the New Testament: “. . . And the disciples were …

The Devil, also known as Satan, is real. Though he is a spirit being without a fleshly body, the devil is a real person. (God the Father, the Holy Spirit and the angels are other spirit beings who do not have fleshly bodies. They are all real persons, too.) We can know that Satan is a real person since: (1) He is mentioned along with other real persons, including Jesus Christ. (2) He is described with personal characteristics such as speaking, tempting and lying. (3) The devil is one of several angels who sinned and was punished by God. (4) God has prepared an eternal place for Satan and his angels. See Matthew 4:1-11; 25:41; John 8:44; and 2 Peter 2:4. The devil is evil and desires people to become evil like him. Further, Satan will be punished forever in and he wants everyone to suffer the same punishment. In a figure, Scripture views the devil as a vicious lion stalking his prey. “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8). Fortunately, the power of Satan today is limited by God. See 2 Peter 2:4 and Jude 6. Therefore, mankind is able to resist the influence of Satan. “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7). However, evil people are servants of the devil and they influence others around them to become evil also. The apostle Paul called a man a …

Matthew 7:21-23 is one of the saddest Scriptures in the Bible. It reads: “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” What could be sadder than to sincerely practice a religion, but be eternally lost? Yet, Jesus taught that some sincere but lost souls will plead with him at the final judgment. Jesus did not criticize them for being sincere. Other Bible verses teach that a person must sincerely practice Christianity to please God. However, Jesus condemned the souls described in Matthew 7:21-23 because they did not do or obey the will of God. Their mistake was to obey the teaching of men instead of obeying the teaching of God (which is found in the Bible). According to Jesus, religion that practices the teaching of men is vain. “But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men” (Matthew 15:9). Jesus Christ is the true Savior. His church is the only real church. Further, the Bible is God’s only teaching for men today; the New Testament (or Gospel) is the portion of the Bible that tells …

The apostle Paul preached and taught the Gospel to everyone everywhere he went. Once, he explained the Gospel to King Agrippa, but the king did not obey the Gospel. “Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian” (Acts 26:28). There is no evidence that King Agrippa ever decided to become a Christian. It appears that the king remained lost! He was almost saved when he almost became a Christian. However, almost saved is still lost! Have you become a Christian yet? Are you thinking of becoming a Christian? Remember King Agrippa. Do not be almost a Christian because almost is still lost. Friend, decide today to become a Christian. To become a Christian is the most important decision anyone can make. Do not make the same mistake King Agrippa made. 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).

“And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers” (Acts 2:42). “I want to be a worker for the Lord, I want to love and trust His holy word; I want to sing and pray, and be busy every day In the kingdom of the Lord. I will work, I will pray In the vineyard, in the vineyard of the Lord; I will work I will pray, I will labor every day In the vineyard of the Lord,” says the first stanza of the popular song: I Want To Be A Worker. The Book of Acts is called by many names that attest to its uniqueness among the great company of epistles comprising the Holy Bible. These designations include: the Hub of the Bible, the Book of Conversions and the History of the first century church. Therefore, the Book of Acts is an appropriate place to begin a study of “Want-To-Religion and Church Attendance.” The Lord’s church is first acknowledged in Scripture (KJV) in the present tense, already in existence, in Acts 2:47. Before Acts Two, references to the church clearly indicate the church was not yet established (e.g., Matthew 16:18). The church, or kingdom as it was sometimes called (Matthew 16:18-19), was still only a promise in Acts 1:8. However, the Lord’s promise that it should be established with power (Mark 9:1; Matthew 18:18) was fulfilled when the apostles received the baptism of the Holy Spirit in Acts Two (verses 1-4). The power …

(1 Peter 4:16) Bible History A study of Acts Chapter Two (with special emphasis upon verses 41 and 47) shows that the Lord’s church was begun on the Pentecost following the Ascension of Jesus Christ, at Jerusalem and in about A.D. 33. Verse 47 is the first passage to address the church as a present rather than future entity. However, the cost of discipleship with the apostles and several other disciples predated the eventful establishment of the church of Christ (1 Corinthians 15:5-8; Matthew 10:16ff; Mark 6:21-28; Matthew 19:27-30). Moreover, not long after the inception of the church, the cost of discipleship was again incurred upon the disciples of Christ. The preaching of the Gospel shortly after the beginning of the church (Acts, Chapter Three) had two results. First, the apostles Peter and John were imprisoned; second, about five thousand men plus women believed and were added to the church by the Lord (Acts 4:1-4). Acts 4:17-21 records that the Jewish religious leaders threatened the disciples and commanded them not to preach Jesus. The apostles, though, undauntedly affirmed before the council that they would continue to prefer God’s Word to the commandments of men and that they would continue to preach the Gospel of Christ. Doubtless, the apostles knew that their lives were imperiled, but they were willing to pay whatever costs were necessary to be and remain faithful disciples of the Lord. In the next chapter of Acts, one can observe that the cost of discipleship, among other things, requires that the children of …

Remarkably, the church nobody wanted is man’s only hope for true happiness in this life and a blissful eternity in heaven above. The kingdom of prophecy is the church of prophecy, too. Yet, the first century Jews overall rejected the spiritual kingdom in favor of a merely physical kingdom, although, God did not offer them a physical kingdom. In essence, the Jews and the Gentiles (through the Romans) formed a conspiracy to thwart God’s plan for the establishment of his kingdom or church; they crucified the Son of God and sealed his tomb. Of course, mortals are incapable of overcoming the immortal. God used the wickedness of men to accomplish the sacrifice purchase of fallen men and establish his church anyway. First Century That the Jews longed for the restoration of a physical kingdom similar to the kingdom over which Solomon reigned is evident. Because of his miracles, many Jews realized Jesus was the Prophet of whom Moses spoke, the Messiah. Therefore, the Jews desired to take Jesus by force and make him king over a physical kingdom (John 6:14-15). The close disciples of our Lord also harbored grave misconceptions regarding the nature of the kingdom or church, even after Jesus’ resurrection and immediately prior to his Ascension (Acts 1:6). Ironically, one of the few persons to understand Jesus did not aspire to reign over a physical kingdom was the very man who officially condemned him to death (John 18:36-38). Neither the Jews nor the Gentiles wanted a spiritual kingdom or church in the first …

LITTLE FAITH: “Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?” (Matthew 6:30). (See also Matthew 8:26; 14:31; 16:8.) GREAT FAITH: “When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel” (Matthew 8:10). (See also Matthew 15:28.) NO FAITH: “And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?” (Mark 4:40). (See also Mark 6:6.) TAUNTING FAITH: “He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him” (Matthew 27:42). SAVING FAITH: “And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee” (Luke 5:20). “And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace” (Luke 7:50). STOLEN FAITH: “Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved” (Luke 8:12). LOST FAITH: “And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him” (Luke 8:25). HEALING FAITH: “And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: …

Several related responses to the Gospel work together to save a soul. For example, when an honest person hears the Word of God, he believes it, repents of sins, confesses that Jesus is the Son of God and is baptized. These responses in this order are God’s plan for saving a soul and are recorded in the New Testament. Though one cannot do enough to earn salvation, our loving God has promised to save a soul from his past sins when he sincerely makes these responses. However, sometimes a person chooses one of these responses and ignores the rest. Often belief (faith) is the single response chosen. God, though, has not promised to forgive the sins of a person who only believes or has faith only. No single response alone will result in salvation. God clearly stated in the Book of James that a person is saved “not by faith only” (James 2:24). Part of Jesus Christ’s charge to take the Gospel to the world plainly shows that several responses, in this case belief (faith) and baptism, work together and result in salvation. “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be” (Mark 16:15-16). If you are an honest person and desire forgiveness of sins, when you understand the Gospel, you will believe it, repent of sins, confess Jesus and be baptized. An honest person who understands the Gospel responses that God expects …

Loving parents desire the best of everything for their precious children (howbeit, sometimes parents and children disagree respecting what is in the best interest of the children). Of paramount concern to parents and of extreme importance to the temporal and eternal happiness of maturing children, is a child’s selection of a spouse. Suppose a son introduced a young woman to his father as his choice for a bride. Further, imagine that the father in this case was aware of the despicable past of the woman just presented to him as his future daughter-in-law. She was from a family whose members were thieves, adulterers, prostitutes, homosexuals, drunkards, liars, even murderers; and this woman herself had been guilty of many of these same crimes. Remarkably, his son’s espousal presented herself somewhat audaciously at this meeting, though she certainly knew that her future father-in-law was fully apprised of her (earned) reputation. Were this father to ask you for advice, what would you say? At the risk of discord between parent and child, most parents probably would discourage the young man regarding his wedding plans. Brethren, you and I, along with every other faithful Christian, together comprising the church, identify with this bride in the narration above. We were guilty of such sins in the past, but we changed (1 Cor. 6:9-11). “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, …

Sometimes walking-wounded soldiers of Christ limp along in the service of God. These wounded saints need to be encouraged to persevere in daily, life-long faithful service. Young Samuel was taught by Eli to say, “Speak Lord, for thy servant heareth” (1 Samuel 3:1-10). Isaiah answered God, “Here am I, send me” (Isaiah 6:8). These are admiral dispositions worthy of imitation by every child of God. Each Christian ought to offer himself to God as: (1) a servant, (2) ready to hear, and (3) eager to be sent to his duty-station. However, servant-soldiers of Christ sometimes are wounded in the battle of life. Servants of God may be wounded by others or they may suffer self-inflicted injuries. Often, God’s people have inflicted wounds upon the servants of God. Elijah fled twice from his people in Israel (1 Kings 17-19). The Jews in Jerusalem repeatedly beat and imprisoned Jeremiah (Jeremiah 20, 32, 38). Disobedient Jews killed the prophets (Acts 7:51-52). Jesus Christ’s death on the cross is the supreme example of wounds inflicted upon the servants of God by the people of God. Also, the enemies of God wound the servants of God. Job obviously was harmed by the devil. The ancient Egyptians enslaved Israel and caused Hebrew babies to be killed. Heathen rulers caused Paul and Silas to be beaten and imprisoned (Acts 16:16-24). Further, former faithful service does not guarantee that one will not falter. Remarkably, Noah persevered in righteousness for hundreds of years. Yet, after the flood Noah became drunk. Though Moses led Israel from captivity, because of sin he …

Joshua 6:1-5 is a remarkable passage, but with which a comedian could doubtless secure a few laughs. Picture this in your mind. The king of Jericho and the mighty men of war are inside the fortified city walls, while the Israelites are on the outside of the locked city gates (verses 1-2). The Lord says to Joshua, “See, I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valour” (verse 2). The comedian would make a funny face, laugh and say something like, “Yah, Sure!” Then the Lord says: “And ye shall compass the city, all ye men of war, and go round about the city once. Thus shalt thou do six days. And seven priests shall bear before the ark seven trumpets of rams’ horns: and the seventh day ye shall compass the city seven times, and the priests shall blow with the trumpets. And it shall come to pass, that when they make a long blast with the ram’s horn, and when ye hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city shall fall down flat, and the people shall ascend up every man straight before him” (Joshua 6:3-5). The comedian responds, “Yah, right! Now, what’s the real plan?” After a little pause and surveying the face of the Lord, the comedian scoffs, “You’re serious aren’t you? Man, you’re crazy! I’m outa here.” God made several similar promises regarding the conquest of Palestine. God promised the Trans-Jordan …

Flippantly she said regarding eternity, “I don’t want to go to heaven, because none of my friends will be there!” Nothing my mother has ever said is more memorable (and lamentable) than her stated resignation to spend eternity in a devil’s. Unfortunately, from what I have been able to observe, and glean from the Bible, the dear woman who bore me, nursed me and reared me in this world, seems determined to act out her self-fulfilling prophecy. No, not one of either my wife’s or my parents, brothers or sisters affectionately embraces the Gospel of Christ. Once my grandfather, who is now deceased, literally covered his ears against the Truth. Our folks and their friends worked hard, lived hard, played hard and died hard — outside of Christ. Though not acknowledged in this life, Jesus will not be ignored in eternity (Romans 14:11-12; Revelation 1:7). Aside from the myriad of souls who delude themselves with a false hope of heaven (Matthew 7:21-23; Romans 10:2-3), besides perhaps billions now living who may have never even heard of Jesus (Romans 10:13-17), vast multitudes who ought to know better have no aspiration of going to heaven. Included in that number are many erring Christians (Romans 10:16, 18). A few years ago, I was called to a city several hours distant from my home to visit a preacher friend of mine. I became painfully aware that (1) he had ceased to preach, (2) he moved out and left his wife and son, (3) he abandoned the church, …