In all the stories of the Bible, we can find no more repulsive characters than Ahab and Jezebel. In 1 Kings 21:25 we are told, “But there was none like unto Ahab, who did sell himself to work wickedness in the sight of the Lord.” Not only do we need to look at Jesus, Paul and others to see the kind of qualities we should have, we need to look at Ahab and those like him to see the kind of qualities we should not have. We know there are persons who think that kind of negative preaching and teaching is wrong, but the Bible teaches otherwise. One of the most apparent faults he had was covetousness. This is one of the most dangerous and insidious sins known to man. Men have confessed to murder, lying, adultery and almost every sin known. I have never heard one confess to covetousness. One of the reasons is found in its definition. It is an inordinate desire for something. It is sometimes used to signify a strong desire without the implications of evil. Paul says, “Covet earnestly the best gifts” (1 Corinthians 12:31). This word is “zeloo,” not “epithumeo,” the usual word for covet. But in both Greek and English the word “covet” (epithumeo) is used in a neutral or good sense as when Jesus said, “I have desired (epithumeo) to eat this Passover with you” (Luke 22:15). The context will usually show whether the desire is improper or not. Paul says in …

In Numbers 23:19, we read, “God is not a man, that he should lie, neither the son of man, that he should repent.” God apparently put these words in the mouth of Balaam. The same idea is found in 1 Samuel 15:29, “And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent; for he is not a man, that he should repent.” Yet, it is said in Genesis 6:6, “And it repented Jehovah that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.” It even says in Exodus 32:12, “And Jehovah repented of the evil which he said he would do unto his people.” As hard as it is to conceive of God repenting at all, how can it be said that he repented of evil? There are more than a dozen passages that refer to the fact that God repents, and two or three that say he will not repent. For those who are trying to find fault with the Bible, this is enough to reject the whole thing. For those who are sincerely trying to find out the truth, a little study will reveal it. There are two or three basic principles we need to understand as we study about God. Since no human language can properly describe God, if God is going to reveal anything at all about his nature to us, he must use what is termed anthropomorphism, which basically means he must speak of himself in terms that apply …

All right, I’m going to let everyone in on one of my blunders in life, because it so well illustrates a biblical point. My car registration needed to be renewed by October 1. So, I took my paperwork to the courthouse in mid-September and got the registration and decal. Good move, I thought. I’m on top of things. Making many stops in town that day, I piled the decal and card in with the other stuff on the passenger side front seat, and it stayed there for a while. For the next two weeks, I kept seeing that decal there and saying to myself, “Ah, I’ll just leave it there so I can remember to do it later.” The front seat of my car is a pretty good repository for all different kinds of stacks from day to day — mail, books, sermons and brotherhood periodicals, etc. Those stacks get changed about daily as I shuttle stuff back and forth from home to the office. When Oct. 1 came, I drove around all day without the proper decal, because I’d forgotten to put it on. In the evening, remembering, I thought I’d take the five minutes necessary to do it. Get a wet paper towel and a dry one, clean off the spot on the license plate, and stick the thing on. Trouble was, it wasn’t there in my front seat any more. It wasn’t in the back seat either — or under the seats, or under the mats, or …

Early in our history as a nation, two prevailing views surfaced in respect to the supreme law of the land, the United States Constitution. One view, championed by Alexander Hamilton, favored a strong federal government and a loose interpretation of the Constitution. The other, championed by Thomas Jefferson, advocated States’ rights and a strict interpretation of the Constitution. Both men were part of President Washington’s cabinet. Hamilton headed the Treasury Department and Jefferson was Secretary of Foreign Affairs (Secretary of State). These two parties came to be referred to as the Federalists (loose constructionists) and the Antifederalists (strict constructionists). Although the parties have long since faded from the American scene, what they represented remains a part of the basic fabric of American politics. One of the first battles in the new administration was fought over the establishment of a national bank. Hamilton supported the proposal while Jefferson opposed it. Jefferson argued that the Constitution said nothing about a national bank. There was no provision for it. Hamilton countered that the Constitution did not prohibit it. The Constitution did not say, “Thou shalt not have the government engage in the banking business.” Hamilton won that fight. The next President was John Adams, a Federalist. But, Jefferson continued to preach the doctrine of respect for the Constitution, and when the third election for President came around, Jefferson prevailed. The pendulum has been swung back and forth ever since. But, enough of history and politics. We now turn to the subject of religion …

No one likes to be misrepresented. It’s neither honest nor fair. It is the equivalent of lying, and we all know that lying is wrong (Exodus 20:16; Colossians 3:9). Solomon tells us that God hates a lying tongue (Proverbs 6:17). Jesus identified the devil as the father of lies (John 8:44). Anyone who claims to follow Christ must surely speak the truth, and must never intentionally misrepresent his own or another’s positions! In an ideal world, the truth would always be told, but ours is not an ideal world. As a result, we find ourselves frequently misrepresented. I have heard it said that we in churches of Christ think we are the only ones going to heaven. But that is a misrepresentation of the truth. We are not in the business of determining who will be in heaven and who will not. Judgment is in the hands of Christ (2 Thessalonians 1:7-10). Our focus is not on who is right, but what is right. We believe the Bible to be the inspired Word of God, and we seek to teach and do what is contained therein. The Lord, not us, will make the ultimate determination as to who will and who will not enter heaven. Anyone who tells you otherwise is misrepresenting the facts. It has been said that we in churches of Christ believe in water salvation. It is another misrepresentation. It stems from the fact that we teach what Christ and his disciples taught regarding baptism (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; …

Question: “Why do you teach that baptism is necessary for salvation when the Scriptures clearly teach that a person cannot earn or merit his salvation (cf. Eph. 2:8-9?)? Baptism is a work, and works cannot save. Faith alone is the means by which a sinner is redeemed.” Answer: There are at least three different kinds of works mentioned in the Bible: 1) works of merit, 2) works of the Law of Moses, and 3) works of obedience. It is important that we distinguish between them. Let me encourage you to read the following passages in your Bible, then carefully study the following questions: Case study #1: The gift of Jericho — Joshua 6. Did the Lord make any requirements of Israel (vv. 3-5)? Did any of these commands have to be carried out before Israel could receive Jericho? [If Israel had not followed the Lord’s instructions, would she have still received the city?] According to the text, were any works of obedience necessary before the blessing could be bestowed? Exactly when did Israel receive Jericho — the moment she believed, or after faith brought her to obedience? Consider: Israel’s obedience in no way entitled her to the city of Jericho. She did not earn Jericho by virtue of her meritorious endeavors, nor could she have boasted that her victory was due to her own military prowess. But the fact remains that until Israel obeyed [worked] she did not receive Jericho. Cast study #2: The gift of cleansing — 2 Kings 5. Did …

Jacob, a 147-year-old patriarchal prophet, on his deathbed in Egypt, about 1706 B.C., foretold the coming of Christ: “The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until the Peacemaker [Shiloh] comes, and him the peoples will obey” (Genesis 49:10). The Scriptures set forth seven comings of Christ: I. The First Coming One night, “not far from the end of B.C. 5 or the beginning of B.C. 4” (Stevens and Burton), an angel was dispatched from heaven to appear in the sky near Bethlehem with an announcement that startled shepherds, “Today in the city of David a Savior is born” (Luke 2:11). Jesus “had appeared in flesh” (1 Timothy 3:16), destined to live about 34 years. II. The Second Coming “Jesus was about thirty years old when he began his teaching” (Luke 3:23). After he had selected twelve apostles, he sent them to preach in “the cities of Israel,” telling them that their task would not be completed before “they would see the Son of man coming in his kingdom” (Matthew 10:23; 16:28). Jesus was not a king during his 34 years on the earth. But after he had returned to heaven, on Sunday, May 28, A.D. 30 (Pentecost Day), he was crowned “King of kings” (Acts 2:30; Hebrews 1:8-9; 1 Timothy 6:15; Revelation 17:14), with authority to reign “until he has placed all enemies under his feet” (1 Corinthians 15:25-26). But on that memorable Sunday, May 28, A.D. 30, Jesus’ coronation day in heaven, …

It was on October 31, 1517 that Martin Luther nailed his famous petition containing ninety theses to the door of the Catholic Church building in Whittenburg, Germany. This action is looked upon by many as the beginning of the great Protestant Reformation. Of course, there were other men like John Huss and John Wycliffe who helped to lay the foundation for the outstanding work of Martin Luther. Luther was a monk in the Catholic Church who desired to reform some of the corrupt practices of his religious affiliation. There is no real evidence to suggest that he ever desired to leave the Catholic Church. His primary objective was to point out doctrinal and moral corruptions and to reform such. Luther contended for the supremacy of the Word of God over the writings of mortal man. We owe this man and others of his day a great deal of gratitude for the contributions they made in pointing out the weaknesses of the apostate church and encouraging a greater respect for biblical authority. There was a contemporary of Luther by the name of Ulrich Zwingli from Zurich, Switzerland. He was the lesser in influence of the two men. Perhaps the personality, his location and the position of Luther contributed to this fact. There existed two differing attitudes in determining doctrinal matters in these two men. Luther possessed the attitude that all that was not expressly forbidden in the Holy Scriptures could be retained in the church. Zwingli held the view that all was …

We are dreading it like the plague — and yet, we know there is nothing we can do about it. Our children will grow up, and one day leave home to build their own families. God blessed my wife and me with two precious children, who have brought a lifetime of joy and happiness in the few years he gave them to us for care and safekeeping. With bedraggled hair and lines on their faces, we have soaked up their morning time smiles. And with comforting arms and a plethora of nightlights, we have conquered nighttime monsters. All the while, watching their beautiful handprints fill our house. But the time will come when they grow up and move away, no longer under our guidance and care. Thus, this open letter to you. I don’t know what day it will be, or in what town you will likely see them. But chances are, in this “small world,” your paths will cross one day. I hope on that day, you will remember this letter and help their mom and me out. Believe me when I tell you that we are praying for that day. For you see, as parents, we want nothing more than to hear Almighty God say to our children, “Well done good and faithful servants…enter thou into the joy of the Lord” (Matthew 25:23). We want them in heaven! Their souls mean more to us than all the material possessions on this planet. We are simply asking you to …

For several years now, maybe even as many as thirty years, duty has been looked down upon as a just motive for any activity. The word “duty” has become archaic, and the whole concept is looked upon as something totally undesirable. Even in the church of the Lord Jesus Christ where duty has always been considered a good motive for doing the will of Christ, there are some that have come to accept the worldly view that if we do anything out of a sense of duty, we are not acting with the highest possible motivation. Nothing could be further from the truth! Jesus, while living upon this earth, set forth duty as a good motive for serving him, when he said, “So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.’” Hence, the Lord did not condemn the motivation of duty, but showed it to be justified. Therefore, we should not be afraid, as Christians, to act out of a sense of duty, because there is a vital connection between duty and love. The word “duty” may have gone out of vogue in the popular parlance of the American people, but the concept has not, and that is because the concept of duty cannot be escaped. Every time someone says that he, or someone else, “ought” to do a certain thing, he is talking about duty. Duty is doing the thing that ought …

(Glad Tidings of Good Things, Jacksonville (AL) Church of Christ, Vol. 6, May 18, 2000, p. 1.) “…men ought always to pray, and not to faint” (Luke 18:1). Pray Immediately Upon Rising In what better way can we begin the day than by thanking God for his protection and care during the night and by asking his guidance and help during the coming day. Pray Before Every Meal God has provided for our every need in such a bountiful manner. Surely, the least we can do is express our gratitude as we sit down to enjoy each meal! When we eat in restaurants, a few moments of silent prayer may serve for the audible prayer which we pray around our tables at home. Pray at Set Times The ancient Jews, and others, found it helpful to reserve certain periods of the day for prayer. We may find it helpful, too. Those regular times serve as reminders and help to keep the busy, on-rushing world from crowding out our periods of communion with God. Pray With the Whole Family There is something particularly wonderful about a prayer in which both children and parents have a part. Pray When You Feel Discouraged Most of us need little encouragement to pray when we feel discouraged or when we face some special problem. At such times, prayer comes unsought. It is a great comfort to know God listens to our prayers in times of crisis. One of the greatest privileges of the Christian is …

Reformation is still a topic of current interest. U. S. News & World Report recently told of the interest of Reform Jews, who “endorsed a return to traditional practices…that the movement’s founders deliberately rejected more than a century ago” (6/7/99, p. 56). One rabbi said, “We’ve embraced the modern world. Now we have to anchor ourselves back in our Jewishness.” Josiah, of the Old Testament, initiated a reform of the apostate Jews by returning to the law of God and cleansing Judah of idolatry (2 Chronicles 34:1-7). The leaders of the Protestant Reformation were, for the most part, Catholics, endeavoring to reform the existing hierarchy. There was no thought among them of leaving the “Mother Church” and re-establishing the Lord’s church. The Reformation and Restoration movements, however, were similar in that they were both “back to the Bible” movements. For virtually all of the classic reformers, from John Wycliffe to Ulrich Zwingli, reform meant a simple return to the Bible. Many of these men rendered a translation of the Bible in the common tongue: Peter Valdes [Waldo] (1160), John Wycliffe (1380) and William Tyndale (1526). It was believed then, and still is, that in order for men to rise to the standard of the New Testament, they must have it at their disposal. There are several reasons why the Restoration Movement is the greatest movement since the establishment of the Lord’s kingdom in Acts 2. First, it is a restoration movement designed to reproduce the New Testament church in name, worship and mission. Second, it is a Bible movement. The …

The Greek philosophers of the first century followed their earlier counterparts in emphasizing rhetoric as a means of persuasion. Their emphasis upon human wisdom and rejection of God’s role in human affairs (similar to the rationalism of the eighteenth century and secular humanism today) caused them to reject anything supernatural. Instead, they preferred a self-styled intellectualism that relied on man to solve man’s problems, most of which man created. They exalted the art of persuasion to the extent that the manner of speaking (extensive vocabulary and endless analogies combined with elegant oratory) became more important than the content or meaning. Having rejected the divine, they attempted to understand the world apart from divine morality, divine revelation, and God himself. However, God acted in such a way as to demonstrate the foolishness of the wisdom of men. “For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe” (“1 Corinthians 1:21). And so Paul could tell the Christians at Corinth, “But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption” (1 Corinthians 1:30). In the person of Jesus Christ God demonstrated his wisdom, so much so that Christ personifies the wisdom of God. Everything about Jesus Christ set at naught the worldly wisdom so prevalent in Corinth. His birth of a virgin demanded a supernatural act of God (Luke 1:35). His teaching …