The Lord’s Supper, or communion, is partaking of our Lord’s body and blood that he shed, gave, on the cross of Calvary, the perfect sacrifice for our sins. It is a commemoration of his death on the cross, and a reminder of what Christians are about. Jesus established it just before his death on the cross. “And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. And He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; For this is my blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins” (Matthew 26:26-28). The apostle Paul said, “For I have received of the Lord that which I also delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when He had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as oft as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord’s death till He come” (1 Corinthians 11:23-36). How often is “as oft”? Jesus …

Excuse me English teachers, but I contend that “Christian” is an action noun. I know, normally it is an “action verb,” but I stand by my contention. “Christian” is an action noun because it means I am a believer. “Believing” is an action that I take. It means that I make an active decision to believe. It is a “work of faith” (2 Thessalonians. 1:11). It is a commanded action (Mark 16:16). “Christian” is an action noun because it means I am obedient to God. Hebrews 5:8-9, Matthew 7:21, Romans 6:18 and many other passages show that we must be obedient to God if we are Christians. Jesus said, “If you love me keep my commandments.” “Christian” is an action noun because it means I am walking with God. I am walking “in the spirit” (Galatians 6:16), “in faith” (Romans 4:12; 2 Corinthians 5:7), “in the light” (1 John 1:7) and “worthy of the Lord” (Colossians 1:10; 1 Thessalonians 2:12). “Christian” is an action noun because if I am not active I am lost. I am on sinking sand (Matthew 7:24-27) if I am not active. I am lost if I do not obey (2 Thessalonians 1:8). I have only a dead faith (James 2:26) that cannot save me. If you don’t believe that and act like “Christian” is an action noun, it will cost you an eternity. When you read or hear the word “Christian” from now on, remember that it is an action noun, and live like you …

The “New Testament Doesn’t Tell Us What Is Modest” Argument It’s true that God does not tell us in the New Testament which parts of the body must be covered in order to be modest in his eyes. He does tell us in the New Testament that we must be chaste (Titus 2:4-5) and not be a stumbling block to others (1 John 2:10). In order for our clothing to meet these New Testament requirements, it must cover our bodies from shoulders to knees. How do I know this? The same way advertisers know it. Sex sells and bare thighs, cleavage and skin tight clothing are regularly used to attract attention in advertisements. The same way prostitutes know it who advertise their sexuality with bare thighs, bare shoulders, bare backs, low cut tops, skin tight clothing and see through clothing. The same way the Director of Education, Sibusiso Mkhonda, in Swaziland, Africa knows it, who banned miniskirts in school there to minimize the fornication between students and teachers. Mkhonda states, “If you are exposing your thighs some people may get attracted to that and make advances” (BBC News, July 19, 2000). The same way Vice Chancellor Vijay Khole of Bombay University in India knows it who decided to ban women students from wearing miniskirts, shorts and tight tops in order to reduce rape. Khole made this statement to reporters, “An attire should be such that it should not be offensive or cause distraction to fellow students and lecturers” (Press Trust …

Our English word “creed” comes into our language from the Latin word “credo” meaning, “I believe.” When we speak of one’s creed we are simply referring to what he believes religiously, politically, economically or in any other area of life. The “planks” making up a political party’s platform summarize its creed, or what the majority of its members  believe on certain political issues such as taxes, etc. No organized body of people can exist without some sort of a creed, either written or oral. Standard dictionaries define the word as a definite summary of what is believed. Churches of Christ are no exception to this rule. While we have no manmade creed  set forth by any kind of conference, council or synod, it must be freely admitted that we certainly have a creed–a statement of what we believe. The difference between churches of Christ and other religious bodies is that the church  had no part in writing her creed in any way, shape or form. We were not asked about it; we were not asked to contribute to it; we were not asked to either approve or disapprove of the things found in it. The creed was written by God, without counsel from man. God is not a man that he needs the approval of man regarding anything that he does, including the writing of his creed for the church. From time to time we read of various churches in what is commonly called “Christendom” revising their creeds. They meet …

We find in Luke 11:13, “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?” Have you ever asked God for the Holy Spirit? If so, did you get that gift in answer to your prayer? Since we do not recall ever having read any sound scholarly exegesis of this passage, we shall try to make some observations about it from our own limited knowledge and viewpoint. We checked more than a dozen comments from people like Adam Clarke, Albert Barnes, Charles Spurgeon and various others from many denominations, but none of them addressed and answered such questions as these: Who is promised the gift of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2:38? Does “those who ask” include everyone, Christian and sinner? If every child of God gets the gift of the Spirit when he becomes a child of God (Romans 8:9), why does he need to pray for it? One commentator suggested that the promise was universal–to all that might ask, whether regenerate or unregenerate. He did not bother to explain how a child of the devil would receive the Holy Spirit in answer to prayer. Neither H. Leo Boles nor Burton Coffman in their commentaries on Luke give any significant insight into the passage. Coffman says something like, “It is evident that we should pray for that which was promised in Acts 2:38.” But why we should pray for …

It is frequently suggested that man cannot do anything–other than believe, in terms of his salvation,1 that “works” are the natural consequence of salvation, but they do not have any role in securing or receiving salvation. Is this popular doctrine in harmony with the revealed will of God? Consider what the Bible has to say: Faith is a work. John recorded, “Then they said to Him, ‘What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?’ Jesus answered and said to them, ‘This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent’” (John 6:28-29). The disciples asked, “What shall we do…?” In his response, the Lord neither corrected nor condemned them for their sincere inquiry. He did not say, “Do? Beloved, you cannot do anything pertaining to your salvation.” On the contrary, Jesus said, “This is the work of [from] God2 that you believe.” If all works are excluded from the plan of salvation as some allege, then faith itself is eliminated because Jesus clearly identified it as a work. Circle the word “work” in your New Testament and then make an arrow to the phrase “that you believe.” Then in the margin write, “Faith is a work” (cf. Romans 1:5; 16:26). Repentance is a work. Jesus said, “The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah…” (Matthew 12:41). Circle the phrase “they repented” in your New Testament and then cross-reference it to Jonah 3:10. There …

A friend recently shared a book entitled Left to Tell by Immaculee Ilibagiza, a survivor of the 1994 Rwandan genocide. In her heartrending story, Immaculee gives an account of her horrific experiences and those of her family, friends and tribesmen during those 100 days when about 1 million Tutsis (including nearly all of her family and friends) were being massacred by the Hutus. Survivors were few and far between. Some were able to get out of the country and join others who were refugees from previous conflicts decades earlier. Some hid in the woods, eating leaves and grass or whatever they could find. A few were able to find refuge as they were hidden and provided for by moderate Hutus who disagreed with all the killing being prompted by the government in Kigali. For the few who were willing to do so, to hide Tutsis put themselves and their own families at incredible risk. This is how Immaculee was able to survive as she and a few other ladies were stowed away in a small concealed bathroom for three months by a preacher near her town. The militia (whether by tens or hundreds) came unannounced to the preacher’s house any hour of the day or night in effort to find Immaculee (as they called out her name) and other Tutsis they believed were hidden there. It is hard for us to comprehend such egregious behavior, the ferocious, animal-like actions produced by ill-will and deep-seated hatred that can find its place in the …

In many relationships in life, extremes can be detrimental to one’s happiness. The writer of Proverbs petitioned God to prevent him from two opposites in life, riches and poverty. He knew that there were dangers involved in both extremes such as forgetting God and/or stealing and profaning the name of God (Proverbs 30:7-9). The homemaker has a very difficult task in planning and preparing a balanced diet of food for the family. She knows that such is needful for good health. Our public institutions of education emphasize the need of physical exercise along with the academics to meet the needs of both the mind and the body. In our Christian schools, the Word of God is taught in order that the young person may also become even better suited for life (1 Timothy 4:7-8). This type of instruction makes for a complete person, balanced in every respect (Luke 2:52). I can remember very well a statement made by the late Rex A. Turner as he remarked to a class of young men “that preachers should retain a proper balance in their teaching of the Bible.” He would also say that “every man needs a balance wheel.” There is a tendency to overreact to the erroneous teachings and habits of others. There are many individuals and even congregations that seemingly cannot keep a good and proper balance in the teaching of doctrinal and moral matters. Some congregations are very strong in preaching against denominationalism but are lacking in love. But on …

On the sixth day of creation God made man and woman, not like beast, but spirit beings in his own image and likeness (Genesis 1:26-27), for God is Spirit (John 4:24). These new spirit creatures he clothed with flesh (see Genesis 2:7). Centuries later Jesus asked the Pharisees, “Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning made them male and female and said For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” Jesus then affirmed, “They are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate” (Matthew 19:4-6). This was Jesus’ law based on the original law. God was the Creator of man and woman, and “the Creator” of marriage. It is appropriate, therefore, that we understand the biblical rules for marriage. This needs to be done in order to know what God sanctions as marriage. The Holy Spirit declared, “marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge” (Hebrews 13:4 NKJV). Marriage is approved of God (cf., Genesis 2:24), and the bed of marriage is right, pure and holy among all people on this planet. Singles who simply live together are committing sexual immorality (fornication). An individual who goes away from his or her own spouse to the bed of another is also committing sexual immorality (adultery). Since God affirms that marriage among all is honorable, …

The man called Abraham is truly one of the most fascinating characters found in the Book of Beginnings. Blessed of God and father of the Hebrew nation, within the story of Abraham we can see the plan of our own salvation begin to unfold, thus making the account of his life of utmost importance to us all. Abraham’s faith and obedience continues to echo throughout New Testament teaching and is best summarized by the writer of the Hebrew letter when he penned, “By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God” (Hebrews 11:8-10). Yet, as you explore the life of this great man, his apparent humanity is crystal clear. In two separate occasions we can see how Abraham used a lie to avoid trouble (Genesis 12:11-13; 20:2) and through the persuasion of his wife, Sarai, interfered with the plan that God had laid out for their lives (Genesis 16). Originally named Abram (exalted father, Nelson’s) by his father Terah, Abram was a descendent of Shem, the first of Noah’s three sons (Genesis 10:1). In biblical times, names were of much importance. The name given at …

Salvation! That wonderful word of comfort, hope and eternal life! Most people think of salvation in terms on one single source: “faith only,” “grace only,” “Christ only” or “works only.” The reasonable Bible student knows that salvation is not from any single source alone. He does not accept a few selected verses or ideas and attempt to build a religious system of salvation upon them. Some will single out passages on faith and preach a “faith only” salvation. Some will single out passages on grace and preach a “grace only” salvation. Some will single out passages on works and preach a “works only” salvation. What saves us? God saves us (Titus 3:4-5; 1 Timothy 4:10; 2 Timothy 1:9). Jesus Christ saves us (Matthew 1:21; Luke 19:10; 1 Timothy 1:15). We are saved by his life (Romans 5:10). We are saved by his death/blood (Matthew 26:28; Titus 2:13-14). We are saved by his resurrection from the dead (1 Peter 3:21). We are saved by his name (Acts 4:12). We are saved by his grace (2 Corinthians 8:9). The Holy Spirit saves us (John 3:5-6; 1 Corinthians 6:11). The Gospel saves us (Acts 20:32; Romans 1:16; James 1:21). The grace of God saves us (Ephesians 2:8-9). Faith saves us (Ephesians 2:8; Romans 10:17; Hebrews 11:6). Obedience saves us (Hebrews 5:9; James 2:18, 26). Baptism saves us (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 1 Peter 3:21). We save ourselves (Acts 2:40; Philippians 2:12). How Are We Saved? God (the Father) is the ultimate source of …

“Elijah then came near to all the people, and said, ‘How long will you go limping with two different opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, then follow him’” (1 Kings 18:21). What a victory Elijah had over the prophets of Baal! The contest on Mt. Carmel revealed, without a doubt, that “The Lord indeed is God” (1 Kings 18:39), as he consumed the sacrifice Elijah offered. On the heels of victory, though, came discouragement, in the form of Jezebel. She was so upset over the death of her false prophets, she threatened to either kill Elijah or be killed in the process (1 Kings 19:2). Elijah was frightened and traveled for 40 days to escape her wrath. It was while he sought refuge in a cave at Horeb that God asked him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” (19:9). Good question. Elijah was to be God’s spokesman to the people of Israel, not to scorpions and snakes in the desert. He was not where he needed to be. He needed to realize what God expected of him. He needed to realize how many people were still trying to live godly lives in ungodly Israel, and how they depended on his example (19:15-18). He needed to trust in the God who gave him victory, and to recognize the strength he provided. The question God asked was intended to get Elijah back where he belonged. That question needs to be answered by us as well. Where are …