In this series of articles, we shall address the subject given by Paul in 2 Corinthians 13:5, namely, “Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith.” There are at least three things to be noted in the text that serves as the title of this series. First, there is that system that is known as “the faith.” Of course, this is the Gospel system. Second, the writer emphasizes the necessity of one being in this faith. Third, each one has the responsibility of making a self-examination to determine if he is in that system. Although not specifically stated, a fourth item is implied. In order for one to examine himself/herself, there must be an authoritative standard that can be used for such examination. Without doubt, that standard is the Word of God–the Holy Scriptures. Through the centuries, men have grown weary of God’s way. As a result, they have attempted to usurp his authority and have rejected that standard. In doing this, they have substituted their own laws, creeds and doctrines. Notice some of their writings on this subject. In speaking of the traditions of a certain church it is written:“It is, therefore, to be received with the same internal assent as Scripture, for it is the word of God…Tradition would suffice without Scripture…” (Catholic Dictionary). In the preface of a church manual it is written, “This manual is offered to ______ churches because it is believed that such a book suited to modern church life is needed” (Emphasis mine, esu). In the so-called scriptures of another …

I was on my way to Oak Hill Junior High to pick up my eldest daughter, Bethany, after school. It was windy and cold outside, and I didn’t want her to have to stand and wait for me in the frigid temperatures. As I made my way up the road, I suddenly noticed smoke coming from a house just off to my left. Yes, it was certainly cold enough to warrant a fire in the fireplace, but this smoke was oddly different. It was black and thick¾not the kind of smoke that typically comes from a few logs in the fireplace. I slowed down to study the dark plumage more closely. The smoke then turned a dark, yellow tone and three-foot flames began to shoot from the top of the chimney. This was no cozy residential fire in the hearth.     My instant impulse was to reach for my cell phone and call 911. Then it hit me–I had just placed the mobile on the battery charger back at home before leaving for school. I pulled my car into the nearest driveway, rushed to the adjacent house and began pounding on the back door. No one answered. I ran to the next house and tried again. This time an elderly gentleman met me at the door. I briefly explained the circumstances and urged him to call the fire department. He promised to do so.     Following our exchange, I rushed back across the road toward the burning house. Another passerby …

The above title looks foreign, and it is. Some friends of ours, who are missionaries in Brazil, told me about it. Xuxu (pronounced zoo-zoo) is a vegetable used primarily as filler. It takes on the flavor of whatever it’s cooked with, loosing its identity to whatever accompanies it to the table.     This reminded me of how many people are influenced by the world around them, by whomever they are with. Wherever the wind blows, whichever direction the crowd goes, they follow. They loose their identity to the world around them. Paul spoke of this when he wrote, “So that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes” (Ephesians 4:14). Being a Christian means we don’t reflect the world around us, but Christ who is in us (Colossians 1:27).     To carry the analogy through, we must be distinctive in our influence. We should permeate society, making a difference in the lives of people we contact. “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men” (Matthew 5:13). Rather than being like a tasteless vegetable, Jesus needs disciples who possess the quality of being like Christ. “Salt is good, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is …

The Living Word of God has much to say about relationships. When we are Christians, our relationship with each member of the Godhead (the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit) is to take top priority. It is imperative that you and I are drawing near to God daily (James 4:8) as there are so many worldly influences trying to come between us and God to lure us away from our Savior.     What is to be the nature of our relationship with God? God knows man inside out. He knows all about our DNA and every fiber and cell that make up our composition. He knows what is best for us, and because of his deep abiding love, he seeks to provide guidance and strength for us to overcome temptations and maintain our fellowship and spiritual union with him.     Just as Jesus was “one with the Father,” so it is heaven’s objective that you and I be “one with God.” God wants you and me to be likeminded with him, and so we are called upon to grow up spiritually into the image of his dear Son. We are to grow in our love and affection for God to such a great extent that we, too, are willing to meaningfully pray: “Not my will but thine be done.”     God has created us as social beings and so we are able to communicate and interact with one another. Having been given this blessing, he has also taught us …

One of the great joys as parents that Julene and I have experienced is watching Joshua play church. Often times he will get one of his children’s songbooks, stand at the coffee table and begin to “lead” the congregation in songs of praise. Other times Joshua will get his little New Testament and stand at the “pulpit,” which is actually our coffee table, and preach his little heart out to anyone who will listen, while he pounds his little hand upon the table. Joshua “plays” church, and what a beautiful and encouraging sight it is to behold.     However, this same sight is sometimes reenacted by those who should not be “playing” church but actually should be involved wholeheartedly in the worship to God and the work of his church. Brethren who are redeemed by the blood of Christ and who are partakers of the Holy Spirit often become guilty of living in the world six days a week, only to slip into their Sunday clothes in order to “play” church, soothe their consciences and fool the brethren. They are like actors on a stage, learning their lines, wearing a costume and going through the motions of playing a role. Merely acting like a Christian will not make one a true Christian! Someone has well said, “Sitting in church will no more make one a Christian than sitting in a hen house will make one a chicken.” How true that is! Playing church is incredibly sweet when the player is …

Do you really believe that God exists, and is the all-knowing, all-powerful Being Who knows the very number of hairs on your head? I will always remember it. I was in the first or second grade. My mother had told me that, because of an offense that I cannot remember (though I do remember that I was guilty of the infraction), I could not read any books, especially not comic books. You have to understand that reading was my entertainment. We lived on a military base in Germany back in the early 60’s, and there was no Armed Forces Television there yet. I would rather read than go outside and play. She did allow me to go outside. We lived on the third floor of the housing apartments. I went to the lowest balcony of a ground floor apartment and went up under it. It was like a cave under there, and I was sure no one could see me. I climbed into the safe cave, and pulled out my comic book, and settled down to read it. It was not long, however, until I heard a voice, and looked up to see my mother’s face (not exactly with a pleased look on it). I had been caught. I was, of course, summarily punished for compounding the offence.  I remember thinking that she must have all-seeing eyes to have known what I was doing, although in later years I concluded that she might have had help with her “all-seeing eyes” from …

The early church at Rome gives us a glimpse into some of the things going on for Christians. Catacombs outside the city were started by Christians for burial places, and were quickly expanded into a maze of rooms, and tunnels, and stairs between levels. The Christians refused to be cremated as was common among the poor Romans who could not afford a burial place, or a funeral.     As we know, Nero was infamous for blaming Christians for everything imaginable, and persecuting them. He was not the only one however.     To avoid persecution, and find safety, Christians would resort to the catacombs for refuge. The catacombs thus became both a burial place and under the deadly dangers of persecution, they could meet everyday with each other, but where worship by the whole congregation was likely one day a week in order to avoid being discovered. However, persecution did come even into the catacombs and the Christians had to close existing entrances and dig new ones known only to them to maintain secrecy.     Further information comes from Pliny the Younger, governor of Bithynia, who wrote the Emperor asking what he should do with the Christians in his area. In his letter, reportedly, he described the guilt of the Christians, as “to assemble on a certain day before daybreak, and sing ahymn to Christ as God, and to reaffirm that they would not enter into any wickedness, or alter their work or fail the trusts committed to them.” Thus seen …

The initial step in obeying God’s plan of salvation is to hear the Word of God. Hearing an instruction is logical in any area of life whether on the job, in school or in service to God. Before one can follow through a certain task, he must be told what the task is. Likewise, God through his Word has instructed man what to do to be saved through the medium of preaching. The alien sinner hears the Word and then makes a decision to obey it or to be in rebellion to it. Today there is mass confusion toward how God instructs man in regard to salvation. Some falsely teach a “Direct Operation of the Holy Spirit” upon the heart of a sinner while others state “an Angel told me” or “God spoke to me,” thereby eliminating the need of hearing God’s Word. Let us not be the type of hearers like those who stoned Stephen in Acts 7:54 or hearers like the Pharisees in John 12:36-43. God commands that we “Hear and observe to do it” (Deuteronomy 6:3). The kind of hearing that God approves has the attitude, “Speak, Lord; for thy servant heareth.” Samuel (1 Samuel 3:9-10) and Noah (Genesis 6:13-22; 7:5) are great examples of the right kind of hearers.     Why is hearing the Word of God so important? Why is it critical to hear “Right” and not hear “Wrong”? Let us notice some important facts about hearing the Word of God.     1. We must be careful who we hear. We must hear …

Many theories are based upon the millennium. The word millennium is derived from two Latin words: mille, meaning “a thousand” and annus, meaning “year.” Therefore, millennium means a thousand years. Its English equivalent, “a thousand years,” is found six times in Revelation 20:1-7. If you will open your Bible and read that passage you will know all there is to know about the millennium.     There are many questions that make this a controversial subject. The effort on the part of men to answer these questions is what accounts for the controversy surrounding this subject. People have different interpretations of Revelation 20:1-7, hence different ideas about the millennium have arisen. With our entrance into a new century and millennium such theories are on many people’s minds. In this article I wish to take a look at one of the most popular of those theories. Some Pertinent Definitions     Millennialism is a general term denoting belief in the millennium. Papias (c. 60-130) of Hierapolis in Asia Minor advanced millennial views, believing that there would be a period of a thousand years after the resurrection of Christ during which the kingdom of Christ would be set up in a material fashion. When the millennium did not occur with Jesus’ resurrection some began to rethink the event that would initiate its beginning. It was decided that perhaps the return of Christ would be that event.     Amillennialism denotes the view that there will be no millennium. An amillennialist may be one who does not believe the Bible—period. …

This past week, a friend of mine (who shall remain nameless) had some car trouble more than 500 miles from his home. If you’ve ever been in that situation, it is certainly disconcerting to say the least. What do you do? Who do you call? How much will it cost? All these questions rush through your mind. In my friend’s case, after paying a tow truck, it was just a matter of putting gas in the gas tank (now do you see why he will remain nameless)? But in his defense, while he ran out of gas, his gas gauge was showing that he still had a quarter of a tank of gas remaining. Of course, I couldn’t help but see a spiritual application in this event. How many people do you suppose are trusting in a “fallible gauge?” How many people do you think are being told they’re alright, but their “tank is empty”? I do know that on the day of Judgment, there will be some who stand before Christ, surprised that they are not saved (Matthew 7:21-23). To avoid such a fate, we must trust in the only “gauge” that will never fail and never mislead us…the Word of God. Friends, spend time in God’s Word so that you can make your calling and election sure.

It is suggested that we have our eyesight checked at least every two years. The ideal vision is 20/20. Most of us, as we grow older, need some assistance to enable us to see. Thus, we are fitted with glasses from time to time.     In the matter of evangelism, we often suffer because of the lack of spiritual vision. That infirmity is called “myopia,” which has to do with nearsightedness. So many Christians can only see that which is near. We are not looking far enough. We are confined within the walls of our church buildings. We are in need of having our eyesight improved by the Great Physician who can heal our partial blindness. We desperately need some “eye salve” to anoint our eyes that we may see the fields “that are white already unto harvest (Revelation 3:18; John 4:35). He whose eyes are as “a flame of fire” (Revelation 1:14) has written us a prescription that will give us 20/20 vision. It is recorded in Acts 20:20: “how I shrank not from declaring unto you anything that was profitable, and teaching you publicly, and from house to house.”     First of all, it is needful that we teach the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:27). Second, note the methods used by Paul in the proclamation of that which was profitable. He said that he taught the Gospel of Christ both publicly and privately. The persecuted prisoners of the Lord had earlier utilized these avenues in preaching Jesus …

We just received a letter from a dear brother who had been asked, “Where in the Bible is there authority for a Christian woman to teach a Christian man, or any man in public?” Part of my response to him was, “If a person asks a ‘fuzzy’ question, he can not expect anything but a ‘fuzzy’ answer.” First, what does he mean by “in public?” If a man sees a woman on the street corner and asks her, “What does a person need to do in order to be saved?” are they “in public” and can she properly tell him? If an unsaved neighbor moves into the community, and a Christian woman invites them over for dinner and the man asks her the same question, are they “in public” or can she talk about anything the Bible teaches? If they are in a Bible study in the church building, and both the unsaved person and the Christian woman are students in the class and the teacher asks the question, may the Christian woman answer? If they are engaged in the “worship service” and the Christian woman is obeying Colossians 3:16 which commands her to teach and admonish, and she has as her visitor her non-Christian friend, is she disobeying some other command which prohibits her from teaching “a Christian man or any man in public”?     In our judgment, the simple Bible answer to all of these questions is that all Christians are to be involved in teaching others, both …

 In Deuteronomy 6:4-5, Moses spoke these words to Israel on behalf of Yahweh, “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one! You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.” There is a word in this text that immediately catches our attention. The word is “love.” The command God gave the Israelites through his great spokesman Moses was, “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.” According to The Expository Dictionary of Bible Words, this is a Hebrew verb ‘ahab, which is found more than two hundred times in the Old Testament. This word, again according the above dictionary, did not specify the object of the love, the degree or the kind (609). Coming into the New Testament, we find Jesus and the writers of that Book using the Greek word for this Hebrew one more than three hundred twenty times in all its forms. Any word that is used that often has to be an important word. The noun form of the word is easily recognized by most Christians today; it is “agape.”     When Jesus was questioned by the lawyer in Matthew 22:36ff regarding which was the first and greatest commandment in the Law, he quoted Deuteronomy 6:5, using the Greek verb agapao. In so doing, he gave new meaning to the Hebrew word used in Deuteronomy 6:5. This is the word used to describe the love …

 A newlywed farmer and his wife were visited by her mother, who immediately demanded an inspection of the place. The farmer had genuinely tried to be friendly to his new mother-in-law, hoping that it could be a friendly, non-antagonistic relationship. It was all to no avail, though, as she kept nagging them at every opportunity, demanding changes, offering unwanted advice, and generally making life unbearable to the farmer and his new bride.  While they were walking through the barn, during the forced inspection, the farmer’s mule suddenly reared up and kicked the mother-in-law in the head, killing her instantly. It was a shock to all no matter their feelings toward her demanding ways.   At the funeral service a few days later, the farmer stood near the casket and greeted folks as they walked by. The preacher noticed that whenever a woman would whisper something to the farmer, he would nod his head yes and say something.  Whenever a man walked by and whispered to the farmer, however, he would shake his head no, and mumble a reply. Very curious as to this bizarre behavior, the preacher later asked the farmer what that was all about.    The farmer replied, “The women would say, ‘What a terrible tragedy’ and I would nod my head and say ‘Yes, it was.’ The men would then ask, ‘Can I borrow that mule?’ and I would shake my head and say, ‘Can’t, it’s all booked up for a year.’” We often make jokes about …