Mankind has always fundamentally relied on the same three questions: who are we, why are we here, and where are we going? Individuals of every generation explore these questions, examine for themselves and pass on what they have learned to their children. Each generation scrutinizes the old traditions and considers new innovations, attempting to find a balanced harmony for the future. Yet, what if you were told that these questions could be answered by a book written over hundreds and thousands of years ago? As war wages on in the Middle East, most of the 21st century wonders why it is happening, what it is all about and if it will ever end. Many have forgotten that this conflict, and many like it, began long ago as tribes, city-states, empires and nations fought for identity. There is an ancient book that tells the origins – historical, cultural, and religious – of one such nation, which began as a single family through whom all other nations have been blessed. Curious men still wonder what purpose mankind serves. Some suggest man is an accident of atoms. The complexity of existence is said to have started simple and grown into its present form. Having no way to observe and verify these speculations, it seems pointless to debate; however, there is an account of the universe’s beginnings. There is an ancient record of the beginnings of time, the world and mankind, whose existence and purpose on this earth is nowhere near accidental. The unfolding …

The title is the simple statement Jesus provided to the Gadarene man. As Christians, we are charged with a similar order. “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations” (Matthew 28:19). This does not sound like the same sentiment, but when you consider that disciple making requires one to “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15), and that preaching the Gospel means telling others the good news, which you have also heeded, then all Christians, to the best of their abilities, should “Tell what great things God has done.” If it is such a simple statement, why is it so hard to follow? Perhaps when we see why the man in Luke 8 was so motivated that “he went his way and proclaimed throughout the whole city what great things Jesus had done for him” (39), we will be moved to act similarly. As we put the account together, we see that long before Jesus came to this region, this man was possessed with demons (27). In fact, there were thousands of those spirits in his body. What had this done to his life? He really had no life so to speak. The demons had “seized” it and had “driven” him to do what they wanted (29). This kept him homeless. He lived in tombs and wore no clothes. When he was captured, the demons caused him to break his bonds with inhuman strength and go into the wilderness. We know he …

How sad it is that so many baptized believers never feel secure in their salvation. Some Christians go through life never really knowing whether they will go to hell or heaven. However, one needs to make his or her “calling and election sure” (2 Peter 1:11). The word “calling” is from the Greek word klesis, which means “a call, calling, invitation.” The Greek word for “election” is ekloge, which means “election, choice, the act of picking out, choosing.” “Calling and election” is God’s call and choice of you (Matthew 22:14; 1 Corinthians 1:9; James 2:5; 1 Peter 2:9; 2 Thessalonians 2:14). The Christian can make sure of his salvation by diligent work. Christians have the assurance of the faith. “For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day” (2 Timothy 1:12 NKJV). This “assurance” is “forever” (Isaiah 32:17). “And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end” (Hebrews 6:11). Christian hearts are assured before Jesus Christ (1 John 3:19). “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God” (1 John 5:13). How can we know that we have assurance …

Has life been tough? Does it felt like the world is set against you? Be a Christian anyway (James 1:2-4). Or, has life been full of sunshine? Have good things been lining up for you? Be a Christian anyway (Ecclesiastes 7:13-14). Has sorrow been seeking you out? Has the heavy burden of poverty been placed on your shoulders? Be a Christian anyway (Matthew 11:28). Or, perhaps it’s been a time of joy? Has prosperity been overflowing for you? Be a Christian anyway (Matthew 6:19-21). Has someone gossiped, slandered or spoke evil against you? Has someone done you wrong or betrayed your trust? Be a Christian anyway (Matthew 5:11-12). Or, have people been kind, tender and loving? Have they been paying compliments and giving encouragement? Be a Christian anyway (Ephesians 4:32; Hebrews 3:13). Does it feel like you’re one of the few still following God? Does it seem like evil is winning? Be a Christian anyway (1 John 4:4). Or, have you been encouraged with those working hard for the Lord? Are you seeing people standing out for Him like never before? Be a Christian anyway (Philippians 2:12-13). Are you fearful or hopeful about the direction of our country? Are you mad or joyful, sad or happy with the election results? Be a Christian anyway (Romans 13:1-7). Whether good or bad comes our way, whether poverty or prosperity, whether troubling times or tremendous times, no matter what comes, we know what to do. Be a Christian anyway!

I recently did a word study on the word “baptism,” especially as it is used in Acts 2:38. The Greek word is “baptizo” and was transliterated and not translated. It was Anglicized into “baptize” instead of rendered “immersion” because the King James translators viewed different so-called modes of baptism (i.e., pouring or sprinkling). They did not want to give the proper picture of what baptism is – an immersion. I used the Blue Letter Bible app to do my study. It gave this illustration of the word baptism: This word should not be confused with baptô (911). The clearest example that shows the meaning of baptizo is a text from the Greek poet and physician Nicander, who lived about 200 B.C. It is a recipe for making pickles and is helpful because it uses both words. Nicander says that in order to make a pickle, the vegetable should first be ‘dipped’ (baptô) into boiling water and then ‘baptised’ (baptizô) in the vinegar solution. Both verbs concern the immersing of vegetables in a solution. But the first is temporary. The second, the act of baptising the vegetable, produces a permanent change. I understand this analogy well. My grandmother once made pickles in her kitchen when I was a kid. Once the cucumber was immersed in the vinegar, it certainly would never be the same! Baptism produces a permanent change in us! Paul wrote: Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His …

Football, baseball, soccer, Facebook, Candy Crush, shopping, work, family time, sleep, friends, cars, motorcycles, gardening, eating, cooking, home repairs, cutting grass, shoveling snow, with all these things in life, where is there room for God? With more advancements in technology, entertainment and the comforts of home, we have secluded ourselves from the outside world. We stay home and are entertained with the television, playing games and watching YouTube videos in the heated and cooled environment of our homes. Rarely do we take the time to socialize and befriend our neighbors besides the casual “Hello. How are you?” greeting. I greatly fear that this societal norm is making its way into the Lord’s church. There seems to be a decreased desire to spend additional time fellowshipping with other Christians and studying God’s Word together. I recently conducted a survey concerning Sunday evening services. The majority of those who replied expressed that they did not regularly attend evening services because they were too busy or too tired. We all spend too much time worrying and working towards things we cannot change and not enough time seeking after the kingdom of God (Matthew 6:25-34). Paul stated that bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things (1 Timothy 4:8). It serves as a reminder for us to be more focused on the spiritual than on the physical. What (or who) has made us so busy that we have little time left of our day and week to spend in study …

Raymond A. Leonard We are in this fight togetherIn the service of the Lord.We fight the force of evil withGod’s Word the Spirit’s sword. God has called us into His service,His banner to hold up high,As we preach and teach the Gospel,That sinners need not die. When we put on our service mantle,A commitment to God we did make,That we would obey His commandmentsAnd His will we would not break. Thus, as we engage in this battle,In which God has called us to fight,We will do it as men of honor,Shining forth Christ’s Gospel light. We have no authority other thanthe power contained in God’s Word,Which only has life changing powerWhen by those in need it is heard. We must be persistent in the battle,Our responsibility we cannot shirk.We are fighting for eternal souls,And evil does everywhere still lurk. God has pressed us into this battle;We are engaged in a righteous cause.Pray that we never get so discouragedThat we want to quit or pause.

It is with amazement that some might call arrogance with which this author views many naïve, misdirected calls to “do the loving thing” in religious matters. Call it what opponents may, any “loving thing” needs biblical definition. Consider examples of misguided pleas: (1) If men differ on how to be saved, “do the loving thing” and do not challenge views. Let all believe what they will, and let God sort it out in the end. This is what some say and believe. It is misguided. (2) If people are engaged in what one sees as sin, but they seem happy, “the loving thing” is to just live and let live. They’ll answer to God for it, and no one on earth is their judge. This, too, is misguided. Consider, now, biblical responses: (1) If the Bible speaks on the plan of salvation, students of the Bible have the responsibility to rightly understand it (2 Timothy 2:15) and teach it (2 Timothy 2:2). The loving thing is to gently and to humbly (2 Timothy 2:24-25) confront error in the hopes that truth will be understood and heeded (John 8:32; 1 Timothy 2:4). This is what leads to salvation. (2) Then, if brethren are engaged in sin, other brethren are not justified in just leaving them alone. Rather, there is an obligation: “Brethren, if any man is overtaken in a trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and …

In speaking of the hot weather, we’ve probably all heard someone say that “it’s hot as blue blazes!” That term came from blacksmithing where the blacksmith got the forge extremely hot to work with his material to accomplish the desired result. The extreme heat enabled him to work with the iron to shape it into what he wanted it to be. Usually in today’s world, when we hear that exclamation, we assume people are speaking of the weather. We’ve almost been to that extreme the latter part of this week as we’ve experienced very hot temperatures with heavy moisture in the air, which makes it seem even hotter. To state it simply, it’s almost “too hot to breathe!” You know as I was thinking of this, it made me want to tell folks “you ain’t seen nothin’ yet!” Strangely enough, when I tried to Google “ain’t” to check for correct spelling, the word was not in the file, so it is not accepted as an appropriate word. I’m quite sure that at some time every one of us has said “ain’t,” but perhaps not in this context. For those folks who don’t believe and obey the Word of God, they “ain’t seen nothin’ yet.” Of course, there are those folks who have died without ever having heard the Word. That becomes a problem for Christians to whom Jesus said “go and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost; teaching them …

Every November our nation celebrates Thanksgiving Day. Such a celebration ought to be daily rather than a “day.” We ought to be provoked to great thought. We have so much for which to be thankful in America, but we have much more for which to be thankful in our spiritual blessings possessed in Christ (Ephesians 1:3). Perhaps, it would be good for each of us to consider the words of David, “What shall I render to the LORD for all His benefits to me?” (Psalm 116:12). David’s question is not commonly asked even by those of us who are God’s children, though to our shame. More commonly asked are questions like: “How can I find a better job?” “How can I have more fun?” “How can I make more money?” “How can I live longer and be happier?” Again, perhaps, the reason we do not often ask the question David asked in Psalm 116:12 is that we may be crediting our achievements wrongfully and successes in lives to our own credit, failing to realize our abundant blessings are from our God and not from our own doing. Only when we understand God as the Giver of gifts shall we turn our minds in thanksgiving to Him. Often when one of our peers does us a favor we respond, “What can I do for you in return?” Yet, living on God’s footstool and enjoying His offer of salvation and all of its attendant blessings, breathing His air, drinking His water, etc., we often …

Philip’s work in Samaria recorded in Acts 8:4-25 was a response to the intense suffering placed upon Christians in Jerusalem (Acts 8:1-3). Persecution caused Philip and other Christians to be “scattered abroad,” and they “went everywhere preaching the word” (Acts 4:1). Often times, when considering Philip’s work in Samaria, one focuses solely on the Gospel’s influence on a man “called Simon” who “used sorcery” (Acts 8:9). Yet, the result of Philip’s work was much greater than the conversion of one man; he converted a city that had been wallowing in false teaching. Luke, inspired by the Holy Spirit, recorded that all of Samaria “gave heed” to Simon (Acts 8:9). In so doing, the Samaritans misplaced their attention. Literally, “they kept on giving attention to” the false teaching of Simon. The Samaritans should have known better; they had once been influenced by a true miracle worker, the Son of God (John 4:40-42). Now they were “paying mind to” a trickster who claimed to be a “great one.” Unfortunately, several in this age have “given heed” to false teaching and have fallen away. False teaching, when given an opening, has a way of chipping away at one’s legitimate faith. It is unwise to think for even a moment that one can ingest unsound doctrine and be healthier. It defies common sense and Gospel teaching (2 Timothy 2:14-17). It is apparent that the Samaritans had also misplaced their assurance. They said, from the least to the greatest, that Simon “is the great power of God.” The word …

Many times my wife and I sit at our breakfast table and ponder the outcome of current news and happenings. Generally, there is alarming and tumultuous chaos, and it is not just rampant in our neck of the woods, but it tends to darken every horizon where one might look. Just when it looks like things have slowed down a bit, and things look a bit better, the TV screen comes alive with the foreboding news, “Tragedy in your town” or “Raging killer takes the lives of innocent people.” This, to us, harks back to the prophetic pronouncements of utter doom and destruction that await the ungodly of Earth at the end of time. While this portends tragedy and suffering like none on Earth before, for the ungodly, it also points to the faithful before the throne of eternal God who await the most wonderful words to ever fall upon mortal ear, ”Come ye blessed of my Father.” It is not uncommon to hear folks reminiscing of the “Good old days,” but from what I’ve been able to discern, one of the best things about the good old days is that they’re gone. Brother E.C. McKenzie asks the insightful question, “Don’t you long for the ‘good old days’ when Uncle Sam lived within his income and without most of yours?” Doubtless, most of us can relate to that pointed question. Time comes, and time goes, but apparently it does not change much with its movement. The prophet Micah spoke of …

I always enjoyed being around my younger brother Edward; he was my favorite sibling. We all have people and friends to whom we feel closer and who are more comfortable for us to be around. I cannot see anything wrong with that, can you? The rub comes when we play favoritism to a certain class of people for whatever reason. Do they have money or influence? Just maybe we can reap benefits from them, and therefore, we buddy up to them. Webster defines favoritism in part as the showing of more kindness and indulgence to some person or persons than to others or being unfairly partial. The key is that we must not be unfairly partial. It has been my experience that because of unfair partiality or favoritism, people have had advancements in the job market and have climbed the social structure. Have you ever met an apple polisher? People develop these friendships because they may be drinking buddies, part of a social club, of the same political party or other suchlike groups. With this type of tie-in, cliques have a tendency to develop. Webster defines “clique” in part as a small, exclusive circle of people or a snobbish or narrow clique. Christians must strive to be fair, friendly and impartial with all dealings with each other as well as with all men. We must not be respecters of persons. My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. For …

“This is My Father’s World!”(Babcock). Do we still sing this beautiful song? In reference to the heavenly Father, the song still holds true: “This is my Father’s world.” This world does indeed belong to God, because He made it. He is the Creator and Sustainer of this world and the fullness thereof (Genesis 1:1; Psalm 24:1; Jeremiah 10:10-12; 1 Corinthians 10:26; Hebrews 1:1; 11:3, et al). Have you noticed that the world in which we live is not the same world of our parents? In reference to my physical father, this is not my father’s world. The second point of the statement is in reference to the current philosophy and mind set when compared to the generations of the 40’s and 50’s when my physical father was growing up. This is not my father’s world in regards to truth. Today, many like Pilate react skeptically to the concept of truth (John 18:36-38). The fact is that 7 out of 10 or 70 percent of Americans now believe that there is no such thing as absolute truth (Sanders 26). According to most people, there is no set of truths that can be unquestionably relied upon in every circumstance in every place and time (Sanders 51). Brantley makes this observation: “In Western culture, epistemology (the area of study that deals with the nature of knowledge and how it is established) has undergone some radical changes over the last few decades. There is a growing consensus that objective, universal truth is an archaic …

Many mothers have stated that while their sons were in prison for murder, “I hate what my son has done but I still love him.” A broken-hearted wife has found out that her husband has violated their wedding vows by committing adultery. She is overwhelmed with grief and disappointment, but she wants to save their marriage and expresses her feelings, “because I still love him.” A son is sent to prison for selling cocaine and will be incarcerated for several years. His father hates what his son has done, but down deep in his father’s heart there remains a love for his wayward son, and he will give him moral support. No doubt, there are Christian parents who may have a son or a daughter living with a member of the opposite sex without being married. The parents know the Word of God considers such an arrangement as being the sin of “fornication” and described in the book of Galatians to be one of “the works of the flesh.” Further, they “who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God” (Galatians 5:19-21). Don’t you know those parents still love their son or daughter and at the same time hate that sinful relationship? There are Christians parents who have sons and daughters who are homosexuals or lesbians who are actively engaged in such a lifestyle. Do not these parents love their children while hating that sinful way of living? Why, of course they do! It is my conviction that …

The Christian is commanded to sing: “but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 5:18b-20). Sometimes it is concerning how Christians sing. Many Christians think their singing is approved just because it is a cappella, but this is not the case. Singing a cappella is important, but if that is the only thing a Christian is doing to make sure he is singing correctly, he is not doing enough. As with all acts of worship, it is a Christian’s duty to make sure that he is worshiping correctly. David was very conscientious of the way he worshiped. In Psalms, he spoke of his excitement to worship: “I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go into the house of the Lord’” (122:1). David worshiped in song, and the songs were focused on God, but David did not think just making sure the songs were focused on God was enough. He wanted to worship with enthusiasm as well as with reverent devotion. Oh come, let us sing to the Lord! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms. For the Lord is the great God, And the great King above all gods. In …

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:10-12). Paul wrapped up his letter to Ephesus by reminding the brethren that they were fighting a battle. It is significant that the word translated “be strong” is in the passive voice, which indicates that Christ’s followers do not strengthen themselves but receive strength from the Lord. Winning the battle will require each Christian soldier to put on the Lord’s armor since our enemy is the devil. The word for “devil” is diabolos, the chief of the demons who is a slanderous accuser. He is the leader of the enemy forces and seeks out any area of weakness to exploit (1 Peter 5:8). That is why we need God’s armor, not some of our own making. The Almighty knows exactly what we need to defeat the enemy and to win the victory. The apostle saw God’s children in hand-to-hand combat with the forces of evil. “Wrestle” likely describes “two soldiers who in the midst of battle faced off one against the other for a very personal hand-to-hand combat” (Ray Summers, Ephesians: Pattern for Christian Living, 141). Paul was stressing the very personal nature of this …

“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20). Paul understood what Jesus told His apostles in Matthew 16:24 when He said one must deny himself if he would follow Him. The term “deny” means to disown and renounce self, and to subjugate all works, interests and enjoyments to that of Christ and His will for us. He told the church in Philippi, “But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ” (Philippians 3:7-8). By saying this, Paul was not implying that he shunned all that one’s physical existence offers, but he meant that he would not let the material things of life take priority over spiritual matters. Spiritual principles guided his decisions and lifestyle in the flesh. This attitude about life was true of Paul because he understood what happened when, in faith, he obeyed the Gospel. He had been crucified with Christ, something that happened in his past when he wrote to the churches of Galatia, but was still true in his present. “I have been …

Ezekiel 22:30 Ancient Babylon is in present-day Iraq! Many Jews were enslaved by the Babylonian government. Ezekiel was among them. The Jews were God’s chosen people. Why would He allow them to be carried away into captivity? That question is answered in Ezekiel 22:23-29. The Jewish priests, princes, prophets and people had completely turned their backs on God. They had sinned! In God’s Justice, He had to punish their sin. It was the “just” thing to do. However, God is also a merciful God. In His mercy, He wanted to forgive them. Now, this begs the following questions: “Which does God exercise? Does He apply justice or mercy, and why?” In Ezekiel 22:30 the answers are clear. “And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.” The phrase “that I should not destroy it” tells us that God wanted to exercise His mercy! The component necessary was “a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap for the land.” God was looking for someone praying for the folks! The saddest statement is, “I found none”! The next verse (vs. 31) tells us that God exercised His justice and punished the people. Why? He punished the nation because no one was praying! It is an awesome thing to understand that our prayers make a difference in the actions of Almighty God!

If we were to stop and think for a moment, we would all probably come to the same conclusion that even though there are many terrible things in the world, there are still so many things in this world that we love and cherish. While there is nothing wrong with having things that mean a lot to us and that are special in our lives, it is still possible for these things that we love to be the things that separate us from God. One of the more difficult conversations I have ever experienced in my life took place in a different country many years ago. A young woman was living with a man that had separated from his wife. This young woman had been living with this man for years. They had a child together. She loved him, but she could not marry him. Legally, he was still married, and in addition, he could not have a scriptural divorce. This woman was on the verge of being converted. There and then, she was faced with a decision that would change her life forever, either to stay with the man or put him away, repent and be baptized. We as humans have made the issue of marriage, divorce and remarriage a major issue in the body of Christ today. According to Matthew 19:8, it is because of the hardness of the hearts of men that divorce was ever permitted by Moses. The Word also tells us plainly that divorce was …

There are few religious acts in which there are more controversy than baptism. Most of the Christian world do not believe that it has anything to do with our salvation. As many say, it is only a symbolic ritual to show what has already taken place in our hearts and lives, namely, the forgiveness of our sins. I believe there are few passages that speak against this attitude more clearly than Romans 6:3-4. “Or do you know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” We need to understand that Romans 6 is not about baptism. It is about sin. The word “sin” is used 16 times in this chapter. Paul was discussing the Christian’s relationship to sin. Knowing that our sins have been washed away should motivate us to lead godly lives. The question is, “When are our sins washed away?” Paul said that it occurs in baptism. Baptism is much more than just a symbol or a ritual. Baptism is more than just a physical act of obedience. In Romans 6:2, Paul said that we died to sin when we were baptized. In 6:3, Paul declared that we are baptized into Jesus Christ as well as baptized into His death. Most people would agree that …

A physical structure is no stronger than its foundation. We are reminded of this fact when earthquakes shake the ground and buildings fall. This principle also applies to our lives. Jesus taught in Matthew 7:24-25, Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock; and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. But everyone who hears these saying of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand; and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall. Jesus was finishing His great Sermon on the Mount, recorded in Matthew 5-7. These chapters record a powerful summary of the core teachings of Christianity. Jesus gave essential guidance and commandments that can be followed to result in Godly lives that assure our spiritual well-being and obedience to God. Paul referred to the teaching of Christ as a foundation for life as he stated in 1 Corinthians 3:11, “For other foundation can no man lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” Some key elements of this great sermon that create a foundation of rock include the following.  There are many other teachings in this sermon. Read and study every …