Have you ever read Colossians 2:14? It reads, “Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross…” According to the Bible in Psalm 19:7, God’s law is perfect, converting the soul. Why then is it written in the New Testament that it was “nailed to the cross”? What was nailed to the cross? Was it this perfect law of God? The perfect law of God that converts the soul was given by Moses and witnessed in the Old Testament. The apostle Paul wrote that this law was a tutor to bring us to Christ (Galatians 3:24-25 ESV.) In New Testament days, a “tutor” ( “schoolmaster,” KJV) was the servant who was charged with the safe delivery of the master’s children to the schoolhouse where the Master teacher would be waiting. Today, we call them bus drivers! The law then was a bus driver to deliver us to the Master teacher, Jesus Christ. Paul said that Timothy had known the Holy Scriptures from his youth and that those Scriptures, found in the Old Testament, were able to make men “wise unto salvation through faith that is in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 3:15 KJV). Just as students need to go to the first grade before entering the second, or just as students need to finish high school before entering the university, so it is that people needed the instruction found in the Law and …

There is excitement in the air as a new school year begins. Students, parents, teachers and administrators run around making sure all the final details are in place to begin the new year right. Students arrive to their first day of classes and teachers hand out the syllabi for the new year. Contained in these documents are lists of projects, tests, miscellaneous assignments and all the dates when these things will happen or must be submitted. Also listed in many syllabi are books and materials that will be needed and used to complete the assignments. Essentially, the students have, or are told where to find, everything they will need to be successful in each of their classes. Then, it is time to hit the books. Hard work and dedication can make for an excellent school year. Just like each of these students, we have been given access to everything we need to know to be successful Christians, too. In 2 Peter 1:3 we read, “As His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue.” The Word of God teaches us about God, His Plan, His Love, His Will and His Promises. The Word of God is inspired, profitable and can truly change our lives forever. “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may …

This day is yours; what are you going to do with it? Psalm 118 reminds us that this day—just like every other day—is a reason for celebration. God gave it to us (Psalm 118:24) and filled it up with possibilities and opportunities to use it for His purposes. At midnight, it was given to us free of any kind of charge, but we must be careful. Although it was free, it’s non-renewable. Once it’s gone, it’s gone forever. Our responsibility is to use this day in service to God and His purposes. Today, will you treasure your time? Will you give God the glory? The thanksgiving? Will you look for the opportunities and possibilities with which God has blessed you? It’s the day the Lord made, for sure. Yet, how you live it depends on your choices and decisions.

But, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ. (Ephesians 4:15 NKJV) Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving; meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains, that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak. Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one. (Colossians 4:2-6) Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. (2 Timothy 1:13) A dichotomy is where two things are divided into separate categories. For example, on one hand are vegetarians and on the other hand are those who eat meat. That is a true dichotomy or opposite matters. The colors black and white are a true dichotomy: one is all the colors in one; the other is a lack of color. However, sometimes a dichotomy is just arbitrarily invented, in other words, made up. One example is the attitude concerning truth and love. Some feel that love trumps the upholding of truth and sound doctrine. Others think that truth and sound doctrine do not require kindness and love. Both of these positions are false, based on the same artificial dichotomy that somehow sound …

Psalm 95:1-2 reads, “Oh come let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the Rock of our salvation.” The Psalmist invited his readers into the presence of our Holy God with a heart full of thanksgiving and to express our thankfulness in songs of praise. We are to show devotion to our Mighty Creator and Keeper. Then, he gave powerful reasons and sound logic for us to show our devotion and love to God. The Lord is a great God, a great King above all gods. His possessions are the depths of the earth and the heights of the mountains. The very sea belongs to Him because He made both the sea and the dry land. It is then befitting of us to worship, to bow down and kneel before the Lord, our Maker. Why—because He is our God, and we are His people, the sheep of His own hand by virtue of the simple fact that He created us. Next, the tenor of the psalmist shifted from a plea for devotion to a sense of warning. He said if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as your fathers did at Meribah, as on the day at Massah, putting God to the test. Do not put Him to the proof when you have seen His mighty works. God found the Israelites to be a people who would go astray and forget His ways. Because of this, God held a loathing for even His people so that …

While on the Isle of Patmos, John wrote the Book of Revelation. In Chapters 2-3, there are recorded seven letters to the churches of Asia Minor. Although each letter was written to a specific congregation, each is also applicable to us (cf., “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches,” Revelation 3:22). The seventh of these letters was written to the church at Laodicea. The subtitle, “A Church with a Closed Door,” is adapted from Ray Summers (Worthy Is the Lamb). Background of the City Laodicea was located at the junction of the Lycus and the Maeander River valleys, which also was the location of three major trade routes. The city was founded by Antiochus II (261-246 B.C.). Laodicea quickly became the center of Hellenistic culture, reaching its peak in 190 BC. In A.D. 60, the city was destroyed by an earthquake. It was rebuilt without help from Rome, thus giving its people an arrogant attitude. Laodicea was richer than the other six cities. It was noted for banking, manufacturing of clothing (especially from black wool) and its medical school, which was famous for its eye ointment (cf., “eye salve,” Revelation 3:18). The city’s wealth and easy-going lifestyle was very attractive. Although the establishment of the church in Laodicea is not recorded, it seems Epaphras could very well have been involved (cf., Colossians 4:12-13). Paul wrote at least one epistle to the Laodiceans that God’s providence did not allow to survive (Colossians 4:16). …

Do you have a sense of ought? Webster defines the word “ought” in part as, “obligation or duty: as, he ought to pay his debts.” I must admit I have a strong sense of ought. I do not recognize this in a bragging way or anything like that. This feeling of ought, I believe, comes from one’s upbringing. Sadly, too many folks have not been brought up or raised in any sense of the meaning of “ought.” Ought or obligation and duty contains the idea of rightness and not wrongness. With our upbringing, all of us choose to accept or reject what he or she has been taught. We are all free moral agents with the power to choose right or wrong. It is very good to have this sense of doing and acting right. As an illustration, in our upbringing, one could be taught that it is right to hate a certain race of humans. As one matures, he or she learns that they were wrong and therefore changes one’s past view. The apostle Paul wrote, “When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things” (1 Corinthians 13:11). Note for a further illustration, it is reported that one robbed and severely beat up an old couple. We are repulsed and disgusted by this action. Why? We know that this is not right. Our thought process, our reasoning …

“For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ” (John 1:17). Many professed Christians believe that God’s people were under a law with Moses but that they are under grace with Jesus. They deny that there is anything one can do to be saved by Jesus. They say Jesus gives us His grace and grace is all that we need. The above verse states that by Jesus came grace and truth. So, this verse by itself shows that grace alone was not what Jesus brought. It shows that one must have the truth as well as His grace. The writer of Hebrews in 12:28 wrote, “Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.” The words “godly fear” come from a word meaning caution or dread. Grace includes a proper understanding that God is someone to be feared. If grace alone ruled His kingdom, there would be no reason to have caution while professing to live in Him. Notice also in Hebrews 12:28 the word “reverence.” This word means to be shamefaced or bashful. It indicates that the person acknowledges his personal shortcomings and weakness in comparison to God. One has shame in seeing oneself so small in comparison to God. One has shame in understanding that one does not live perfectly according to the expectations of God. This indicates there are things that one must do to live in a proper relationship …

The word “must”means, “Something that needs to be done, necessity or certainty.” Notice some of the things that we need to do, that are a necessity or are certainties from the Bible. Matthew 6:5 (ESV) “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.” Matthew 20:26 “But whoever would be great among you must be your servant.” Matthew 24:44 “Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” John 3:7 “Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’” John 4:24 “God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” Act 5:29 “But Peter and the apostles answered, ‘We must obey God rather than men.’” Act 20:35 “In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” Romans 6:11 “So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.” 1 Corinthians 10:8 “We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did…” 2 Corinthians 1:11 “You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.” 2 Corinthians 5:10 “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive …

Christians are people of self-control (Galatians 5:23). Christianity is about disciplining oneself, and being in control of one’s thoughts, words and actions. This means that we have to fight against our own minds by taking every thought into captivity (2 Corinthians 10:5), bridling our tongues (James 3:1-12) and knowing that we are not free to do what we want and when we want (Galatians 5:19-21). Being a Christian means not only denying self (Luke 9:23) but dying to self (Galatians 2:20). Being serious about one’s relationship with Jesus and bearing good fruit means we strive to live our lives by the higher standards to which He has called us, the life of true and real discipleship where we strive to be like Him.

Growing up in the Gilchrist house, oft heard was the phrase, “Use the dictionary.” A request for a definition was met with the answer, “Look it up in a dictionary.” This taught the importance of words and their meanings. One of the first books to acquire for serious Bible study is a good Bible dictionary. This is because words matter. So-called “liturgical language” has fallen on hard times. Society has become “unchurched,” and some words found in the Bible have become misunderstood. Because society is sometimes lazy, individuals shut down mentally when unrecognized words are heard. So, some classify words as “churchy,”— derogatorily, as in, “That preacher uses too many churchy words.” Big words should not be used to show off, but there are some words that need to be understood and deserve some time and attention. There is nothing wrong with digging a little deeper into words, not for liturgy, but because of biblical significance. The Hebrew word “messiah” is used thirty-nine times in the Old Testament (Vine 150). It means “anointed one.” It refers to someone anointed to a specific task or given the authority to do a job. There are multiple messiahs in the Old Testament. Patriarchs were anointed (Psalm 105:15). The priests were anointed (Leviticus 4:3, 5, 16; 1 Kings 19:16). The prophets were anointed (Psalm 105:15). Kings were anointed (2 Samuel 7:13; Isaiah 45:1). More importantly, there is a Messiah that the Old Testament points to coming, Who would fulfill prophecies and promises. He would be anointed …

Deuteronomy 16 records Moses’ instructions to the Israelite nation about three of their significant feasts. Under the Old Testament law, the Israelites were required to attend three feasts each year in the city where the Tabernacle (and later the Temple) were located. Three of the feasts that they could attend to meet that requirement were: the feast of Passover, the feast of weeks and the feast of booths (tabernacles). The Unleavened Bread of the Passover During the Feast of Passover, there was to be absolutely no leaven anywhere in the house of the Israelites. They were to purge out the leaven. Throughout the Old and New testaments, leaven almost always signified a corrupting agent and commonly represented sin (1 Corinthians 5). For this reason and to learn this lesson, Israel was commanded to eat only unleavened bread during the Passover. It is of particular interest, then, that Deuteronomy 16 records, “You shall eat no leavened bread with it; seven days you shall eat unleavened bread with it, that is, the bread of affliction (for you came out of the land of Egypt in haste), that you may remember the day in which you came out of the land of Egypt all the days of your life” (verse 3). Moses identified an additional reason for the “no leaven” requirement in Egypt as they were preparing to leave. He called unleavened bread “the bread of affliction,” referencing their slavery in Egypt. He noted that they came out of Egypt in haste. Leaven …

The children of Israel were on their way from Egypt to Canaan, but they had some hurdles to overcome along the way. They had problems with faith, food and also with foreign enemies. One of the problems that Israel faced in the wilderness was a king named Balak, who hired a prophet named Balaam to curse them. God forbid Balaam from cursing the people of Israel. He was only allowed to bless them (Numbers 23:1-12, 25-26). Once Balaam realized he could not curse the children of Israel with his speech, he attempted to seduce them to sin with the Moabite women (Numbers 25:1). The Israelites gave in to Balaam’s temptation and joined themselves to idols and displeased the Lord (Numbers 25:2-3). God had Moses kill all of those who engaged in this idolatrous behavior in order to remove the wickedness from their midst (Numbers 25:4-5; cf. Exodus 20:2-6). After God had shown His hatred for the fornication of Israel mixed with idolatry, an Israelite man, Zimri (Numbers 25:14), marched into the camp one day with a Midianite woman, Cozbi (Numbers 25:15). Not only did the Israelite come in with the forbidden woman, but he also did it in the sight of all of the people, and no one did anything about it (Numbers 25:6). It was at this time that Phinehas, the grandson of Aaron, rose up with a javelin and killed them both (Numbers 25:7-8). God blessed Phinehas and turned away from His anger toward Israel (Numbers 25:10-15). While …

Many churches and preachers receive unrequested emails that advocate the doctrine that Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, which present the record of Christ’s teaching before the cross (identified by MMLJ/BC) belong to the Old Testament Law, thus holding no authority for New Testament Christians. While there may be several reasons for holding this position, it seems that a primary purpose is to eliminate the Lord’s teaching on marriage, divorce and remarriage (especially Matthew 19, which is not limited to Jews or to the Law of Moses). While many objections could be raised to this false division of the Bible, this short article will consider three. First, what were the approximate writing dates of the autographs of each of the four books under consideration? For this information, the Gospel Advocate Commentary series will be explored as a general source. Matthew is estimated to have written his account between A.D. 38-70 (H. Leo Boles). Mark, it is assumed, wrote his treatise prior to A.D. 70, perhaps during the lifetime of the apostle Peter (C.E.W. Dorris). Luke’s writing is not dated by H. Leo Boles, yet, it would have been written sometime after the ascension of Christ into Heaven and prior to his authorship of Acts (which Boles dates “about A.D. 63 or 64”). Finally, David Lipscomb offers an approximate date of between A.D. 70 and 85 for John’s writing. Since the Old Testament Law’s authority was nailed to the cross (Colossians 2:14), why would MMLJ be written after the cross if they belonged to the Old Testament Law? …

The apostle Paul was arrested in Jerusalem and worked his way up through the Roman court system, defending Christianity and never being found guilty of any crime, as recorded in the Book of Acts. Nevertheless, he was often falsely accused. One Roman governor cried out, “Paul, you are beside yourself! Much learning is driving you mad!” Paul calmly responded, “I am not mad, most noble Festus, but speak the words of truth and reason” (Acts 26:24-25). Christianity, indeed, is a religion of truth and reason. It is not a religion of blind faith. The evidence for it is there, though many willfully suppress it. People will always accuse Christians of being crazy, but the response must be to ever try to kindly reason with our accusers.

When we want to accomplish something, we must set our mind’s eye on the desired end we want to see; we must fix our eyes on our goal. This begins at an early age in our lives. Babies in arms see people walking around them upright, and they want to accomplish that goal. It may take some falls, bruises, aches and pains, but the goal is normally accomplished. This repetition occurs throughout our lives as we set our eyes on the goals we want to accomplish. There are even literal “goals” that people have mastered. For instance, the Harlem Globetrotters are probably the most well-known ever for mastering the art of putting a basketball through the goal. They can make the goal from long distances, from strange positions and with seemingly little effort. They practice a lot, but the main thing they had to do to succeed at the game was to keep their mind’s eye on the goal. Some of them could make the goal from a backward stance. How? Because they knew exactly where the goal was in relation to where they were on the court, and they concentrated on that fact. At this writing, I am scheduled to see a neurosurgeon about my back problems and a possible aneurysm on the aorta that have caused me to cease a lot of my activities. When I see that doctor, I don’t expect him to pick up a scalpel and start carving on my body to try to find the problem. I expect …

Stop worrying. Be happy. Rejoice. Love your enemies. Those are just some of the many admonitions found in the Bible about which preachers often preach. However, it is far easier to tell a person what he should do than it is to tell him exactly how he is to do it. When I tell a person to stop worrying because it is a sin, he may respond, “I know it. That is what worries me the most.” If I tell a person, “Love your enemies,” he may reply, “It is hard enough to love my friends. I do not know how I can love my enemies.” There are at least two values in quoting these commandments directly from the Bible. First, we need to impress upon those who hear that they are not merely good suggestions or advice, but they are commands of God. Second, with the command, we often find hints or directions about how to accomplish the command. For example, in Matthew 6:25-34 when Jesus instructed not to worry, He told in verse 26 that the Heavenly Father feeds the birds and values us more than He does them. Meditating on that fact will help us to obey the command. Then in verse 27, He said, “And which of you by being anxious can add one cubit unto the measure of his life?” He indicated that worry is useless because it accomplishes nothing. Keen awareness of that may help us to stop it as we set our minds on ways …

Hypocrites—I cannot think of anyone who has ever approved of them. I’ve never crossed the path of someone who affirmed that when he was young, he wanted to grow up to be a hypocrite. It hasn’t happened, and I do not expect that it will. There seems to be universal agreement that hypocrisy is wrong, unacceptable and sinful. Yet, hypocrisy is still with us. Yes, hypocrisy is a strong force as it destroys those about us (Proverbs 11:9). It may even be the immediate cause that bars others from entrance into the kingdom of God (Matthew 23:13). Hypocrisy deprives us of the approval of the Lord (Matthew 23:14-15, 33) and restrains the mercy of God as an operative force in our lives (Isaiah 9:13-17). The wrath of God is activated and applied when hypocrisy is unchecked (Isaiah 9:17b; Matthew 23:13ff). The valid hope of faithful children of God is made destitute when we stand as unrepentant hypocrites before the Lord (Job 8:11-14; 20:4-7; 27:8). May each of us courageously heed the admonition of Peter and therefore lay aside all hypocrisies (1 Peter 2:1). Any other course is too costly. May we as well possess the courage to change our attitudes that encourage hypocrisy and thus take us away from the path of God.

This obscure family of ours was early in the Reformation, and continued Protestants through the reign of Queen Mary, when they were sometimes in danger of trouble on account of their zeal against popery. They had got an English Bible, and to conceal and secure it, it was fastened open with tape under and within the cover of a joint-stool. When my great-great grandfather read it to his family, he turned up the joint-stool upon his knees, turning over the leaves then under the tapes. One of the children stood at the door to give notice if he saw the apparitor coming, who was an officer of the spiritual court. In that case the stool was turned down again upon its feet, when the Bible remained concealed under it as before. This story is given by the hand of Benjamin Franklin in his autobiography. We live in a time that is unparalleled insofar as access to information and learning. Scholars and philosophers alike would have treasured our libraries and bookstores. The Internet has moved thousands of instructors into our living rooms and dens to be at our beck and call. The instructions of Aristotle are at our fingertips; we may “listen” to Cicero’s masterful orations, be entertained by the works of Shakespeare or follow Don Quixote on one of his journeys. We have no fear that someone will confiscate and burn our books or seize our Bibles. Yet, our society is guilty of the crime of neglect and laziness. It …

Dr. Ralph Wilson, on the website Joyful Heart, wrote these words about the first Thanksgiving. On December 21, 1620 the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth rock. Through the dead of winter, the colony struggled with poor and meager food, strenuous labor, a biting wind that chilled to the bone and the ravages of disease. Nearly half the 102 Mayflower passengers did not live to see spring refresh Cape Cod Bay. Indians named Samoset, Squanto and Massasoit helped the English settlers plant, hunt and fish. The bountiful harvest that autumn led Governor Bradford to invite the Indians to celebrate God’s goodness. Ninety tall braves accepted the invitation to join the Pilgrims in a feast of Thanksgiving to God for His blessings. What lesson did the Pilgrims learn that first Thanksgiving? For one, they learned they needed God. No matter how hard they had labored, they had to face issues beyond their control to survive. Who could have anticipated the harshness of that winter’s weather and the diseases that would strike them? Even after doing their best, they were not master of their own destiny. They also learned they needed others to help them cultivate the land, and they needed each other on whom to lean through those tough times. No wonder the Pilgrims and the Indians joined together for a celebration of thanksgiving. What they had for which to be most thankful was their relationship together. As we approach another Thanksgiving holiday, there is so much for which we can grateful. God has …

Ingratitude is a sin. Paul wrote about the downward spiral of the Gentiles into sin, including some thoughts on their failure to be grateful (Romans 1:21). He told a young preacher, “But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy” (2 Timothy 3:1-2). Only one leper returned to thank Jesus after the ten were cleansed. The Lord’s questions are telling. “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” (Luke 17:11-19). Bible examples demonstrate why we should be grateful. Jesus gave thanks before the feeding of the 4,000 (Mark 8:6). He thanked the Father for always hearing Him before commanding Lazarus to come forth from the grave (John 11:40-44). He also gave thanks for the bread and the cup during the time He was instituting the Lord’s supper (1 Corinthians 11:23-26; Matthew 26:26-27). Paul often told of his prayers of thanksgiving for the churches to which he wrote letters (Ephesians 1:16; Philippians 1:3; Colossians 1:3; 1 Thessalonians 1:2). Christians are commanded to be grateful. The apostle to the Gentiles wrote, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6). Walking in Christ should result in abounding with thanksgiving. Christ’s followers should remain watchful in prayer with thanksgiving (Colossians 2:7; …