By: Robert C. Lupo If you study Matthew 13:53–58, you will read, “Now He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief” (Matthew 13:58 NKJV). Some mistakenly think that the unbelief of the people somehow made it difficult for Jesus to perform miracles when He was among His own people, in His own country and in His own city – Nazareth. The thought is that His power was somehow affected adversely by the unbelief of the people. This was not the case! At first, they were impressed with the Lord’s teaching, His wisdom and His miracles (v. 54; cf., Mark 6:1–6). He healed several. However, they were prejudiced against the Lord. The people were even offended at Him—believing Him to be common folk— a carpenter’s son, the son of Mary and the elder brother to others who had no powers (vs. 55–56). They were so prejudiced against Jesus that they would not have believed His word even if they had seen a miracle. The purpose for His miracles was to demonstrate that He and His message were Heaven sent (John 3:2; 5:36). Why waste God’s power on people who will not believe regardless of the proof put before them? Are there things God’s power will not accomplish in our lives because of our own unbelief? Do we believe Jesus enough for us to follow Him without reservation (John 20:30–31)? If so, let us study God’s Word so that our faith and hope in Him will only grow.

Why and when a person obeys the Gospel of Jesus Christ is very important. Denominations discount the importance of the obedience and timeliness of baptism. Teaching faith only or grace only salvation, they do not believe baptism is even necessary to receive the remission of sins. The When of Baptism When one studies the New Testament examples of conversion, he will find that people were baptized as soon as they realized their sins and were prepared to obey the Gospel’s plan of salvation. These were sinners who believed Jesus is the Christ (John 8:24), having been convinced by hearing the Gospel message (John 6:45; Romans 10:17). When these believers were willing to repent – to turn from serving sin to serving God, they began to change their lives. There was no waiting to be baptized, and in fact, there seemed to be a sense of urgency in every example of obedience in the New Testament, embracing God’s pattern for our salvation. See the following examples. Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our

“The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (KJV). “Which also after a true likeness doth now save you, even baptism, not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the interrogation of a good conscience toward God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (ASV). “There is also an antitype which now saves us — baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (NKJV). “Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” (ESV). False teachers continue to misrepresent the importance of Bible baptism. Often, they preach or write that baptism is unnecessary for salvation. For example, GotQuestions.org says, “Yes, there are some verses that seem to indicate baptism as a requirement for salvation. However, since the Bible so clearly tells us that salvation is received by faith alone (John 3:16; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5), there must be a different interpretation of those verses. Scripture does not contradict Scripture” (“Is Baptism Necessary…”). Please Note the Following Biblical Facts. What About Those Three Scriptures; Do They Teach Faith Only? John 3:16 reads, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son,

“So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7 NKJV). God wants us to worship Him in giving. However, it becomes quite clear that God does not want any part of our offering – if it is given with the feelings of reluctance or because we “have to.” Giving ought to be of one’s “own will and free choice, from his very heart, not as directed and forced by others, but according to his own counsel and determination” (Gill). We ought to be willing and happy to give to the Lord; don’t you agree? Giving is just one part of the Christian’s worship to God. We are either commanded or we have apostolically approved examples in the New Testament Scriptures to offer worship to our God in addition to giving by hearing teaching from God’s Word, singing with our hearts, praying and partaking of the Lord’s Supper (Act 2:42; 20:7). Which of these other acts of worship can be offered acceptably before God if we do not willingly and lovingly want to give it? First Corinthians 14:26-40 teaches that worship is to be done decently and in order. Please read this passage and note the commands and precedents set forth in the text. Christian men are needed to help other Christians to worship God. Women are not permitted to teach or to lead the congregation in prayer (1 Corinthians 14:34-35; 1 Timothy 2:8-12). If all

“Yoo-fay-mos” is the English phonetic spelling of the two-part Greek word, “euphemos.” The first part of the word, “eu” (yoo) means “good,” while the second part, “phemos” (fay-mos), basically means “fame” or “reputation.” The question is, “What makes ‘good fame?’” We are known by what we say and do. Our fame is whatever our widespread reputation is – for what we are known – good or bad. The Greek word “euphemos” occurs only once in Scripture. It is variously translated, “good report” (KJV, ASV, NKJV) and “commendable” (ESV). Weymouth’s New Testament has “good repute.” The Douay-Rheims Bible translates it as “good fame.” Things That Make Good Fame “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report [euphemos], if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy – meditate on these things” (Philippians 4:8 NKJV). In this text, Paul wrote about the things that Christians ought to think. This is not simply suggested subject matter for Christian meditation, but the things that an apostle of Jesus Christ said, we must think on and do. The fame that we as Christians are to have is good fame – behavior in speech and actions that are well spoken of by others. We are to strive to have a good reputation among all men, irrespective of whether they are Christians. Notice the various things on which Paul wrote that Christians should concentrate and do: Philippians

Just before Israel was delivered from Egyptian bondage and adopted as His children, Jehovah instituted the Passover Feast (Exodus 12:1-28). It was Jehovah’s Passover (Exodus 12:11). It was known as the “Days of Unleavened Bread” because it was observed over the course of seven days (Exodus 12:18-19). In just a few words, the people of God were given strict guidelines for the proper observance of this feast. It was expected that the supper would be observed in the homes of the Israelites (Exodus 12:3-4, 15, 19-20, 22-23), for that is where they were saved from the death that was to pass through the land. This is where they ate their common meals, but this supper was to be different. The focus was on the elements of the supper and how they ate it. It was to be eaten in remembrance of their deliverance from Egyptian bondage and death (Exodus 12:25-27). The meal was to be observed as a holy feast (set apart from common meals). Though deliverance was offered to all, no one was forced to enter the safety of the home or to eat of the meal. If they did not enter, they did not eat or did not eat properly, they would die a physical death (Exodus 12:15, 19-20; 31:14). The Passover Feast was the precursor to the Lord’s Supper. Just before all of mankind was to be delivered from the bondage of sin and death and adopted as children through the death of Christ on the cross,

“Who made man’s mouth?” was the question that God asked Moses at the burning bush (Exodus 4:11). God had commanded Moses to be His spokesman before Pharaoh and the people (3:10-11, 13-18). Moses, however, began to make excuses why he could not do it (4:10). As is demonstrated in the verses that follow, God, being the Creator of man’s mouth, knew what Moses was capable of doing with his mouth. As biblical history bears witness, Moses became a great leader who often spoke to Pharaoh and to the people of God. I would like for us to consider some spiritual truths about the mouth that God created. Potential to Be Used for Good Man and his mouth were created by God with great potential for accomplishing good. That is what God desires of us. Good uses of our mouth include: Speech Can also BeUsed for Evil Purposes Man has often disappointed His Creator by doing or saying things that he ought not do or say. When you hear what comes out of some mouths, you would think that Satan made mouths instead of God. Jesus said, “Ye offspring of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. The good man out of his good treasure bringeth forth good things: and the evil man out of his evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. And I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give

The term most often used in the New Testament is simply “the church.” In the original language of the New Testament (Greek), the term does not always refer to the church that Christ built. In Acts 19:32, it refers to “the assembly” of an angry mob. In Acts 7:38, it refers to the Israelites in the wilderness. “The church” refers to a group of people, never to a building. In reference to the Lord’s church,  it means those “called out of darkness into light” (1 Peter 2:9). Note the following ‘musts’ of those called out of the darkness of sin by the Gospel (2 Timothy 1:8-11): We must never separate ourselves from the church, since Christ is its Head (Colossians 1:18). What we choose to do or not do to the church, we choose to do or not do to Christ Himself (Matthew 25:40, 45; Acts 9:1-5). The church is also called “My church” by Christ (Matthew 16:18) and “churches of Christ” by Paul (Romans 16:16). These words designate Christ’s ownership of the church. The church never belonged to any other man, but to Christ alone. When people speak of “my church” as “their church,” it demonstrates their lack of Bible understanding as to the true nature of the church; it shows they only know of the church as denominationalism defines it and as they defend it as their property. If men were not divided into different churches, by their different names, doctrines and practices, we would only speak of

Hanukkah is a feast that was instituted by Judas Maccabaeus (not God) in the year 164 or 165 B.C., in commemoration of him purifying the Temple after it had been defiled by the Syrian, Antiochus Epiphanes. When Antiochus heard that the Jews had made great rejoicings because of a report of his death, he quickly left Egypt, returned to Jerusalem and took the city by storm. Of the inhabitants, in three days, he slew forty thousand Jews; forty thousand more, he sold for slaves to the neighboring nations. Not content with this, he sacrificed a great sow on the altar of burnt offerings, and broth being made by his command of some of the flesh, he sprinkled all over the Temple, including the Holy of Holies, intending to defile it completely. There are not just a few problems with the historical accuracy of the Maccabean record. There are at least two (some say three) contradictory accounts of the death of Antiochus Epiphanes, mentioned above. One narrative records that Antiochus and his company were “cut to pieces in the temple of Nanaea by the treachery of Nanaea’s priests” (2 Maccabees 1:13-16), while another version in the same book states that Antiochus was “taken with a noisome sickness” and so “ended his life among the mountains by a most piteous fate in a strange land” (9:19-29). We must remember that the apocryphal books are not inspired of God. Israel had become so wicked that God cut off His communication with the Israelites.

Acts 8:36 (KJV) reads, “As they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?” Going back to the beginning of the account (Acts 8:26), where was baptism mentioned? Which one of them said anything about baptism? Well, actually it was verse 35. Verse 35 says that Philip “began at the same scripture [Isaiah 53] and preached unto him Jesus.” Friend, you cannot separate baptism from the teaching of Jesus, as denominational preachers do today. Baptism is part of the teaching of Jesus. Jesus went to the cross where He died and shed His blood to take away our sins, but baptism is the means by which we contact that blood. Jesus shed His blood in His death (John 19:33-34), and we imitate the death of Christ through baptism (Romans 6:1-5). In answer to his question, “What doth hinder me to be baptized” (v. 36), Philip told the eunuch, “…If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest” (v. 37). The only thing keeping this man from obeying God in baptism was the confession of his belief in Christ Jesus. “And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God” (v. 37). So, what happened? Verse 38 tells us that the eunuch “commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.” The question of this

That there are hypocrites in the church is certain. Jesus said not to be like them (Matthew 6:5). Jesus will separate true Christians from the fakes (Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43), and hypocrites will be punished in Hell (Matthew 24:51). Jesus said so; therefore, you can count on it. Here are a few questions for those supposed Christians and others who allow hypocrites to keep them out of or away from the church. These are valid questions. You may not answer them, but you will answer to God. Each one must give an account of himself before God (Romans 14:11-12; 2 Corinthians 5:10-11). God is the judge of all. Hope to see you in church – hypocrite or not!

Paul, the apostle, wrote, “Then cometh the end, when he shall deliver up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have abolished all rule and all authority and power” (l Corinthians 15:24). There is no doubt about it, Jesus is coming. When He comes, the end of the world will also come – at which time Jesus will deliver the kingdom, which is the church, to the Father (Matthew 16:18-19; Colossians 1:13-18). Have you ever thought about what you might be doing when He does come? Ultimately, nobody could possibly know the answer to that question, because nobody knows when the end will come (Matthew 24:35—25:46; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11; 2 Peter 3:8-10). However, what if, when the Lord comes, He comes on a Sunday morning, Sunday evening or Wednesday night? What would you say then? There are some people that you could say, without a doubt, “I know exactly where they would be and what they would be doing; they would be at church (i.e., in the assembly) gathered together with other saints, worshiping God and studying His Word.” While some can find almost any excuse for missing church, these would not miss services for anything, not even and especially the end of the world. What will come of those who have little to do with the kingdom or church now? Will they suddenly become interested at Christ’s coming? No doubt, “Yes.” In Matthew 25:1-13, Jesus taught that when He comes for the kingdom of heaven (the

What does not make any sense is that Muslims say they believe that Jesus is a prophet of God. Now, that presents some problems. If Jesus is a prophet of God, but lied about who He is (being the Son of God and eternal, John 8:58), then He is a false prophet. If Jesus told the truth about who He is and mankind neither believes in Him nor obeys Him, men are in serious trouble (John 8:24; Luke 6:46). It kind of reminds me of what Jesus asked the Pharisees of His day and of the circumstances and implications of that event. And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority? And Jesus answered and said unto them, I also will ask you one question, which if ye tell me, I likewise will tell you by what authority I do these things. The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven or from men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say unto us, Why then did ye not believe him? But if we shall say, From men; we fear the multitude; for all hold John as a prophet. And they answered Jesus, and said, We know not. He also said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these

Rarely do you ever hear anyone point out that Jesus calls upon us to make judgments, even about others. Matthew’s account of the Master’s words begins much in the same way that Luke’s does (6:37), but Matthew 7 goes on to record Jesus as teaching that proper judging begins with judging one’s self (remove beam in one’s own eye, v. 5). Then notice the purpose for this is so that we may properly judge others (to see clearly to remove a speck in a brother’s eye). This is intended to help the other person, but it definitely involves judging the other person. Jesus went on to teach that we must judge who is a dog and who is a hog (v. 6). We must judge which is the right way and the wrong way to go into eternal life (v. 13-14). We must judge between true prophets (teachers) and false prophets (teachers) (v. 15-16). We must judge men by their fruits (v. 15-16). We must determine a good tree from a bad (evil tree), and again, it is by their fruits (v. 20). Notice that God judges anyone who hears and does these things (and all that the Lord teaches) to be wise (saved), while anyone who hears these things (and all that the Lord teaches, but does not do them), He judges them to be foolish (lost) (v. 21-27). In everything, we should not judge according to appearance only, but we should judge righteous judgment (John 7:24). That is, we should use the Word of God as our righteous