What The Bible Says
“What The Bible Says - Vol. 7 / No. 7”
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What The Bible Says
Vol. VII - No. 7 August 11, 2024
BARN RAISING
The idea of a barn raising is a term that most of us would be familiar with, although hardly any would have actively participated in one. Most likely we have seen it portrayed in film or on the written page. In early America, barn raisings were practiced mostly in tight knit family oriented religious communities.
In the 1700 to 1800s farming and rural life is how most people outside of larger cities lived. Barn building was a serious endeavor and a costly one, therefore, to be successful it had to be well thought out and much planning would precede the event. Much of the preparation would take place after harvest during the winter months. Actual raising of a barn would normally take place after seed time and before harvest. This seedtime and harvest schedule of barn raising resembles the Christian walk in that one becomes a child of God after the seed, the word of God is planted Luke 8:11. Then the Christian lives and works in God’s service during his life before the harvest comes. Man’s life is pictured as a reaping of harvest, the fruit for eternal life that Reapers and Sowers have both worked toward. John 4:36-38.
There is a barn raising discussed in the context of Luke 12:16-21 much like the one we've discussed, with a few differences. In verse 16 Jesus begins to speak a parable to them, “The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. And he thought within himself, saying what shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?” The rich man was blessed with a bumper crop you might say. He already possessed a plurality of barns, so, it would seem that he was not ill prepared. His dilemma was that he had been richly blessed by God, with an overwhelming harvest, and he did not know what to do with all his crops. We can tell from verse 17 that he did not seek counsel from God or man. Verse 18 gives us the results of his self only council, “So he said, I will do this; I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; Take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.”
I think it not strange that this rich man, a man of means, when he counsels only self, would come up with only selfish conclusions. This certain rich man, when he revealed his decision, he allowed the reader to see into his heart. Proverbs 23:7, “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.” The rich man was considering what Miriam Webster describes as the ups and downs of razing versus raising. The rich man had decided to raze (completely destroy) his old barns and raise (build) new ones. We can see from verse 20 that God had reached a much different conclusion than the rich man, “But God said to him, Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?”
God's conclusion on the matter was the conclusion that really mattered. Ecclesiastes 12:13-14, “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter; fear God and keep his commandments, for this is man's all.” In verse 15 just before speaking this parable, Jesus had told the crowd that was gathered, “Take heed and beware of covetousness.” It would seem the rich man had not been faithful to the 10th commandment, “You shall not covet...” Exodus 20:17. Jesus concluded his comments on the context of Luke 12:16-21, “So is he who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.” When we consider self-first and exclude God and others in our decision making, we are setting our selves up for a great disappointment and a fall.
Do you have destructive plans? Are you planning to raze or raise something? Are your plans in step with God's plan? Beware of covetousness. Obey God while you have opportunity. Stop resisting… —Blind Bartimaeus 23
CAN A MAN SAVE HIMSELF?
There is a great deal of emphasis being put on a man-made doctrine which teaches it is impossible for a person to do anything towards salvation from sin. This doctrine sets forth the idea that any action, on the part of a person, nullifies the grace of God.
The Bible teaches that salvation is dependent upon both DIVINE and HUMAN action. It shows very clearly what God does to save the sinner and what the sinner must do to save himself. God's part in our salvation is comprehended in the word "GRACE". Our part in our salvation is comprehended in the word "FAITH". Our faith is shown by our obedience to the will of God. "For by grace are ye saved through faith…" (Ephesians 2:8).
THE DIVINE SIDE. God conceived the plan of salvation, Christ made it possible by His death, and the Holy Spirit revealed it through inspired men. Thus God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit play a most vital part in our salvation. We are saved by grace (Eph. 2:8) as we are cleansed by the blood of Christ (1 John 1:7). We have no righteousness or merit with which to boast ourselves to God and He is under no obligation to save us. We must depend upon God's mercy and upon Christ's atoning blood.
THE HUMAN SIDE. When the gospel is preached, we must hear it with an open mind and receptive heart (Romans 10:17; Ephesians 1:13). We must repent of all sins, for this God has commanded us to do (Acts 17:30). We must confess Jesus as the Son of God (Acts 8:37; Romans 10:9-10). Then we must be baptized (Mark 16:16; Acts 8:37-39). Baptism is always "for the remission of sins" (Acts 2:38), to "wash away sins" (Acts 22:16), to put us "into Christ“ (Galatians 3:27), and to "save us“ (1 Peter 3:21). These are actions which we must take! God cannot believe for us, nor repent for us, nor be baptized for us. We are commanded to do these things in obedience to His requirements. When we do that which God has commanded we have not earned nor do we merit salvation. This is how we benefit from the grace of God or else everybody will be saved and no one will be lost.
If it is true that we cannot do anything to save ourselves, then it follows that our salvation is wholly dependent upon God and it will be the fault of God if anybody is lost! If not, why not? However, God is "not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9). If a person is lost, it will be because HE CHOOSES to be lost. The same is true if we are to be saved; WE MUST CHOOSE to do what God commands.
The Bible says, "...save yourselves from this untoward generation" (Acts 2:40). Again, "...work out your own salvation with fear and trembling" (Philippians 2:12). Christ is the "author of eternal salvation unto all that OBEY HIM” (Hebrews 5:9). —E.R. Hall, Jr.
THE SIMPLE TRUTH
Most truth is pretty simple. What confuses us are the efforts of men to either over-simplify or over-complicate the truth. As Einstein famously said, we should strive to "Make everything as simple as possible, but not simpler!”
Jesus' statement regarding salvation in Mark 16:16 is about as simple as it gets. He said, "He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned." That is about as complicated as 2 + 2 = 4. Yet, when it comes to the matter of who is saved and who is lost, men continue to come up with a different answer than the one Jesus gave.
Paul's concern for the Corinthians was that "somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ" (2 Corinthians 11:3). The problem was that the Corinthians were accepting preachers who preached "another Jesus...a different spirit...or a different gospel" (2 Corinthians 11:4). Anytime we believe what men say instead of the simple and plain statements of God's word, we're going to wind up with the wrong answer.
If you think that you were saved by belief alone, and then baptized later, may I ask as Paul asked the Galatians, "Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth?" (Galatians 3:1) —Steve Klein
SENTENCE SERMONS
A shared joy is a double joy. A shared sorrow is half a sorrow.
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Whoever gossips to you will gossip about you.
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After the game, the king and the pawn go into the same box.
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If you want no one to know, don’t do it.
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If you always give, you will always have.
"What The Bible Says” is e-mailed twice a month. If you know of others who might benefit from the articles contained in this bulletin, we would be glad to have you submit their e-mail addresses and we will include them in the next mailing. If you are receiving this bulletin and do not wish to continue to do so, please e-mail us with your desire to be removed from the mailing list and you will be removed promptly. Continue to the bottom of this page for further instructions as to how you may contact us.
--- E.R. Hall, Jr.
SCHEDULE OF SERVICES
For The East Albertville Church Of Christ
meeting at
4777 U.S. Highway 431
Albertville, AL 35950
Sunday
Bible Classes …………..….…………… 9:30 AM
Morning Worship ……..…….….……… 10:30 AM
Evening Worship …………………........ 5:00 PM
Wednesday
Bible Classes …………..………........... 7:00 PM
Radio Program
Sunday
WBSA 93.5 FM/1300 AM ………………………….. 8:30 AM
Monday - Saturday
WBSA 93.5 FM/1300 AM ………………………….. 11:15 AM
Website: www. EastAlbertville.org
