What The Bible Says
“What The Bible Says - Vol. 3 / No. 23”
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What The Bible Says
Vol. III - No. 23 / April 11, 2021
ATTITUDES ABOUT RELIGION
“I have a right to believe and practice whatever I want to in religion!” “I can serve God in whichever church I choose!” “I am free to worship God any way I please!”
Have you ever heard these statements being made or have you said them yourself? These statements are indicative of a very popular attitude about religion but are they the right attitudes?
Satan has done an excellent job in convincing people their choices in religion are acceptable to God. God’s word has been changed and rearranged on every side to suit every whim mankind can come up with and the sad thing is most folks are firmly convinced God approves of it all. Take, for example, the question of what a person must do to be saved. The answers varies from denomination to denomination and each one claims the word of God as their guide in all things. How can this be? In the case of denominational churches, they have changed the work and worship that God requires to accommodate themselves. It has come down to being a matter of pleasing the people. The people must be pleased or they will go somewhere that is more pleasing to them. All the while Satan has his servants, in the form of preachers and other influential people, giving the people what pleases them. What it all comes down to is a matter of the people being pleased to the neglect of what God has commanded and what pleases Him. Most folks are convinced if they are pleased, God will be pleased; if they are happy, God is happy.
“I have a right to believe what I want to believe!” This is true. However, if what I choose to believe is not what God has revealed in His word (the Bible), the I am NOT pleasing to Him even though I might be perfectly satisfied. For example, most religious groups deny baptism has anything to do with the forgiveness of sins. This pleases most folks and they think because they are pleased God is pleased. Jesus, however, said, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.” (Mark 16:16) Most folks, to stay consistent with what they practice, would have this verse to read, “He that ONLY believeth and is NOT baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.”
God’s word is also clear concerning Jesus building HIS church. In Matthew 16:18 Jesus said, “And I say unto thee, That thou are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church: and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” The “rock” upon which His church was built was the fact that He was “the Christ, the Son of the living God”. (verse 16) The term “church” refers to those who have obeyed the gospel and as a result of obedience to the gospel, the Lord then adds them to His church (Acts 2:37-47). God’s word also teaches Christ’s church and His body are one and the same. Ephesians 1:22-23 states, “And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.” Thus when we read Ephesians 4:4 which says there is "one body” then, of necessity, we must conclude Jesus is pleased with only one church of which He is the “head” (authority).
I would be the first to agree you can do anything that pleases you and believe as strongly as you can that God is also pleased; but if what you are doing is not according to God’s word, you cannot please God while you are doing it. “Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:” (2 John 9-10) All of us preachers claim to preach the word of God. We all read and quote scriptures. Yet we preach different doctrines. Undoubtedly this is responsible for the religious confusion that exists all around us.
—E.R. Hall, Jr.
DON'T WAIT TO TEACH MORAL VALUES TO YOUR CHILDREN
You don't have to have a degree in 'child psychology' and you don't have to attend a college class in 'early childhood development' to know that children have an incredible capacity to learn new things. If you've never done so, you ought to set down at a computer with a 5-year-old, and listen as they explain things you never knew! After that, you can try to beat him or her at an electronic game – good luck! Kids learn quickly, as everyone knows.
With this truth in mind, we wonder why some parents are so unconcerned about teaching their children important moral values. Why do they wait to instruct them about issues that will directly affect their spiritual well being? Parents, don't wait to teach your kids, even the very young ones about:
- Modesty in dress and conduct. Mothers, why will you let your little girls wear scanty clothing, the likes of which would be shocking in an older girl? If you don't teach them now, when will they learn? If swimming suits and mixed swimming are wrong for those who are older, why isn't it wrong for kids?
- Dancing. Seems some parents can't bring themselves to condemn modern dancing. They think it's cute and "innocent" when the kids jump and gyrate to the music. How will they know when "cute" suddenly becomes vulgar? Teach them now that dancing is wrong.
- Honesty. Lying is wrong at any age. Teach them now or be sorry later.
- Putting God first. If you let them compromise spiritual obligations for ball games, band concerts, recreational activities, etc., it will convince them that it is OK to do so for many other reasons later on.
This list can be expanded, but the point is obvious. Parents, if you don't make a dedicated effort to teach your kids now, you will very likely live to regret it later. Don't wait to do your important job! Think!
—Greg Gwin
***SENTENCE SERMONS***
Some are 'setting on the premises' instead of 'standing on the promises’.
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God gives and forgives; men get and forget.
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Patience: the ability to count down before blasting off.
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Eternity is a long time to think about what we should have done.
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Lord, when I am wrong, make me willing to change;
when I am right, make me easy to live with.
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The world belongs to the person who is wise enough to change their mind in the presence of facts.
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Live Video Streaming Of The Bible Sermon
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or
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"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
