What The Bible Says
“What The Bible Says - Vol. 3 / No. 26”
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What The Bible Says
Vol. III - No. 26 / May 23, 2021
HAVE YOU BEEN RISEN WITH CHRIST?
Colossians 3:1-4 “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.”
If we have been raised with Christ we are to seek or pursue heavenly or spiritual things because we now have a changed mind. We are no longer worldly minded but have a renewed spiritual mind. We have died to self and sin and our life is hid with Christ in God. These changes and sacrifices are not in vain but will result in glory with Christ when He comes again.
But what does it mean to be raised with Christ? Let us allow the scriptures to answer this question.
Colossians 2:12 “Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.” This verse clearly teaches that we are risen with Christ in baptism but we can learn more when we consider Romans 6:3-4 “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” The significance of being baptized into the death of Christ is that Christ shed His blood at his death and it is Christ blood that washes away our sins. We know this occurs when we are buried with Christ in baptism because we are raised to walk in newness of life. Acts 22:16 confirms this truth when Ananias instructed Saul “And now why tarriest thou? Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.”
Have you been raised with Christ?
—Gerald White
CAN I KNOW WHEN GOD SAVES ME?
Many times the question is asked, “Can I know when God saves me?” Indeed, we can and the Bible is clear to tell us the answer to this very important question.
In Romans 6, let’s examine verses seventeen and eighteen: “But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.” We see the inspired apostle Paul thanked God that though these Romans had been sinners, yet now they were the servants of God. In addition to this, we can see HOW and WHEN this conversion was brought about.
Notice Paul said, “Ye have obeyed…”. This tells us obedience is essential to salvation. Jesus said in Matthew 7:21, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.” We even see the example of Jesus Himself in Hebrews 5:8-9: “Though He were a Son, yet learned He obedience by the things which He suffered; And being made perfect, He became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him;”. On the other hand, the Scriptures point out whose who obey not the gospel shall be lost! (2 Thessalonians 1:6-10).
Not only had they obeyed but they had “obeyed from the heart”. This involves our intellect as Matthew 13:15 teaches: “For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.” It also involves our emotions: “Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.” (Matthew 22:37). Too, it involves conscientious obedience as stated in Hebrews 10:22: “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.”
According to our text in Romans 6, what has been “obeyed from the heart” was “that form of doctrine”. Basically speaking: the doctrine of Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection. (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). The word “form” means likeness or similarity. Thus a form of Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection is our being dead in sin, our burial in water (baptism), and our resurrection to a new life in Christ Jesus (a Christian). Notice Romans 6:3-6: “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death? Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of His death, we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection. Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin:”
In verse eighteen of Romans 6 the statement is found: “Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.” The word “then” is an adverb of time, telling us exactly the time we are made free from sin. Thus the time when we were made free from sin is when we “have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine.”
To conclude our study of this question “Can I Know When I Am Saved?”, we must answer the question according to what the Scriptures teach. God saves us at the time in which we intelligently (faith), emotionally (repent), conscientiously (confess), are baptized, and raised again. A more important question is: Have you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine? If not, why not do so while you still have time and opportunity?
—E.R. Hall, Jr.
***SENTENCE SERMONS***
Be more concerned what God thinks about you than what people think about you.
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Your life may be all that some know of the Bible.
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Either you master your habits or they will master you.
"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
