What The Bible Says
“What The Bible Says - Vol. 4 / No. 25”
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What The Bible Says
Vol. IV - No. 25 / May 8, 2022
THE VALUE OF THE SOUL
There are many things in our life that we place value on. Some place great value in money, cars, homes, investments, education, and career. Jesus tells us that our most prized possession is our soul. In Matthew 16:26, he tells us, "For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?" God has given everyone an eternal spirit. Ecclesiastes 12:7 states, "Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it." In Luke 12: 16-21, Jesus tells us a parable of a man who was very prosperous, expanded his business, and felt very secure in his wealthy position. In verse 20-21, Jesus says, "But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those be which you have provided?' So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God." In Matthew 6, Jesus tells us where we need to place importance in our lives in view of our eternal nature. In verses 19-21 he says, "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
In light of these vital teachings of Jesus, how can we begin placing proper value on our soul? First, we can begin studying God's word and learning more about him. II Timothy 2: 15 tells us to "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." Jesus tell us in Matthew 5:6, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled." Second, we need to prioritize our life in accordance with the great value placed on our soul. In Matthew 6:33, Jesus tells us to, "seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness". Colossians 3:2 instructs us to, "Set your mind on things above, not on things of the earth." Third, we need to prepare to meet God in judgement. II Corinthians 5:10 states, "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad." If you are not a Christian, you need to become one! You need to believe the gospel, repent of your sins, confess that Jesus is the Son of God, and be baptized in order to have your sins washed away. Mark 16: 16 tells us, "He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned." Acts 2:38 tells us to, "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." I urge you to consider the value and condition of your soul. —Patrick White
LESSONS FROM GENESIS 1 & 3
From these chapters in Genesis some simple yet profound lessons can be learned. They are not hard lessons but they are important lessons that give unanswerable arguments.
CREATION ARGUES A CREATOR (Genesis 1:1). The “Big Bang Theory” cannot explain mankind’s existence and be consistent. Does the existence of a watch argue a watchmaker or a big explosion in a factory? Which is more reasonable?
SEED PRODUCES AFTER ITS KIND (Genesis 1:11-12). We take confidence in this fact. Why would God have such a simple fact of nature mentioned in the Bible? Jesus, in Luke 8:11, taught the parable of the sower and stated, “The seed is the word of God”. The comparison is easy to understand. No more than a seed of corn can be planted and a bean plant be the result, can God’s word is planted in the hearts of people and something result other than what can be found in the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 14:33). You do not plant an acorn and get a branch of hickory, another branch of apple, another of pine, and still another of chestnut. Neither does God’s word produce Baptists, Methodists, Lutherans, Pentecostals, Mormons, and etc. Obviously, something else had to be planted because seed produces “after its kind”. God’s word produces Christians and ONLY Christians (Acts 11:26; 26:28; 1 Peter 4:16).
THE FIRST SIN WAS A MODEL FOR ALL SIN (Genesis 3:1-6). There cannot be sin without a law (Romans 7:7) and God gave His law for Adam and Eve in Genesis 2:16-17. By comparing Genesis 3:2-6 and 1 John 2:15 we see sin can make its appeal through the “lust of the flesh” (Eve saw it was good for food), the “lust of the eye” (Eve saw it was pleasant to the eyes), or the “pride of life” (Eve knew it could make her wife). Today, sin makes its appeal the same three ways to you and I. —E.R. Hall, Jr.
CAN A CHRISTIAN PLAY THE LOTTERY?
(Editor’s Note: The lottery is already entrenched in many states. Alabama is attempting to pass laws to legalize the same. Previous attempts have failed but it will continually be advocated until it eventually it will become “legal”. In view of what appears to be the inevitable, I commend to you the following article. ERH)
The word "covet" is found (in various forms) eighteen times in the Old Testament and twenty-two times in the New Testament. Webster defines covet: "to desire (passionately) [especially, something that another person has]." The Greek meaning of the word is "to fix the desire upon (syn., lust)."
The Christian is bound by the Law of Christ with such passages as Colossians 3:5, "Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry." The nature of covetousness is the act of idolatry. In this realm, God is not put first but the fleshly desire for wealth. Observe the kind of company covetousness keeps: "Being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers" (Rom. 1:29).
The apostle Paul warns Timothy of what men will become in turning from the Lord: "For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy" (2 Timothy 3:2). To be "lovers of money" is the very nature of covetousness. In Luke 12:16-21, Jesus teaches His disciples that life is not about the things we possess. "Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses" (v. 15).
The true danger of covetousness is that a person will lose their soul and be damned to hell for it. Paul speaks very plainly when he describes those who will not be saved: "Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God" (1 Cor. 6:9-10). Consider again Paul’s words, "For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God" (Eph. 5:5).
The lottery is very popular in our culture and has caused a lot of people to spend millions of dollars trying to win an elusive prize. For the Christian, the money is not the problem, rather the heart that desires the riches of this world. Playing the lottery is the sin of covetousness and the Lord reminds us that covetousness will damn a soul to Hell. "‘No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.’ Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, also heard all these things, and they derided Him" (Luke 16:13-14). Will you also deride the Lord Jesus Christ by playing the Lottery? "But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints" (Eph. 5:3). —Kent E. Heaton, Sr.
SENTENCE SERMONS
A handful of common sense is worth a bushel of learning.
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Your temper may get you into trouble, but it is your pride that keeps you there.
"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
