What The Bible Says
“What The Bible Says - Vol. 6 / No. 19”
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What The Bible Says
Vol. VI - No. 19 / January 14, 2024
WHAT ARE WE WAITING FOR?
Amidst difficult times and world conflict, it seems as though the religious world gets louder. Convictions and ideas of all sorts begin to swirl; many of which involve the end of time. One of these ideas we hear, is that at the end, God will establish His Kingdom as a government and that Jesus will rule over the earth from a heavenly government. This notion begs the question, what is God’s Kingdom? Are we still waiting for God’s Kingdom to come? If not, what are Christians waiting for? Let’s see what God’s Word has to say.
Some say that we are still waiting for the Kingdom of God/Heaven to arrive and cite Jesus teaching His disciples to pray in Matthew 6:9-10, “...Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” This use of the word “kingdom” is the same usage we see in the teachings of John the Baptist and in the early ministry of our Lord. Jesus taught in Mark 1:15, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” and again in John 3:5, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.” Not coincidentally, the same criteria Jesus taught in these verses required to enter the Kingdom of God is the same criteria we see needed to be saved and added to the Church [Belief (Mark 16:16), Repentance (Acts 2:38), and Baptism (Mark 16:16, Acts 2:38, 1 Peter 3:21)]. Therefore, one can conclude that the Kingdom of God and the Church are one and the same as opposed to the Kingdom being some type of “government”. This is further substantiated in Matthew 16:18 where in the same breath Jesus said “...I will build My Church.” and told Peter that He would give him the “...keys of the kingdom of heaven”. I think we see Peter use these keys by preaching the gospel as the Church is beginning. God had Peter preach to the Jews on the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2, allowing them entrance into the kingdom. Then later in Acts 10, Peter baptizes Cornelius and his household which opened the kingdom to the Gentiles. Another fact to note is that after the church is established in Acts 2, we do not read ANY teaching of the kingdom of God/Heaven being “at hand” or in future tense as we did before the Church was established. So, since the Bible has clearly shown us that we are NOT waiting on the Kingdom, the Church, to come, what are we waiting for?
We are waiting for Jesus to return. In 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 the Bible says, “For the Lord Himself will descend with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God.” This will be a joyous coming for those that are faithful but a very sad day for those who are not found faithful. We are waiting for our new home. Jesus said in John 14:2-3, “...I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” Our new home will be with Jesus, and God’s Word also reveals to us that when the Day of the Lord comes “...both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up”– (2 Pet 3:10). Finally, we await Judgement. Hebrews 9:27 tells us that “...It is appointed for a man once to die, but after this the judgement.” I pray that we will all be found watching and waiting when the Lord comes as a “...thief in the night”– (2 Pet 3:10). Eternity is fast approaching. What are you waiting for? —Jared Davis
ARE LEGGINGS MODEST APPAREL?
As to the question of whether Christians are to adorn/dress themselves modestly, there can be no doubt. “In like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing,” (1 Timothy 2:9). However, it seems the matter of modesty has fallen into the realm of indifference with far too many Christians. It reminds me of another Bible subject that has also become a matter of indifference - short hair on men and long hair on women (1 Corinthians 11:14-15).
By ‘leggings’ I’m referring to the elastic close-fitting garments worn over the legs typically by women. They have become the new fashion fad in the last few years. By their very definition, the answer to the question of this article is already answered if and when leggings are worn as the sole article of clothing on women from their waist down. What are we using to think with if we believe that elastic material worn from the waist down without anything covering them can even remotely be modest? Elastic is form fitting and reveals the form and curvature of the hips and thighs in great detail. They leave hardly anything to the imagination.
People of the world have no problem recognizing the revealing aspects of leggings worn without anything else but somehow many Christians don’t. Heather Taylor a principle at Stratford, South Carolina High School made this statement: “(Leggings are) meant to wear underneath a long shirt that covers your heinie, or a long sweater of some type, or a dress. It is not meant to be your actual pants, and if you have a shirt that comes to here, then you are showing everything. Yes, everything!”
If you try, as some do, to justify leggings as pants on the basis they are not sheer that still is ignoring the fact that they are skin tight. While I’m sure that leggings are comfortable and can keep a person warm in cold weather, let’s keep them modest by wearing a modest length dress or tunic that God made Adam and Even which reached to the knees (Genesis 3:21). If leggings worn by themselves are not immodest, then someone needs to explain to me what is. Ladies wear your leggings but make sure they are being covered from your hips down past your thighs. The revealing of the curvature of your thighs is nakedness in God’s sight (Isaiah 47:2-3).
But then there are the age old arguments and ‘come backs’ to be heard. Such as: “I’ll wear what I want because I like it.”, “You can’t tell me how to dress, that’s oppressive.”, “It’s comfortable.”, “If a man is lustful, that’s his problem.”, or “It’s the man’s job not to look.” All that these arguments have ever amounted to are attacks against modesty itself. When anyone responds in this manner, they are denying the very premise of modesty. They are beyond help and hope.
“Keep yourself unspotted from the world.” (James 1:27) —E.R. Hall, Jr.
SENTENCE SERMONS
The person who rows the boat usually does not have enough time to rock it.
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When 'fishing for men' there is no closed season.
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The chains of habit often cannot be felt until they are too strong to break.
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Either you master your habits or they will master you.
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The right and good way is seldom the easy way.
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An expert fault-finder has no reason to be proud of his accomplishments.
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--- 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
