What The Bible Says
“What The Bible Says - Vol. 7 / No. 1”
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What The Bible Says
Vol. VII - No. 1 / May 19, 2024
CHRISTIANS AND THE GOVERNMENT
In the divisive political environment present today (not just in the United States, but in the world at large), it is important that Christians understand how to act towards the authorities over us. It is important that Christians have a complete understanding of this subject as only understanding part of how God wants us to treat the government can easily lead to acting against the will of God.
First, Look at Romans 13 where the Apostle Paul informs the reader that every person is to be subject to the government as the governments in place have been put there by God as an avenger against the wrongdoer. Paul states that those who resist the authorities resist God who has put those authorities there. Paul also states (as does Jesus in Matthew 22:17-21) that paying taxes to the government is important as it allows the government to properly perform their actions.
Does this mean that the government is without fault? Is every government a force for good because they were put in place by God? Certainly not! We can easily understand from the Apostles' actions in Acts 5:27-32 where they answered "We ought to obey God rather than men". From their actions Christians can understand that the instructions of God (given to us in the Bible) supersede the instructions of the Government. If the government orders you to do things contrary to the Gospel, that is the exception to your obedience to them.
But - and this may be the hardest part of this subject to follow - even when the government mistreats us, we still are to respect them. The Apostle Peter in 1 Peter 2:13-17 reminds Christians to not only be subject to the authorities but also to give them honor. In addition to these instructions from Peter we can also look at the many examples in the Bible of Christians being brought before authorities: The Apostles in Acts 5, Paul in Acts 24, and even Jesus himself when he was brought before the High Priest and Pilate in John 18. These examples show us that even when the authorities mistreat us we are to remain calm and remain respectful of their position and their worldly authority.
One last thing to consider: even when someone is under an oppressive or evil authority, there is a reason and purpose for it. In the Old Testament God regularly punished the disobedience of the Israelites by sending an oppressive government to control them. Even further in the past, the Pharaoh of Egypt was an evil ruler used by God to free the Israelites and instill faith in the power of God. In the New Testament the actions of Pilate (the Roman governor of Judea) were used by God to fulfill prophecy by sacrificing Jesus on the cross. Whether it is to punish wrongdoers, to temper the righteous, or for some purpose we may not readily perceive, God has put in place the authorities for good reason.
To summarize, obey the authorities unless they order you to walk contrary to God's law. Respect the authorities, even when they mistreat you. And finally, understand that even evil, corrupt, and oppressive governments have a purpose. —Jake Pack
"...PREACHED UNTO HIM JESUS."
In Acts 8:26-40 we have the record of the inspired man Philip who encounters a eunuch from Ethiopia. The eunuch was a very religious man but wrong. However, he was unlike so many religious people today. Although he was wrong, he was honest and wanted to be right. Philip had occasion to preach unto him Jesus. Nothing in this statement of verse 35 says that Philip preached baptism and yet Philip's preaching of Jesus led the eunuch to request baptism.
Again let's notice that Philip didn't preach baptism! He preached Jesus! Yet the man found out that he was to be baptized. From this we can learn that when JESUS is preached, those that hear will be BAPTIZED. When denominationalism is preached, those that hear will be led to believe they don't have to be baptized.
At this point you must be wondering what Philip told the eunuch about Jesus that made him want to be baptized. Do you suppose he told him baptism was not necessary like so many preachers are preaching today? Do you suppose he told him baptism had not one thing to do with his being saved like there are so many today who so teach?
Philip could have told the eunuch that Jesus said, "He that BELIEVETH and IS BAPTIZED shall be saved." (Mark 16:16). He could have told him that Jesus said, "Except a man be born of WATER and of the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." (John 3:5). He could also have told him that Jesus said, "Go teach all nations, BAPTIZING them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." (Matthew 28:19). Jesus DID make these three statements! For Philip to make these statements, he would have indeed “preached unto him Jesus”!
The same holds true today. For anyone to preach Jesus they must teach the words that Jesus spoke. Jesus Himself put the emphasis on the necessity of everyone hearing and obeying His words in John 12:48 when He said, “He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.” To preach Jesus is to preach the words that He spoke just like Philip did to the eunuch and the results will be the same.
The eunuch heard what Philip preached about Jesus, believed, confessed that Jesus Christ was the Son of God, and was baptized. He "went on his way rejoicing" after he learned about Jesus and was baptized. He had leaned the truth about Christ. He had believed with all his heart that He was God's Son. He was baptized in obedience to the command. After all this, he most certainly had every reason to go on his way rejoicing.
If you will believe with all your heart and be baptized, you can and will be saved. Then you, too, can go on your way rejoicing. To fail to do so is to disobey. You will then stand before Christ on the Judgment Day and be rejected by Him because you received not His words. —E.R. Hall, Jr.
SENTENCE SERMONS
You can’t do much about your ancestors, but you can influence your descendants enormously.
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Look around at what you have before you complain about what you don’t have.
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The trouble with most of us is that we would rather be ruined by praise than saved by criticism.
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Money is not required to buy even one necessity of the soul.
"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
