What The Bible Says
“What The Bible Says - Vol. 7 / No. 24”
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What The Bible Says
Vol. VII - No. 23 April 13, 2025
DOES GOD SHOW PARTIALITY?
We can read in Acts 10:34-35 that God is not a respecter of persons but everyone who fears God and works righteousness is accepted by him. From verse 34 we learn that God does not show respect toward anyone due to their nationality, social status, financial standing or any other related criteria. However, verse 35 states that God conditionally accepts everyone that fears Him and works righteousness. Let's consider some bible principals.
First, we need to understand the concept of working righteousness. Romans 1:16-17 teaches us that righteousness is found in the word of God. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 teaches us that all scripture is inspired of God and is able to make us complete, equipped for every good work. Therefore, when we work righteousness, we are doing what is taught in the word of God.
Question: When someone says that God speaks to them directly apart and in addition to the word of God is this working righteousness? No, because this goes beyond and adds to the word of God.
Mark 16:16 Jesus said He that believes and is baptized shall be saved. Acts 2:37 Peter answers those who are convicted of their sins as to what they must do to receive forgiveness. In Acts 2:38 Peter tells them to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins.
Question: When someone teaches that we are saved by faith alone are they working righteousness when they fail to teach all the source of righteousness reveals concerning salvation? —Gerald White
"REMEMBERING HIS RESURRECTION ANNUALLY"
The calendar reads "Easter Sunday." As a result, many people throughout the world will be attending the "church of their choice" to remember the resurrection of Jesus. It won't be the "normal" service, but rather a "special" service of remembering the resurrection of our Lord that no doubt will include different plays, skits, and dramas. The world calls this day "Easter Sunday” the day of our Lord's resurrection from the grave. But is it really?
I don't recall reading anywhere in the Bible of the day nor the special celebration of the resurrection mentioned. Yet many "good intentioned people", honestly believing that they are commemorating the resurrection of Christ, celebrate this "holy day" having no biblical authority whatsoever for the practice. Because of tradition, most people today believe that Easter has always been observed from apostolic times and is authorized in the scriptures. But how could they get such an idea?
There is an unfortunate translation in the King James Version of the New Testament which has, perhaps, led some astray. The Greek, PASCHA, is translated by the word, "Easter" in Acts 12:4.
This same word is properly translated in other versions and in every other passage where it is used in the King James Version, as “Passover". Undoubtedly it was mistranslated here in Acts. And even if the word was properly translated, there is still no authority here for the observance of anything.
That is why "Easter" as we know it, is celebrated without proper Bible authority. The text of Acts 12:4 was in regard to the apostle Peter when he was put into prison during the days of "Unleavened Bread" or "Passover" as the NKJV, ASV, NASV, & NIV indicates. It is obvious that this passage of scripture is referring to the seven-day Passover festival. There is no place indicated in the New Testament that a "yearly" celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ was ever practiced. Yet today, thousands of people remember Him only this one day per year and they make it a grand festival.
Where Did Easter Come From Anyway?
The word "Easter" is derived from the Anglo-Saxon word "Eostre," the name of the goddess of Spring. Sacrifices were offered in her honor at the first full moon that came at the time of the vernal equinox. By the 8th century, the term came to be applied to the anniversary of Christ’s resurrection (ISBE, Vol 2, page 6). There has been much controversy about the time of this celebration. The Jewish Christians and Gentiles could not agree on a set date. But as time passed an increasing number of people celebrated the anniversary of the resurrection on the first day of the week annually. By the 7th century the practice of religious groups had become universally uniform. The agreed upon time is now the first Sunday following the full moon that comes on or after the vernal equinox and that date was set as March 21st. This is why there is a variation in Easter dates from March 22nd through April 25th. There has even been talk among the different religions as setting the date permanently on one Sunday between March 21st and April 25th.
The Proper Remembrance Of Jesus
I've filled you in on the history of this word "Easter" so that you will understand that it originated as a pagan holiday festival and later became a yearly festival to remember the resurrection of Christ among different religious groups across the world.
The Lord's church does not celebrate "Easter." Members of the Lord's church celebrate the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ on the first day of every week as we are instructed in the New Testament. We can turn to the book of Acts and read: "Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread..." (Acts 20:7). We have an approved example from this text that lets every Christian know when one is to partake of the emblems which represent Christ's shed body for us. It says the "first day of the week". It does not say “The first day of the week, once a year!" In 1 Corinthians 11:23-29, we can further understand the significance of this memorial feast that we partake of weekly. We learn that it represents the body and blood of Jesus and it says: "For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes." Again, how often should a Christian eat the bread and drink the cup? The first day of the week!
There are many religious denominations out there today that do not partake of the Lord's Supper once per week. Some will do it bi-monthly, others monthly, still others just once or twice per year. Any individual that is striving to do "all the oracles of God" (1 Pet 4:11), must understand that God sets the standard (rules) that we must go by today - not man (Acts 5:29). The New Testament is our standard. I urge you to examine the Bible, and then look at what you may be practicing in your religion, and then determine whether it is from God or from man. —Richard Thetford
BIBLE READING IS DESTRUCTIVE
Conversion means turning or changing. We convert water to ice, a log to lumber, and wood to paper. From such examples we can understand what conversion means - it is a changing process wherein something is changed from one form into another. While the end result is the goal, the process is essential in order for the end result to be an achieved. As little as you may have thought about it, the above statement is true. There is destruction in reading the Bible because such reading will destroy certain things as far as that particular person is concerned.
Denominational theories are destroyed by Bible reading. My father destroyed his own denominational teaching because he read the Bible. He had preached for eighteen years and had been told the Lord must “lay the message on your heart or else it has no power”. Yet, he realized the words were not coming to him “directly from the Lord” so he began studying the Bible and found the things he was preaching from his heart was not in the Bible. Things which he had preached like: “Come down to the old-fashion altar and pray your sins away” and “A person is saved before he is baptized”, he soon discovered were destroyed by the Bible because of such verses he read like John 9:31 and Mark 16:16.
His Bible reading also destroyed the denominational organization he had been a member of for many years. In the first place, the Bible did not mention the name of the organization. Not only could he not find the Baptist church mentioned in the Bible neither could he find other common names such as the Methodist church, Catholic Church, or Christian church. As he read, the Bible also destroyed the worship and practices of such organizations. The use of solos, duets, and quartets for singing and mechanical instruments of music in worship were destroyed by the Bible from verses he read like Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16. The semi-annual or annual observance of the Lord’s supper was also destroyed by his reading the Bible and finding Acts 20:7.
Let us read the Bible like he did: with an open mind. Let us believe and practice what God says and not what we might have believed or practiced in the past. He who reads for himself with an open mind will derive benefits untold from the Word of the Lord! —E.R. Hall, Jr.
"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
