What The Bible Says
What The Bible Says - Vol. 2 / No. 17
Sunday, January 19, 2020.jpg)
What The Bible Says
Vol. II - No. 17 / January 19, 2020
PAUL'S THIRD EPISTLE TO TIMOTHY
Paul an apostle of Jesus Christ, to Timothy, Associate Youth Minister of the church at Ephesus.
I besought thee to abide still in Ephesus, when I went to the Macedonian workshop, that thou mightest share thy dynamic motivational personality with the keen teens. I exhort therefore, that, first of all, candlelight devotionals be held for all cell groups. Meditate upon new schemes to keep them stirred up and on fire, give thyself wholly to them, lest the aged men and women teach them to be sober-minded.
But watch out for them in all things. Do the work of a recreational director, plan a social calendar, entertain at hootenanies, chauffeur to amusement parks, referee ball games, make full proof of thy ministry. For bodily exercise produceth firm believers.
These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly: but if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the fieldhouse of God, the backboard and track of progress.
Let no man despise thy youth rallies: but be thou an example of the latest fad, in hugs, in applause, in altar calls, in neo-charismatic spirituality, in cliches. Do thy diligence to schedule Hymeneus and Philetus for next year.
Study to show thyself an intellectual. But progress beyond the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing the rigid traditionalists from whom thou hast learned them. Let the elders that rule be told they have no authority, especially over you.
I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, preach self-image psychology: relate, placate, and motivate with all values, clarification and counseling. Use vague speech, that cannot be pinned down, that he that is of the contrary part may look foolish, having no charges that you cannot later deny. These things suggest and present as all personal opinion so that anyone who disagrees may be ignored.
Hold back the faithful word, which you were taught, that you may be able by new doctrines both to find and fill felt-needs. For there are many dynamic speakers and misunderstood thinkers, especially they of the circumcision, whose mouths must be given a wider hearing. A man that is a heretic to the old brethren, after the first and second brotherhood backlash, take a caravan of children a hundred miles to hear. Lay hands suddenly on anyone who seems to be an "anti"; keep thyself popular.
O Timothy, keep that which unknowing parents have committed to thy trust, avoiding doctrinal issues and oppositions of knuckleheads, so called.
—Selected
(I’ve lost track of who wrote this and am therefore unable to give credit to whom credit is due. However I think it to be what Paul might have written had he been conforming to conditions in the church today. Now read his two letters to Timothy in the New Testament and see what he really wrote by the Holy Spirit. —E.R. Hall, Jr.)
HOW SOME MARRIAGES SUCCEED
1. There is genuine love between husband and wife (Ephesians 5: 25,33). The relationship is not based on mere physical attraction. Love deepens with passing years.
2. There is unselfishness. Each has a sincere desire to please the other (Ephesians 5:28,31). The husband wants his wife to be happy and the wife wants her husband to be happy.
3. The pledge of loyalty is never forgotten no matter what happens (1 Corinthians 7:2-3). Each mate always thinks back on the serious vow of loyalty made to his or her companion: ‘ ... in sickness or in health, for richer or poorer, for better or for worse; till death do us part.’
4. Forgiveness is practiced (Ephesians 4:32). When mistakes are made or misunderstandings occur do tempers flare and are harsh words spoken or are apologies offered and forgiveness freely extended?
5. Understanding is shown (1 Peter 3:7-8). A good wife understands her husband and is charitable toward his weaknesses and pecularities. A good husband demonstrates sympathy and understanding toward his wife.
6. There is togetherness (Ephesians 5:31). Neither companion wants to be away from the other for long. They live, love, work, plan, laugh, cry, talk, and dream together. Marriage is a state of sharing.
7. There is mutual trust. A faithful wife is one in whom the heart of her husband safely trusts (Proverbs 33:11). A devout husband is one in whom his wife has confidence that dispels suspicions and fears.
8. There is honesty. Neither partner in marriage lies to the other (Colossians 3:9). Problems are discussed frankly, difficulties are admitted openly, and each feels free to confide in the other.
These are some reasons how marriages do succeed in this modern world. Regardless of how modern the world gets, let us live according to the age old principles found in God’s word.
—E.R. Hall, Jr.
THE MUSIC WE LISTEN TO: REVEALS AND REFLECTS
The music we listen to, the music we enjoy, the music we sing does two things:
(1) It reveals our taste, our appetite, what we are interested in, what appeals to us, and, therefore, the kind of person we are.
(2) It exerts an influence upon us, playing a role in molding our thoughts, attitudes, conduct and character, and, therefore, the kind of person we are becoming. And that’s rather powerful!
The most important part of music (purely instrumental excepted) is the lyrics, the words, and the lyrics of much of most kinds of music are becoming worse with every new generation. So suggestive, so vulgar, so obscene, so crude, so violent, so tasteless are the lyrics of many songs that they have to be edited before being printed in the magazines sold to the public. If you want the full text, you have to buy the albums, many of which come with complete printed sets of the lyrics, or listen closely as the songs are played on the radio stations.
God help us for what, to a large extent, music has become. As parents, we need to know what our children are listening to, and as adults we need to he concerned about what we are listening to.
—Bill Crews
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"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
What The Bible Says - Vol. 2 / No. 16
Sunday, January 05, 2020
What The Bible Says
Vol. II - No. 16 / January 5, 2020
DOES CONTEXT MAKE A DIFFERENCE?
Have you ever talked with someone and later found out they took something you said out of context? They had you saying something about a person or thing that you really did not say. You said the words but not in the context which they are now taking them. Taking things out of context can mislead us to say the least and sometimes can have serious consequences. I suppose all of us have had this to happen at one time or another. When we learn that someone has taken what we've said out of context it enrages us and makes us disappointed in people.
Do you suppose God feels the same way when His word, the Bible, is taken out of context? Do you suppose there might be serious consequences when we take what He has said out of context? Let's look at a few examples of how this has been done.
Many people are found quoting Matthew 10:19,20: "But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you." This verse is quoted to prove that preachers today must get their message directly from God without forethought or preparation. Just get up, open your mouth, and the Lord will fill it with what He wants said. Are these verses directed toward preachers or, for that matter, anyone today? We must begin by asking, "Who were these words spoken to?" The beginning of chapter ten has Jesus selecting twelve disciples who were to become the apostles. It was to them "He gave power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease" (verse 1). In verses two through four, we have their names given. In verse five we find these words recorded: "These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying...". Notice this verse for it is very important! It sets the context to show who these things commanded are being commanded to: "THEM", meaning the twelve. It is not until chapter 11:1 that we read: "And it came to pass, when Jesus had made an end of commanding his twelve disciples, he departed thence...". Thus, all that can be read from chapter 10:5 to verse 42 are the things Jesus commanded the twelve. Therefore, when anyone today takes verses 19 and 20 and tries to apply them to the way preachers are supposed to preach today, they are taking the things Jesus said out of context. Jesus was saying this to apply to the twelve, not E.R. Hall or anyone else who professes to be a preacher. If I could just open my mouth and expect God to fill it with what to say, I could also expect to go to the hospitals and nursing homes and heal the sick and raise the lame. Yet, I can do neither of these. I cannot, neither can any person living today, do the things the twelve did. Jesus was speaking of things that had a limited application to a select few.
The promise of Holy Spirit baptism is also taken out of context. There are those today who teach and believe Holy Spirit baptism has been promised by Christ to all Christians. In fact, they teach you are not a Christian until you have received the baptism of the Holy Ghost. The first mention of this promise is found in Matthew 3:11 where John taught concerning Christ: "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not able to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:" The promise that Jesus made is found in Acts 1:4,5: "And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence." Again, the question must be asked, "Who is Jesus talking to when He makes this promise?" In verse 2 of Acts 1 we read that Jesus "had given commandments unto the APOSTLES whom he had chosen." From verses four and five, which we quoted above, we see He was "assembled together with THEM, commanded THEM that THEY should not depart from Jerusalem,...". In Acts 2 when the baptism of the Holy Ghost came upon the apostles, we have "Peter, standing up with the eleven" (verse 14). The baptism of the Holy Spirit came upon those to whom Jesus promised it; the apostles! There is no evidence in all of the book of Acts where Holy Spirit baptism came upon every individual that became a Christian. We read in Acts 10 of Holy Spirit baptism coming upon Cornelius and his house because of this being the first time the gospel of Jesus Christ had been preached to the Gentiles. This was fulfillment of prophecy concerning the Spirit being poured out upon all flesh, both Jew and Gentile (Acts 2:16-21). In Acts 2 it was upon Jews and in chapter 10 it was upon Gentiles. It convinced the Jews for they said, "Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life." (Acts 11:18).
For anyone today to teach that Christians must receive Holy Ghost baptism is to take the promise Jesus made out of context? It only serves to mislead people from what the truth actually is.
So it is, that every time God's word is taken out of context, people are being lead away from the truth. Only the truth makes us free from sin (John 8:32). Anything that is not the truth is a lie, a falsehood. We are only saved when we believe and obey the truth. Paul warned the Galatians, "O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?" Indeed, how can we, who have a copy of God's word, allow others to use it out of context and bewitch us that we not obey the truth? Keeping things in context carries with it the consequence of where we will spend eternity. It's that serious!
—E.R. Hall, Jr.
THE PROBLEM OF APATHY
Problems facing the body of Christ are many and varied. The devil opposes us with persecutions, false doctrines, and all kinds of fleshly temptations. But one of his most successful devices is apathy - an attitude of indifference which afflicts Christians and eats away their zeal like a cancer. It is highly contagious and, if unchecked, is fatal to the souls of men and women. In many areas, it has now reached epidemic proportions.
Indifference was the problem with the church in Laodicea. To that dead congregation, Jesus said, "I know thy works, that thou art neither cold or hot; I would that thou wert cold or hold. So, because thou art lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spew thee out of my mouth" (Rev. 3:15-16). How many churches of Christ are in that same condition today?
Brethren, when we spend more time watching TV and playing ball than we do studying and teaching the word of God, are we not indifferent? When we find time to go to the movies and other places of entertainment, but not to visit the sick and erring, are we not indifferent? The time has come for us to wake up and get to work. Our indifference will send us to eternal hell!
—Steve Cawthon
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"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
What The Bible Says - Vol. 2 / No. 15
Sunday, December 22, 2019
What The Bible Says
Vol. II - No. 15 / December 22, 2019
THE FIRST CHRISTMAS
It comes as a surprise to many religious people that the celebration of Christmas as the birth of Christ is completely and totally of human invention. God’s word never tells us when Christ was born, never calls His birth Christmas, and never commands that the birth of Christ be celebrated by His followers.
The Catholic Church rightfully takes credit for establishing Christmas as a religious celebration. Recently I re-read the article on “Christmas” in the Catholic Encyclopedia, which is a large reference work produced by Catholic scholars (It can be viewed online at www.catholic.org/encyclopedia). The article contains several eye-opening truths about Christmas which we would do well to ponder. The following points are my observations from the encyclopedia article, each followed by a related quotation from the article.
* The word Christmas was not even invented till the 11th century A.D. “The word for Christmas in late Old English is Cristes Maesse, the Mass of Christ, first found in 1038, and Cristes-messe, in 1131.”
* Church leaders in the first few centuries did not sanction the celebration of the birth of Christ. “Christmas was not among the earliest festivals of the Church. Irenaeus and Tertullian omit it from their lists of feasts; Origen. . . asserts that in the Scriptures sinners alone, not saints, celebrate their birthday.”
* Early celebrations of the birth of Christ were considered strange and were not done on December 25th. “The first evidence of the feast is from Egypt. About A.D. 200, Clement of Alexandria says that certain Egyptian theologians ‘over curiously’ assign, not the year alone, but the day of Christ’s birth, placing it on 25 Pachon (20 May). . . ”
* December 25th was not celebrated as Christ’s birthday until the 4th century. “At Rome the earliest evidence is in the Philocalian (an illustrated calendar, sk) compiled in 354.”
* December 25th was chosen because it was also the date of a popular pagan holiday. “The well-known solar feast, however, of Natalis Invicti, celebrated on 25 December, has a strong claim on the responsibility for our December date.” Pagans celebrated December 25th as the rebirth of the sun. On this day that the sun reversed its southward retreat and proved itself to be unconquered. Some connected the rebirth of the sun to the birth of Jesus.
* Virtually all Christmas traditions had their origins either in pagan practices or in Catholic tradition. Regarding “Cards and presents: Pagan customs centering round the January calends gravitated to Christmas.”
God has given Christians great personal liberty in areas where He has not given us a specific law to follow. For instance, we may choose to eat meat or we can be vegetarians. We may keep days, or not keep them (Romans 14:2-6). If an individual wishes to recall the birth of Christ and express joy regarding the event, surely he is free to do so any time. Giving gifts, displaying colored lights, and eating a big meal with family are also things that we are at liberty to do on any day of the year.
However, celebrating December 25th as if it were in fact the birthday of Christ, equating this birthday with something called Christmas, and generally behaving as if God has ordained December 25th to be the holiest day of the year, is misguided to say the least. How easy it is to replace true spirituality with the inventions of men. On every street corner we see men who know little more of God’s Son than what they hear and see around Christmas – much of which is false and has no Bible basis. Celebrating Christmas as the birth of Christ provides at best a dim unsatisfying copy of the grace, love, charity, joy, hope and fellowship that the Lord wants us to experience every day of the year.
—Steve Klein
MARY, THE MOTHER OF JESUS
After learning that she was to be the mother of the Son of God, Mary went to visit Elizabeth, a relative who was at that time the expectant mother of John the Baptist. While in the house of Elizabeth, Mary offered a beautiful poem or song of praise to God (Luke 1:46-55). Though the emphasis was on magnifying the Lord (Luke 1:46), she also said of herself, “henceforth all generations will call me blessed.” No one who accepts the Bible as the inspired word of God should doubt that Mary was a special woman and selected to bear the Messiah because she had found favor with the Lord. Even 2,000 years later we should appreciate and give the proper honor to the young woman willing to accept the shame that came with being thought of as having conceived a child before marriage. We should have the deepest appreciation for this one who was there at the cross for her Son, but did not interfere.
Mary is worthy of honor! This time of year many are giving special thought to her role in human history and the redemption of mankind, but what should her role be in the church today? Should we honor her with special days? Offer up to her special prayers? This article is sent forth with the hope that all will benefit from it, but especially that it might help adherents to the Roman Catholic, Orthodox, and Anglican faiths get a better perspective on the role of Mary today. Please consider carefully the following facts from the Scriptures.
The last specific mention of Mary in the NT comes in Acts 1:14. Not once as the apostles carried out the Great Commission does the book of Acts record a mention of her in their sermons. As Paul, Peter, and the other writers wrote to Christians in various parts of the Roman Empire they never saw fit to even mention Mary.
Since she is not mentioned in any of the epistles and is in fact never mentioned again after the beginning of the Lord’s church on Pentecost of Acts 2 it is easy to see that the New Testament does not contain a single reference to Christians offering prayers to Mary or requests for her intercession. While the Rosary, in its most common form, requires the recitation of the Hail Mary (Ave Maria) fifty-three times, the New Testament does not contain even one Hail Mary. While some of the phrases found in the Hail Mary may be found in Luke 1, all of its words are not there and never once are the phrases of Luke 1 used as an address to Mary by first-century Christians.
If first-century Christians, under the leadership and guidance of the apostles, saw Mary as the “portal to Life Immortal” (as she is called in the People’s Mass Book), absolutely no evidence of such has been preserved in the Scriptures, the same Scriptures which are said to complete and thoroughly equip the man of God for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16, 17). Instead of seeing Mary as the “portal to Life Immortal,” they believed Jesus was “the way, the truth, and the life,” and the only way one could approach the Father (John 14:6).
While Mary is sometimes referred to today as the Queen of heaven, Queen of the universe, Mother of Mercy, Ever Virgin, Patron, and Advocate, not one of these titles of honor is given her in the New Testament. Not one! While the Bible does refer to her as a virgin until the time of Jesus’ birth (Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-38), it says nothing about her remaining Ever Virgin. In fact, all available evidence indicates that she and Joseph enjoyed a normal marital relationship after the birth of Jesus (Matthew 1:24, 25; 12:46, 47; 13:54-56; Hebrews 13:4). As for Queen, patron, etc., there is simply no Biblical foundation for them.
Mary was a great lady and it is proper that we call her blessed, but we must also keep things in perspective. It is her Son who is our Savior and the One we should worship, adore, and be devoted to. Never forget what Jesus Himself said when one offered words of praise to Mary.
“And it happened, as He spoke these things, that a certain woman from the crowd raised her voice and said to Him, ‘Blessed is the womb that bore You, and the breasts which nursed You!’ But He said, ‘More than that, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!’ ” Luke 11:27, 28
May God help us to be those who hear and keep His word.
—John Gibson
HAVE A BIBLE QUESTION YOU’D LIKE ANSWERED?
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PREVIOUS SHOWS AVAILABLE AT:
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"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
What The Bible Says - Vol. 2 / No. 14
Sunday, December 15, 2019
What The Bible Says
Vol. II - No. 14 / December 15, 2019
WHAT ONE TOLERATES, THE NEXT ACCEPTS
John Wesley once wrote, “What one generation tolerates, the next generation will embrace.” Both sacred and secular history have proven the truth of this assessment time and time again.
Everything from dancing to drinking, from abortion to mercy-killing, has gone from toleration to acceptance. In the home and in the church, everything from immodesty to immorality has been first allowed and then endorsed. Adulterous marriages, gambling, and other similar sins, have gone from being permitted to being sponsored. Remember when wearing shorts and attending dances were generally condemned as sinful? Now, in some places shorts are being worn to church services and dances are sometimes held in church buildings! Truly, “what one generation tolerates, the next generation will embrace.”
One generation tolerated sprinkling for baptism if a person were seriously ill. The next generation accepted sprinkling for baptism as an option for everyone. One generation approved a “head” elder. The next generation appointed some elders “bishops.” One generation introduced instruments of music as an aid to poor singing. The next generation demanded we worship with instruments. One generation accepted the “fellowship hall” (which, at first, was just a few tables in the basement for social meals). The next generation built gymnasiums and “Family Life Centers.” One generation apologized for “hard preachers” who opposed denominationalism. The next generation saw their sons and daughters joining those denominations. One generation spoke of the need to reach out in a “nonjudgmental” way to our Catholic and Protestant friends. The next generation welcomed Presbyterians into “our fellowship” with only a handshake. One generation spoke of congregational singing as “one of our traditions.” The next generation defended choruses and choirs. One generation applauded preachers who closed their sermons without an appeal for sinners to be baptized for the remission of sins. The next generation denied the gospel plan of salvation in general and baptism in particular.
What does this say to us? What is our responsibility? “You shall observe to do therefore as the Lord... hath commanded you: ye shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left” (Deut. 5:32). “Hold fast the form of sound words” (2 Tim. 1:13). “Continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them” (2 Tim. 3:14). “Mark them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them” (Rom. 16:17). The next time we are tempted to deviate from the word of God, let us remember that what we tolerate, our children will embrace.
- Mark White
ARE YOU WILLING TO ACCEPT ALL THE TRUTH?
Many folks think that everything they need to know on any Bible subject can be found in one verse. When they think they have found that verse, they are unwilling to accept any other verse that might explain in full meaning or give additional instructions concerning the matter. While nearly all would agree with the title of this article, is that really the case? Are we willing to search for all the truth and accept it when it is found?
Not all truth on a Bible subject or Bible question can be found in one verse. Take, for example, the incident in Jesus' life recorded in Mark 10:17. There "came one running" to Jesus. Who was this person? Were they male or female? It is not until we look in the parallel account of Matthew 19:20 that we learn it was a "young man". What do we know about this young man who came running to Jesus? When we look in Luke 18:18 we find he was a "ruler" and verse 23 tells us he was "very rich". After looking in three books and four verses we conclude the "one" who came running to Jesus was a man who was a rich young ruler. I admit, this is not a matter of eternal consequences but the point is this: not everything we could learn about this man was found in one verse.
There are Bible subjects and Bible questions that have serious eternal consequences. For example: How are we saved from sin? Many people think John 3:16 gives the all sufficient answer: “believe" or have faith. Is this all the truth in the Scriptures that gives answer to this vital question? How do we "believe" or have faith? Romans 10:17 says, "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." Also, Jesus said, "It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me."(John 6:45). In order to have faith we must hear and learn the word of God. Is hearing and knowing all there is? Jesus said in Matthew 7: 2, "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." But Jesus also said, "Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish" (Luke 13:3) and "Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven." (Matthew 10:32). We learn what confessing is from Romans 10:10: "For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." Thus we learn that we confess with our mouth what we have been taught and believe from the word of God. But concerning being saved Jesus had something else to say: "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned." (Mark 16:16). So, from four books and eight verses we learn all the truth concerning what to do to be saved from sin. The conclusion is that we must hear, believe, repent, confess, and be baptized.
Are we willing to accept all the truth on this vital subject?
—E.R. Hall, Jr.
***SENTENCE SERMONS***
“True strength is the courage to admit our weaknesses." – Simon Sinek
***
Discipline yourself so that others won't have to.
***
Facts do not cease to be facts simply because they are ignored.
HAVE A BIBLE QUESTION YOU’D LIKE ANSWERED?
HERE’S YOUR CHANCE…
BIBLE CROSSFIRE
A CALL-IN RADIO PROGRAM
WBSA
93.5 FM & 1300 AM
also
SIRIUS XM CHANNEL 113
SUNDAY NIGHTS @ 8 PM CT
PREVIOUS SHOWS AVAILABLE AT:
BibleCrossfire.com
IMPROVE YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE BIBLE...
FREE ONLINE BIBLE CORRESPONDENCE COURSE
http://EastAlbertville.org/course
"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
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Website: www. EastAlbertville.org
What The Bible Says - Vol. 2 / No. 13
Sunday, December 01, 2019
What The Bible Says
Vol. II - No. 13 / December 1, 2019
HOW DOES THE LORD "OPEN" HEARTS?
In Acts 16 we read: "And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river side where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither. And a certain woman named Lyda, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us. whose heart the Lord open that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul. And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us." (vs. 13-15). How did the Lord open her heart? Does He do the same thing to people today? Does this imply the necessity of a direct action of the Holy Spirit? Is it possible to know and obey the will of God without miraculous divine intervention in our lives?
Look carefully at this immediate context. Notice that they "spake unto the women" (vs. 13), and Lydia "heard us" (vs. 14), and she "attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul" (vs. 14). It seems clear that the means by which Lydia's heart was opened was by the Word of God. There is nothing mysterious here. Rather, it is a demonstration of the power of the gospel (Rom. 1:16), and an example of God's plan for "preaching to save them that believe" (1 Cor. 1:21).
Whatever the Lord did, and however the heart of Lydia was opened, it was the same thing that occurred in every other case of conversion in the book of Acts. Remember, God is "no respecter of persons" (Acts 10:34,35). On Pentecost they "heard" and were "pricked in their heart" (2:37). On that day many "gladly received his word and were baptized" (2:41). Other examples abound in the book of Acts that directly link the teaching of the word with a heartfelt, obedient response (4:4, 8:12, 13:12, 13:48, 15:7, 16:32-33, 17:32-34, 18:8, 19:5).
The Lord "opens" hearts today in exactly the same way He always has -- through the preaching of the Word.
—Greg Gwin
"ASK JESUS TO SAY TO YOU, JUST DO IT!"
If I do what this billboard advertisement says, I will say, "Lord, save me!" for this is what a major denomination in this area teaches from radio, television, billboards, and pulpits. But Jesus has an answer to those who want salvation from sin simply by uttering the words "Lord, save me" or "Jesus, come into my heart". Jesus' answer is found in Matthew 7:21 - "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven; but he that DOETH THE WILL OF MY FATHER which is in heaven.” (Emphasis mine, ERH)
It could also be that this statement is believed to have Bible basis because we are told to "ask and it shall be given you" in Matthew 7:7. But that's not the half of what the verse says. Jesus said, "ASK, and it shall be given you; SEEK, and ye shall find; KNOCK, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened." (Matthew 7:7,8).(Emphasis mine, ERH) There is more to it than asking; there is seeking and knocking.
Anything for which we ask must be according to His will. "And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us." We cannot ask the Lord to save us a way that is not "according to His will". Faith only and praying your sins away are not according to His will and we cannot ask Christ to save us by doing either of them. He will only save us from sins if we DO ACCORDING TO HIS WILL. To properly "seek" the Lord, we must do His will wholeheartedly. "Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart." (Psalms 119:2).
The Scriptures teach that we are saved by the blood of Christ. (Matthew 26:28). We contact the blood of Christ when we, too, “obey from the heart that form of doctrine” (Romans 6:17). When we are "baptized into Jesus Christ", we are "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." (Romans 6:3,4). Jesus has TOLD us what to do, just do it!
—E.R. Hall, Jr.
"KILL THE SPIDER"
One of the deacons was frequently called upon to pray at the mid-week service, and he always concluded his prayer the same way: "....and now Lord, clean out all the cobwebs in our lives.” I think you know what he was talking about - those little unsightly words, deeds and thoughts that we let accumulate throughout the week.
Well, it got to be too much for one brother who heard him say that prayer so many times. So, one Wednesday night, just after hearing these words again, this one brother jumped to his feet and shouted, "Don't do it, Lord, KILL THE SPIDER!"
Brethren, how well it would be if we would kill the spider rather than continually having our lives full of cobwebs. We will never be able to live acceptably for God and reach heights that Christ presents for us until deep within us we have that clean and rightful desire.
The great problem in the average Christian life is that we do not have the desire to really give up the world and completely surrender to Christ. Thus, we always find our lives cluttered with “cobwebs” - with sins.
Let’s start inside of our lives. Create that humble desire; and the external part of Christianity will come. Once we have killed the spider, we will no longer have to worry about bothersome cobwebs.
—Selected
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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