What must I do to be saved?

First, the Bible: “But refuse foolish and ignorant speculations, knowing that they produce quarrels. The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth” (2 Timothy 2:23-25).

My sister is 14 months older than I am (1 year, 1 month, two weeks, and one day to be more precise!) and we use to argue all the time. And just as frequently Mom tried to get us to stop arguing. I do not know how many times she told me personally, “Son, it takes two to argue!” She was saying either: 1) Don’t bring up a topic if you know your sister is going to disagree, or; 2) Don’t carry on an argument when you know it’s not going anywhere. Speaking of my sister, it made me so mad when, to bring an argument to a close, she would say, “You can believe what you want to believe and I’ll believe the truth.” I did not know how to respond to that!

If someone wants to become a lawyer, it might be good to know how to argue. Children need to be taught, however, that arguing with Mom and Dad is not acceptable. It indicates that the heart is not submissive to the parents.

It is a better parenting skill to train your children to obey first and then discuss the matter. Train your children – by example and instruction – that she or he should be careful how they disagree with Mom and Dad. Again, take a look at Paul’s description of a good debater: not quarrelsome, kind, patient, and gentle. None of us should love the thrill of an argument more than we love the relationship itself.

Arguing creates an adversarial relationship which is not healthy among siblings nor between parents and children. When a discussion is about to erupt into an argument, train yourself and your children to make the discussion about the issue itself rather than turning it into an argument to see who can win. Work to understand your child and understand what he or she is saying and then make sure that he or she is processing mentally what you are saying. Seek understanding, not an argument. That would create a wonderful skill that is sorely lacking in our modern culture!

Paul Holland

Kendryx Nicely, 13 years old, has special memories of fishing with his dad.  They often got on the water together and photos prove that the two of them knew how to catch fish.  Two years ago, the father passed away, leaving Kendryx with his dad’s fishing pole, which he treasured.

Recently Kendryx was on Norris Lake in East Tennessee fishing from a kayak.  A gust of wind caught the treasured pole and blew it off the kayak.  The boy watched the pole sink into the deep waters and figured he had seen it for the last time.

His grandmother knew of a diver who specialized in retrieving objects lost underwater.  After searching for only a few minutes the pole was found.  “The smile on his face was priceless,” the diver later wrote.  Kendryx has decided that the heirloom rod will hang on his bedroom wall instead of taking another chance of losing it.

Since I was young, I remember hearing people talk about how life would be better “when my rich uncle dies”.  That uncle was unknown to them, but we can always dream, right?  No one to my knowledge through the years, however, has ever had that unexpected windfall come their way.

The apostle Paul spoke in Acts 20:32 about an inheritance that you and I may claim.  He said to the elders of the church at Ephesus, “So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.”  What exactly do we know about that inheritance?

In his letter to the Christians at Ephesus Paul wrote that “every spiritual blessing” is “in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3).  A few verses later he said this: “In Him we also have obtained an inheritance …” (Ephesians 1:11).  Jesus spoke about it in Matthew 25:34: “Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.’”  Our inheritance is a kingdom?!  Through Jesus we have an inheritance.

Let’s not forget, though, the price Jesus paid to make us heirs of such a wonderful estate.  Philippians 2:7,8 describes the price: “[Jesus] made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.  And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.”

Jesus left heaven to come to earth; you might call that a “dive”, couldn’t you?  He plunged into the depths of humanity so that we might be rescued from our sins and become heirs of an incredible kingdom.  Such a mission boggles the mind!  2 Corinthians 8:9 sums it up beautifully: “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for our sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.”

Followers of Christ now hold something of immense value, a heavenly inheritance, all because Jesus dived into the depths of this sinful world.  Without Him, we have nothing of any lasting value.

Come to the light God offers!  Study His word, the Bible.  Worship Him in spirit and truth (John 4:24).  Get in touch with us if you’d like to discuss these ideas further.

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Copyright, 2024, Timothy D. Hall

If one were to Google the word Ephesus, the first picture that would appear would probably be the Library of Celsus. The marble facade of the library, constructed 114-117 AD, stands two stories above the courtyard. Large columns with intricately designed marble stone grace the entrance way to the impressive building. Marble statues of women personifying virtue, knowledge, and wisdom oversee the many tourists that visit each day.

The Library of Celsus is not the only impressive sight in ancient Ephesus. The great theater mentioned in Acts 19 in which Demetrius the silversmith led a riot against Paul is just down the Marble Road. The theater, which is the largest in Turkey, could seat 25,000 people. It was designed to have plays for children in the morning, drama for the adults in the evening, and later during Roman times to host gladiator battles.

Across the street was the large Agora where people came to buy, sell, and trade. Ships from all over the Roman Empire would dock in the harbor and within a few hundred feet would have a ready audience for their wares.

Just down the street were the terrace houses which were home to the rich and powerful. The houses were built on the ridge of the mountain so its inhabitants could overlook the city. Excavations are continually being done to restore the beautiful artwork on walls and tile mosaics that adorned the floors.

Ancient Ephesus would have truly been a beautiful city; however, little would have been known of these features, outside of ancient writings, until about 150 years ago. Very little could have been seen of the theater and buildings until excavations began in 1863. Little by little dirt was removed wheelbarrow by wheelbarrow and bucket by bucket until it revealed the wonders we see today.

There are two parts to archeology: the digging part that perhaps we are more accustomed to and its preservation. It is one thing to dig it up but it is another thing entirely to preserve what has been found. As long as the buildings, murals and mosaics are underground, they are preserved by the dirt. When it is dug up, they are subjected to weathering and the elements that slowly destroy them. That is where preservation comes in. Whereas it costs very little to dig, since everyone wants to find the treasures underground, it does cost a great deal to preserve it. For example, the shelter that was built to preserve the terrace houses cost over seven million dollars. Keep in mind that only twenty percent of Ephesus has been excavated. Why? Because it takes so much money to preserve the buildings that have been dug up.

The spiritual point that I want to make is this: It is easier to become a Christian than it is to stay a Christian. With this being said, it should be apparent that I do not believe in the doctrine of once-saved-always-saved. Paul writing to those Christians who sought to return to the Old Law said they had fallen from grace (Galatians 5:4). The Hebrews writer continually encouraged his readers to remain faithful. Why remain faithful if they were going to be saved anyway?

It is relatively easy to become a Christian, but what about the next day and the day after that? What about the weeks, months and years that lay ahead? Many followed Jesus but in time turned and walked with him no more (John 6:66). Demas, who once was a faithful servant of the Lord and companion of Paul, left because he loved this present world (2 Timothy 4:10).

In Revelation 2:10, John wrote that to receive the crown of life one must be faithful to death. How long was that? For as long as one lived. Living for Jesus is a lifelong commitment. Becoming a Christian is not a one-day event. That faith must be preserved and grown. Peter encouraged his fellow Christians to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18). Earlier, he said, “be even more diligent to make your call and election sure” (2 Peter 1:10).

It is great to be a Christian but it is even just as important to maintain our Christianity. It would be a catastrophe to dig the treasures of Ephesus out of the ground only to have them waste away to time and the elements. It would be an even greater calamity to begin as a faithful Christian only to allow that faith to come to ruin because we did not give due diligence to preserve it.

If you would like to know more about being a Christian, maintaining your faith and making sure you get to heaven, please let us know.

Roy Knight

About a year after Rachel and I moved to Romania, I learned that a friend of mine had recently moved to Moscow, Russia to be a missionary there. I obtained his email address and sent him a picture of my little girl. A day or two later he sent a picture of his little girl, about Jewell’s age, and wrote in his email: “My daughter is prettier than your daughter.” I try to be tactful; sometimes I am sure that I don’t accomplish that goal and I apologize if my words don’t come out kind and graceful. But I think I was tactful at that point because I wrote back and said, “I hope I never meet a dad who doesn’t think that his daughter is the prettiest in the world.”

What is your definition of “beauty”?

Here are a few words that I want us to keep in mind as we discuss the nature of our God: pleasing; appealing; excellent; delight. When it comes to describing God, I think we should get this very simple idea in mind: God is a Person we would want to be around. We would want to be in His presence. He is beautiful. In His appearance, in His nature, in His character. I like the personality of my surgeon who did my colon operation last October. He’s a person that I would like to just go have coffee with.

Let’s think more about God as a beautiful person…

GOD IS BEAUTIFUL:

Psalm 84 begins with these words: “How lovely are Your dwelling places, O Lord of hosts” (Psalm 84:1). The Hebrew word translated “lovely” here is used a total of 8 times and in the NASV, it is always translated “beloved” except here. So we could translate this verse: “How beloved are your dwelling places, O Lord of hosts.” Do you love being in God’s presence in worship?

Aren’t there places you love to be? Aren’t there people, with whom you like to just “hang out” with?

God is that type of Person. He is beautiful. Because of His character, we will want to be with Him, around Him, in His presence.

God’s beauty is a reflection of His perfection. Again, there is nothing sinful, wrong, bad or imperfect about God. Nothing in His nature has been touched by sin. That’s why God is beautiful. So all beauty comes from God. When you and I create something beautiful, we are only reflecting the nature of our Creator. If you paint, you are painting what God has already created. If you create a sculpture, you are only sculpting what God has already created. If you write poetry, you are only writing what God has already created. All beauty comes from God.

THE BEAUTY OF GOD IS REFLECTED IN JESUS CHRIST:

In 2 Corinthians 4:6, Paul wrote: “For God, who said, ‘Light shall shine out of darkness,’ is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.” Since we have already seen that “beauty” when applied to God can be synonymous with “glory,” then we can paraphrase this verse to say that God has “shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the beauty of God in the face of Christ.”

Why would you say that Jesus is “beautiful?” As I mention just seven qualities we love in Jesus, remember that He reflects the nature of God…

#1 – His compassion.

#2 – His service.

#3 – His love.

#4 – His forgiveness.

#5 – His commitment.

#6 – His relationship with God.

#7 – His gentleness.

We know that Jesus was not “handsome” in the way that people tend to describe physical attraction. Isaiah the prophet said of the Messiah, He has no “appearance that we should be attracted to Him” (Isa. 53:2). But Jesus was and is a beautiful person, because He reflects the nature of our Creator.

OUR RESPONSE TO GOD’S BEAUTY:

We should praise God for His beauty.

We should honor God for His beauty.

We should stand in awe of God for His beauty.

We should also enjoy God’s beauty.

We should anticipate God’s beauty in heaven.

God is beautiful. He is delightful, pleasing, excellent, and adorable. Live for Him so you can one day live with Him.

Paul Holland

First, the Bible: “with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph. 4:2-3). The French translation has “force yourselves” for “preserve.” Home is where each of us should learn how to resolve conflicts.

While my family was largely a peaceful family, we did have our fusses and fights. My sister older (one year, one month, two weeks, and one day) than me and I use to fight and argue constantly. Mom would say one would say, “Good morning,” and the other would say “no it’s not.” My older brother (by five years) and I would wrestle which often turned into fights. I harassed my younger brother (by seven years) because I could. Until he grew bigger than me, which my mom told me would happen.

There is a part of life that includes errands and activities that must be done. Every person has a list of things to do and accomplish each day, whether they actually make such a list or not. The family as a whole also has activities that have to be done each day (like cooking the meals!).

Sometimes these activities have obstacles that get in the way of their accomplishment, speed bumps if you will. They are problems that pop up that need to be resolved before the family can succeed in getting things done. Sometimes parents allow children to turn the problems they face into conflicts.

But when problems surface, Mom and Dad need to train the children to follow the principles from Ephesians 4:2-3 in order to resolve the problem, not create conflicts, and accomplish what needs to be done. Train your children to work with humility. Train the older children to be gentle with younger siblings who may not be able to do what the older children can do. Train the children to be patient when problems arise and to be patient as the solution is being studied and implemented. Train your children to show tolerance for each other. Everyone has strengths and weaknesses and the family is the ideal time to learn what those are and tolerate those whose weaknesses do not compare favorably with our strengths.

Train your children to love each other, wanting what is best for each other regardless of how it impacts them. Train your children to force themselves to maintain unity – which often means keeping one’s opinion to themselves! Challenge your children to keep the family bonded together in peace.

Paul Holland

First, the Bible: “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother (which is the first commandment with a promise), so that it may be well with you, and that you may live long on the earth” (Eph. 6:1-3).

To “honor” parents means to respect them, appreciate them, value them and what they do for the family. In teaching our children to honor us as parents, we need to show them the value they contribute to the family. When I was young, our family did almost everything together. My dad did not believe that church work was just for him as the preacher nor for him and mom. We passed out Gospel Minutes together, flyers for VBS, advertisements for gospel meetings.

But we also did work around the house together. When my parents had a vegetable garden, all the kids had to pull weeds and hoe. Once dad bought an old used wooden plow and he pulled it behind our lawn tractor and my brother and I took turns guiding the plow! We did chores around the house together – washing dishes, folding clothes, mowing the lawn the yard, and other house work.

We might teach children to obey that leaves their heart out of their reaction. But if we teach children to honor those for whom they serve (such as parents and / or the family), then they see the broader perspective, the bigger picture. This motivate them to serve from the hearts as opposed to just obedience.

Once when dad needed extra income, he delivered the Atlanta-Journal Constitution on the weekends. And, yes, he got all of us children up at 3 AM on Saturdays and Sundays, with Mom, to throw newspapers. The kids sat in the back, stuffed the newspaper into a plastic bag and handed it over the front seat so Mom or Dad could throw it out the window. But we were not led to believe that this earned money for mom and dad. It was a job for the family. My parents taught us to honor them partly because they honored us.

I had 25 yards that I mowed when I was a teenager. That kept me really busy. But one year, I went to seven different 4-H camps and a week of Bible camp. If I came home from a camp and then it rained, I got behind in my yard-mowing. But then dad would mow for me and (as far as I can remember), he always gave me the income from the yard mowing. Dad was not selfish. He honored me by giving of himself. That’s what my parents taught us kids.

Teach your children that if they see something that needs to be done, do it. If they see something that needs to be cleaned, clean it. In that way, they are honoring their family and helping contribute to the well-functioning of the family.

Paul Holland

First, we point out the obvious biblical teaching that no adulterer can go to heaven: 1 Corinthians 6:9-10: “Or 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 effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.”

But Jesus also gives a definition of adultery in Matthew 19:9 that does not sit well with (most?) people: “I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery.”

Jesus does not give “unfit spouse” or “unfit mother” as a reason to divorce and remarry. He does, however, say: “everyone who divorces his wife, except for the reason of unchastity, makes her commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits [present tense] adultery” (Matt. 5:32). Jesus says in this text that the person divorcing his innocent wife “adulterizes” her. The innocent spouse has been sexually faithful (regardless of his or her other behavior). She is innocent of sexual unfaithfulness. However, the man who has divorced her and remarried has committed adultery and is committing adultery as long as they are married, per the words of our Savior.

A husband is married to his wife until death separates them (Romans 7:3). If death has not separated them and sexual immorality has not occurred, then for either one to enter a second marriage makes him or her an adulterer / adulteress. That’s the words of our Savior.

Paul wrote simply: “if she does leave, she must remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to her husband, and that the husband should not divorce his wife” (1 Cor. 7:11). He did not give “unfit mother” or “unfit wife” as a reason to remarry.

Jesus said, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her; and if she herself divorces her husband and marries another man, she is committing adultery” (Mark 10:11-12). Jesus’ words are the opposite of what many churches and elderships practice and preachers preach. But our disobedience does not negate His teaching.

There are occasions, Jesus teaches, when a man or woman must make himself or herself a “eunuch for the sake of the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 19:12). If “unfit mother” or “unfit wife” is a justifiable excuse, it seems that Jesus’ words have lost any meaning, if they ever had any.

Herod divorced the daughter of King Aretas and married Herodias who had been the wife of his half-brother Philip. Even while Herod and Herodias were married, she is described as “Philip’s wife:” Matthew 14:3; Mark 6:17; Luke 3:19. John, of course, was faithful to God more than to human emotions (cf. Gal. 1:10) and told Herod that his marriage was unscriptural (Mark 6:18). This preaching the truth cost John his life. But it saved his soul.

Paul Holland

Theatrical performances require lots of preparation in order to be successful.  Efforts to ‘set the stage’ are needed to make a play, skit, or musical production effective.  Much work is done ‘for the show.’

Unfortunately, many religious folks also like to make a show — of their good works.  There is a determined effort on their part to make sure others will be aware of what they have done, are doing, or are planning to do.  But here is where Jesus urged us to actually avoid things that would draw attention to our actions.  In the Sermon the Mount, He repeatedly warned about doing our deeds to ‘be seen of men’ (Matthew 6:1ff).  We must carefully heed His warning.

The next time you have an opportunity to serve, help, or encourage someone else, do it without any concern that others will know and commend you for what you have done.  Know that God is always aware and will bless you for your work.  Proverbs 15:3 says that “the eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.”  We often use this verse to warn that no sin is hidden from God.  But notice that no good deed goes unnoticed by Him either.  So, don’t worry that He won’t see and know what you have done in His service.

Of course, frequently our good deeds will be noticed by others.  This is not because we sought such attention, but simply because others learn of these things in a natural, unannounced manner.  When this is the case, our desire should be to direct all the glory and honor to the Father.  In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus also said: “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).

Let us do nothing ‘for the show’ with a desire to direct attention to ourselves.  Let us to everything to point others to Him.  Think!

– by Greg Gwin

Currently, “legalism” is a popular subject.  But just exactly what is meant by “legalism”? We often are made to wonder if all those who firmly preach anti-legalism are agreed as to the meaning of legalism?

Let us consider three possible meanings of the term in question. By so doing, we can determine the scripturalness or unscripturalness of each legalism:

(1) Does legalism mean strict adherence to God’s law? If this is the meaning of the term, it represents a scriptural principle. Jesus told His disciples: “What things soever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven . . .” (Matt. 16:19 and 18:18). To this end the “Spirit of truth” came to guide them unto all the truth (John 16:13). In this sense Jesus and His ambassadors were legalists. But where does this place the anti-legalists? It puts them in direct opposition to the authority of Christ. Furthermore, this meaning of legalism renders the anti-legalist a double-minded man. He refuses to accept the idea that anything is bound in religion – with one major exception, anti-legalism!  He reminds us of the skeptic who says that the only possible truth is the truth that there can be no possible truth! (?) So if the doctrine of legalism is defined as “strict adherence to God’s law,” it is scripturally sound. Let modern thinkers (?) say what they will, it is still God’s will that, “This is the end of the matter: all hath been heard: fear God and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man” (Eccl. 12:13).

(2) If legalism is the disposition to make laws where God has made none, it is unscriptural. Consistent with the statement of Jesus cited above (Matt. 16:19 and 18:18), it is unscriptural to bind law when such has not been bound in heaven (and thus recorded in the New Testament). In this case, all who believe in and submit to the supreme authority of God’s word are anti-legalists! That is to say, we are opposed to making and binding laws not bound in heaven. This type of legalism is a form of unbelief in that it assumes that God’s laws do not go far enough.

(3) If legalism is depending on works of merit in order to be saved, legalism is unscriptural. This meaning of legalism is closely connected to the second, but not entirely the same. One might depend on added law for salvation (as with circumcision in Acts 15 and the Galatian letter), or one might regard the New Testament as a book of rules which one must keep perfectly in order to earn salvation. In both cases this type of legalism is firmly denied in the New Testament. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast” (Eph. 2:8, 9). See also Acts 15; Gal. 2:16 and 3:21; and Rom. 8:3.

At this point many become confused. Realizing that we are saved by “the free gift of God” (Rom. 6:23), it is assumed that any conditions would nullify grace. Thus the assumed principle: any free gift is received apart from any effort. This is both unreasonable and unscriptural. Think about it the next time you submit an application or agree to a ‘trial offer’ in order to receive a ‘free’ gift. You have not earned that gift but have merely availed yourself of a favor. So it is when we obey the gospel.

Again, those who believe what God’s word sets forth on the matter of grace, are anti-legalist in this third sense. We object to the idea that man can earn his salvation. Such a doctrine makes void the cross of our Lord. However, at the same time we must affirm that God’s grace is received by man’s obedience. Thus Peter wrote: “Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth . . .” (1 Pet. 1:22).

The subject of ‘legalism’ needs our careful investigation. We need to be as precise as possible when we employ terms that might have varied meanings. As in all things, tell us exactly what you mean, then we can search the Scriptures to see if these things are so. Will the real anti-legalists please stand up-and tell us what you mean?

– by Warren E. Berkley

When Jesus was asked about marriage, divorce, and remarriage in Matthew 19:4-6, Jesus quoted from Genesis 2:24 and, in essence, said that it means the same thing today: “Have you not read that He who created them from the beginning made them male and female,  and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’?  So they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.” Jesus’ “therefore” draws a conclusion that every Jew living since Moses penned (“quilled”?) the passage and every Christian should draw.

Peter does a similar thing in Acts 3:22-23 when he quotes from Deuteronomy 18:15. Moses wrote: “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your countrymen, you shall listen to him.” Roughly fifteen hundred years later, Peter preached that this passage was fulfilled in Jesus Christ. That’s what the text meant when Moses wrote it and that’s what the text still means today.

In Colossians 4:16, Paul told the Christians in the church of Christ at Colossae and the church of Christ in Laodicea to exchange letters he had written to each congregation. It is unlikely that the situation in one congregation was an exact parallel to the situation in the other congregation. But the principles and doctrine taught in one letter would still be relevant to the situation in the other congregation.

In Isaiah 7:14, Israel famously wrote: “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.” While the application of the word “virgin” (‘almah) to Isaiah’s audience might be perplexing today, when Matthew applies the passage to Jesus in Matthew 1:23, we learn once and for all what the text was intended to convey.

In Hebrews 10:1, the Hebrew writer is speaking of the superiority of Jesus over the appurtenances of the temple and, more specifically, the tabernacle. He writes: “For the Law, since it has only a shadow of the good things to come and not the very form of things, can never, by the same sacrifices which they offer continually year by year, make perfect those who draw near.” While the Law of Moses was “substance” to the Jews who lived under its precepts, it has now become a “shadow” pointing to the real substance who is Jesus Christ.

When we sit down to study God’s holy word, we should always ask what did it mean to the people who first received the writing? With certain events, we should even ask what the message was to the audience who saw the event happen, and then ask what the event meant to those who read it for the first time. Stephen’s preaching in Acts 7 had a message for the Sanhedrin who were in front of him, then a slightly different message to Theophilus for whom Acts was written, and finally, a message for those beyond Theophilus who read Acts. I’m not suggesting the message is different but we need to ask the question for sure.

Paul Holland