What must I do to be saved?

On an occasion when Jesus was talking to some of the Pharisees, He asked them this question. His purpose was not to ridicule them, but to see if they really knew who He was. He confounded them by informing them that the Christ was both the “son of David” and David’s “Lord.” They were speechless.

I wonder what we would say if Jesus posed the question to us today. Would we respond by saying that He really lived in the first century? Would we say that He had a humble birth, being born of a virgin and placed in a manger? Would we say that He lived a life of obscurity and was crucified as a common criminal?

Would we go further than that? Would we say that He always has existed, and always will exist? Would we say that He gave up much in order to come to earth in human flesh? Would we say that while He was human that He was also the Son of God? Would we say that He lived a perfect life under the Law of Moses (something no one else in history has done)? Would we say that He sacrificed Himself for the salvation of all who will come to Him? Would we say that He is presently functioning as our “high Priest” in Heaven because we cannot approach God without Him?

Would we go even further than that? Would we say that He has not only impacted the world, but that He has also impacted our personal lives and has given us hope that we cannot get anywhere else? Would we say that He has, and is, the answer to all of life’s problems? What do you think of Christ?

Think about it!

-Kevin Williams

1. An angel comes & rolls back the stone from the tomb (Mt. 28:2).  The guards are frozen with fear (Mt. 28:4).

2. Mary Magdalene and another Mary (Mt. 28:1) come before dawn while it is still dark (Jn. 20:1) and find the stone rolled away.

3. Other women (including Joanna and Salome) come at or after sunrise (Mk. 16:2; Lk. 24:1).

4. Angels (young men) appear to the women (Mk. 16:5; Lk. 24:4).

5. Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Mary the mother of James leave to tell the apostles (Mt. 28:8; Mk. 16:8; Lk. 24:9-10; Jn. 20:2). Some women report the vision of angels to the disciples (Lk. 24:24).Some say nothing out of fear (Mk. 16:8).

6. Peter and John start for the tomb; Mary and other women follow.

7. Peter and John arrive at the tomb and find it empty (Lk. 24:12; Jn. 20:3-9).

8. Peter and John go home (Jn. 20:10) and report findings (Lk. 24:24).

9. Mary Magdalene stays and sees Jesus (Jn. 20:11-17; Mk. 16:9). Jesus also appears to other women (Mt. 28:9-10).

10. Cleopas and his companion leave (Lk. 24:13-14).

11. Women, including Mary Magdalene, go to tell the disciples about the risen Lord, but the disciples do not believe them (Mt. 28:11; Mk. 16:10-11; Lk. 24:11; Jn. 20:18).

12. Some of the guards go to the chief priests and tell them what happened. The Jewish council pays them money to say that the disciples stole the body while they were asleep (Mt. 28:11-15).

The order of thirteen and fourteen is uncertain.

13. Jesus appears to Peter, who reports it to the disciples (Lk. 24:34).

14. Jesus appears to Cleopas and companion (Lk. 24:15-32; Mk. 16:12)

15. They return to Jerusalem to report it to the disciples (Lk. 24:33) but are not believed (Mk. 16:13).

16. Jesus appears to the disciples in a locked room that evening (Mk. 16:14-18; Lk. 24:36-43; Jn. 20:19-23).

EVIDENCE FOR THE RESURRECTION 

How to Explain:

The Empty Tomb: What happened to the missing body?

Jesus Rose from the dead

His disciples stole His body

How did they get past the guards?

Why would they do it?  They were afraid!

The Romans took it

Why? They were guarding it to prevent this from happening!

All they had to do was produce the body!

The chief priests took it

Why?  same comments as above

Grave Robbers took it

They don’t take bodies!

There was no jewelry on the body.

How did they get past the guards?

The Resurrection Appearances:

Jesus Rose from the dead

Mass Hallucination

Different people saw Him at different times.

Once 500 people saw Him at the same time.

Fabrication by apostles and others

Why?  They were afraid.

They later died for their story; no one recanted!

The Rise of the Church:

The Conversion of Saul of Tarsus:

Bruce Terry

INTRODUCTION:

Paul was very surprised that they had been so quickly removed from the gospel which he preached. He quickly adds that what they were adhering to was a perverted message and not the one he had preached. He adds that what he had preached was not from man but from God.

This is very important since there is a popular idea in the world today that it makes no difference what man believes. Paul makes it clear that there is a difference. Error cannot be substituted for the truth in the plan of salvation.

THE GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE GOSPEL THAT PAUL PREACHED:

1. He preached the original gospel (ver. 6). How may we know the difference?

(a) Any religious message that has its origin this side or outside the NT is of human origin.

(b) Every creed is outside the NT. Do you really think man can improve on the NT?

(c) Paul said he received what he preached by revelation (see also Eph. 3:3).

2. He preached the pure gospel (ver. 7).

(a) Food is God’s power to satisfy hunger, but with a little poison mixed in, it will destroy that power.

(b) Water has the power to quench thirst, but a portion of salt mixed in will destroy that agency.

(c) Likewise the gospel is God’s power to save the soul, but when a little error or human opinion and doctrine are mixed in, it loses its power to save (Matt. 15:9).

(d) Blood disease – leukemia – The cure is unknown, although it is thought to be similar to cancer in origin. An abnormal function of white blood cells leads to a great overproduction of these white cells and their infiltration into body tissues. No cure is known at this time, but symptoms may be alleviated, and remission brought about by proper treatment in some cases.

3. Paul preached an adequate gospel (ver. 8-9). The gospel that Paul preached is adequate for all times and for all people: Jude 3; 1 Cor. 2:2.

THE PRINCIPLES OF THE GOSPEL THAT PAUL PREACHED:

1. It is the gospel of God (Rom. 1:1).
2. It is the gospel of Christ (Acts 9:20).
3. It is the gospel of Christ and his church (Eph. 5:32). Christ as head cannot be separated from his body which is declared to be the church (Eph. 1:22-23).
4. It is the gospel of our salvation: Eph. 1:13; Rom. 1:16; Mark 16:15-16; Acts 2:37-38.

The divine plan is the same since the Lord gave it…

Faith to change the heart, thereby destroying the love of sin – Heb. 11:6.

Repentance to change the will; thereby destroying the practice of sin… Matt. 21:29.

Baptism to change the state… Gal. 3:27.

the late Wayne Holland

from a sermon preached at:

Williston, FL – 7/31/1977

Live Oak, FL – 6/11/1978

Bayou La Batre, AL – 9/3/1978

Fairview, AL – 2/3/1980

Hayesville, NC – 8/30/1981

Blairsville, GA – 3/29/1987

St. Mary’s, GA – 7/12/1987

Gordon, GA – 7/19/1987

Roxboro, NC – 8/2/1987

South Boston, VA – 4/2/1994

Roxboro, NC – 5/7/2000

A simple search of the Internet produces all kinds of information – sometimes contradictory – about rewiring our brains. The consensus seems to be this: Activity in the brain involves chemical and electric signals traveling along neural pathways. The actions we take, and in particular, the habits we form, affect our neural pathways. Basically, the more we do something, the less resistance there is in our brains to doing that thing. As a person ages, the brain loses neuroplasticity, that is, its ability to alter its neural pathways, or “rewire” itself.

Seemingly everything we do changes our brains. For years, scientists have pointed to reading as a key activity for rewiring the brain. For example, I found an article on science.org in which the author, speaking from an evolutionary framework, discusses comparisons of brains in literate and non-literate individuals. Brain development and usage showed differences between those who could read and those who could not. While I disagree with the evolutionary explanations in the article, the main point remains: reading changes the brain.

If what we do rewires our brains, then we can change our identities by changing our actions. We can also change ourselves by reading. Paul uses three related terms in his letters, which appear in the ESV as “renewal” and “renew.” In Romans 12:2, Ephesians 4:23, and Colossians 3:10, he uses these terms with reference to the mind. In 2 Corinthians 4:16, it refers to the inner self. While Titus 3:5 speaks of renewal as a work of the Holy Spirit, Colossians 3:10 says the new person is “renewed in knowledge.” However else the Holy Spirit may operate today, He certainly changes our minds when we read and study the Scriptures!

Do you sometimes find that you are not the person you would like to be? Do you find it hard to change? Our brains literally “get into grooves,” making it easier to do what we have “always done,” and harder to change. Nearly everything we do, though, has the potential to create new neural pathways in our brains. Reading the Bible should top the list. When we read and meditate on God’s Word, He is literally changing our minds, and therefore, our person. The more the mind changes, the more our actions will follow. So, be the person God would have you to be; let Him change you day by day –

Read His Word!

Clay Leonard

The book of James begins with the admonition to count trials as joy (v. 2). The reason being: they can lead to great maturity of faith. Proper perspective also demonstrates that even the “lowly brother” is able to “boast in his exaltation” (v. 9). Physical, mental and even spiritual trials don’t have to be stumbling blocks for Christians. Ultimately they can assist him in “receiving the crown of life” (v. 12). Let’s notice a few important points in James 1:12-15.

(1) First, the “blessedness” of trials is for the Christian who remains steadfast (v. 12). The word for steadfast here is hypomeno, meaning “to bear up under.” The idea is that one continues to endure or continues to be faithful even while suffering through trials. Such trials, regardless of their particular nature, are a testing of our faith (see v. 3). In standing strong in the faith, James assures God’s people that they will “receive the crown of life” (v. 12). This is a crown of victory, the ultimate and eternal victory over sin and Satan! (see also Rev. 2:10). We should certainly understand the inverse: if we can stand that also means we are capable of falling! (see Gal. 5:4). Also note that standing strong is one way that we demonstrate our love for the Lord! (Note the end of verse 12.)

(2) Secondly, it is important to understand the source of temptation. God tempts no man to sin. Such is against His nature. From the very beginning, or at least back all the way to Genesis 3, the devil is portrayed as the source of temptation. Yet here, James does not specifically mention the devil, perhaps to keep the Christian from shifting blame (like both Adam and Eve did in Gen. 3:12-13). But our allurements are enticed by our “own desire” (v. 14). We can’t rightfully blame anyone but ourselves for our sin! We are personally accountable and the sooner we accept that the better off we will be. There are no good excuses for sin. Everyone will give a personal account before God (see 2 Cor. 5:10).

(3) In the third place, note the progression of sin in verse 15. First, it begins with desire. Then desire gives way to sin (the outward act). And finally sin leads to death! Sin begins in the heart, and may seem rather innocent or inconspicuous. However, it is not innocent and neither does it usually stay confined to the heart very long (see Prov. 4:23; Mt. 15:18). And when a Christian becomes a slave to sin it effectively kills the inward man. Sin is the one thing, the only thing, that can separate us from our God (see Is. 59:1-2; 1 Jn. 3:4). The devil works very subtlely and quite effectively. We would do well to keep in mind where sin and death begin. It all begins by giving just a little place of our heart to the devil! (see also Eph. 4:27).

God wants our whole heart and He wants our heart to be holy. There is great blessedness from God in remaining steadfast and faithful no matter what comes our way. Turning away from God and His will is never the answer! Turning to Him in the good times and the bad is blessedness!

Daren Schroeder

Adolph Hitler is remembered in history for his terrible massacres of millions of innocent people. Ariel Castro will be remembered for his kidnapping, torture, and years of captivity of three young women. More than anything else in his life, Judas Iscariot is known for the betrayal kiss that he gave Jesus. Lot’s wife is known for looking back (an act of disobedience) and turning into a pillar of salt. Nadab and Abihu will forever be known for their offering something to God in worship that God did not command, and they were struck with fire from heaven and died.

On the other hand, Irena Sendler will forever be known for smuggling some 2,500 children out of the Warsaw Ghetto to protect them from the Nazis during WWII. The passengers of hijacked United flight 93 will be remembered for their bravery in overtaking terrorists who planned to attack the White House on 9/11, and caused the plane to crash in a field in Pennsylvania. Job is know for his perseverance under trials. Mary is known for giving birth to Jesus. The apostle Paul is known for giving his life to preaching the gospel to the Jews and Gentiles, and dying a martyr’s death for his beliefs.

In each of the above examples, both good and bad, there seems to be a defining point in their lives which served as a catalyst for them to do something by which they would be remembered. Hitler’s defining point was his decision to annihilate the innocents. Castro’s was the decision he made to kidnap the first girl. Judas’ defining point was the kiss. On the other hand, Sendler’s defining point was her decision to revolt against the Nazi regime and help the doomed Jews. The passengers of United flight 93’s defining point was the realization that they were going to die and needed to do something. Paul’s was his meeting Jesus on the road to Damascus.

So what defining point in your life has made you who you are, whether good or bad? And how will you be remembered when your life here is over? Also what kind of example will you leave for your family and friends when you are gone? Better yet, how will God remember you when you stand before Him in Judgment?

Think about it!

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. (2 Corinthians 5:10).

Kevin Williams

“Desperate For Companionship”

A 29-year-old was arrested a few weeks ago at a New Jersey high school.  This person pretended to be a teenager in order to be enrolled and do things the other students did.  It was four days later that the ruse was discovered and the arrest was made.

Surely this man was seeking something very sinister, right?  First, understand that this was not a man, but a woman.  Second, in an appearance in court earlier this week, the motivation for her pretense was stated to be loneliness, and she is asking for a pretrial intervention program so she might avoid harsher punishment when the case is tried.  Her attorney claims she was simply lonely, and wanted to return to her “glory days” of high school.

I don’t know how genuine this woman’s defense is, but I am convinced there are a lot of people in our world who are desperate for companionship.  Loneliness is a battle that many fight, but how many of those eventually find relief?  Often people find ways to temporarily escape that darkness through substance abuse, binging on TV or video games, or other unhealthy pursuits.  Their underlying problem of feeling alone is not addressed, however.

Loneliness is not a new phenomenon.  In Psalm 142:4 David wrote this: “Look on my right hand and see, for there is no one who acknowledges me; refuge has failed me; no one cares for my soul.”  Was that truly the case with David – no one cared about him?  Or did he merely feel that way?  Either way, it is depressing to feel isolated and neglected.

The Prodigal Son was in a more challenging situation: He was living in a distant land and he had burned through all of his resources.  He took a lowly job feeding pigs and even considered eating their food because “no one gave him anything” (Luke 15:15).  Lonely?  Obviously he was.

Paul learned a powerful lesson in a time of great loneliness: “At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me. … But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me …” (2 Timothy 4:16,17).  We don’t know if Paul was in solitary confinement at that time, a condition intended to isolate people.  But even in such drastic conditions the Lord is not stopped.  He has vowed to always be with His people, no matter what (see Hebrews 13:5,6).  Prison bars can’t stop the Lord.

There’s another positive way to battle loneliness; it’s called “fellowship”, and it’s given to all followers of Jesus Christ.  The first Christians “continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers” (Acts 2:42).  Two verses later we read, “Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common” (Acts 2:44).

“Together” is a better condition than “alone”.  If you’re already a Christian, you should seek out fellowship with your family in Christ rather than passively giving in to loneliness.  If you’re not a Christian, we’d love to talk with you about how simple it is to enter the family of Christ.  You won’t have to pretend to be someone you’re not; Christ welcomes all who come to Him “Just as I am”.

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.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Copyright, 2023, Timothy D. Hall

According to reporting and data, our country is in the midst of a mental health crises, especially in our teen and college age generation. A perfect storm of events has contributed experts say, which includes the world shutting down during the pandemic, the overwhelming prevalence and influence of social media and vanishing traditional families, along with other factors. Consequently, depression, anxiety, and attention disorders have skyrocketed bringing with them, social isolation, addiction and increases in suicide attempts. It is another pandemic.

 To complicate the struggle is the stigma that still remains attached to mental illness. As a friend once said concerning a family member dealing with mental health issues, “If he had been diagnosed with cancer, we would have a line of folks coming by bringing casseroles.” I understand that. It is difficult to know how to respond to “crazy” (so the saying goes), which often remains how we view those with mental illness.

 It is also frustrating, wearying, and complicated because there are no quick fixes; no magic pill; and no simple solutions. It is a difficult discussion altogether, therefore we don’t have it. Those who suffer, often do so silently, hurting in the shadows—ever aware of the stigma.

 But the growing concern is too big to be ignored now. As Christians what should our response be? Or we might ask, “What would Jesus Do?” He certainly encountered folks who were severely challenged (the man possessed by the “legion” of demons for example—Mark 5:1-20). He did not run away from those challenges, instead he ran to them bringing help and healing. While we do not possess his healing powers, we can offer our help and support for those dealing with mental illness. Here are a few ways: 

·        Acknowledge the struggle. Just talking about it as we would any other illness with those struggling and/or family members would go a long way to create a better healing atmosphere and acceptance of the challenges inherit in the disease.

·        Do not contribute to the stigma. Those suffering already frequently feel as if others are judging them—thinking they are “crazy.” This only increases feelings of depression and isolation. Instead, offer support and understanding.

·        Emphasize their value—in Christ. Work to counter the destructive nature of social media where value is assessed by appearance, likes and followers—all of which is actually exaggerated but all too real to young people, which contributes to mental health issues. If we can penetrate this false narrative with the truth about the value God sees within each of us based in his love (Psalm 139:13-14), then we could potentially reframe how some young people view themselves, leading to better mental health.

·        Try to love unconditionally. Not easy in any situation, but made much more difficult by the complications of mental illness. But it is exactly what those suffering need.

·        Offer assistance—in the form of acceptance; counseling; support for families; resources to help; and of course, prayer. “Pray without ceasing.”  

The mental health crisis is not going anywhere, anytime soon. Let’s increase not just our awareness of it, but our response to it. There is an entire generation out there who need us.  

Danny Dodd

A billboard beside the interstate proclaims, “Cain killed Abel with a rock. It’s a HEART problem, not a gun problem. Jeremiah 17:9.” The issues of gun violence, gun control, and the preservation of life deserve serious discussion. As Christians, we should take our cues on this and any issue from God in His Word.

I shared the quote from the billboard for a different reason. We must take care to avoid making our assumptions into “Gospel truths.” In this case, the first sentence from the billboard does not come from the biblical record. Genesis 4:8 says, “Cain spoke to Abel his brother. And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him.” We do not know if Cain used his bare hands, a tree branch, a rock, or any other weapon. We may assume, but we should take great care in doing so. We certainly shouldn’t hold our assumptions as definitive truths.

While the argument on the billboard does not stand or fall with the first sentence, Bible studies do often fail because one or both parties bring their assumptions to the Word and allow them to stand in the way of God’s truth. For example, the phrase “faith only” has become common vernacular among those who call themselves Christians. The Protestant Reformers used it as early as the 16th century. While some English translations have the word “only” in Galatians 2:16, it is not in the original language. In fact, the only time “faith only” appears is in James 2:24, which says, “You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.” Yet, the assumption that “faith alone justifies” has become an impediment to people obeying the Gospel!

The surest way to avoid such assumptions is to read God’s Word studiously and often. We must give our full attention to what God has revealed. Furthermore, we must read and listen critically to those who claim to teach God’s Word. We may gain much from teachers and preachers, but we may also pick up inaccurate information if we do not test everything against Scripture itself.

What assumptions have you made from the Bible’s text? Do you know the source of your beliefs and can you distinguish your beliefs from your opinions and assumptions? Some opinions and assumptions may be innocuous; others could be spiritually deadly. We must all “rightly divide [handle] the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15), for it is truth – not opinions or assumptions – that frees and saves (cf. John 8:32; Ephesians 1:13).

Clay Leonard

In the summer of 2021, Rachel and I went to Minnesota for a vacation. While we were there, we stayed in the Minneapolis / St. Paul area. Then we took a day to drive over to Walnut Grove, which was one of the homes of Laura Ingalls Wilder, the author of the book series Little House on the Prairie. She wrote in one book a fascinating description of a locust plague here in the United States.

PHARAOH REFUSES TO HUMBLE HIMSELF – 10:3-6:

In this paragraph, we see that God is specifically targeting Pharaoh’s pride: “How long will you refuse to humble yourself before Me?” God has struck Pharaoh with seven plagues so far. How long is Pharaoh going to remain prideful and arrogant toward God?

The word for “humble” was used earlier in Exodus, at 1:11-12. The NASV reads that Pharaoh “afflicted” the Israelites with hard labor. That’s the same verb we have here. Pharaoh “humbled” the Israelites, so God is going to “humble” Pharaoh. He could do it himself, or he could allow Jehovah God to do it.

You and I have the same choice. “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble” (1 Peter 5:5). Then Peter tells us the same thing that Moses tells Pharaoh, basically: “Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God that He may exalt you in due time” (5:6). How long are you going to keep living in sin? How long are you going to keep putting off repentance? How long are you going to keep refusing to submit to the gospel of Christ? How long? Jesus is stretching out His nail-pierced hand, asking you: “How long will you refuse to obey My word?”

TELL THE NEXT GENERATION – 10:1-2:

10:1-2 – Among the reasons God brought the plagues on Egypt was so that Israel would have something to share with the next generation! Just like the life, teachings, miracles, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. One of the purposes of the Lord’s Supper is to teach our children what the death and resurrection of Christ means. All of us who are parents have had to answer questions about the Lord’ Supper – most of those questions come while we’re taking the Lord’s Supper!

PHARAOH WANTS TO NEGOTIATE AGAIN? – 10:7-11:

Pharaoh brings Moses and Aaron back into his audience and tells them: “GO!” (10:8). Then he asks a silly question: “Who are the ones that are going?” Who do you want to go to heaven? Everybody over whom I have any influence. Who is going to worship Jehovah God? Everyone who wants to be saved! Moses answered Pharaoh in verse 9. Notice that Moses emphasizes everyone is going: young & old, sons & daughters, flocks, and herds.

When it comes to the teachings of the NT, there is no verse that we can set aside and say, “I don’t feel like obeying that verse.” We can’t say, “Well, I’m 90% in agreement with Jesus, I can be saved.” There is either total surrender to the gospel of Christ or there is no surrender at all. He commands and we obey. That is Christianity.

THE PLAGUE OF LOCUSTS – 10:12-15:

The Egyptians worshiped Min, the god of the crops. They also worshiped Isis, the goddess of life, Nepri (the god of grain), Anubis (the guardian of the fields), and Senehem (the god who protected against pests). But Senehem was not to be found – not this time – the Egyptians learned that they could not trust their gods to provide their food!

“FORGIVE MY SIN” – 10:16-20:

Pharaoh admits he has sinned and he asks Moses to pray for him. As one writer wrote, Pharaoh kept “repenting of his repentance” (Ryken). Pharaoh surely thought that Jehovah God, like all the other gods in Egypt’s pantheon, could be manipulated with just the right words! But Jehovah God is a not a puppet on a string!

Despite all the destruction, God had promised Israel that He would bring them into a land flowing with milk and honey. But they would also have to trust and obey.

In Jesus Christ, there is nothing ahead of us but the promise of a good land, in the presence of Jehovah God.

Paul Holland