Edify: To Build Up and to Strengthen In 1 Corinthians chapter 14, and verse 26, it says; “What then is it brethren? (in other words, What is the outcome) When you assemble, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.” The apostle Paul is giving instructions concerning how…
The Four Gospels The first four books of the new testament, are referred to as “The Gospels”. They are the books written by Mathew, Mark, Luke, and John. It’s interesting to note, that only Mathew and John were apostles of Jesus Christ. Mark and Luke were disciples, but were not among the twelve chosen apostles. It’s known from the book of Acts, which Luke also wrote, that he…
Baptized Into Christ The phrase “baptized into Christ”, is used in Romans 6, verse 3, and again in Galatians 3, verse 27. Romans 6:3 says; “Or do you not know, that all of us who have been baptized into Christ, have been baptized into His death?” And Galatians 3:27 says; “For all of you who were baptized into Christ, have put on Christ.” From…
How did Jesus open your eyes ? In John chapter 9, we find the story about a man who was born blind, and had lived that way into adulthood. But then one day, along came Jesus, and He opened the man’s eyes. It says in verses 1 & 2; “And as He passed by, He saw a man blind from birth. And His disciples…
“The old has passed away, Behold, the new has come” Today I’d like us to focus on 2 Corinthians 5, verse 17. The verse reads as follows; “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation. The old has passed away, behold, the new has come.” There are several versions of the bible, including the King James, that translate that as saying, “Behold, ALL…
Behold, the new has come! In 2 Corinthians, chapter 5, the apostle Paul makes some contrasts between things physical, and things spiritual. First he contrasts our physical bodies with our spiritual bodies which are to come. He says in verse 1; “For we know that if our earthly tent, which is our house, is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not…
What is a principle? A principle is like a foundation isn’t it? You can take a basic principle, and then build upon that principle. For instance; you can take the basic principle that “honesty is the best policy”, and you can build a lifetime pattern of behavior, upon that principle. Or, you can begin with more than one principle, and put them together, and build upon them. …
I Will Come Again ! If we believe the words of the bible, then we believe that Jesus will return. He told us that He’ll return. He said, in John 14, verses 1 thru 3; “Let not your heart be troubled; You believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house, there are many dwellings; Moreover, if it were not so, I would…
Sacrificing out of Love The old law of Moses, was mainly a physical law, with requirements that governed the daily lives of the people. Even the worship of God, under the old law, was full of physical ceremonial requirements. But when Jeremiah prophesied about the new law of Christ, he said, in Jeremiah 31:33; “But this is the covenant which I will make with the…
Are you serious? Is there a reason to take the bible seriously? Is there a reason that we should be concerned with what the bible says? We’ve got pretty good lives, what do we need the bible for? We eat good, we’ve got a lot of recreation available to us. Lots of fun things to do. We’ve got friends, we’ve got family. We’ve got belongings,…
The Church’s One Foundation I have been enjoying the opportunity to converse back and forth with a man of the Catholic faith. And one of the things that we’ve been talking about is the church’s foundation. In other words, what or whom, is the church of our Lord, built upon? Jesus said in Mathew 16, verse 18; “I will build My church, and the…
Do You Have a Will? How many of you have made out a “Will”? Everyone really should have a “Will” so that we’re sure, that whatever we own, will go to the right people. Your “Will” is really your “desire”. Your “Will” is a statement of your desires, concerning what happens to your belongings, when you’re gone. It’s my “will”, or my “desire”, that my money goes here,…
The Early Years of the Church In the early years of the church, some Jewish Christians were still thinking that they had to follow the law of Moses. And after the Gentiles had been added to the church, and especially when the numbers of Gentiles were increasing, a lot of Jewish Christians taught that the Gentile Christians had to keep the law, and be circumcised. …
In the book of Revelation, when Jesus was dictating letters to be sent to the seven churches of Asia, He said in Revelation 2, verse 14; “But I have a few things against you, because you have there some, who hold the teaching of Balaam; Who kept teaching Ba-lak’, to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to…
Study to Understand the Scriptures Last week, I left you with a question about Acts 2, verse 33. That verse says; “Therefore, having been exalted to the right hand of God, and having received the promise of the Holy Spirit..” My question was; What exactly is “the promise of the Holy Spirit” that Jesus received from God the Father, after He was exalted? Before we answer…
Glorify Thou Me The word glorify, means to honor, or to be held in honor. It means to praise, and to magnify, and to extol. A word study says that, to glorify, means.. “to ascribe weight, by recognizing the real substance and value”. To glorify GOD, means.. “To value Him for Who He truly is. For example; Giving glory to God, personally acknowledges, God’s true character and…
The Way of Balaam, is the Way of a Donkey Last week we talked about false prophets, and we began with this scripture from 2 Peter 2:1-3; “But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you. Who secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves. And many will follow…
True Knowledge, and False Knowledge The bible speaks of the “TRUE knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.” 2 Peter 1, verse 3. And it warns us about false knowledge, in 2 Peter 2, verses 1 thru 3. Here’s what it says; “But false prophets also arose among the people, (the reference there is to the people of Israel) just as there will…
What is an Expedient? What if someone told you, that although with our singing in worship to God, that it’s also OK to use musical instruments, because it’s expedient to do so? Would you know how to respond to that? Would you even know what they MEAN, when they say; It’s expedient to use musical instruments along with our singing, as we worship God? I want to clarify…
The Pattern and History of our Giving I’d like to read the first four verses of 1 Corinthians chapter 16.. “Now concerning the collection for the saints; As I directed the congregations of Galatia, so do you also. Against the first day of every week, let each one of you put aside and save, as he may prosper, that no collections be made when I arrive. And…