A Grandmother's Legacy

A Grandmother's Legacy

Phillip Eichman has written about a special book in his library:

I have a number of books but one of them in particular is very special to me. It is neither rare
nor valuable as far as books go. It is obviously old and the pages are yellow and brittle and the
cover is very worn. You can find better books at a garage sale or on the bookshelf at the local
Goodwill store. The title might help you understand a little of its value. It is called The Story
of the Bible and was written by Charles Foster. It is a children's book that contains a simplified
summary of each book of the Bible...

The value of the book for me lies in its original owner. You see, this book belonged to my
great-grandmother. She died when I was a baby and I do not remember her, but I have heard stories
about her. She and her family were Christians, but as a young woman she married a man who was not a
Christian. It was not long, however, before he became a Christian through her good example.

As children were born she began to teach them about God and his Word. She must have literally worn
out the binding of this book reading it to her children. At one point she repaired the binding with
denim material no doubt taken from the sewing box and cut from a pair of men's overalls.

My mother lived with her grandparents when she was small and remembered her grandmother reading
stories to her from the book and speaking of the God that she knew so well.

My mother grew up, however, without obeying the Gospel that she had learned about from her
grandmother. She too married and had children of her own. When we were small, however, my brother
and I knew little of God, the Bible, or churches. Other children in the neighborhood often went to
Sunday school, but we stayed home and wondered what it was all about.

Years passed and when I was twelve years old I had a bicycle accident that resulted in a serious
head injury that kept me in the hospital for more than a week. As I lay in the hospital my mother
realized from her early teaching that she was not in a relationship with God that would allow her to
pray for me and that she needed to make some changes in her life.

After I had recovered sufficiently my mother began to take my brother and me, along with my
grandmother, to Bible school and church services. Eventually both my mother and grandmother were
baptized. My father, however, did not want anything to do with churches or religion. In time,
however, he also became a Christian through the influence of my mother.

In a very real sense I owe my own relationship with God to Bible stories read from this book to my
mother when she was a child. I might easily have grown up and not known or cared about God had it
not been for the godly influence of a grandmother.

The simple act of reading Bible stories to children may not seem too exciting or important in our
fast paced world. The fact remains, however, that even though many years had passed, the seed that
was planted eventually germinated in the heart of its hearer and like a growing plant has continued
to bear fruit even several generations later.

Yes, this is a very special book, not because of its monetary value but because it connects the
members of my family who have come to know Jesus with the one who planted the seed in the mind of a
child long ago.*

My prayer is that Phillip's account will encourage YOU to read and study the Bible, and then teach
it to your children and your grandchildren. Read and study the Bible so that you and your family
can come to know Jesus and what He did for us. He died on the cross for our sins so that we can be
saved and live eternally with Him in heaven (Ephesians 1:7; Romans 6:23).

The Bible teaches that to receive this gift of salvation we must place our faith and trust in Jesus
(Acts 16:30-31), turn from our sins in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confess Jesus before men (Romans
10:9-10), and be baptized (immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of our sins (Acts 2:38). Then,
as we continue to walk in the light of His Word, the blood that Jesus shed for our sins will
continue to cleanse us (1 John 1:7-9).

Plant the seed of the Word of God in your heart and the hearts of your loved ones. It may bear
fruit for generations to come. Just ask Phillip.

-- David A. Sargent

* From "A Grandmother's Legacy" by Phillip Eichman of Irmo, South Carolina as shared in
PreacherStuff, a resource for preachers edited by Dan Williams, Vice President for Church Relations,
Harding University.

Nicolas Mahut professional tennis player from France

An Embrace to Remember

Nicolas Mahut is a professional tennis player from France. He began his professional career in 2000
at the age of 18. Perhaps Mahut's best known performance was a match that he played against
American John Isner at Wimbledon in 2010. The match lasted a total of 11 hours and five minutes.
It was played over a three day period. Although Mahut lost that match, he will be remembered for
playing hard in that record-breaking match.

Mahut may also be remembered for a long time for something that happened after a recent match in the
French Open.

Mahut started off his own country's tournament well, winning his first and second round matches
against Marco Cecchinato and Philipp Kohlschreiber, respectively. His third round match-up was
against Argentinian Leonardo Mayer. Mayer won the match knocking Mahut out of the tournament.
After the last game was over, Mahut sat courtside, weary and disappointed. His facial expression
changed and the crowd began clapping as someone ran across the court to Mahut. It was his son,
Natanal, age 7. Natanel embraced his Dad and whispered something in his ear. Video footage of
their encounter has gone viral on social media. As the crowd at the French Open cheered, Mahut got
up, gathered his gear, and walked off the court, hand-in-hand with his son. *

Even though Mahut lost the match, he won the hearts of many onlookers because of the love of his son
- a son who loves his father even after losing the contest.

You and I have lost many "matches." "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God"
(Romans 3:23). Despite our best efforts, each and every one of us has failed. Yet, there is
Someone "running across the court" to us. It's the Son of God. His Father sent Him to us to save
us from our sins (see Luke 19:10). Our sins separate us from the Father (Isaiah 59:1-2), but our
Savior reconciles us to Him (2 Corinthians 5:17-21). In order to save us from our sins, Jesus had
to die on the cross to pay the price for our redemption (Ephesians 1:7).

Jesus will save us from our sins and give us the gift of eternal life when we place our faith and
trust in Him (Acts 16:30-31), turn from our sins in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confess Jesus before
men (Romans 10:9-10), and are baptized (immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of our sins (Acts
2:38). When we accept His offer of salvation and eternal life in this way, we are washed from our
sins and added to the family of God, the church (Acts 2:41, 47).

We will continue to struggle with sin (1 John 1:8), but we are promised that if we continue to walk
in the light of His Word that the blood of Jesus will continue to cleanse us from all sin (1 John
1:7-9). If we stray far away but realize the error of our ways, turn from them, and seek to return
to the Father, we will see Someone "running across the court" to meet us again: our Heavenly Father.
He will embrace us and welcome us back. See this truth portrayed in the story of the Prodigal Son
in Luke 15:11-32.

The embrace of the Father welcoming home his wayward but penitent son is one to remember. This
embrace can be realized in your own life, if you will only accept the Father's love and forgiveness
through your trusting obedience.

-- David A. Sargent

* Information gleaned from "French Tennis Star Nicolas Mahut's Son Runs Onto Court to Console Him
After French Open Loss" by Ashley Boucher, Microsoft News, www.msn.com.

What do miracles do?

Signs and Wonders alone do not Prove Deity or God’s Message

 

Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” John 3:1-2

 

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. John 20:30-31

 

And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.” 19 So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. 20 And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs. Mark 16:15-20

 

Certainly Jesus’ miracles helped people to accept Jesus as sent from God, and the apostolic gospel as the word of God, but it takes more than signs and wonders to confirm God’s presence and God’s truth.

 

After all, false teachers and Satan’s demons also performed deceptive wonders and signs. The Roman historian and orator, Cornelius Tacitus, wrote of Emperor Vespasian healing a blind man and another with a withered arm!

 

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ Matthew 7:21-23

 

Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. 24 For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you beforehand. Matthew 24:23-25

 

For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15 So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds. 2 Corinthians 11:13-15

 

The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, 10 and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 2 Thessalonians 2:9-10

 

The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, to prepare the way for the kings from the east. 13 And I saw, coming out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs. 14 For they are demonic spirits, performing signs, who go abroad to the kings of the whole world, to assemble them for battle on the great day of God the Almighty. Revelation 16:12-14

 

It's the quality of the message and the messengers which the signs and wonders accompany – that’s the key.

 

So when the crowd saw that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum, seeking Jesus. 25 When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?” 26 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. 27 Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.” 28 Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” 30 So they said to him, “Then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform? 31 Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” 32 Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” 34 They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.”

35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. 36 But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. John 6:24-36

 

Jesus’ signs and wonders were intended to point sinners to Jesus to hear His teaching and be saved for eternity.

However, shallow people only saw in Jesus a quick supply of food or power for militaristic purposes. They did not see the signs in the context of Jesus’ claims about Himself, and then believe His warnings, promises and teachings. This was especially true of the Pharisees because Jesus was winning the crowd’s attention away from their leadership, and also attracting the wrong kind of Roman interest! John 11:45-48; 12:17-19.

 

The conversion of the Roman Proconsul of Cyprus is extremely educational in this regard:

 

So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus. 5 When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. And they had John to assist them. 6 When they had gone through the whole island as far as Paphos, they came upon a certain magician, a Jewish false prophet named Bar-Jesus. 7 He was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of intelligence, who summoned Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God. 8 But Elymas the magician (for that is the meaning of his name) opposed them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. 9 But Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him 10 and said, “You son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, full of all deceit and villainy, will you not stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord? 11 And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you will be blind and unable to see the sun for a time.” Immediately mist and darkness fell upon him, and he went about seeking people to lead him by the hand. 12 Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had occurred, for he was astonished at the teaching of the Lord. Acts 13:4-12

 

Sergius Paulus, the Roman Proconsul of Cyprus, had summoned Barnabas and Saul to hear the word of God. A magician tries to turn the proconsul from the faith, but Paul, filled with the power of the Holy Spirit, strikes the magician blind. The outcome of all this was that “the proconsul believed, when he saw what had occurred, for he was astonished at the teaching of the Lord.”

 

Note that the Proconsul had not wanted Paul’s power, as Simon had done in Samaria (see Acts 8). Not at all. The teaching of Jesus was what had impressed him, and he became a believer. That’s how it’s supposed to work!!

 

If all you’re impressed by are spectacular wonders, and not the credentials of the wonder-worker, and what kind of life the wonder-worker is pointing you to, then you will fall prey to all manner of charlatans.

 

This is the problem with the Charismatic or Pentecostal Movements. People are attracted to Jesus for the wrong reasons. They’re after spectacular shows, quick fixes and an end to their pain. They want heaven now!

 

David Carr

 

What must I do to be saved?

Christ’s Blueprint for the Church
Studies in the Book of Acts
“Teach The Plan of Salvation”

    We are looking at Christ’s pattern for the plan by which man can be saved, specifically what man must do or how he must respond in order to be saved. The denominational websites we looked at on Monday almost unanimously started with Acts 16. We started at the beginning, in Acts 2. But, let’s take a look at Acts 16…

THE CHURCH OF CHRIST REACHES EUROPE - Acts 16:

    Now we get to the example that has been cited so frequently by these websites we’ve looked at - Acts 16. This is the first occasion when the gospel was preached on European soil. Up to this point, it has been preached, so far as Acts is concerned, in Palestine and Asia Minor. But now, we’re in Europe, in the city of Philippi.

    We have two examples of people being saved in this chapter. First, in 16:11-15, there are some women in Philippi who are worshipping God. Paul goes to them and talks to them about Jesus. The message opens their hearts and they accept Paul’s gospel message and they are baptized for the forgiveness of sins (16:15).

    Paul and another Christian named Silas have been thrown into jail for casting a demon out of a girl who was being exploited by some business men. God causes an earthquake which opens all the jails and the jailer starts to kill himself. That’s what the Roman authorities would have done if any of his prisoners had escaped and he assumed they had escaped.

    But, Paul stops his suicide and the jailer falls at Paul’s feet and asks him what to do to be saved (16:30). Paul and Silas had been singing Gospel songs while in jail (16:25) and I’m sure the jailer has been struck by their peace of mind and serenity with which they were accepting these events. He wanted that same peace of mind so he asks about the salvation they were singing.

    So, since he was a pagan, an unbeliever, Paul tells him that he must believe in Jesus Christ (16:31). Obviously, the unbeliever will not do anything until he has some knowledge and faith in Jesus Christ. So, Paul has to start there. But the jailer is not saved at verse 31 because Paul does not talk about Jesus until verse 32. But, the jailer was also not saved until verse 33 when he was baptized at their very hour of the night. How do we know he was not saved until then? Because Jesus had said, “He that believes and is baptized shall be saved” (Mark 16:16) and Peter had said, “be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins” (2:38). So, the jailer was not saved until after he had completed his obedience to the commands of Jesus Christ.

     For purposes of being complete, we also have an example of people responding to the question, "What must I do to be saved?" in Acts 18:8, which we find consistent with the other examples we have examined.

THE CHURCH OF CHRIST CORRECTS FALSE VIEWS ON BAPTISM - Acts 19:

    The last account we have of some responding to the gospel of Christ - “What must I do to be saved?” - relates to some Jews who had been taught incorrectly, or incompletely. Apollos was a Christian but he was not teaching the gospel of Christ completely. He had obeyed the baptism of John the Baptist before the death, burial and resurrection of Christ (18:25), which had made him a follower of Christ. But he was teaching that same, incomplete message after the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. Apollos was taught more accurately by two Christians, a couple named Aquila and Priscilla. 

    But there were other followers of Apollos who had been taught incorrectly  whom Paul met in the city of Ephesus in Acts 19. Because they were taught incorrectly and you cannot be taught wrong and baptized right, Paul baptized them in the name of Jesus Christ, the risen Jesus Christ, for the forgiveness of sins (19:5). It was only then that they could receive the Holy Spirit.

    From that point on, the church of Christ has continued to teach accurately the gospel plan of salvation authorized by Jesus Christ. In short, here is the rest of NT teaching, after Acts, on the role of baptism in the plan of salvation:

Romans 6:1-7
1 Corinthians 1:10-17; 12:13
Galatians 3:26-27
Ephesians 4:5; 5:26-27
Colossians 2:11-12
Titus 3:3-5
Hebrews 10:22
1 Peter 3:20-22

    If we are going to be the church of Christ, we must teach the plan of salvation of Christ.

Paul Holland

 

What is freedom?

Real Freedom

 

Freedom.

 

What a powerful word!  It’s a word that is precious and filled with meaning for many.  Yet, it’s a word that is often misunderstood.

 

To many, freedom is the ability to do what we want to do with no restraints or restrictions.  This definition comes from our culture, but it does not define real freedom, as God defines it.

 

In the beginning, God placed Adam and Eve in a garden paradise, the Garden of Eden (Genesis 2).  The Biblical record contains only one restrictive command that God gave to the first humans: “And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, ‘Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die” (Genesis 2:16-17).

 

What?  They could eat of every tree of the garden except one?  Wasn’t their freedom therefore limited?  Limited freedom isn’t freedom at all, according to the standards of many today.

 

Adam and Eve, succumbing to Satan’s temptations, ate the forbidden fruit.  Because of their disobedience, they suffered the consequences: shame, alienation from God, expulsion out of paradise, toil, pain, and death.  Does that sound like freedom?  Or, does it sound more like bondage?

 

Think about this: When were Adam and Eve most free?  In the Garden of Eden, when they could eat of all the trees except one?  Or after they lost paradise, and were "free" to roam around and eat whatever they wanted?

 

Wouldn’t you agree that Adam and Eve experienced real freedom (and joy!) when they lived in the Garden and in accordance with God’s will for them?

 

Real freedom is not found in the ability to live as we want to live with no restrictions.  Real freedom is the opportunity and the ability to live the way God wants us to live.

 

This truth has been illustrated using a train.  A train is free only so long as it stays on its tracks.  A train that jumps the tracks is “free” of the rails but no longer free in the most important sense of the word.  It's a freed wreck that can't go anywhere.  It is ‘free,’ but no longer truly free.

 

Seeking to live “free” lives with no restraints brings bondage and destruction because this is the path of sin.

 

Here’s the Good News: Through Christ we can be truly free – free from the guilt, power, and punishment for sin.

 

In our recent Vacation Bible School with the theme of “Mission Salvation,” the children were taught the following song about the steps of salvation in Christ:

 

“Hear, believe, repent, confess, be baptized in the water; Rise up anew to walk in Christ and live like you oughta.”

 

To be set free from the bondage of sin and empowered to live life like we “oughta” is real freedom.  As paradoxical as it sounds, real freedom is found only in submitting our lives to Christ, who died on the cross so that we can be set free from sin (Ephesians 1:7; Hebrews 2:14-15).

 

God will save from sin and give eternal life to those who place their faith and trust in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turn from sin in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and are baptized (immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38).  He will continue to cleanse from sin those who continue to walk in the light of His Word (1 John 1:7-9).

 

"And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free… Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed” (John 8:32, 36).

 

Won’t YOU accept the gift of real freedom in Christ through your trusting obedience?

 

-- David A. Sargent

 

What is a Hypocrite?

“I Don’t Want To Be A Hypocrite”

A man begins to neglect his spiritual duties. Though once faithful to attend all of the assemblies, now he never does. He has basically severed all ties with the local congregation. He refuses to return calls, and is never available to meet with concerned Christians who try to visit with him.

Finally, a face-to-face meeting is held. Why has he followed this course of action? What has happened to cause this dramatic change in him? Here’s his explanation:  “I know that I’m not living right. I have a problem with sin in my life. I’m tired of ‘living a lie’. When I come to church I feel like a hypocrite. I just can’t continue on like this. So, I’ve decided to stop the charade. I won’t be coming to church anymore, because I don’t want to be a hypocrite.”

What can we say about such a situation? Certainly, hypocrisy is an ugly thing. In fact, the hypocritical scribes and Pharisees received Jesus’ strongest words of condemnation. It is right, therefore, to rid oneself of hypocrisy. And, we definitely ought to be honest with ourselves about such a situation. “If our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things” (1 Jn. 3:20).

However, here is where the fella in our example (along with many real persons) makes a terrible mistake. He assumes that he has only two alternatives: 1) continue to act as a hypocrite by remaining in his sin while making a pretense of faithfulness, or 2) give up his service to God completely.

Those are not the only choices! What has been overlooked here is the right choice. Repentance is the answer! Yes, you should stop being a hypocrite, and you can do so by repenting!

- by Greg Gwin

 

Can I fall from grace?

“Once Saved, Always Saved”

This doctrine is also known as “The Impossibility of Apostasy” or “The Perseverance of the Saints.”  The Westminister Confession puts it this way: “They whom God hath accepted in His beloved, effectually called and sanctified by His Spirit, can neither totally nor finally fall away from the state of Grace; but shall certainly persevere therein to the end, and be eternally saved.”  The doctrine is NOT supported by what is taught in God’s Word. Note:

1) “Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.” (Galatians 5:4)  This verse shows that some who were in God’s grace could fall from His grace.  How can this Scripture be harmonized with the statement above?

2) “Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the flying God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end.” (Hebrews 3:12-14)  This passage is addressed to “brethren,” and they are warned about the possibility of “departing from the living God” and about being “hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.” Their salvation was conditional upon holding “the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end.”

3) “For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.” (2 Peter 2:20-22)  Observe those who are described in this text -- people who had “escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord.” These people were saved, but they could be “entangled” again and “overcome.” And, that latter state would be worse than before they had ever known the Lord. Clearly, they could be lost after having been saved.

More Bible verses are available on this subject, but just these three passages make it clear that “once saved, always saved” is not taught in God’s Word.

- by Greg Gwin