How great is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you, which you have wrought for those who take refuge in you (Psalm 31:19).

 I have not always understood some of the things that have happened in my life. I do know and understand that so long as I believe and trust God, his goodness will keep me safe even through the darkest night. When I find my way to be difficult and hard, I know that He will pilot me safely through the difficulties of the day (Isaiah 12:2-3; Prov. 1:33; Psa. 62:7-8; Phil. 4:7-8; Heb. 4:16; Isa. 40:31). Hear the words of David from Psalm 27:13, " I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living". What would we be. where would we be without believing in and embracing the goodness God in our lives. Without the goodness of God, the afflictions of  Yes, God is so good, He cares for us (1 Pet. 5:6-7). He is mindful of our physical needs (James 1:17; Luke 12:22-31). He knows all of our burdens, difficulties, wants and necessities. We never know how God is going to bless us but bless us he will so long as we seek his favor in all that we do (Proverbs 28:20; Psalms 115:11-15).

 We are told in Psalm 103:14 that God knows our frame. He is the potter, we are the clay. Our God knows how weak and frail our outer frame is and how quickly this can cause our inward frame to be corrupted with sin and doubt. So not only is he mindful of our physical needs, he is also mindful of our spiritual needs. Thus, he gave his Son to die for us (John 3:16; Rom. 5:8); his love makes it possible for us to be called the sons of God (1 John 3:1)  because of his goodness to us we can have redemption through the blood of Christ, even the forgiveness of sins (Col. 1:12-14);  because of his goodness, our eternal need is provided (John 14:1-3; Heb. 5:7-9). The goodness of God will direct our heart so long as we trust him with all our heart and  let his word dwell in us richly in all wisdom, letting his word fill our heart, mold our thoughts and guide our life. Never for a moment doubt the goodness of God in your life.

Charles Hicks

 

Good Afternoon

For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body (1 Cor. 6:20)

We Have been rescued from the domain of darkness and transferred to the kingdom of God's beloved Son, in whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins (Col. 1:12-14). That rescue did not come without a great price being paid to make it possible (1 Thess. 5:9-10; 1 Pet. 3:18; 1 Pet.2:21; Heb. 2:9-10; Heb. 13:12; Heb. 5:7-9). Realizing that we have been bought with a price should lead us to praise, exalt and honor God in our thoughts, words and deeds as we walk the pathway of life.

Long ago Solomon stated "as a man thinks in his heart, so is he (Prov. 23:7). I has been said that nothing, good or bad, is done without the thought having first been planted in the heart. We should give diligent heed to "Watch over our heart with all diligence for from it flows the springs of life (Prov. 4:23). Be mindful of the things you put into your heart. We may deceive our fellowman but in reality, what we think is really what we are and God knows every thought of our heart (Heb. 4:12-13). It will be much easier to glorify God if we fill our hearts with that which is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, good repute, excellent and worthy of praise (Phil, 4:8).

In glorifying God our speech must be sound. "Therefore, laying aside falsehood, speak truth each one of you with his neighbor, for we are members of one another"--Eph. 4:25. "Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such word as is good for edification....so that it will give grace to those who hear"--Eph. 4:29. "From the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way"--James 3:10. "Whoever speaks is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God"--1 Pet. 4:11.  I wonder, will the words we speak and write every day pass the test of these four passages? Always keep in mind that our words whether spoken or written reveal much about us (Matt. 26:73).

Glorifying God in our body is going to require that we walk worthy  of Him and please Him in our conduct (Phil. 1:27; 1 Thess. 2:12; 1 Thess. 4:1; Matt. 5:16; James 1:27; 1 Cor. 15:58; Rom.12:1-2). Study carefully Eph. 4:17-32 and Romans 12:1-21 and learn some of the great rules that govern our walk as a child of God. Living by these rules, we will be honest and honorable people living lives of truth and integrity. My friends, if we conform to these rules we will glorify God and come to the end of the journey with no regrets.

Charles Hicks

"A DAY THAT WILL LIVE IN INFAMY"

Fifty-seven years ago, on a bright Sunday morning, more than 2000 servicemen lost their lives as a result of an attack by Japan on Pearl Harbor. President Roosevelt predicted that December 7th would be a day that would “live in infamy.” A Memorial has been erected on the very spot where the USS Arizona sank. More than 50 years ago I stood on that Memorial and gazed down into the water to view the remains of that once mighty battleship that now serves as a tomb for the sailors who lost their lives that day. I was not yet born when those men lost their lives, but my visit to the Memorial reminded me that freedom does not come cheap. But I fear, as do others, that with each passing generation the memorial becomes less and less significant. Frank Michel, columnist for the Houston Chronicle, once wrote:   Time carries out little sneak attacks on our collective memory and too few still feel the shock and pain. Too few are ready to rally ‘round. Too few still see the relevance. Too few know the history! That, I suppose, is part of why so many lie [sic] below the water at Pearl - and beneath the ground in places all over the globe. So that Americans of the late 20th century can wallow obliviously in the luxury of not knowing much and not caring much how, and at what great sacrifice, we got here.   The value of Memorials was implied when Joshua led Israel across the Jordan into the promised land. Twelve stones were taken from the bed of the Jordan River to use in setting up a memorial of that great event. Future generations would ask, “What mean ye these stones?” And they would be reminded that “Israel came over this Jordan on dry land...That all the people of the earth might know the hand of the Lord, that it is mighty: that ye might fear the Lord your God for ever” (Joshua 4:21-22).   Almost 2000 years ago a humble Galilean met with His disciples. On that night before His betrayal He took bread and fruit of the vine and instituted the single greatest Memorial this world has ever known. Shortly thereafter He was arrested, hurried through a mock trial, and crucified between two thieves on a cross outside of Jerusalem. That, too, is a day that will live in infamy! Since that time, millions have observed that feast in His memory. But once again, the passing of time has taken its toll, and a generation has arisen that seems to have forgotten that spiritual freedom has a price! The Memorial is neglected by too many of God’s own people. Trivial things take precedence over the really important. The Supper is spread; the invitation stands; but alas many a place is vacant when it comes time to “do this in my memory.”   Memorials neglected tend to become nothing more than relics of a by-gone era. Each generation must be taught afresh. Once educated, there must be observance of the same so as to repeatedly impress upon our minds the event or thing which the memorial itself represents. It is not enough to simply acknowledge a memorial. We must observe it as well.   Let us not neglect partaking in that Memorial ourselves and let us dare not fail to teach our children the significance of that one and only Memorial that carries with it eternal consequences if we neglect it.   By Tom Wacaster

 

Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father--Colossians 3:17

 We need to pay close attention to the command of this passage from the inspired word of God. The words we speak, the deeds we participate in, in fact as a child of God, everything we do in this  life whether it pertains to the temporal realm or the religious realm should be regulated by this command. Doing all things in the name of the Lord Jesus requires that we have his support, his authority to justify not only what we do but also how we do it.

 We are in the midst of a time in which people all over the land are focusing on the birth of Jesus. The birth of God's son was a momentous event and certainly we should be rejoicing that God sent his son to be born into this world (John 3:16; Rom. 5:1-8). Yet, there is no command, inference, principle or example found anywhere in God's word telling us on what day or month that birth took place. Surely, if God had wanted this particular day and month to be a special time of observance, he would have revealed the exact time of its occurrence. On the other hand, the word of God places great emphasis on the life of Jesus, his death, burial and resurrection. This is that which brought to us life, liberty, redemption, and forgiveness of sin (1 Pet. 2:21; Col. 1:12-14; Heb. 5:7-9). If we really want to honor him, let's do it every day of the week by loving him with an exacting obedience to him throughout the entire year (John 14:15; John 15:14)

 Much controversy exists today as to saying "Happy Holiday" instead of "Merry Christmas". The controversy seems to center around taking Christ out of Christmas. Personally, I have come to, prefer "Happy Holiday" because at 84 years of age, after much thought and prayer, considering the way Christmas is observed in a religious vein with no biblical authority for doing so, coupled with the deceptive practices engaged in as a part of Christmas (Santa, Elf on the Shelf), I have come to the conclusion that Christ was put into the Christmas celebration by man, not God. Please understand, this is only one old man's opinion.

 It is the responsibility of each person to diligently search out the truth and then come to their own conclusions. My intent with this "Thought" is not to condemn anyone but rather stir up your minds to be careful in all your words and deeds, following the command of Colossians 3:17. By now some of you may be thinking, this man has lost it. I prefer to think that after 84 years on this earth, spiritually I have grown a little taller and become a little wiser. Call me a Grinch, call me Scrooge but please, don't be angry with me--"Happy Holiday" to everyone.

Charles Hicks

Oswald Golter was a missionary in northern China during the 1940's.

After ten years service he was returning home.  His ship stopped in India, and while waiting for a boat headed for home, he found a group of refugees living in a warehouse on the pier.  Unwanted by anyone else the refugees were stranded there.  Golter went to visit them.  As it was Christmas-time, he wished them a merry Christmas and asked them what they would like for Christmas.

 

“We’re not Christians,” they said. “We don’t believe in Christmas.”

 

“I know,” said the missionary, “but what do you want for Christmas?”  They described some German pastries they were particularly fond of, and so Oswald Golter cashed in his ticket, used the money to buy baskets and baskets of the pastries, took them to the refugees, and wished them a merry Christmas.

 

When he later repeated the incident to a class, a student said, “But sir, why did you do that for them?  They weren’t Christians.  They don’t even believe in Jesus.”

 

“I know,” he replied, “but I do!” *

 

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8 NKJV).

 

“While we were still sinners…”  Note that the Apostle Paul includes himself and the Christians in Rome in the “we” of this text.  He is speaking of all humanity.  All of us are sinners.  “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).  And, “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23).

 

Even though we were and are sinners, God demonstrated His own love toward us by giving His Son to die on the cross for our sins.  "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16 NIV).

 

Some would question: “Why would God give His Son to die for those who didn’t ask for Him to do so?  They don’t deserve it.  God, they don’t love You.”

 

Through the cross, God answers, “But I do.  I love them.  I want them to be saved.”

 

God “desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth" (1 Timothy 2:4 NKJV).

 

The truth is…  We are sinners (Romans 3:23) and in our sin are destined for destruction (Matthew 7:13-14).

 

The truth is…  God loves us anyway.  He loves us so much that He gave His Son to die on the cross to pay the price to redeem us from sin (Ephesians 1:7).

 

The truth is…  God will save those who place their faith and trust in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turn from their 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 sins (Acts 2:38).  God will continue to cleanse from sin those who continue to walk in the light of His Word (1 John 1:7).

 

It is amazing and it’s true.  Jesus died for you so that you might live.

 

Won’t YOU accept His offer of salvation and eternal life on His terms?

 

-- David A. Sargent

What is the reclaimed in church Orlando, Florida?

DOES THE CHURCH HAVE AN OFFICIAL, EXCLUSIVE, PATENTED NAME?

 

In our contemporary world of many religions, including a multiplicity of denominations under the umbrella of what is called “Christianity,” it is exceedingly difficult for most people to think in terms of simple New Testament undenominational Christianity.  It is hard for many people to conceive of there being a body of religious people on earth who have become Christians only, but who have not joined any denomination, who do not wear a denominational name, who are not governed by a denominational creed, catechism, or church manual, who do not have a denominational organization/structure or denominational headquarters, who eschew denominational status, but who seek to be just Christians as were the followers of Christ in New Testament times (Acts 22:26; I Peter 4:16).

 

In the New Testament we read of a body of people belonging to God by virtue of having been purchased by the blood of Christ (Acts 20:28; I Peter 1:18-19).  They are identified as God’s “own special people” (Titus 2:11-14).  The more common term used to refer to these people is the word “church,” from the Greek “ekklesia,” meaning “the called out,” i.e., those called out from the rest of the world to be the people of God (II Thessalonians 2:14; I Peter 2:9-10).

 

Jesus promised to build His church and referred to it in the singular as “My church” (Matthew 16:18).  The book of Acts is an inspired account of how Christ, through His Spirit-filled apostles, established His church (Acts 1-2) and of its amazing spread throughout the Greco-Roman world of the first century (Acts 3-28).  Local congregations of redeemed people were called “churches of Christ” (Romans 16:16).

 

These same people also were called the church of God (I Corinthians 10:32; I Corinthians 15:9), and various congregations were called “churches of God” (I Corinthians 1:1-2; I Thessalonians 2:14; II Thessalonians 1:4).  Most often, however, they are simply referred to as “the church” (Matthew 18:17; Acts 2:47 [KJV; NKJV]; Acts 8:3; Ephesians 1:22-23; Ephesians 3:10; Colossians 1:18, 24; et al). 

 

These people are likewise described in the New Testament as being the body of Christ (Ephesians 1:22-23; Colossians 1:18), of which it is emphatically stated that there is but “one body,” and, therefore, but one true church (Ephesians 4:4).  In the context of this latter verse (i.e., Ephesians 4:1-6), one might as well ask which God do you believe in or which Lord do you serve as to ask which church are you a member of or which faith do you follow!  The fact is there is only one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God! 

 

These people  constitute a spiritual kingdom, variously designated as the kingdom of God, the kingdom of Christ, and the kingdom of heaven (Mark 9:1; Colossians 1:13; Matthew 16:18-19). They are referred to as the temple of God (Ephesians 2:19-22 [esp. v. 21]; I Peter 2:4-5), the house (family) of God (I Timothy 3:15), the bride of Christ (Ephesians 5:22-32; Romans 7:4; Revelation 21:9), the church of the firstborn [ones] who are enrolled in heaven (Hebrews 12:23), a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation (I Peter 2:9-10), the spiritual Israel of God (Galatians 6:16; Galatians 3:29; Romans 2:28-29), as well as many other informative terms which the careful reader of the New Testament will discover. 

 

None of these descriptors, however, was ever intended to be the official, exclusive, and patented “name” for the New Testament people of God.  Those who want to make any one of the descriptors “the name” of the church show a decidedly denominational concept of the church.  Some do this unknowingly and unintentionally; others do it because they want to portray the church as “a denomination among denominations.”  

 

At the same time, in the midst of a multiplicity of denominations (all of which arose this side of the New Testament), it is in order for those of us who are seeking to be just the church of the New Testament to have some descriptive term by which brothers and sisters in Christ may know one another, especially as they travel from place to place.  Addressing this very point, the late Batsell Barret Baxter, in a tract titled “I Talked to a Stranger and He Asked These Questions,” and in response to the question, “What do you call this church?,” said (and here I am quoting brother Baxter from memory but it is virtually verbatim): “We call it by any of the terms used in the New Testament to designate the people of God, but in the midst of a sadly divided religious world we find it necessary to use one of these terms almost exclusively insofar as our public announcements are concerned and in order to avoid confusion in our modern world.  Although it is no more scriptural than the other terms, we have most often used the designation ‘church of Christ.’  This is appropriate because the Bible speaks of the church as the bride of Christ and of Christ as the founder and head of the church.”  Yet, neither brother Baxter nor any other informed Bible student regarded/regards the descriptor “church of Christ” as the official, exclusive, and patented name for God’s people!  This truth understood, no biblically informed person will speak of “the Church of Christ church,” “Church of Christ congregations,” “Church of Christ preachers,” “Church of Christ colleges,” “Church of Christ worship services,” etc. 

 

Some nit pickers and hair splitters (for whom I have little patience and less time!) love to point out that the singular expression “church of Christ” is never used in the Bible, only the plural “churches of Christ.”  Yet the Scriptures speak of the universal body as the “church of God” (I Corinthians 15:9) and of local churches as “churches of God” (II Thessalonians 1:4).  Based on that fact, since it is acknowledged that local churches are designated as “churches of Christ” (Romans 16:16), then one may logically conclude that the universal body may be scripturally referred to as the “church of Christ,” as much so as “churches of God” warrants the use of “church of God”!  To speak as the oracles of God (I Peter 4:11) and to call Bible things by Bible names simply means to set forth Bible concepts in language reflective of Bible teaching.  The Bible nowhere speaks of “the New Testament church,” but clearly there was a New Testament church, and Jesus called it “My church” (Matthew 16:18), thus the “church of Christ.”  Therefore, the use of all of these terms is to “speak as the oracles of God” and to call Bible things by Bible names.

 

In the September 1941 issue of the Bible Banner, Cled E. Wallace, who had a clear understanding of the undenominational nature of the church, wrote: “I am certain that the expression ‘church of Christ’ has been used in a sectarian sense, but not when it is applied to the right thing, however often it may be used.  It is misused only when it is employed to cover too little or too much or applied to something that is not it all. For instance, if you call something 'the church of Christ' which is smaller than the entire body of Christ and larger than a local congregation, then you have employed the term in a
sectarian sense. Brethren keep me more uneasy sometimes
by what they mean by it, than they do by how often
they say it."

 

Addendum: The December 2018 issue of The Christian Chronicle told of a church planting in Orlando, Florida with the name “Reclaimed Church.”  When I read this, I could not help but think of “the Restored Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints,” a branch of the Mormons.  I am all for doing everything within the realm of biblical authority to reach millennials (and all others) with the gospel, but I fail to see how the Reclaimed Church will more effectively communicate biblical, undenominational Christianity to others.  How long will it be before “Reclaimed Church” will be used in a denominational sense?  “Reclaimed Church people,” “Reclaimed Church congregations,” “Reclaimed Church preachers,” “Reclaimed Church elders,” etc., etc.?    Earlier this year, the editor of the Chronicle spoke of “the name of the fellowship.”  THE name?  The FELLOWSHIP?  Whatever became of the simple Bible descriptors for the body of Christ, the church of our Lord, the New Testament people of God? 

 

I deeply love my brethren, but many of them are in need of some serious instruction on the undenominational nature of the church and how to think, speak, and write of the body of Christ in a non-sectarian, undenominational way.  Sadly, some of them seem to be ingloriously unaware of their need for such instruction or of a willingness to receive such instruction in a humble manner, as if it were not at all possible for them to be guilty of thinking, writing, and speaking of the church in a denominational fashion.  No unkindness is intended by these remarks, but simply a statement of the reality of the situation as it exists with far too many in the church today.

 

Hugh Fulford

 

Love is the Bond that Produces Perfection: the Full Expression of the Divine Life in the Church

And on the following part of Colossians 3 verse 14:

And above all these things, put on love, which binds all together in perfect harmony.

 

Other possible renderings of rather "flexible Greek," include:

Above all, put on love  — the perfect bond of unity. Holman

And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. NIV

Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. NLT

and above all these things, have love, which is a bond of the perfection, Young's Literal

 

Apparently, the Greek could be saying that love is the bond that produces perfection, or the bond that signifies perfection. The word 'perfection' in Colossians 3:14 is the full expression of the divine life in the community.

(Rienecker and Rogers, Linguistic Key to the Greek NT)

 

Love is the bond that produces perfection.

Sounds a lot like …

Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:8-13

 

Real knowledge, whether from prophecy or tongues, as in 1^st century Corinth, or from Scripture today for us, is knowledge lived in love. Compare 1 Corinthians 8:1-3. When love binds all members together, perfection will have arrived and replaced partisanship, partiality or the favouring of parties or parts. Partisanship was a huge problem among the gifted in Corinth. It was true of some tongue-speakers in Corinth, and it can be true for any of us today who work selfishly or divisively rather than in love for all. Read James 2:1-9.

 

And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. Ephesians 4:11-16

So the teaching leadership in the church equips the church to speak the truth in love and serve in love, just as Paul told Timothy:

The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 1 Timothy 1:5

 

"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbour and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Matthew 5:43-48

 

Love is best of all!

 

David Hunter