Churches have a responsibility to focus on the work God has given it to do (Eph. 3:10). As local congregations spread the gospel and edify the members (Eph. 4:11-12), they all need to realize the circle of life. By that, I mean every gathering of saints throughout this world go through the same changes. Some people are converted, some fall away. Some members move in, some move away. Members grow old and pass away, while other members bring children into the world, who often grow up and become Christians.

The things that were just mentioned cannot be prevented. Because of such, any given church will increase in their church family, and then they may go through a time when they decrease. In some cases a local church can go out of existence. Is the church at Corinth that Paul addressed (I Cor. 1:1), still meeting?  The answer is no. Consider the pews we use at the church building. For those who don’t know, a county congregation existed for a good while. Many families came together and worshipped in a small town. The children eventually grew up and moved to find work. Eventually their doors were closed and we were given their pews.

We need to ask ourselves, is a church failing when they go through these circles of life? No. Was there some sort of transgression that took place when a church went out of existence? Not necessarily. Even though the church at Corinth no longer meets, it doesn’t mean the church has been destroyed – for it can’t be (Matt. 16:18).  For example, my dad passed away 10 years ago. Did that mean his family no longer exists? We know that’s not true, because I am here.

Churches need not live in the past. I once labored with a church that would only talk about the “good ole days.” They could remember when the building was full and brother so and so was the preacher. It’s nice to reminisce, but brethren must also move ahead. The days of old will not make up for the lack of working today. When I read Acts 8:4, I am thankful my brethren in the past went everywhere preaching the word. But what about now? No, I need not live in the past, but I should learn from the past. Let’s all understand the circle of life and press towards the mark – heaven.

Chuck

I am starting a series of lessons that I will be preaching Sunday mornings for the next little while on the family. There is little doubt that the family unit, as God ordained, is under attack. We must not only be aware of such, but do what we can to stand strong. The key to success is to focus on the family as God would have it, since He designed it. Let’s look at the pattern that we ought to follow.

The seriousness of marriage

When society puts little value on the institution of marriage, that same attitude can enter the minds of God’s people. It is so serious that man needs to see that the choosing of a mate is until death do they part (Rom. 7:1-4).  It isn’t the idea that they “try out” each other before the vows are made. The Hebrew writer pointed out, “Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge.”(Heb. 13:4). The idea of “saving” oneself until marriage is a joke in many circles. With that, it has also become a joke that marriage is for life. The danger of not taking marriage seriously can put one in a situation where their life is miserable and possibly a separation, having destroyed the right to ever remarry (Matt. 5:32; 19:9).

Choosing a mate wisely

Marriage is not something you rush into. Sadly, the mindset in past times was the “shotgun” wedding. Committing fornication is not a reason to get married. To think you “have” to get married is not thinking properly. The choosing of a lifelong mate should take into

consideration if this person will be a help or hindrance to your spiritual growth. Since we are admonished to choose our friends wisely (I Cor. 15:33), how much more so when it comes to someone you desire to marry? Too, keep in mind that if you find yourself in a situation where your mate is no longer, or never has been, a help to you, remember that you can influence them by your godliness (I Cor. 7:16).

The roles as God designed

The goal we all need to have is to function the way our God designed it. It isn’t our place to say that I want the woman to be the head of the household and for the man to be the keeper of the home, when God says otherwise (Eph. 5:23; Titus 2:5). Of course, that does not mean the husband treats his wife like a slave – read Ephesians 5:28-29.  Nor does it mean the wife is confined to the home – read Proverbs 31:10-31, about the virtuous woman. Keep in mind God designed marriage and the roles, not man. Therefore, we ought to ask ourselves; who really knows what’s best?

The role of parents

Just as there is divine guidance for the husband and wife, the same goes for parents. When children are brought into this world there are many God given responsibilities that must be obeyed. Most people accept the idea of providing for their physical needs (II Cor. 12:14). However, and more importantly, is the need to bring them up to serve the Lord (Eph. 6:4). This means to train them in the way they should go, knowing they need guidance (Prov. 22:6). Of course, the best way to do this is to lead by example. This was a blessing that Timothy received from his mother and grandmother (II Tim. 1:5).

The role of children

Even though children are just that, children, they have a duty to obey their parents (Eph. 6:1). It isn’t their place to make demands, and act as if they are entitled to everything they want. They also need to be thankful and show respect. This is what you read concerning the children of the virtuous wife (Prov. 31). In this passage, the children rise and called their mother blessed (vr. 28). This is just a sample from the lessons that will be preached in a series of lessons over the next few weeks.

Chuck

As one reads through the book of Daniel, there are many great stories to revisit. One that stands out is when Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego were cast into the fiery furnace for not bowing to the golden image (Dan. 3). Another is when Daniel was thrown into the lion’s den for breaking a law by praying to God (Dan. 6).

Do you remember how Daniel’s enemies were able to get him in trouble with the king? In Daniel 6:4, the governors and satraps concluded that “they could find no charge or fault, because he was faithful; nor was there any error of fault found in him.”  You might expect these evil men to struggle to get Daniel to do anything wrong. You would be right…in the eyes of the Lord.

The interesting thing is what these wicked individuals decided to do. “Then these men said, ‘We shall not find any charge against this Daniel unless we find it against him concerning the law of his God.”  (verse 5). They realized that if they are going to discredit Daniel in the eyes of king Darius (who liked Daniel), they would have to use Daniel’s loyalty to his God against him.

They convinced the king to make a decree that for thirty days no one could petition any god or man except the king (verses 7-9). Thus, when Daniel prayed to God as he always did, his enemies now had something of which to accuse him to the king (verses 12-13). They had successfully used Daniel’s faith against him. 

This is a valuable lesson we need to learn as Christians today. When God’s people are faithful, Satan will do all he can to get us to grow weary in doing good (Gal. 6:9). If members of the church will not engage in the immoral acts the world offers, then the devil will use our dedication to the Lord to create division within the body of Christ. This is exactly what the faithful church at Philadelphia was warned about (Rev. 3:7-13).

The devil can use the faithfulness of Christian’s against them by having our good actions condemned as evil ones (I Pet. 3:15; 4:14). For example, the world criticizes Christians who are rightly opposed to homosexual acts (Rom. 1:26-28). Similarly, local churches can be criticized for rightly disciplining a person who brings reproach upon the church. Some people will resist scripturally-required church discipline, and well-intentioned, faithful Christians can stumble in the face of this criticism even though it is something God calls for.

This should not surprise us. Why? Just like the enemies of Daniel, a local church full of godly members who are united in serving the Lord can still be divided by Satan if he uses their faithfulness against them. If the church strives to please the Lord by trying to keep itself unspotted, Satan can try to use this as a tool (I Pet. 5:8). However, the faithful will endure because they stay focused on two Godly goals; keeping the church unspotted (Eph. 5:27) and doing everything we can to help others be faithful to God (James 5:19-20).

To illustrate these points, I was told a wonderful story recently. A congregation and its preacher were trying to help return his wayward daughter to the Lord. She had been living in an ungodly way, and they wanted her to repent. Eventually, the preacher had to tearfully read the letter of withdrawal. His daughter stood up while he was reading and started to come forward. The preacher (her dad) ran down and embraced her. There was not a dry eye in the building. I was told this while attending a funeral. Both the preacher and his daughter were in attendance at the funeral. May we trust in the Lord and in His ways even when those around us offer criticism.

Chuck

I heard a great lesson on hope the other day. This is a subject that brings a great deal of comfort to God’s children. When it comes to Biblical hope, we can also use the word assurance. Our hope of going to heaven is based upon evidence. This is why our expectation of heaven more than just wishful thinking.

Peter spoke on this subject: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time,” (I Pet. 1:3-5).

What a wonderful message! Knowing that Jesus resurrected from the dead, there is power through which we can obtain salvation by faith. This is clearly not a dead faith (Jas. 2:24-26) but rather a faith that obeys from the heart that form of doctrine (Rom. 6:17). Knowing that Christ did rise from the dead, we can be baptized into His death and bury our old man of sin and rise up in newness of life (Rom. 6:3-7). Having entered this new life, we can then walk in the light by striving to living faithfully until death (Rev. 2:10). We truly have a living hope.

In contrast to all of this, many “hope” to go to heaven like they hope they do not get cancer or hope they do not get into a car accident or face some other calamity. That is not the kind of hope we are talking about, yet many religious people have just that kind of hopelessness. They do not have a living hope based upon a strong feeling or desire. Jesus Himself said that this sort of faith would not make it to heaven (Matt. 7:21-23).

Having this assurance creates a confidence that Paul expressed in his final days where he said, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith,” (II Tim. 4:7). Like the many examples we can find in the Bible, let’s make sure that our hope is a living hope.

Chuck

There is no question that the reason Jesus Christ came to this sin-infested world, was to save people from their sins (Matt. 1: 21). Christ stated that He was going to shed His blood for the remissions of sins (Matt. 26:28). John put it this way in Revelation 1:5, “…To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood.”

To help us know how our sins are remitted, let’s pinpoint when it all started. For this we go to a time just after Christ’s resurrection. Prior to our Lord ascending back to heaven, He spoke to the eleven apostles and those that were with them, saying, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, ‘and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem” (Lk. 24:46-47).  

This bring us to the book of Acts. We read in chapter one that Jesus again told the apostles that they needed to go to Jerusalem, which is where they will receive the Holy Spirit that will give them the ability to witness to people about Jesus beginning at Jerusalem (1:8). After the Holy Spirit came upon them (verses 1-4), they began to preach (verses 5-36). The audience heard about Jesus and that they were in need of salvation.

In Acts 2:37, a number of people asked what they needed to do? It was then they were told to “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (vr. 38). Here we see that those who wanted to take care of their sinful state, needed to have their sins remitted.  I want people to know about Jesus, but at the same time, everyone needs to understand that their sins need to be removed.

Many are puzzled that there is a direct connection between Christ’s shed blood, water baptism, and the remission of sins. So many people are being told that they are saved from their sins prior to being baptized. Is there any truth to this? I mean, could it possibly be that baptism is like church attendance, singing, giving our contribution? By that I mean, baptism is something you must do, like other things for God, but it doesn’t have anything to do with removing one’s sins. Is this correct?

This question can be cleared up by understanding that baptism alone cannot possibly remove any sin. Baptism alone puts it on par with swimming and someone goes completely under water. Being immersed in water alone doesn’t remove any sin. Just like just believing in Jesus doesn’t help either (Jas. 2:26). It’s like debating which step in a flight of stairs is the most important, this first, the last, those in the middle? The truth is, they all are.

When it comes to the remission of sins, there is Christ’s part and then there is man’s part. However, it is essential that we see all of Christ’s part and all of our part. It was vital that Christ come to this earth (Phil. 2:5-7). Yet, Jesus also needed to live a perfect life in order to be the lamb without blemish as a sacrifice for mankind (I Pet. 1:19). Then our Lord needed to resurrect in order to conquer death and rule and reign over His kingdom (Acts 2:30). Now, which one of the things Jesus did is more important than the other?  The answer is, none, they are equal and all essential to help mankind have the remission of sins.

What about man’s part? We are told that for anyone to take care of their sins, to be saved, they must hear the word of God (Acts 11:14). Those that hear are then required to understand and believe the gospel message (Jn. 8:24,32). Knowing that people often hear and do not do (Jas. 1:22), they are also told to repent (Acts 3:19). By turning to Jesus, everyone must be willing to confess their faith in Him (Rom. 10:9-10). The final step would be to be baptized into Christ’s death for the remission of sins (Acts 22:16; Rom. 6:3-7). Now, which one is most important? The answer is none, they are all equal.

Problems come when individuals want to create their own combinations. They will take some of what Jesus did, and some of what man is responsible for, and conclude it is acceptable to God. That will not work for many reasons. The obvious one is that it will leave people in their sins, even though they think they are removed. People need to realize that Christ didn’t provide remission of sins so that people didn’t have to do anything. If that were the case, everyone would be saved. But they are not (Matt. 7:13-14).

Again people struggle with their part because they don’t want to put what they are to do on par with what Christ had to do. The fact is, we can’t. All that we are to do, and I mean all, doesn’t accomplish anything without the blood of Christ (Rev. 1:5). One might think if Christ's part is the first step and our part is the second step, then like the stair step illustration, both are equally important. Actually, if we want to use the stair step illustration, it would be Christ built the stair steps so man could take them. This means that no matter what steps man takes, none of them were possible without the stairs being constructed in the first place!

Jesus was basically making this same point in Luke 17:5-10. In verse 10, our Lord makes the statement, “So likewise you, when you have done all those things that are commanded you, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.” As we can see, there is no room for boasting, or even thinking we can earn our salvation (the remission of our sins). Yes, we can get our sins removed, but without Christ doing His part, there is no opportunity or hope. However, since Jesus did do His part, it gives man the opportunity to do what he is told to have the remission of sins.

Now we shall close this article with this important question: Were you baptized for the remission of your sins by first meeting the prerequisites? It matters not what you feel, it matters what you know to be true based upon the word of God. If you do, you are walking by faith, because it is faith that makes it possible to please God (Heb. 11:6).

Chuck