I enjoy talking with the people who contact us after watching our TV program or listening to our radio broadcast. However, there are times when they say things that are hard to believe. One such statement came last week. During our conversation, I was told that we cannot stay just with the Bible to know if we are saved. Really? Let’s think this through.

We recently finished a gospel meeting that focused on the importance of the word of God.  Establishing its inspiration was vital (II Tim. 3:16-17; II Pet. 1:20-21; Gal. 1:12). Because we know that God communicated with mankind and preserved these messages for our learning, the impetus is on us to read and respect what He said (Rom. 15:4; John 20:31; John 16:13). What would be the ramifications of relying on any other source to establish one’s salvation?

First, by going beyond the written word of God, you have destroyed the standard. Some may not immediately recognize this as an issue, but we can use an example to help explain this. I received a call from a man who was convinced that having a religious experience is what would determine if we are saved, not just having the word of God. Is there a problem with this? There are several!

How can a person prove that what they experienced was from God? This is important because we have an adversary, and he uses many wiles to deceive (I Pet. 5:9; Eph. 6:11; II Tim. 3:13). Therefore, if a person had a religious experience that convinced them they were saved, there would be no way to prove or disprove it – even if it contradicted God’s written word! Without a standard of authority, no one will have the ability to determine what is objectively right or wrong since all experiences are personal.

When a person rejects the Bible as our sole source of authority, it is common to hear religious people talk about what they “feel” to be right. They may question whether God really meant what He said in the scriptures or whether certain verses are still relevant today. They are also convinced that they are right the Lord and do not have to prove anything to anyone. This is absurd because Christians are told to give an answer for the hope that is within them (I Pet. 3:15). We have come full circle because, without a standard, we cannot give an answer if someone believes there is not right or wrong answer.

This also creates problems regarding evangelism. Even though Christ gave the commission to teach the gospel (Mark 16:15), using more than the scriptures to accomplish this work will create followers of men, not followers of Christ. If someone tries to convince others by using feelings or offering testimony of a personal experience, they are implicitly wanting their listeners to put their trust in them. If you tell someone that you feel your religious experience was by the hand of God and they ask you to prove it, what would you say? The only thing you can say is, “I just know it!” There is no way to independently verify this, thus the person is putting their trust in you rather than in the Lord.

By staying just with the inspired word of God, we are encouraging people to trust in the Lord and not in man (Eph. 6:10). A religion that is based upon anything more than the Bible is a religion build upon man. True children of God build their foundations upon the apostles and prophets, with Jesus being the chief cornerstone (Eph. 2:20). If you want to speak to someone about salvation or any other spiritual subject, listen to the words of Peter: “If any man speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God.” (I Pet. 4:11).

                                                                                               Chuck

We all know people who are always negative. They never have anything good to say. They complain all the time. They rarely smile, and life is generally a downer for them.  Is such behavior approved of by our God? No! I am not implying that it is wrong to express disappointments. Jesus did, and He lived a sinless life (Matt. 26:38-39). What we are talking about is a constant, negative disposition.

Consider Christ’s admonition in Matthew 5:13-16. He speaks about letting our light shine. The goal is to get people to glorify our Father in heaven. Why would anyone see a constantly-negative Christian and conclude, “Wow, I want to be like them, they have such a peace that passes all understanding.” Rather, this attitude will turn people away.

Bad attitudes discourages brethren. It divides husbands and wives and their children. It builds walls and prevents friendships from being created. Consider this wisdom from Proverbs: “A man who has friends must himself be friendly, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother,” (18:24). If we think that no one notices our grumpy disposition covered up by a small grin, we are sadly mistaken.

A proper attitude is essential for Christian living because we need to speak to others. Words that edify cannot come from one who is always negative (Eph. 4:25-32). This means that what we say matters to the Lord, but the way we say it also matters. The Proverb writer mentioned that a soft answer turns away wrath (Prov. 15:1). It is hard to imagine a negative person being an effective, influential speaker. This is true in both earthly and spiritual matters.

Picture two negative people being around each other. Each person could easily blame the other for making their life seem worse. Now imagine a whole church of negative people – who would want to be in the middle of that group? It is hard to imagine a congregation like that lasting, much less being successful working for the Lord’s work.

Brethren, we need to be mindful of our example and do the best we can to demonstrate the joy we have in being a Christian.

                                                                                             Chuck 

Jesus, during His sermon on the mount stated, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled,” (Matt. 5:6). Which Christian does not want to be righteous? But this begs the question – how does a child of God satisfy the hunger pains? Let’s explore this to help our spiritual growth.

We need to start by knowing how the hunger and thirst for righteousness is created. Our fleshly appetites create cravings when we have not eaten for a period of time. Spiritual food is a bit different though. Some people can go without righteousness and not miss it. How can this hunger for righteousness be stirred up.

Faithful Christians make it their goal to goal to have eternal life (Heb. 12:1-2). This can only be achieved by being spiritually healthy, meaning one must be righteous (I Pet. 3:12). Because the righteous are scarcely saved, we can conclude where that leaves the one who is not righteous (I Pet. 4:18).  Let us now list the ways God’s people can be filled by satisfying their hunger and thirst for righteousness.

1. Know that all acts of righteousness are good. Obviously, things that are right cannot also be wrong. Saints who question the teachings of our Lord will not desire to eat and drink of His righteousness (Rom. 9:20-21).
2. Have a desire to be filled. This is not meant to be funny, but some people seem to think they can go on a diet when it comes to feeding on righteousness. They partake of some good, spiritual activities but not all of them. We can only become filled when we walk fully in the light (I John 1:5-6).
3. Lose your taste for unrighteousness. When I do not like something, I do not eat it. A person can learn to dislike healthy foods (fruits, vegetables, etc.) or truly unhealthy things like poison, broken glass, pins, etc. The same thing can happen spiritually. We can learn to dislike spiritually beneficial things, or we can learn to dislike unrighteousness (Psa. 119:104).
4. Find the joy is being righteous. Eating and drinking without enjoying the food will prevent one from being a good eater. Christians, from the beginning of their journey, receive the gospel with gladness and rejoice upon their conversion (Acts 2:42; 8:39). Notice how often Jesus said “Blessed are those…” The Lord was saying that those who hunger and thirst for righteousness are those who enjoy both having the meal of righteousness as well as the satisfaction afterward.
5. Have a desire to learn what righteousness is. Our hunger is not satisfied physically just because we want a meal. A hungry person knows they need to eat. Similarly, children of God must study His word when they hunger and thirst for righteousness (Rom. 1:16-17). Notice how Paul, in Romans 1, clarifies where the righteousness of God is found. Simply having that spiritual hunger will not suffice.
6. Apply the things you learned. No one goes to a restaurant and is filled by just reading the menu. Rather, reading about food options invigorates my appetite. The same is true when godly people read the Bible. They will want to immediately make changes in their lives or share the gospel with others (James 1:22; II Tim. 2:2).

Do you have a hunger and thirst for righteousness? If you do, two things are certain. You will be blessed, and you will be filled!

                                                                                               Chuck

This might seem like one of the strangest questions anyone could ask. After all, if a group says they are Christ’s church, then they are His, right? No. I personally do not know of a denomination that does not claim to be a church that belongs to Christ (i.e. Christ’s church). If all churches belong to Christ, then it does not matter which we belong to. But does He accept every church that claims to belong to Him?

Many people been convinced that it does not matter if you attend a Baptist, Pentecostal, Methodist, Presbyterian, Nazarene or any other denominational church. Here is a short list of responses to why people think that all churches are Christ’s church.

1. The name does not matter.

Not so. Read: Acts 20:28; Matt. 16:18; Rom. 16:16

2. What you do in worship does not matter.

Not so. Read: John 4:24; Matt. 15:7-9

3. If some doctrines are not Biblical it is okay.

Not so. Read: Gal. 1:6-9

4. God is more interested in you being sincere.

Not so. Read: Rom. 10:1-3

5. As long as you have love that’s all that matters

Not so. Read: Rev. 2:2-4; I Cor. 13:1-7

6. It would be wrong to say others are wrong.

Not so. Read: I John 4:1; Rom. 16:17

7. Doctrine really does not matter to the Lord.

Not so. Read: II John 9; Rev. 2:15

8. There are many roads that lead to heaven.

Not so. Read: John 14:6; Rom. 1:16

9. No church can be 100% right.

Not so. Read: John 8:32; I Tim. 3:15

10. How one feels is all that matters.

Not so. Read: Matt. 7:21-23; Acts 19:1-5

Finding the church you read about in the Bible requires you to seek in order to find (Matt. 7:7).

                                                                                             Chuck 

This past week we had a gentleman call after watching our TV program. He wanted to know what Jesus meant when He stated, “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad,” (John. 8:56). To answer this question, we need to get more of this passage’s context to see why Jesus even brought up Abraham.

Earlier in this chapter, Jesus told people they would be His disciples if they would abide in His word. Moreover, they could know the truth and the truth would set them free (verses 31-32). After Christ said this, the Jews stated, “We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone,” (verse 33). Therefore, they could not understand why they needed to be freed.

After our Lord explained to them their spiritual condition, they responded again and said that Abraham was their father (verse 39). Christ simply argued that if they were Abraham’s children, they ought to do the works of Abraham. The Jews responded that God is their Father (verse 41). This of course prompted the Lord to say that if they were of the Father they would also love His Son Jesus (verse 42).

The discussion with the Jews went from bad to worse when they accused Jesus of having a demon (verse 48). In defending that accusation, Christ told them that He did not have a demon and honored His Father. Additionally, whoever kept His word will would never see death (verse 51). The Jews then brought up the death of Abraham and the prophets. They thought Jesus must be wrong because those individuals were faithful yet died (verse 52).

It was here that our Lord brought up the question at hand. Why did Jesus say that Abraham rejoiced to see His day and was glad (verse 56)? These Jews knew that Jesus wa not even 50 years old (verse 57), so how could he argue that Abraham had seen Jesus on the earth?  This brings us to a great saying that our Savior uttered. “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was I AM,” (verse 58).

The reason Abraham saw the day of the Lord was by faith. The promise was given to him that through his seed all the families of the earth would be blessed (Gen. 12:3). Abraham and others embraced the promise and walked by faith. The Hebrew writer recorded that Abraham and others back then received the promise having seen them afar off and were assured of them, and embraced them (Heb. 11:8-13).

Now let’s make the connection with the faithful today. In writing to the church at Galatia, Paul wrote, “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise,” (Gal. 3:27-29).

The Jews did not have a closer connection with Abraham than with all the faithful of today. If anything, they lacked that connection with Abraham while they rejected Jesus. After all, you must listen to and abide in Christ’s teachings in order to be an heir to the promises given to Abraham.

Another fact that many Jews failed to grasp was that the promises were made to Abraham before Israel was even a great nation. The law of Moses came 430 years after Abraham (Gal. 3:16-17). This reinforces the promise that “all nations” would be blessed, which was the very thing many of the Jews were unwilling to accept. May we accept all as God’s children and follow Christ today.

                                                                                               Chuck