Memorial Day
“And that he died for all that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them and rose again.” 2 Corinthians 5:15
Memorial Day is not to just recall who, but to also remember the cause for which they died. Those who died in the line of duty, didn’t just do it for themselves, but also for all others. Granted, some join the service for their own agenda, but they must come to grips with the fact that their service, in life or death, is for their country.
There will always be the dispute of what war is justifiable. But for the soldier, if he dies fighting in a war that is a national policy blunder, he is not to blame, for he did his duty. If anything, he is also a victim–a casualty of the war.
There are many noble and honorable efforts that make for a strong and free society. But one thing for sure, without those who have been and are willing to lay their lives on the line in defense of our nation, all the other efforts would be in vain.
As we are privileged to serve in a local New Testament Church, as we carry on the work, as we endure the trials and tribulations, let us also remember–had it not been for Christ dying for us, to afford us salvation with spiritual life in the family of God, and the victory over sin, Satan, death and hell, all our efforts would avail nothing. It is only because He died for us all that we are able to live unto and for Him.
So, just as Memorial Day is a call to remember both the sacrifice and the reason for the sacrifice of our fallen soldiers, let us remember the reason for which Christ died–that we which live, “…should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.”
Beware, lest we forget: “Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” Titus 2:14
SHARING
Fear Him
–By Thomas Smith
“And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Matthew 10:28
One of the most basic principles of the Bible is learning to fear the Lord. We know that God is merciful and caring. He is also patient and kind. But the same God who loves us so dearly is also just, holy, jealous, and righteous. He expects reverence and faithfulness. He judges sin and compromise. It is pleasing to Him and beneficial to us if we develop the wholesome quality of fear toward Him. When Moses stood before Him, he was instructed to take off his shoes because he was standing on holy ground. When John saw the Savior in Revelation 1:17, we are told that he “fell at his feet as dead.”
It is not natural to fear the Lord; this habit must be acquired and maintained. The Bible teaches us plainly that God is to be feared. The further our world drifts from a Biblical worldview, the more we see casualness about the Person of God Almighty. Blasphemy and cursing are more commonly heard in the public arena than words of respect for Jesus Christ. There was a day in our country when the majority of businesses would not consider being open on Sunday, out of respect for God and the importance of worship.
This lack of respect for God is taking over many places of worship. Man-centered worship is the order of the day. People shop for churches that will cater to their individual tastes and schedules. If Sunday worship is not convenient, why not forget the Lord’s Day and go to church on Saturday evening? If rock-and-roll music fits their personal preference, they look for a church offering a live band and contemporary worship. This is the trend of our generation. God is often referred to with terms such as, “The man upstairs,” or “Our buddy in the sky.” Preaching is being replaced by entertaining and shallow and non-offensive mini-sermons with little Biblical content or call to commitment and holiness.
How wicked and carnal all of this is! It should make us shudder to think of this wholesale lack of respect and fear. Nowhere in the Bible can you find anything that would condone such behavior. Our text beckons us not to fear man, but to fear God. We are not to be people pleasers, but God pleasers. Our nation needs a revival, including a revival of the fear of God.
SHARINGThe 23rd Channel
The TV is my shepherd; my spiritual growth shall want.
It maketh me to sit down and do nothing for His name’s sake,
because it requireth all my leisure time.
It may keep me from doing my duty as a Christian,
because it presenteth so many good shows that I must see.
It restoreth my knowledge of the things of the world,
and keepeth me from the study of God’s Word.
It may lead me in the paths of forsaking church
unto really doing nothing for the kingdom of God.
Yea, though I live to be a hundred,
I shall keep viewing my TV as long as it will work,
for it is my closest companion.
Its sounds and pictures, they comfort me.
It presenteth entertainment before me
and keepeth me from doing important things with my family.
It fills my head with ideas which differ
from those in the Word of God.
Surely, no good thing will come of my life
because of so many wasted hours,
And I shall dwell in my remorse
and bitter memories forever.
“Wasted minutes become wasted hours, which may very well lead to wasted years.”
NOTE: Use your TV wisely, not wastefully.
SHARINGThe Restitution Of All Things
This is a five week study that we are having in our Sunday evening service. Please see the “Articles & Outlines” section under “Outlines” for the outlines to accompany this study.
SHARINGThe Nail
The circumstances and events surrounding the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, make two things very clear:
1. Man’s nature towards God: one of enmity.
2. God’s nature towards man: that of redeeming love.
“Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them: for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34) The fact that men were so used (motivated) by sin and Satan, that they knew not what they were doing, speaks of man’s spiritually dead condition. ALL MANKIND was made a spiritually dead being by Adam’s sin and spiritual death: “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned. Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners.” (Romans 5:12, 18a, 19a) “For as in Adam all die” (1 Corinthians 15:22a).
Thus, all who are born of Adam are born with an inherited spiritually dead nature that is estranged from God, is at enmity with God due to the fact this nature is sinful, and is also at conflict with one another. This spiritually dead sin condition is what has written human history and is determining the course of mankind today: “What then? Are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: Their feet are swift to shed blood: Destruction and misery are in their ways: And the way of peace have they not known: There is no fear of God before their eyes. For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:9, 13-18, 23)
When Jesus died on the cross of Calvary, the human instruments that hung him there did so because of Sin’s enmity within human nature: “But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause.” (John 15:25) It was the enmity of man’s sinful nature that drove the nails that hung Christ on the cross. It was the redeeming love of God’s nature, that let those nails remain so that atonement for sin would be made.
The reason Christ died was because God laid our sin upon Him on Calvary and He yielded Himself to die to pay the penalty for our sin: “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” (2 Corinthians 5:21)
Thus the judgment of the cross is: “For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead.” (2 Corinthians 5:14) Since we are all the sinner for which Christ died, then we must repent and trust Him to save us—or we will perish.
SHARING
