If called upon to give some good, practical advice to a new Christian,
what would you say? That might seem to be a very simple thing to do until you
are put in the position of actually giving the advice yourself! One might
suggest, "Read your Bible daily." Another, "Attend all the services of the
church." Still another might suggest, "Listen to the counsel of the elders,
attend gospel meetings, and study with a mature Christian in whom you have
confidence." All of these suggestions are good, but the "doing" of them is the
product of something even more basic. What we are referring to may be found in
Acts 11:23.
The eleventh chapter of Acts discusses the dispersion of
Christians which occurred during the persecution which arose in conjunction with
Stephen's preaching. Christians in Judea were scattered as far as
First, the new Christian must put service to Christ and
His church FIRST in his/her life. In
Matthew 6:33, Jesus said, "But seek
first the
Second, the new Christian must be advised that total
commitment to Christ is required in order to be His servant. In Luke 14:33 Jesus
said, "So
likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My
disciple."(NKJV) A Christian cannot be a "fence straddler." The Christian cannot compromise their service to Christ by trying to
serve "conditionally." James reminds us that
"friendship with
the world is enmity with God." (James
4:4)
Thirdly, the new Christian needs to be advised to take his/her commitment
to Christ seriously. The Hebrew writer reminds us that our level of commitment
has a direct affect on others and that the faithfulness of other Christians can
be directly affected by our example. (Hebrews 10:
23-25)
Fourth, the new Christian needs to be encouraged to
observe ALL of Christ's commands. Jesus, after giving His apostles the great
commission to take the gospel to the whole world, said," ...teaching them to observe
all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the
end of the age. Amen.”
(NKJV) The Christian cannot "pick and choose" which of Christ's commands he/she wishes to obey. We must obey
ALL!
Finally, the new Christian needs to desire and receive exhortation daily.
Through the association with faithful Christians, God has provided the avenue
for our spiritual growth (Heb. 10: 25; Acts 2:46,47). This is God's Way; let us
have the determination to follow!
---Steve
Nale
FIVE
WAYS TO DISOBEY GOD
The faithful child of God never seeks ways by which he can disobey God.
Yet the Bible indicates different manners in which God may be disobeyed. It
might help us to avoid some pitfalls of apostasy to reflect on the way in which
God is disobeyed.
1. By Doing What Is Forbidden: -- (Gen. 2:16; 3:6)
Adam and Eve, in eating the forbidden fruit, transgressed or violated the Will
of God. We refer to this kind of sin as a sin of commission. They committed an
act which God specifically had prohibited. Men today often do exactly what He
has forbidden.
2. By Refusing To Do What God Has
Commanded:
-- (Jas. 4:17; Lk. 7:30; Heb. 10:25). The Pharisees and lawyers
in Lk. 7:30 rejected the counsel of God on baptism. They therefore committed a
sin of omission. James states that when one knows to do good and does it not, to
him it is sin. One can do nothing and be sent to hell for doing nothing, for God
has made demands upon us.
3. By Adding To The Word Of God: -- (Deut. 4:2;
Rev. 22:18). God states that if one adds to His Word, the plagues written in the
Word will be added to that person. John declares that "lawlessness is sin" (1 Jn.
3:4 - ASV). Sin, as defined by John, is that which is lawless. Sin is the doing
of anything for which there is no law or for which there is no authority.
Men
frequently ask, "Where is the Scripture against
it?" But John declares that if there is no law
for the act under question it is "lawlessness", and
lawlessness is sin. To act or speak where Christ has not spoken is a sin of
presumption (Num. 15:30; Lev. 10:1,2). When one acts without divine authority,
he presumes to speak in God's behalf. Such is insolent sin, and is intolerable
by God.
John declares that when one goes beyond the doctrine of
Christ, he gives up both Christ and God, (2 Jn. 9). Paul therefore insists that
we must learn "not to go
beyond the things which are written" (1 Cor.
4:6).
4. By Taking From The Word Of
God: -- (Deut. 4:2; Rev. 22:19). To take from God's Word is a sin
of the same sort as to add to His Word. Taking from His Word will result in
one's part being taken from the tree of life and the holy city written in the
Book.
When one begins to talk about God's "nonessential commands," he is prepared in
heart to commit the damning sin of taking from God's Word.
5. By Substituting For What God Has
Commanded: -- (Gen. 4:4;
Lev. 10:1-3). Cain substituted a vegetable sacrifice for what God had commanded
(Heb. 11:4) and God had no respect for his gift. Nadab and Abihu, though they
offered fire, did not offer the fire that God had commanded, and thus were
consumed because of the strange fire. In religion men must learn to accept no
substitute, for God will not accept a substitute for obedience (1 Sam.
15:22,23).
Realizing wherein we can
fail, we need to use great caution "lest we fall." "If any man speaks, let him
speak as the oracles of God" (1 Pet.
4:11).
---Cecil
Willis