Know Your Bible
VOL. 13 February 1, 2015 NO. 47
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
COMMANDMENT KEEPING
There are varied ideas concerning "commandment keeping". Some think only in respect to the "10 Commandments"and teach a person must keep the ten commandments to be saved. Others believe that if you were to keep all God's commandments, you would still not be saved. Let it be understand that by "commandment keeping", I am not referring to the "10 commandments". Despite these conflicting beliefs, let's see what God has revealed on the matter.
KEEPING GOD'S COMMANDMENTS IS THE EXPRESSION OF MY FAITH. "Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works." (James 2:17-18).
KEEPING GOD'S COMMANDMENTS IS THE EXPRESSION OF MY LOVE. "He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him." (John 14:21).
KEEPING GOD'S COMMANDMENTS DETERMINES IF I AM TO RECEIVE THE THINGS I ASK FOR. "And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight." (1 John 3:22).
KEEPING GOD'S COMMANDMENTS DETERMINES IF I ABIDE IN GOD'S LOVE. "If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love." (John 15:10).
Are we better than Jesus? He kept God's commandments. "If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love." (John 15:10). To those who believe that faith alone is what saves, let us realize that even faith is a commandment. "And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment." (1 John 3:23)
Which is it? Is commandment keeping essential or non-essential? What does the Bible say?
—E.R. Hall, Jr.
PAGE 1
—————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
“LET THE REDEEMED OF THE LORD SAY SO”
In Psa. 107:2 the Psalmist said: "Let the redeemed of the Lord say so..." In the following verses he points out some of the reasons for this.
Who Are The Redeemed?: -- In the immediate context of this verse we learn that the Israelites (fleshly) of old were the redeemed.
In the first century (and today) God's children, spiritual Israel, the elect, Christians are the redeemed of the Lord. (See Rom. 2:28,29; Gal. 6:16). Jesus Christ came and died to redeem us (Gal. 4:4-6; Ti. 2:14). Paul said that "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law" (Gal. 3:13).
By What Are We Redeemed?: —
1. Not with corruptible things. Peter said: "Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold..." (1 Pet. 1:18).
2. With the blood of Christ! "But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot" (1 Pet. 1:19; Also see Eph. 1:7; Col. 1:14; Heb. 9:12).
How And Where Are We Redeemed?: —
1. We are redeemed in Christ. (Read Eph. 1:7; Col. 1:14; Gal. 3:8).
2. How do we get into Christ? We are baptized into Christ. (Read Rom. 6:3,4; Gal. 3:26,27).
3. In view of the preceding facts, we must be baptized into Christ in order to be redeemed by His blood!
The Redeemed Must Say So! -- Since we are the redeemed of the Lord we must tell others! Here are some reasons we must say so:
A. Jesus said: "Ye are the salt of the earth... Ye are the light of the world... Let your light so shine before men, that they may see you good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven" (Matt. 5:14-16). Also read 1 Tim. 4:12; Ti. 2:7,8. NOTE: We are to demonstrate by our lives (attitudes and actions) that we are truly following Jesus Christ who died to redeem us from our sins. We should be examples of true disciples of the Lord that others may be influenced to follow Him.
B. The apostles could not keep silent. They had to speak! In Acts 4:20 Peter and John declared: "For we cannot but speak the things we have seen and heard." That same attitude should characterize every Christian!
C. The early disciples who were scattered abroad taught others! Read Acts 8:1-5. Vss. 4,5 says: "Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the Word. Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them." NOTE: We should follow the example of those early disciples.
D. We must open our mouths and speak! Acts 4:31 says: "...and they spake the Word of God with boldness." Acts 16:32 says: "And they spake unto him the Word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house." 2 Cor. 4:13 says: "...we also believe, and therefore speak." Paul said: "And the things that thou hast heard of me...the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also." (2 Tim. 2:2). Also see Eph. 6:20.
Have you been redeemed from your sins by the blood of Jesus Christ? Do you understand how you were redeemed? Are you willing to tell others who and how and where you were redeemed?
“Let the redeemed of the Lord say so.”
—Carroll R. Sutton
Page 2
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
IMPROVE YOUR LIFE
1. Turn off the TV and read your Bible. The Psalmist said of the blessed man, "His delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night" (Ps. 1:2).
2. Hang up the phone and pray. I never cease to be amazed at how much time some people spend on their cell phones. Is all that talking necessary or profitable? "Pray without ceasing" (1 Thess. 5:1 7). "The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much" (Jas. 5:16).
3. Get up out of bed an hour earlier and come to Bible study on Sunday. "As the door turns on its hinges, so does the sluggard on his bed" (Prov. 26:14).
4. Cut down your credit card purchases and give. Give to the poor. Increase your contribution at church. "One who is gracious to a poor man lends to the Lord, and He will repay him for his good deed" (Prov. 19:17). "It is more blessed to give than to receive" (Acts 20:35).
5. Change the conversation from sports, weather, and politics to spiritual things. Do that at home. "These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up” (Deut. 6:6-7). Do that at work, too. "He who wins souls is wise" (Prov. 11:30).
—Frank Himmel
Page 3
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Know Your Bible" is e-mailed weekly by the church of Christ which meets at 112 Roberts Avenue in Wise, Virginia. If you know of others who might benefit from the articles contained in this bulletin, we would be glad to have you submit their e-mail addresses and we will include them in next week's mailing. If you are receiving this bulletin and do not wish to continue to do so, please e-mail us with your desire to be removed from the mailing list and we will remove your address promptly. Continue to the bottom of this page and further instructions will be given as to how you may contact us.
--- E.R. Hall, Jr.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
SCHEDULE OF SERVICES
Sunday
Bible Classes ……….....….…............ 10:00 AM
Morning Worship ……..…….….…...... 11:00 AM
Evening Worship …………...……........ 6:00 PM
Wednesday
Bible Classes …………..………........... 7:30 PM
"THOUGHT FOR THE DAY"
Radio Program
Monday - Friday
WDXC 102.3 FM .....................…........ 10:20 AM
"WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS..."
Television Program
Sunday
Comcast Cable - Heritage TV - Digital Channel 266 ............ 6:00 AM & 2:00 PM
Wednesday
Comcast Cable - Heritage TV - Digital Channel 266 ............ 2:00 PM
World Wide Web: www.wisechurch.com
INSTRUCTIONS REGARDING THIS E-MAIL BULLETIN:
UNSUBSCRIBE: Reply to wisechurch@comcast.net and put UNSUBSCRIBE in the subject line.
SUBSCRIBE FRIENDS: Reply to wisechurch@comcast.net and put SUBSCRIBE in the subject line.