Know Your Bible


VOL. 14                                                                                                                         May 24, 2015                                                                                                                            NO. 11

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“I DON’T GO ALONG WITH ALL THAT MY CHURCH DOES!”


There are many people today who willingly and knowingly fellowship error. When their unscriptural practices are pointed out, they say, "I don't believe everything my church teaches" or the statement in the title of this article. Are you one of those people? Are you willing to even admit that you realize that the church of which you are a member is getting farther and farther from the truth of the Bible? Many people are very uncomfortable with such things as the social, recreational, and entertainment craze that many churches are involving themselves in. But let it be understood there are many other things in addition to these.


Let me raise this question: Does recognizing and then denying wrongdoing in the church of which you are a member , free you from all responsibility in the matter? Let's put it like this: Can a person close his eyes to error and willingly stay in a group that he knows is doing things contrary to what the Bible teaches? Are we willing to let the Bible give the answer? God says, "And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them." (Ephesians 5:11). "This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith; Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth." (Titus 1:13,14). From these verses we must conclude that one cannot continue to have fellowship with those who are believing and practicing error. Rather, he has the responsibility to reprove and warn them. Yet, if no one raises their voice to oppose, by their silence they give consent and thereby become a partaker of wrongdoing.


How can one repent of an error while at the same time be a member of a church which believes and practices error? For one to repent of error, he must completely give up that error. As long as a person is a member of a church that has error, he is associated with error and is identified with error.


Jesus said in Matthew 15:13 “...Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up." Those who are in a church that has error will be rooted up along with others at the last day. Those who recognize error in the churches in which they are members need to come out and be identified with the people of God.


We cannot help but believe there are those of you reading this bulletin who do not agree with the beliefs and practices of the church of which you are a member. We must all ask ourselves the question of who are we trying to please in religion. Is it man or God? There can be the wrong motive for the religion we have. "For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ." (Galatians 1:10). If we seek to please men, it will not matter whether we condone things that the Scriptures condemn and give our silent consent to things that God does not approve of. But if our religion is to please men, "I should NOT BE THE SERVANT OF CHRIST".

—E.R. Hall, Jr.




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CHRIST’S GOSPEL IS ADEQUATE FOR THE NEEDS OF ALL!


In Mk. 12:37b we read:  “And the common people heard Him gladly.” Yes, those that usually listened to Jesus were the common people.


The Gospel Of Christ Is:  


1. Free -- the poor can obtain it!  Jesus said:  "...and the poor have the gospel preached to them." (Matt. 11:5b);  Also see Matt. 28:19; Mk. 16:15,16, etc.


2. Plain -- the uneducated can understand it! In Eph. 3:1-6 Paul said:  "...Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge..." Also see: 2 Tim. 2:7; Prov. 28:11; 15:19; Psa. 119:130,104; Eph. 5:17; 2 Cor. 3:12 etc.


3. Equalizing — the humble are raised by it and and the proud are humbled by it!  See:  1 Pet. 5:6; Jas. 4:10; Matt. 23:12; 18:4, etc.


4. The Power Of God To Save Sinners — Paul said:  "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth."  Rom. 1:16.  Also see:  2 Thess. 1:7-10; 1 Pet. 1:22,23; Acts 2:38; Mk. 16:16; Gal. 3:26,27; Acts 10:34,35, etc.


5. Encouraging -- The Depressed Or Discouraged Are Encoraged By It!  Heb. 13:5,6 says:  "...for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.  So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my Helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me." Also see:  2 Cor. 1:8-11; Rom. 8:31-39; Phil. 4:13, etc.


6. Comforting -- It Consoles The Sorrowful! 2 Cor. 1:3,4 "...the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comformeth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God." 1 Thess. 4:13-18 says:  "…Wherefore comfort one another with these words."


7. Compensating — It Rewards All Who Believe And Obey It. For Their Faith And Labors Of Love!  See:  Mk. 10:28-30; Matt. 6:33; Heb. 6:10; 1 Tim. 4:8; 1 Jno. 2:25; 2 Tim. 4:6-8; Rev. 2:7,10; 22:14; 1 Pet. 1:4 etc.


Are YOU truly following the true gospel of Christ?

—Carrol R. Sutton

taken from The Instructor Vol. 48, Number 6, June 2011


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SENTENCE SERMONS


A man is about as big as the things that make him angry

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It's choice - not chance - that determines your destiny.

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There is no teaching to compare with example.


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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.

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