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I Am Resolved

Friday, January 03, 2025

I Am Resolved

Wade Webster

  • To offer unto God the worship that He wants. “By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks” (Heb. 11:4).
  • To live a life that pleases God. “By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, “and was not found, because God had taken him”; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God. But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”” (Heb. 11:5-6).
  • To save my family. “By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith” (Heb. 11:7).
  • To look for a city that has foundations, whose builder and maker is God. “By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God” (Heb. 11:8-10).
  • To keep myself pure no matter the cost . “But it happened about this time, when Joseph went into the house to do his work, and none of the men of the house was inside, that she caught him by his garment, saying, “Lie with me.” But he left his garment in her hand, and fled and ran outside” (Gen. 39:11-12).
  • To suffer affliction with God’s people rather than enjoying the pleasures of sin.“By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward. By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible” (Heb. 11:24-27).
  • To stand up for God while others are bowing down to worldly pressure. “So at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the horn, flute, harp, and lyre, in symphony with all kinds of music, all the people, nations, and languages fell down and worshiped the gold image which King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. Therefore at that time certain Chaldeans came forward and accused the Jews. They spoke and said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “O king, live forever! You, O king, have made a decree that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, shall fall down and worship the gold image; and whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. There are certain Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego; these men, O king, have not paid due regard to you. They do not serve your gods or worship the gold image which you have set up.” (Dan. 3:7-12).

To pray fervently and faithfully every day. “So the governors and satraps sought to find some charge against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find no charge or fault, because he was faithful; nor was there any error or fault found in him. Then these men said, “We shall not find any charge against this Daniel unless we find it against him concerning the law of his God.” So these governors and satraps thronged before the king, and said thus to him: “King Darius, live forever! All the governors of the kingdom, the administrators and satraps, the counselors and advisors, have consulted together to establish a royal statute and to make a firm decree, that whoever petitions any god or man for thirty days, except you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions. Now, O king, establish the decree and sign the writing, so that it cannot be changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which does not alter.” Therefore King Darius signed the written decree. Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days” (Dan. 6:4-19).

When We Love One Another - Part 1

Friday, January 03, 2025

When We Love One Another - Part 1

Wade Webster

John wrote, “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another” (1 John 4:7-11). In these verses, we will see three things that we show when we love one another.

When we love one another, we show that we are born of God. John wrote, ““Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God…” (1 John 4:7). Please note that love is of God. It comes from Him. When we love one another, we show that we have been born of God. “Born of God” is a favorite expression of John. John often identifies certain characteristics as revealing that we have been born of God. First, receiving or believing Jesus reveals that we have been born of God. We read, “He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name” (1 John 1:10-12). Again, he wrote, “Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God…For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith” (1 John 5:1, 4). Second, practicing righteousness shows that we have been born of God. We read, “If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him” (1 John 2:29). The one who is born of God does not habitually practice sin. John wrote, “Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God” (1 John 3:7-9). Again, we read, “We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him. We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one” (1 John 5:18-19). Third, loving the children of God, reveals that we have been born of God. John wrote, “Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments” (1 John 5:1-2). In like manner, Peter wrote, “Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever” (1 Peter 2.22-23). Sincere and fervent love of the brethren shows that we have been bon of God.

Why Churches of Christ Take the Lord’s Supper Each Sunday (Part 2)

Saturday, December 21, 2024

Why Churches of Christ Take the Lord’s Supper Each Sunday (Part 2)

Allen Webster

In the first part of this study, we noted two reasons why churches of Christ take the Lord’s Supper each Sunday. The two reasons that were given were to receive the strength it provides and to give Christ the glory that He deserves. In this, the second and final part of this study, we will notice a third reason.

TO INCREASE OPPORTUNITIES FOR SINNERS TO LEARN THE GOSPEL.

Every time we eat the Lord’s supper we proclaim the gospel. The bread and juice “shew forth the Lord’s death till he come” (1 Corinthians 11:26). The supper teaches non-members of His sacrifice and reminds the Bride to remain pure for the coming wedding.

Whereas Old Testament worship was hands-on, sensory, and visual, New Testament worship is more spiritual and cerebral. The exception is the supper. It is participatory even more than the singing and offering. A visual age—especially children and unbelievers—benefits from this most visible worship act. Like a child who participates in a July Fourth celebration learns about His country, so an unbeliever who sees the supper learns about His Lord.

Some churches offer communion as an option in a side room, rather than in the main worship service. Why? They believe “seekers” see communion as a strange practice that dwells too much on death. They are afraid it will frighten them away.

Are modern services devoid of any meaningful reference to the cross an improvement? Bring back the supper for a gospel-centered, Christ-ordained worship centerpiece. The Lord’s supper is not a side show but central part of worship for the whole body of believers.

Familiarity breeds contempt, some say, but Paul does not reason that since the Corinthians abused weekly communion, they should take it less often. Instead he focuses their attention more clearly on the solemn facts which the supper represents. He tells them to do it better.

Endnotes

[1]ROMAN CATHOLICS and EPISCOPALIANS. Daily mass is observed and usually required as a “perpetual sacrifice of Christ’s blood,” better known as Holy Eucharist. To Catholics, the bread becomes the actual body of Christ and the wine His actual blood. This is known as “Transubstantiation.” Sins are forgiven as part of Mass. (Forgiveness comes from obeying the gospel and walking in the light [Acts 2:38; 1 John 1:7-2:1-4]).

LUTHERAN teaching on the Lord’s supper, “Consubstantiation,” is distinctive. When a Lutheran priest blesses the bread, Lutherans believe that the true body and blood of Christ are under the bread and wine.

METHODISTS. The Lord’s supper is taken once a quarter.

BAPTISTs do not offer the Lord’s supper upon every first day of the week. They also believe in closed communion, which means that only those who have been voted into the church can take communion.

PRESBYTERIANS take the Lord’s supper every quarter usually. A collection for the poor is associated with the observance of the Lord’s supper.

JEHOVAH WITNESSES. The Lord’s supper is taken once a year after sundown on the “exact day” of the year Christ died. Unleavened bread and fermented wine are used for the communion, and only those of the “heavenly elect” (144,000) can partake of the Lord’s supper.

MORMONS‘ Sunday worship includes weekly observance of the Lord’s supper. They use light bread and water instead of unleavened bread and grape juice.

SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST worship services are held on the Sabbath which begins Friday at sundown and lasts until Saturday at sundown. The Lord’s supper is usually observed once a quarter and always preceded by the observance of foot-washing.

NAZARENES. The minister is to invite “all those who have with true repentance forsaken their sins and have believed in Christ for salvation” to take communion.

PENTECOSTALS. The unique teaching that separates Pentecostals from other religious bodies is that they teach that divine healing takes place while they partake of the Lord’s supper. They believe that the communion is a quickening life of Christ for their healing.

CHRISTIAN SCIENCE have eliminated the Lord’s supper from their worship. They hold “communion services“ in the branch services twice a year, but on these occasions, neither bread nor wine is used. It is basically a type of meditation

Why Churches of Christ Take the Lord’s Supper Each Sunday (Part 1)

Saturday, December 14, 2024

 

Why Churches of Christ Take the Lord’s Supper Each Sunday (Part 1)

Allen Webster

Jesus instituted a memorial feast on the eve of His death (Matthew 26:17-29; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:7-20). To His followers, the bread represents His sacrificed body and the cup His saving blood (1 Corinthians 10:16; 11:20-24).  Practically all churches take the Lord’s supper but differ as to how often to eat it.[1] Some partake weekly; others monthly; many, quarterly; and, sometimes only annually. Which is right? Does it make any difference? Some interpret Paul’s statement: “As often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come” (1 Corinthians 11:26) to mean that Christians may partake whenever they wish. Would God put something of such importance as His Son’s memory into the realm of human opinion? (Colossians 3:17). Let us explore the related Scriptures. The Lord’s church takes the Lord’s supper each Lord’s day for three asons.

TO RECEIVE THE STRENGTH IT PROVIDES.

Those who misused the Lord’s supper became spiritually weak (1 Corinthians 11:29-30). Conversely, those who partake sincerely and appropriate­ly are strengthened. God has provided the means to sustain and strengthen the faith of his children (2 Corinthians 12:9; Philippians 4:13). A primary means for strengthening Christians is the Lord’s supper. The lunch table strengthens the body; the Lord’s table refreshes the soul.

When Christ dwells in our hearts by faith it strengthens the inner man (Ephesians 3:16-17; cf. 2 Timothy 4:17). This faith is engaged and developed during the supper. By faith we believe that Jesus sits at the table with us (Luke 22:16-18; cf. 24:32). How could anyone have a meal with Christ without being better? By faith we see the events of Calvary. How can one fix his mind on the cross and not come away more resolved to live for the Redeemer? (2 Corinthians 5:14-15). By faith we remember the historical link between this Sunday and His resurrection—a connection that does not exist on any other day (Matthew 28:1). By faith Christians are strengthened by meditating on Scripture (Psalm 1:3) and prayer (Colossians 1:9-11), during the Lord’s supper. Who would be so bold as to say that he does not need to be reminded of the Lord’s sacrifice? (2 Peter 1:13; 3:1). Since most find it difficult to deal with Satan’s temptations despite the safeguards God has provided, the Lord’s supper each Sunday is vital to a strong church.

TO GIVE CHRIST THE GLORY HE DESERVES (1 CORINTHIANS 11:20-29).

Jesus might not be the focus of the sermon on a given Sunday. It might so happen that no song mentions Calvary. Prayer leaders might focus on praising the Father rather than the Son that day. But during the Lord’s supper the spotlight is always on Jesus and what He did at Calvary. Paul emphasizes “the Lord” in discussing the supper: It is the Lord’s supper (1 Corinthians 11:20),that focuses on the Lord’s death (11:26), in memory of the Lord’s blood (11:27). It is the Lord’s bread (11:27), and the Lord’s cup (11:27), that reminds us of the Lord’s body (11:29). If we skip the Lord’s supper, then we miss an opportunity to honor Him. Why glorify Him only four times a year when we can glorify Him fifty-two times?

The Lord’s Church Came With Power

Saturday, December 07, 2024

The Lord’s Church Came With Power

David Sproule

Can I ask you a question that you’ll just think about for moment?  Step back, consider this, and formulate in your mind an answer to this question.  “Where did the denominations come from?”  Have you ever really thought about that?

Depending on what researchers you trust, at the very least it can be stated that there are thousands of denominations in the world.  (Let’s not quibble about the exact number but state it generally as “thousands.”)  Where did they come from?

As you think about the “Where,” think about the “When.”  When did denominations come about?  The answer to that question varies, as some began in recent years, some a few hundred years ago, some several hundred years ago.  But, it can be stated unequivocally that the “when” of the origin of all denominations is some time after the beginning of the Lord’s church in Acts 2.  How do we know that?  Answer this question: “When the Lord added people to His church in Acts 2:47, to which denomination did He add them?”  Your response is likely the same as every response I’ve ever received to that question, “There were no denominations in Acts 2.”

So, now back to the question, “Where did they come from?”  And, again, the answer to that question varies. Some denominations came about due to doctrinal differences, leadership differences, salvation differences, worship differences, personality differences, etc.  Without focusing on the hearts or sincerity of any individuals, do any of these reasons for starting a denomination (or really, any other reasons that could be added to the list) sound God-approved?  They do not.

Listen to the “plea” of the God of heaven Himself, “…you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you” (1 Cor. 1:10).  Since the desire (which equals a demand) of the God of heaven is that all “speak the same thing,” is that what is happening in denominations?  Since the desire (i.e., demand) of the God of heaven is that there be “no divisions,” is that reflected in the thousands of denominations?

The Lord’s church came with power in Acts 2.  Jesus said His church/kingdom would come “with power” (Mark 9:1), when the apostles were “endued with power from on high” (Luke 24:49), having received that “power when the Holy Spirit” came upon them (Acts 1:8) in Jerusalem in Acts 2:1-4.  No denomination ever came into existence “with power” from God, but as the result of the desires of man.  So, what are you a part of today?  Are you in the church that Jesus established with power in Acts 2, or are you in a denomination that came about later by the power of man?  That question has eternal consequence!

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