Hospitality
Its Benefits & Responsibilities

(Genesis 12:1-4)
By: Keith McNeely 

            Three visitors come to Abraham in the “plains of Mamre” as he “sat in the tent door in the heat of the day”, and upon seeing them “he ran to meet them” (Genesis 18:1).  None can deny that Abraham, often called the “father of the faithful”, adequately showed hospitality to his guests. 

            Genesis 18:1-4 records how Abraham went about showing hospitality. While we surely have different ideas about what hospitality is, the Bible here gives us a good outline on the topic teaching us that Abraham offered a proper greeting, a sincere invitation to stay with him, and an obvious full meal.  [The reader is encouraged to notice the entire context of the visit.]

            In the New Testament we also see examples of hospitality. Luke 5:29 records that a “great feast” was hosted and the Lord and others were in attendance. Paul urged that those in Rome be “given to hospitality” (Romans 12:13). Our hospitality is to be without grudging (1 Peter 4:9), which means grumbling or secretly complaining. The point -We from time to time host guests in our homes, and it at times can be a challenge, but God urges us to do so “without grudging”.

            The qualifications for God’s leadership in His church includes “given to hospitality” and a “lover of hospitality” (1 Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:8). When one envisions the church as a family, realizing that we are brethren, it is easy to see a scenario where practicing hospitality would indeed be a blessing.

            Several benefits came to Abraham because of the hospitality he willingly showed to those visitors. Understand clearly, he does not seem to be motivated by what he could get out of the situation, however, he was certainly benefited.  Now, in your own life, what potential benefits might come because you show hospitality to others?  First, think of the edification you potentially will receive, and/or give to others because of the hospitality shown. Second, the process of evangelism is often furthered greatly when hospitality is adequately practiced. Think on these things.

Tulip

By: Kevin Rutherford

            I really like tulips. They are beautiful flowers that give glorious evidence of the wondrous creative power of God. However, there is one tulip that is really ugly. It is a tulip that has caused many people to go astray, and lose their souls. It is the acrostic T.U.L.I.P. that represents the basic tenets of John Calvin’s teaching. Because John Calvin’s teaching is seeing resurgence in religious thought we must be careful that it does not subtly weave its way into the thinking of Christians. Calvinism is popular but it is wrong.

            The “T” of the acrostic stands for “Total Hereditary Depravity.” This is the belief that man’s heart is totally depraved by sin which he inherited from his ancestors. This conflicts with many passages included Ezekiel 18:20 where God said, “the son shall not bear the iniquity of the father.” 

            The “U” of this deadly “Tulip” represents “Unconditional Election.” This is the idea that God has already determined who will be saved and who will be lost, no matter what choices the person may make in life. This would take away man’s free-choice in regard to his service to God and his salvation, yet Joshua made it very clear that man does in fact have a choice (Joshua 24:15). Also, we are told that “…God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.” (Acts 10:34-35)

            The “L” of the Tulip stands for “Limited Atonement.” This is the false view that Christ only died for those God chose from before the beginning of time to be saved. However, John 3:16 shows us that God sent His Son for the whole world, while Titus 2:11 teaches that the grace of God has appeared to all men. Furthermore, the Gospel is for all, not a limited number that God chose to be saved from before the beginning of time (Matthew 28:18-20).

            The “I” stands for “Irresistible Grace.” This is the idea that if you were chosen to be saved, God will save you no matter what you may think about it. God will force salvation upon you. He makes certain people believe by sending the Holy Spirit to perform a mighty working upon the heart of the individual chosen to enable them to believe the truth. This violates all of the Scriptures listed above in the refutation of “T”, “U”, and “L”. In addition the Bible does not teach we are saved by a mighty working of the Holy Spirit apart from the Word of God itself (Romans 10:17; Ephesians 6:17). Those who believe a mighty working of the Holy Spirit is required cannot consistently teach the all sufficient nature of the Scriptures (2 Timothy 3:15-17).

If God Does Not Hear A Sinner’s Prayer,

How Can One Confess?

 Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth. John 9:31 

By: Garland Robinson 

            It is true that God does not hear a sinner’s prayer (John 9:31). Those who are not children of God do not have the privilege of prayer. In fact, no place in all the Bible is a sinner told to pray anything. Sinners are told to obey the Lord’s will by believing, repenting, confessing and being baptized (Acts 2:38); THEN (as Christians) they have the privilege of prayer.

            When we say God does not hear a sinner’s prayer, we’re talking about the fact that God does not hear it in regards to granting the petition of that prayer. Obviously, since God is all-knowing, He hears and knows all things. Nothing is hidden from Him. God knows us to the very marrow of our bones and that “…all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do” (Hebrews 4:12-13). If God did not know these things, He could not be a righteous judge. Everything we’ve done and said will be revealed at the judgment (2 Corinthians 5:10).

            On the other hand, the Bible is clear when it says that only those who are Christians have the promise that God will hear and answer their prayers. “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). “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us” (1 John 5:14). “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much” (James 5:16). “For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil” (1 Peter 3:12).

            Saul of Tarsus prayed fervently for three days but it did not save him (Acts 9:11). He was a lost miserable man that was still in his sins when Ananias came to him and taught him what he must do to be saved. Ananias said, “…arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins” (Acts 22:16). In effect, Ananias told Saul to stop praying and to be baptized to wash away his sins. Confession of faith in Christ comes before baptism. It is a step in the process of obedience (Romans 10:9-10). God hears it because he has commanded it. Are you ready to repent, confess and be baptized?