Never Discuss Religion and Politics

By: Joe Spangler

Is this really a good rule in conversation? Maybe it's good to avoid some confrontations, but surely not good when it comes to selecting civil leaders. God has blessed us with civil powers (Ro.13:1-6) and a system that lets us choose good governance. It's only the Devil that would forbid us from discussing good policy or considering the experience and integrity of those who would oversee our lives and freedoms. Equally the Devil would prefer that men associate lack of civility with the two subjects!

The Devil doesn't want us to discuss the Bible either. God calls for us to preach the Gospel (Mk.16:15,16) and minister grace unto the hearers (Ep.4:29). How can a man be saved from sin except he first hear the Gospel? (Ro.10:13-14) Satan would prefer we never nurture nor admonish our children in righteousness (Ep.6:4). He had rather that our friends, neighbors and family be lost!

TRUTH
By: Larry Yarber

The wise man said, “Buy the truth and sell it not;…”(Proverbs 23:23); but why? What is it about the truth which makes it so desirable?

It has been said, and rightfully so, “ignorance enslaves but truth sets us free”. This is true both in a physical sense and in a spiritual sense. Physically, those who are ignorant are enslaved to poverty. Truth in skilled positions empowers us to succeed in life. Likewise, spiritual ignorance enslaves one to sin and death while spiritual truth enables us to attain eternal life. Jesus said, “And ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32). John taught those of his day that we are sanctified by obedience to the truth, “Sanctify them through thy truth: …” (John 17:17). And Peter wrote that obedience to the truth purifies the soul, “Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth …” (1st Peter 1:22). Since truth frees, sanctifies, and purifies, why do so many men hold the truth in such contempt?

Pilate once asked, “… What is truth? …” (John 18:36). This statement was made concerning the controversy which surrounded our Lord and His teachings. The Bible teaches us that God’s word is truth, “ … thy word is truth” (John 17:17). Paul concluded, “… yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mayest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged” (Romans 3:4). Perhaps this explains man’s hatred of truth. God’s word (the truth) exposes man as a liar and his deeds as being evil. Jesus told those of His own day and age, “Ye are of your father the devil, … he is a liar, and the father of it. … if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me? He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God” (John 8:44-47). And, “… this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God” (John 3:19-21). Man doesn’t want the error of his way revealed, therefore; he resents the shining light of truth.

Furthermore, instead of mending their ways, men try to alter or change the truth to fit their lifestyle. Paul tells us that this was the attitude of the world in past ages, “Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen” (Romans 1:25). He went on to say that those with this type of attitude, “… perish; because they received not the love of the truth, … that they should believe a lie; That they all might be damned who … had pleasure in unrighteousness” (2nd Thessalonians 2:10-12). This is why they attempt to wrest the scripture and are deceitful in their treatment of God’s written word (2nd Peter 3:15-16 and 2nd Corinthians 4:1-2). Thus, they try to justify their own ungodly behavior by wresting the scriptures in order to make them say something they don’t actually say. The Bible prophesied of this time and of these people by saying, “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine: but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears: And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables” (2nd Timothy 4:3-4).

May we always be mindful of the value of the truth and as Paul said, rejoice therein, “… rejoiceth in the truth” (1st Corinthians 13:6).

Are Sinners Saved When They Respond to the Gospel Call?

By Garland Robinson

            Yes. The question is what does God require man to DO in response to His call? Some say man can’t DO “anything,” some say “faith only,” some say “faith and repentance.” We’re not interested in what some say, we want to know what the Bible says.

            Man’s response to God’s Call is what man DOES. If man does not do anything, he will not be saved. God has done all He can do to save man. At this point forward, salvation is up to man if he expects to be saved. The question is, “what does God require one to do to be saved from their sins?”

            Many point to a single verse for the answer. However, there is no single verse in all the Bible that gives the complete answer to what one must DO to be saved. Some say the answer is “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ” as found in Acts 16:31 or “confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus” as found in Romans 10:9. But, neither of these verses says anything about repenting of their sins. Repentance is essential for one to go to heaven (Luke 13:3, 5; Acts 2:38). The Gospel call involves more than belief and confession.

            In order to know what is involved in the Gospel call, we must take ALL the Bible says on the subject, not just a few select verses here and there. When we search the New Testament, we will find there are several things God requires man to DO. A sinner MUST: Believe in Jesus (John 3:16; 8:24; Mark 16:16; Acts 16;31); Repent of sins (Matthew 9:13; Luke 13:3, 5; Acts 2:38; 17:30); Confess faith in Jesus (Matthew 10:32-33; Acts 8:37; Romans 10:9-10); and be Baptized (immersed in water FOR (in order to receive) the forgiveness of sins (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 1 Peter 3:21). This is when one’s sins are washed away (Acts 22:16) by the blood of Jesus (Ephesians 1:7). This is the “new birth” of which Jesus said one must be “born again” (John 3:3-5).

            In answering God’s call, water baptism is the final step taken by a sinner to become a child of God. It is the point at which one leaves the old life of sin and steps into the new life of righteousness (Romans 6:3-4, 7-18). One is now IN Christ, old things have been done away, all things are become new (2 Corinthians 5:17). Will you answer the call?

            Man can’t add to or subtract from God’s Gospel Call.