By Jim Mettenbrink
When a lawyer asked Jesus, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”(Luke 10:25), He referred to a Samaritan man rendering much more than first aid to a dying Jew (Lk 10:33-35). Last week, we noted that Samaritans suddenly appear when Israel (Northern Kingdom) had been destroyed (2 Kings 17:29). Who were the Samaritans?
By Jim Mettenbrink
That man wants to live beyond the grave is evident. It is noticed in some of man’s doings, yet he knows he will die – gone from society, friends, and family, never to return. Philanthropists give huge amounts to have names on institutions. In a remote area of the sandhills of Nebraska, a man built a monument to himself at the entrance to his acreage. He wants to be remembered if he can’t be on terra firma. Do these folks believe that death is the end of their existence that prompts the desire to somehow have an existence of some sort here? Even if it is just the posting of their name on a building? Or a carved stone? The Bible reveals that death is not the end of man’s existence. In fact, without the Bible, no one would know he/she became an eternal entity from the moment of conception in their mother’s womb.
By Jim Mettenbrink
Regardless of what the Bible reveals, it is man’s selfish nature to believe that once a person is saved from his sins, he can not lose his salvation, but will live forever in heaven. When those who are saved or think they are saved walk away from Jesus and returned to their previous sinful life, adherents to the “once saved, always saved” (OSAS) belief declare that they were not saved in the first place, because upon conversion, the truly saved were given the indwelling of the Holy Spirit to make sure they stayed saved (Calvinist doctrine of Perseverance of the Saints – OSAS). Although it’s a most comforting belief, is it true? What say the Bible?
By Jim Mettenbrink
Last week, we were considering the standard by which man lives hoping to live eternally. We cited the PEW poll revealing that 65% (40% in 2002) of Americans believe they can be “moral and have good values” without believing in God. Although 90% of those who did not consider organized religion important believed that they could be moral and have good values. Morality and values were not defined in the poll. Just what is moral and what are values? Paramount is, what is “good?”
By Jim Mettenbrink
The great irony of mankind is that each person wants to live on and on, even eternally in heaven, yet, he wants to be his own god and set his own conditions by which he lives in the here and now, and self-deceptively for eternity. The record of when that malady began is found in Genesis chapter three when Adam and Eve decided to do it their way. Result? Death and separation from God – no fellowship with Him at all because of eating one little prohibited fruit. God gave disobedience a huge three-letter word – SIN!
By Jim Mettenbrink
The tendency of mankind is to make God into a good ole boy, who overlooks our wretchedness. And thereby fostering an easy road to heaven. How often do we hear that salvation is via the sinner’s prayer by popular figures who believe Jesus is God? “Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner, and I ask for Your forgiveness. I believe You died for my sins and rose from the dead. I turn from my sins and invite You to come into my heart and life.”? And by that, you are saved? During a Bible study with a man about 10 years ago, showed me that prayer he had written in his Bible at the behest of a man who believed that was all there was to be saved.
By Jim Mettenbrink
Last week, we saw that Saul (later to be the apostle Paul) was commanded to “Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22:16). So did the water wash away his sins? Many have that misunderstanding among others.
Some folks believe that the mere ritual of baptism saves them. So what would be the difference in that and diving into a pool? One might argue that it is the words stated by the one baptizing them that makes the difference between being saved and lost. Some, like the Corinthians Christians, might think the difference is who baptizes them (1 Cor 1:12-17). All of those notions are wrong.
Good Monday Morning –
By David Phillips
Well, here we go again. Are these Mondays coming around quicker than they used to or is it just me?
The morning sermon yesterday focused on the topic, Perilous Times, and we discussed the text of 2 Timothy 3:1-9. There are many people who read this passage and think it is telling us what to expect near the end of the world. However, that is not the intent of the passage at all. The “last days” is a Bible term meaning the division of time which began at the resurrection of Christ, and continues until the end of time, sometimes called the Christian Age. The things listed by Paul are things that have been going on for that whole time, and getting progressively worse. “Perilous times” are not the days just before the second coming of Christ.
Good Monday Morning –
By David Phillips
I hope your week is off to a good start. If you are reading this, it means there are many things that are working right, and that is something to be thankful for on a Monday morning.
Brother Mitch Henry was with us yesterday for the Sunday school hour and morning worship service, and he delivered two good lessons. It was refreshing to have Faulkner’s President request to come speak to us, and the two Bible students he brought with him made good impressions too.
In the evening service, we continued our study in the theme of Connections, and specifically looked at another lesson on Strengthening Our Connection to God the Father. As previously noted, becoming a Christian by obeying the Gospel of Christ is the initial step in coming to God. As Christians, we all must be seeking out ways to strengthen our connection to God, as per James 4:8 – Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.
By Jim Mettenbrink
In the last article, we reviewed statements by protestant reformation leaders Calvin and Luther who acknowledged that baptism in the early church was immersion. However, the churches that follow the teachings and innovations of these men sprinkle or pour water on people rather than immerse them. Has the meaning of the first-century Greek word (original language of the New Testament) bapto (transliterated into English as “baptize”) changed?