THE
SPIRIT’S
SWORD
Volume VII, Number 16
September 14, 2003
Published by
Mt. Baker
church of Christ
Bellingham, WA
(1860 Mt. Baker HWY)
(360) 752-2692
Sunday:
Bible
Classes..........9:30 AM
Worship............10:30 & 6:00
Wednesday:
Bible
Classes...........7:00 PM
Web sites:
www.bibleanswer.com/mtbaker
www.bibleanswer.com
Editor................Joe R. Price
"And take...the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God" (Eph. 6:17)
In this issue:
Pearls from Proverbs
(Key Word: Wisdom)
Theme of Proverbs
“The fear of the Lord is the
beginning of knowledge” (1:7a)
Defining a Proverb
Proverb: The Hebrew word for proverb (mashal) means “comparison, similar, parallel.” A proverb uses a comparison or figure of speech to make a pithy and poignant observation. Proverbs have been defined as simple illustrations that expose fundamental realities about life. These maxims are not theoretical but practical...The proverbs are general statements and illustrations of timeless truth, which allow for, but do not condone, exceptions to the rule. (Talk Thru the Old Testament, Wilkinson & Boa, 165)
Outlines of Proverbs
I. The Purpose of Proverbs............................................................1:1-7
II. Proverbs to the Youth........................................................1:8--9:18
III. Proverbs of Solomon......................................................10:1--24:34
IV. Proverbs of Solomon Copied by Hezekiah’s Men........25:1--29:27
V. The Words of Agur...............................................................30:1-33..
VI. The Words of King Lemuel....................................................31:1-31
-Talk Thru The Bible, Wilkinson & Boa, 166-167
I. Wisdom for Young People..................................................1:1--9:18
II. Wisdom for All People...................................................10:1--24:34
III. Wisdom for the Leaders.................................................25:1--31:31
-Life Application Bible, Tyndale, 1078
Things God Hates
Oppressors, perverse people........................................................3:31, 32
Haughtiness, lying, murdering, scheming, eagerness
to do evil, a false
witness, sowing
discord................................................................6:16-19
Those who are untruthful.................................................................12:22
The sacrifice of the wicked.................................................................15:8
The way of the wicked........................................................................15:9
The thoughts of the wicked..............................................................15:26
Those who are proud..........................................................................16:5
Those who judge unjustly.................................................................17:15
Why Apostasy Happens
Mark Dunagan
The Bible clearly teaches that the church would not be immune from apostasy (Acts 20:28-31; 1 Timothy 4:1-3; 2 Timothy 4:2-4; 2 Peter 2:1ff). In a recent article a writer suggested various reasons why organizations of all kinds tend to move from faithfulness to unfaithfulness and from discipline to permissiveness:
· Movements always want to grow, but how do you grow, by including more people. Yet very often you include people who are compromising. This is one reason why church discipline is so necessary, it keeps the church from being watered down (1 Corinthians 5), and why elders need to make sure that those who want to place membership are clearly dedicated to God’s truth.
· The “seeker friendly” movement that exalts the marketing impulse over the truth. “Be nice, soft, or people will leave in droves”, seems too often to be the operative maxim. Yet Jesus refused to compromise the truth even when people left “in droves” (John 6:60-68). Timothy was told to keep on preaching the truth even though many would fall away (2 Timothy 4:3-4).
· The myth that good scholars need to question and challenge what the Bible teaches, in order to advance knowledge. In contrast, faithful Christians are told to abide in the teaching of Christ (2 John 9).
· The second or third generation is often not as dedicated as those who first sacrificed everything for the truth (Judges 2:9ff).
· Decay and apostasy are natural in a world filled with sin—unless there is salt! The best thing Christians can do is to remain salty, which means preaching the word without compromise (2 Timothy 4:2). Isaiah and Jeremiah contain great insights into “salty” believers.
· We come to favor people we love and respect over truth itself, yet we must refuse to do this (Galatians 2:11-13). The truth must always be exalted, even over popular people, family members (Luke 14:26) and even our own lives.
· We become too busy with the things of this world (Luke 8:14). “We erect all manner of idols (work, family, diversions, avocations, and the pursuit of wealth and success) which we regard as harmless, since they are the hallmarks of our American society and culture: We are an undisciplined, world-enamored, pathetic people who know next to nothing about loving the Lord our God with all our hearts, souls, mind, and strength”. “Other than that”, this friend wrote me, “we’re in pretty good shape” (World Magazine, 8-16-2003, p. 5).
· Liberalism is naïve especially when small movements in the wrong direction are taking place, often liberals will argue, “It’s no big deal”. Many people are more committed to avoiding conflict than standing for the truth.
· One little compromise follows another it is easy to combine A with B, then B with C, C with D and on. We can comfortably drift into apostasy (Hebrews 2:1ff).
-What’s Happening, Sept. 10, 2003
Two Dead Men
Steven J. Wallace
“There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom” (Luke 16:19-23)
That Jesus teaches about two separate lives is clearly evident from this passage. One lived in uncompassionate luxury away from God and learned in eternity the foolishness of his choices. However, Lazarus, would gladly live in poverty with God and reap the wealth of divine grace and favor in the next life to come. To conclude that the Lazarus was saved because he was merely a beggar and that the rich man was lost simply because he was rich is absurd and destroys the entire significance of Jesus’ teaching.
The pinnacle of this passage is found in verses 27-31, “Then he said, ‘I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house, for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.’ Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’ And he said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ But he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.’”
There is a hellish place called “torments” where all the wicked will go. They do not cease to exist as Seventh-Day Adventists assume, but continue to be tormented forever as the Apostle John states, “And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night…” (Rev. 14:11). But the wicked are not always necessarily limited to “murders” and “deceivers,” but encompass all who refuse to hear and obey what is written. One of the tormenting things in hell (besides the flame) is to know that you have relatives who are lost and may be joining you in your misery. It may be your son or daughter, your mother or father, brothers or sisters. This rich man’s plea was for something sensational to happen to save his family. God does not use a religion of gimmicks and sensationalism to attract and save men; however, the power is in what is written.
Are you reading your Bible? Is worship a regular part of your life? Are your choices leading to “torments”? Will your decisions help send your loved ones to hell or heaven? Are you honoring God and preparing for judgment? Why not begin to worship the Creator with the Church of Christ in Sunnyside (Mt. Baker church of Christ in Bellingham, WA, jrp)? Everything taught is documented with a book, chapter and verse. All questions are welcomed. We encourage all to investigate the scriptures for their own salvation.
Steven J. Wallace (evangelist)
Sunnyside, WA
The churches of Christ greet you. Romans 16:16
NOTEWORTHY NEWS
(Current
events in the light of Scripture)
Remember!
Joe R. Price
Today is 9/11, a day Americans never gave much thought – just another day – until September 11, 2001. Then, everything changed. The World Trade Center. The Pentagon. A Pennsylvania field. Now, we must never forget.
The gospel of Jesus Christ instructs us to remember many things for our spiritual welfare. Here are some of them. We must remember…
1) The sacrifice of Jesus with the Lord’s Supper: “do this in remembrance of me” (1 Cor. 11:24-25).
2) The words of Jesus: “Remember the word that I said to you” (Jno. 15:20; cf. 16:4; Acts 20:35).
3) The words of the apostles: “remember the words which were spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Jude 1:17; cf. 2 Ths. 2:5).
4) Our lost condition before salvation in Christ: “Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh…that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ” (Eph. 2:11-13).
5) Your previous faithfulness, repent and bear its fruit: “Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works” (Rev. 2:5; cf. 3:3).
6) Lot’s wife, as an example of the swift and certain nature of divine judgment (Lk. 17:32).
7) Those who suffer: “Remember the prisoners as if chained with them—those who are mistreated—since you yourselves are in the body also” (Heb. 13:3; cf. Gal. 2:10).
8) Those who rule over you: “Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct” (Heb. 13:7).
9) The resurrection of Jesus: “Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead according to my gospel” (2 Tim. 2:8).
God has blessed us with memory. May we use it to help us live “soberly, righteously, and godly in this present age” (Tit. 2:12).
Created by Chuck Sibbing. 09/19/2003
The Spirit's
Sword is a free, weekly publication of the Mt. Baker church of Christ,
Bellingham, WA
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