Gospel Meeting April 26-May 01, 2009

THE MT. BAKER
CHURCH OF CHRIST
(1860 Mt. Baker Highway, Bellingham, WA)

Invites you to our

GOSPEL MEETING

with Evangelist

Steven j. wallace

(Sunnyside & Yakima, WA)

April 26–May 01, 2009

Monday-Friday:  7:00 PM
(Sunday:  9:30 & 10:30 AM, 6:00 PM)

                                                 (From I-5 take Exit # 255 and go East 4.2 miles)
                                                 more information:  please call (360) 752-2692

Top

In Season, Out of Season, Positive or Negative?
Steven J. Wallace

Some brethren have elevated themselves and have become content with a position as a “judge” of sermons, of doctrine and of the Scripture as being “positive” or “negative.”  I have always been leery of those who think they have the authority to judge the Word as something “negative.” I sometimes ask churches when I hold a meeting if there is anything negative about “convince,” “rebuke,” “exhort.”  Usually someone will think that “convince” and “rebuke” are more “negative” and “exhorting” is more “positive.” 

Regardless, Paul told preachers to preach “the word” which includes the “whole counsel” and to do so in season or out of season with longsuffering (2 Tim. 4:2; Acts 20:20, 26, 27). It is “out of season” to preach what men like to judge as “negative.” Such will always be the case when brethren get bold enough to judge God’s word as “negative.” (I always thought that if a person could show me how to escape hell that such was a pretty positive thing!)

When people begin making themselves judges of the law they have sinned by making themselves above the law rather than keeping their place “under” the law. James tells us,

“So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty” (Jas. 2:12).

And again he stated,

“. . . But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge” (Jas. 4:11).

If I understand James’ point, we cannot be partial in God’s law. We cannot set aside part of God’s law and choose to obey another part, or we make ourselves judges rather than doers. If we violate any part, if we reject any part, if we despise any part, we then despise it all for it all condemns us (Jas. 2:4, 10). The next time you are asked to judge God’s word as “negative” think about this admonishment:

“. . . Behold, the Judge is standing at the door!” (Jas. 5:9).

The irony is, that while some may think they are judging the preaching of the word, it is the word that is judging them, “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Heb. 4:12).

Top

Five Views of Baptism: What View Do You Hold?
Steven J. Wallace

Jesus stated nearly 2000 years ago, “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned” (Mk. 16:16). To the simple, unbiased and unprejudiced mind, Jesus’ statement is very clear and easy to understand. It is as easy to understand a doctor’s statement, “He who eats his food and digests it will live; but he who does not eat will die.” All of us would easily understand that unless we eat and digest, we will die! However, for those who have allied themselves with human creeds and have been depraved with worldly wisdom, Jesus’ simple statement becomes confusing and contradicting. Although the Bible ALWAYS places water baptism (in Jesus’ name) before salvation, men have sought ways to undermine His authority and confuse the simplicity of our Lord’s teaching.

ATHEIST’S VIEW
      For example, the Atheist would say, “He who believes and is baptized will NOT be saved.” He has rejected the existence of God and the authority of the Bible. Unbelievers believe there is no God, yet one would have to be “God” himself to prove such a position. For one to know that there is no God, he would have had to have been everywhere, seen everything at once and know all things! Yet Jesus had him in mind when he said, “. . .he who believes not shall be condemned,” and again, “. . .he who does not believe is condemned already” (Jn. 3:18). Truly “the fool has said in his heart ‘There is no God.’” (Ps. 14:1).

UNIVERSALIST’S VIEW 
     The Universalist approaches the scripture with the bias that God is a God of only love and therefore He can never condemn anyone. They say, “He who believes NOT and is NOT baptized shall be saved.”  While such a faith accepts the actuality of God, it rejects His word and leaves, nonetheless, a corrupt and misguided picture of Deity. Warning! “He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him—the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day” (Jn. 12:48).

CATHOLIC’S VIEW
      The Catholic comes along and teaches, “He who believes NOT and is baptized shall be saved.” I say this as a former Catholic who was sprinkled as a baby. Catholics baptize babies because of the erroneous view of inherited sin (Ezek. 18:20); however, Bible baptism was NEVER administered to babies. Jesus taught that babies are safe (Lk. 18:15-17). Notwithstanding, subjects of Bible baptism must have first believed (see again Mark 16:16), yet faith comes by hearing the word of the Lord (Rom. 10:17). How can a baby believe when they cannot understand the word of the Lord? Can they also confess with their mouth the Lord Jesus (Matt. 10:32; Rom. 10:9, 10; Acts 8:37)? False doctrine makes us believe unbelievable things!

PROTESTANT’S VIEW
      Then the Baptist comes and says, “He who believes and is NOT baptized shall be saved.” Yet is this what Jesus said?  Is it Deity’s view? No amount of human manipulation will change the eternal truth of Mark 16:16. Beware all of these “NOTS” are formulated by men in the devil’s “tale” to cheat your soul!

JESUS’ VIEW
 “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.” (Mk. 16:16)

Top

NOTEWORTHY NEWS
(Current events in the light of Scripture)

The Enormity of God
Joe R. Price

Space scientists report finding a mysterious “blob” measured to be 12.9 billion light-years from the earth. It is reported to be a gas cloud about half the size of our Milky Way galaxy. For those who accept the Big Bang theory of the origin of the universe, this is being described as a discovery near the dawn of time (“Giant Mystery Blob Discovered Near Dawn of Time”, Jeremy Hsu, Space.com).

     Not only does the Big Bang Theory mock the evidence of creation, it also presumes that all things continue as they were from the beginning of the big bang (cf. 2 Pet. 3:4). So, according to the theory, if you can see an object 12.9 billion light-years away, the light you are now seeing must have occurred 12.9 billion years ago.

     There is a problem, though. God the Creator made the heavens and the earth with the appearance of age, just as He created Adam with the appearance of age. Formed as an adult, when Adam had lived one day he looked like he had lived many years.

     In a similar way, when God created the stars their light instantly appears (Gen. 1:14-19). Adam did not have to wait years before any star light appeared in his night sky.

     The fact that objects can be seen over 12 billion light-years away ought to cause man to stand in awe and amazement at the enormity and power of our God! He spoke and it all came into being (Psa. 33:6-9). Nothing is hidden from His view, no matter how far away (Psa. 139:7-8). Yet, He also sees us (Heb. 4:13).

     Take time to look into the heavens and meditate on the vastness of God. The heavens give you a glimpse into God’s eternal and all-powerful nature (Rom. 1:20).

Top

Created by Chuck Sibbing.  04/24/2009