October 4, 2023

Withdrawing from Those Who Have Departed

Man walking away

When it comes to our responsibilities within the local church, exercising church discipline is often one of the more difficult commands to obey. This could be because we do not want to break ties with our erring brethren. It might be because we do not want to be accused of being judgmental or unloving. Perhaps we are not sure when or how to exercise discipline. All of these factors contribute to the fact that discipline is often neglected when it is needed.

However, what often happens (at least in my limited experience) is that those brethren who are unfaithful and need to repent have already stopped assembling with the congregation. They have, in essence, withdrawn themselves from the local church. What is our responsibility in that situation? Is it true, as some have said, that you cannot withdraw from those who have already withdrawn themselves?

Before answering that question, let us be reminded of a few passages that discuss church discipline.Continue Reading

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September 6, 2023

“I Am a Nobody”

Man Standing by Bench

“I have become foolish; you yourselves compelled me. Actually I should have been commended by you, for in no respect was I inferior to the most eminent apostles, even though I am a nobody. The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with all perseverance, by signs and wonders and miracles” (2 Corinthians 12:11-12).

In this context, Paul was defending his apostleship while trying not to sound arrogant. Some in Corinth were attempting to discredit Paul and turn the brethren away from him. He was trying to combat this by defending his message without elevating himself. There are some important lessons we can learn from Paul in this.

He warned the saints in Rome not to think too highly of themselves, and this warning is just as necessary for us. He wrote, “For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith” (Romans 12:3). We are not to overestimate our significance, just as Paul was to “keep…from exalting” himself (2 Corinthians 12:7). At the same time, we are not to underestimate our importance as the Lord and the angels in heaven earnestly desire to see our salvation (Luke 15:7).

It is often easy to think of ourselves the way Paul described – as a “nobody” – yet forget that we are “in no respect…inferior” to others in the sight of the Lord. How can we have a proper view of self and not have an attitude of arrogance or feelings of inferiority? Let us consider what Paul’s example can teach us about this.Continue Reading

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August 30, 2023

Following Paul’s Example

Paul preaching

“Now you followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, perseverance, persecutions, and sufferings, such as happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium and at Lystra; what persecutions I endured, and out of them all the Lord rescued me” (2 Timothy 3:10-11).

In the passage above, Paul wrote to Timothy about how the young evangelist had followed the apostle’s example in various ways. It is important that we follow examples, in particular, the ones who are worthy of emulation. Paul told the brethren in Philippi, “Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us” (Philippians 3:17). When Paul wrote to the church in Corinth, he was mindful of the fact that he needed to set an example for them. He wrote, “Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1).

What about us? Are we setting the example that we need to set before others? This was not just something for an apostle like Paul to do. Timothy was told to follow Paul’s example, yet he was also to “show [himself] an example of those who believe” (1 Timothy 4:12). He learned from Paul, and he was to conduct himself in such a way that others could learn from him as well. The same is true for us. We need to set a good example for others, which includes following the example that Paul set for Timothy.

When Paul wrote to Timothy about following his example, he mentioned nine ways in which he set an example. Let us notice each of these to see what we can learn from Paul and how we might be able to follow his lead and show the same type of example to those around us.Continue Reading

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August 16, 2023

The Gates of Hades Will Not Prevail

Rusty gate

“Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He was asking His disciples, ‘Who do people say that the Son of Man is?’ And they said, ‘Some say John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; but still others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.’ He said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’

“And Jesus said to him, ‘Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it’” (Matthew 16:13-18).

In the passage above, Jesus asked His disciples what others said about Him and what they would say. Peter confessed that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the living God. This was the basis for Jesus’ promise to build His church. His identity would be the foundation.

Immediately after making this promise, He said that not even “the gates of Hades” would “overpower it” or “prevail against it” (KJV). Hades is described in the Bible as the realm of departed spirits where they will experience either comfort or torment (Luke 16:19-31). Jesus’ point was this: Death would not stop His plan for His church. Let us notice four ways in which this is true.Continue Reading

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August 9, 2023

What to Do with Truth

Man Reading Bible

When Pilate was questioning Jesus, He said He had “come into the world, to testify to the truth” (John 18:37). In response, Pilate dismissively asked, “What is truth?” (John 18:38) before returning to meet Jesus’ accusers.

Though it may not have been a sincere inquiry, Pilate’s question – “What is truth?” – is good. Ultimately, God is the source of truth since it is “impossible for God to lie” (Hebrews 6:18). This is why the Psalmist wrote, “The sum of Your word is truth” (Psalm 119:160). Shortly before His crucifixion, Jesus prayed for His disciples and appealed to the Father, “Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth” (John 17:17).

When we seek to define truth, we must recognize that the Scriptures reveal the truth that comes from God. It is critical that we understand this. However, simply acknowledging that is not enough. In addition to recognizing the word of God (the Bible) as truth, there are certain things we must do with the truth.

So what are we to do with the truth? Let us briefly notice a few points.Continue Reading

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July 26, 2023

The Peace of Depending on God

Joseph and Esther

In this article, we will examine the lives of two young people we can read about in the Bible – Joseph and Esther. Their lives were separated by about 1,400 years, and they are both much further separated from us today. Yet their examples teach us some important lessons.

Many young people are tempted to sin in various ways (using bad language, dressing immodestly, using drugs or alcohol, identifying themselves with the LGBTQ ideology, etc.) because they feel the need to have the approval of others. Of course, this problem is not limited to those who are young – everyone can face these same pressures. What makes them especially challenging for young people is that they have not yet learned how to deal with these pressures. Because of this, they feel as if they are, in a sense, dependent upon the approval of those around them. This can be difficult and stressful because other people are constantly changing their values, priorities, morals, etc. What they want from us can differ from one day to the next.

However, there is a peace that comes by being dependent upon God. This will make us, in a sense, independent of the approval of others. In other words, gaining the favor of the world for our opinions and behaviors will not seem nearly as important when we focus on God and gaining His approval. Yet in order for this to work correctly, we must never see ourselves as independent from God.

So let us consider what we can learn from Joseph and Esther – how they demonstrated their dependence upon God and how we can do the same today.Continue Reading

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July 5, 2023

Act As Free Men

Birds freed from cage

The United States was built upon the foundation of freedom. Every fourth of July, the nation celebrates Independence Day. Freedom was the theme of the Declaration of Independence, the founding document that declared that all men are equal and possess the inalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Those of us who live in the United States have enjoyed the blessing of freedom that many people throughout history could not even imagine.

However, this concept – that freedom is the preferred environment in which mankind should live – was not just the opinion of the nation’s founding fathers. This is rooted in God’s plan for the human race. Notice what Peter wrote:

“Act as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bondslaves of God” (1 Peter 2:16).

Man in his natural state is free – in speech, thought, action, association, and religion. God has given us free will to choose what we will do in life. This is why Joshua challenged the people of Israel: “Choose for yourselves today whom you will serve” (Joshua 24:15). Yet this free will does not mean we are unaccountable. God will judge us for what we have done in this life (cf. Ecclesiastes 11:9; 12:14; 2 Corinthians 5:10). In the passage above, Peter explained that our “freedom” was not to be used to do “evil,” but that we were to act “as bondslaves of God.”

From the beginning, Satan has worked diligently to bring man into bondage by taking away the freedom offered by the Lord. Why would he do this? A lack of freedom (being in a state of bondage or tyranny) hinders one from serving God and fully enjoying a relationship with Him.Continue Reading

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