June 21, 2023

The Time When They Will No Longer Endure Sound Doctrine

Megachurch

As Paul began to close his second letter to Timothy, he “solemnly” charged him (2 Timothy 4:1) to carry out his work as a preacher. He told the young evangelist, “Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction” (2 Timothy 4:2).

Timothy was not at liberty to teach any message that he or others might prefer. He was to proclaim the word of God, just as Paul and the other apostles taught (2 Timothy 1:13). He was not to deviate from this message in any way – just as we must not alter the message (cf. Galatians 1:8-9; Revelation 22:18-19). The charge for him to “be ready in season and out of season” to preach this pure, unadulterated message of the gospel required a willingness to proclaim it even if it was unpopular, inconvenient, and difficult for people to accept.

However, since the message of the gospel is sometimes unpopular, inconvenient, and difficult for people to accept, many turn away from it. Sadly, this even happens among Christians and in local churches. Paul warned Timothy that he would encounter this:

“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths” (2 Timothy 4:3-4).

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May 31, 2023

Will All Good People Be Saved?

Woman at sunset

Many believe that as long as someone is a “good” person, then that individual will go to heaven. But how do we define “good”? The Scriptures say that “there is none who does good” (Romans 3:12). Jesus said, “No one is good except God alone” (Luke 18:19).

When we talk about “good” people, we are using a man-made definition. If people think an individual is a “good” person, they classify them in that way. Does having this designation mean that a particular person will be saved? Unfortunately not.

In this article, we will notice a few examples in the New Testament of “good” people who still needed to be saved. Then we will notice why simply being “good” alone will not save anyone.Continue Reading

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May 17, 2023

Judging and Being Judged

Man Pointing Finger

Our society as a whole has rejected the idea that we can identify anyone’s chosen behavior or identity as being wrong. This has led to the acceptance of numerous practices that were once largely looked down upon. As a result, the only thing that many people will condemn is the “intolerance” and “bigotry” from those who identify sin as sin.

Many such people are irreligious and have no interest in following the Lord, yet they want to try to use the Bible against “intolerant” Christians. Then there are others among this group who claim to be Christians but condemn the “judging” done by other Christians. Both types of individuals will often cite Jesus’ statement, “Do not judge so that you will not be judged” (Matthew 7:1), in order to condemn those who identify sin and encourage righteous behavior. However, Jesus’ point in that passage is very different from the one that many people make from it. Notice the whole context of that verse:

“Do not judge so that you will not be judged. For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and behold, the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye” (Matthew 7:1-5).

In this passage, Jesus talked about judging and being judged. Other Bible passages address this topic as well. Let us consider what Jesus and the rest of the Scriptures say about it.Continue Reading

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May 3, 2023

Conduct Yourselves in a Manner Worthy of the Gospel

Reading an Open Bible

When Paul wrote to the church at Philippi, there were very few problems that he needed to correct. These brethren were faithfully following the Lord and were an encouragement to the apostle. So he encouraged them to continue serving the Lord in a way that would please Him. Consider the following verses:

“Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; in no way alarmed by your opponents—which is a sign of destruction for them, but of salvation for you, and that too, from God. For to you it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, experiencing the same conflict which you saw in me, and now hear to be in me” (Philippians 1:27-30).

In the passage above, Paul told them to “conduct [themselves] in a manner worthy of the gospel.” This indicates that the gospel calls us to a higher standard, and Christians must strive to live up to it. But what exactly does that mean? How can we do this today? Let us consider what Paul wrote in this passage about how we can “conduct [ourselves] in a manner worthy of the gospel.”Continue Reading

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April 19, 2023

How the Church May Use Its Money

Collection Plate

“Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I directed the churches of Galatia, so do you also. On the first day of every week each one of you is to put aside and save, as he may prosper, so that no collections be made when I come” (1 Corinthians 16:1-2).

The passage above shows the practice of churches in the first century under the direction of the apostles taking up a collection on the first day of the week. Brethren often cite this as the reason why Christians today continue to give on the first day of each week when they assemble with their local congregations.

But why do we give on the first day of each week? Besides following this example, what is the purpose of doing this? After we put our money in the collection plate, what does the church do with it? Are there any instructions or principles in the New Testament that would inform us about the church’s use of that money? We are going to consider these questions in this article.Continue Reading

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April 5, 2023

The Meekest Man in All the Earth

Moses

“Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth” (Numbers 12:3, KJV).

While the Israelites were in the wilderness, a complaint arose from Miriam and Aaron against Moses. The original reason for the complaint was something involving Moses’ wife (Numbers 12:1), yet it led his brother and sister to challenge Moses himself (Numbers 12:2). It is in this context that the statement above was made about one of Moses’ character traits – meekness.

In this article, we will discuss meekness – what it is, how it was manifested in Moses’ life, and why we must display this trait today.Continue Reading

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March 29, 2023

Notable Women and Their Role in the Early Church

Paul with Aquila and Priscilla

Over the last few decades, there has been a growing movement in the religious world pushing for women to be able to serve as preachers, pastors, or in other leadership roles within the church. In fact, I wrote an article back in 2009 commenting on a study that indicated then that the number of women pastors has doubled in a decade. This trend has only accelerated since that time.

As more “conservative” religious groups feel pressured to welcome women in various leadership roles in their churches, there is more of an attempt to defend this practice by appealing to the Scriptures. Lately, I have noticed some religious people citing certain women mentioned in the New Testament as “proof” that women are permitted to preach in any public forum, oversee a local congregation, or exercise some other leadership role in the work or worship of the church.

In this article, I want us to briefly notice some of these prominent women of the first century church and see what the Scriptures actually have to say about them. We will also be reminded about what the New Testament says about women serving in these roles.Continue Reading

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