April 17, 2019

Agabus and Paul

The Prophet Agabus

In the early days of the church, Agabus was one of several prophets in Jerusalem (Acts 11:27-28). Prophets played an important role in the beginning of the church. Paul listed prophets along with apostles as part of the foundation of the church (Ephesians 2:20). Apostles and prophets were given by God to equip the saints and build up the body (Ephesians 4:11-12). The role of the prophets was to reveal the secret things from God (cf. Amos 3:7; Revelation 10:7).

There are two prophecies of Agabus recorded in the book of Acts:Continue Reading

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April 10, 2019

Are You Perfect?

Perfect

[This article was written by Bill Reeves and has been reformatted for viewing online.]

1 Jn. 1:5-10, the controverted text (ver. 7) and context:

“And this is the message which we have heard from him and announce unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him and walk in the darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: but if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanseth us from all sin [conditionally, ver. 9!]. If we say that we have no sin [that is, deny the reality of sin as the Gnostics did], we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If [conditionality] we confess our sins [anytime they are committed], he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned [as the Gnostics did, and therefore would not confess their sins] we make him a liar [as they did], and his word is not in us [as it is not in them].”

The phrase “walking in the light” has been used by neo-Calvinistic brethren to assert that if one is “walking in the light” (as they define it), that God continually cleanses them of their sins even as they sin! The bottom line of the issue is the so-called “depraved nature” in man.

“Are you perfect?” is the question often stated by the proponents of this error in an effort to stop the mouths of their opponents. The question is totally invalid, until the terms are defined! Let them tell us what they mean by the word “perfect” in their question. They don’t do it! It is a scare tactic. The question is supposed to halt the one questioned, because no one wants to appear as if he never sins, nor could ever sin again in the future, that he is absolutely like God in sinlessness (although he actually is, when pardoned by God – he has no sins!).Continue Reading

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April 3, 2019

The Sect That Is Spoken Against Everywhere

Paul in Rome

When Paul came to Rome as a prisoner, he was permitted to meet with the Jewish leaders in that city. The apostle used this opportunity to explain why he was there – not as an enemy of the Jewish people but that he was suffering “for the sake of the hope of Israel” (Acts 28:17-20). The Jewish leaders had not heard about Paul, but they had heard about the church.

“They said to him, ‘We have neither received letters from Judea concerning you, nor have any of the brethren come here and reported or spoken anything bad about you. But we desire to hear from you what your views are; for concerning this sect, it is known to us that it is spoken against everywhere’” (Acts 28:21-22).

The church was this “sect…spoken against everywhere.” Why was this the case?

When we study the book of Acts, we find several reasons why the church was “spoken against everywhere.” As we follow the same pattern that they followed, this will often happen to us as well. We will be “spoken against” by others. It is not that we should seek out trouble or conflict. Paul told the Romans, “If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men” (Romans 12:18). However, we do need to be prepared for this reality.Continue Reading

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March 20, 2019

Good Things to Do When You’re Young

Young People

The wise man noted, “Childhood and the prime of life are fleeting” (Ecclesiastes 11:10). One does not need to possess the wisdom of Solomon to see this. The fleeting nature of youth becomes more apparent with age, yet it is often not appreciated by those who are young.

At every stage of life, it is important to make the most of our time (Ephesians 5:16). How can one do this in youth?

Depending on who you ask, you will receive different answers to that question – pursue an education, build friendships, etc. What does the Bible say? Let us notice six things that the Bible says are good to do in one’s youth.Continue Reading

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March 13, 2019

Taking the Lord’s Supper Out of the Assembly

Communion Cup

Shortly before His death, Jesus instituted a memorial to help His disciples remember Him and the sacrifice He was about to make on the cross (Matthew 26:26-29). This memorial was later referred to as “the Lord’s Supper” (1 Corinthians 11:20).

In the first century, Christians “gathered together” to observe this memorial “on the first day of the week” (Acts 20:7). This memorial consisted of the bread which represented Jesus’ body and the cup (fruit of the vine) which represented His blood that was shed on the cross (1 Corinthians 11:23-26). Paul also emphasized to the brethren in Corinth that when they would “come together to eat” (partake of the Lord’s Supper), they were to “wait for one another” (1 Corinthians 11:33).Continue Reading

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March 6, 2019

The New Birth

Baptism

“Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.’ Nicodemus said to Him, ‘How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born, can he?’ Jesus answered, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be amazed that I said to you, “You must be born again”’” (John 3:3-7).

When Jesus talked with Nicodemus, He told him about the need to be “born again.” Peter also used this type of language in his first epistle – being “born again” (1 Peter 1:3, 23). There is a reason why Jesus and the inspired apostle used this analogy – this new birth parallels physical birth.Continue Reading

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February 27, 2019

The Christian and the World

Man in Forest

One of the more interesting books I have read was The Stranger in the Woods by Michael Finkel. This book describes a man – Christopher Knight – who disappeared in 1986 and was not found until 2013. For twenty-seven years, he lived alone in the woods in central Maine without any contact with others. The way he was able to survive in the woods – not just for part of a brutally cold Maine winter, but for almost three decades – was fascinating, despite his unethical methods (stealing in order to acquire supplies).

One reason why a book like this was so popular – it was a national bestseller – is because we are intrigued by the idea of one who was able to disappear into the woods and continue his life without interference from the world around him. There may be times when we wish we could escape from the world, yet we know that this is not practical or realistic. We all live in a society and necessarily need to interact with others.

As Christians, there is a “relationship” that we have with the world. Jesus described it in the following verses:Continue Reading

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