Bulletin Articles

As members of the church of Christ, we celebrate the resurrection of Christ every Sunday, not just an annual observance.

1. “Easter” does appear in the King James Version of the New Testament. (Acts 12:1-4)
   1. This is the only place in the English translation of the Bible that the word “Easter” appears.
   2. This same Greek word is used in Matthew 26:2; Mark 14:1 and many others passages and in every instance it is translated, “Passover.”
   3. The New English versions (NASV, NKJV) have the word “Passover” in Acts 12:4.
   4. The context shows that what was being done could not correspond to our modern-day Easter.
      1. Herod was not celebrating the resurrection of Christ, but was trying to please the Jews by persecuting Christians.

   
   Jesus, the Lamb of God…
   The lamb the children of Israel slew was to be dedicated to God. It was to be separated from the other animals. They were to care for it for four days. It was to be given to God. It was the Lord’s Passover (Exodus 12:11). Jesus is God’s dedicated Lamb today.

   Because He is the only begotten of the Father.

   John 1:14 “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”st like Christmas, instrumental music in worship, baptizing infants, and many other things.

2. Let us continue to celebrate and rejoice in the resurrection as we partake of the Lord’s Supper on every first day of the week as the Lord ordained.
   1. Let us continue to live in preparation for His coming, which His resurrection assures.
   2. May God be with us in our efforts to serve Him in truth and sincerity.

The subject of salvation is viewed by the voice of inspiration as something to be “obtained.” Paul wrote to the evangelist Timothy, “Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory” (2 Timothy 2:10). The Bible discusses many features of salvation that draw the reality and meaning of the subject clearly into view.

Saving Lord
The God of heaven is the saving Lord Peter proclaimed, “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to usward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). God is referred to as the “God of our salvation” in Psalm 68:19. “Salvation is of the Lord” declared Jonah from the whale’s belly (John 3:2; Matthew 12:40). Known all too well is the answer “nowhere” to the refrain of the beautiful Christian hymn “Where Could I Go but to the Lord?”

Saving Scriptures
God’s planning (Ephesians 3:8-11), Christ’s performing (Hebrews 10:7), and the Holy Spirit’s revealing (1 Corinthians 2:9-10) have brought about “the salvation in Christ.” The entire human family can know about it because it stands unassailably codified in the eternal word of the living Lord (Psalm 119:89; Matthew 24:35). James wrote, “Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls” (James 1:21).

Saving Gospel
The gospel message is God’s power unto salvation, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; the Jew first, and also to the Greek” (Romans 1:16). The sinner cannot be redeemed without sufficient power exerted upon the sinful condition of the soul to save him or her from spiritual ruin and death. That saving power is the gospel of Christ. The entire gospel system presented in the New Testament stands upon the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Paul wrote, “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scripture” (1 Corinthians 15:1-4)

The Bible is clear on the benefits of being in Christ:

• Acts 4:12 – Salvation is only in Christ
• 2 Corinthians 5:17 – New creatures are in Christ
• Romans 8:1 – No Condemnation to those in Christ who walk after the Spirit
• Ephesians 1:3,7 – All spiritual blessing are in Christ (forgiveness and redemption)
• Revelation 14:13 – It is a blessing to die in the Lord
• Galatians 3:27 – We are baptized into Christ
• I Corinthians 12:13 – We are baptized into one body
• Colossians 1:18 – The Body is the church
• Ephesians 1:22-23 – The church is the body
• Ephesians 4:4 – There is one body, There is ONE Church
• 1 Corinthians 12:27 – The body of Christ is the church of Christ
• Romans 16:16 – The churches of Christ salute you (ONE church, different locations)

Get in Christ today. Being in Christ is the only place of salvation. The church of Christ is the only church built by Christ (Matthew 16:18)

Perhaps one of the most familiar and most often quoted Bible verses is John 3:16.  The verse says, For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.  Consider this verse from God’s perspective. God created man in his own image and after his own likeness (Genesis 1:26-27). God is the Father of spirits (Hebrews 12:9), and to the spirits of just men made perfect; (Hebrews 12:23) the God of the spirits of all flesh (Numbers 16:22; 27:16). His love for the creatures made in his image is greater than his creatures can fathom. The Psalmist declared, “When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? And the son of man, that thou visitest him?” (Psalm 8:3-4). God’s love for man is so great that even though he is so pure and holy that he cannot look upon evil and iniquity (Habakkuk 1:13), yet he has commended his love toward a lost humanity. Paul wrote, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us?” (Romans 5:8). Many people wrongly insist that because of God’s great love he could never punish them for their sins. Be not mistaken, God will by no means clear guilty sinners. The Psalms say, “The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity” and “God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day.” (Psalm 5:5, 7:11). Moses wrote that God is “Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.” (Exodus 34:7). The context bears out that God is merciful, gracious, longsuffering, abundant in goodness and truth (Exodus 34:6). And, God will not “clear the guilty” but he will “pardon iniquity and sin” (Exodus 34:8-9).

Men trying to be holy and trying to imitate Christ find sin repulsive. Often the mistake is made of desiring the punishment of God to be brought down upon the wicked because there is no argument but that they really deserve it. James and John once thought this way as recorded in Luke 9:51-56, “And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem, And sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him. And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem. And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did? But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of.  For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.”

As the words of the song say, “This world is not my home; I’m just a passing thru. My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue”. Jesus says, “Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:20-21). We must lay up our treasures in heaven, not here on the earth. The Bible says, “And as it is appointed for man to die once, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27). When we draw our last breath, what we have accumulated here on the earth belongs to someone else. After we die our fate is sealed and we will be judged.

Life here on earth is so temporary and short. Life passes so quickly. James 4:14 says, “Whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.” Many people are living their lives as though they will live forever here on the earth. One day this earth and all of its possessions will be burned up. No one knows when this will be. “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness” (2 Peter 3:10-11).

As the words of the song continue to say, “If heaven is not my home, then Lord what will I do?” For the vast majority of people, heaven will not be their home (Matthew 7:13-14). Their home will be a real and living hell in which they will be tormented day and night forever and ever in burning fire and brimstone (Revelation 20:10,15). But for the few whose home is heaven, “God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away” (Revelation 21:4).

The apostle Paul was longing to leave this world and go home to heaven. He says, “For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you…For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:23-24,3:20).

As mortal human beings we cannot begin to imagine how great and wonderful heaven will be. We cannot comprehend its glory. We have, “an inheritance incorruptible and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you” (1 Peter 1:4), “knowing that you have a better and enduring possession for yourselves in heaven” (Hebrews 10:34). As human beings we are eternal in that we live forever and ever in one of two places. Our home will be either heaven or hell. We make the choice as to where we will go. If one is not preparing to go to heaven he will end up in hell. Our number one goal in this life must be for heaven to be our home. No one will accidentally go to heaven.

The apostle Paul was a great preacher. By his example and instruction he teaches much about preaching the Gospel. In his letter to the Thessalonians he gives a glimpse into his style of preaching. (1 Thessalonians 2:1-7).

3. The Gospel must be proclaimed boldly! There is no place in the pulpit for one who is a coward. There is no room in the pulpit for one who will shirk from proclaiming ALL the counsel of God. At Miletus, Paul talked to the elders of the church from Ephesus. He told them, “Wherefore I take you to record this day that I am pure from the blood of all men. For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God” (Acts 20:26-27). He instructed Timothy to “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine” (2 Timothy 4:2). One must be bold in his proclamation of the truth. He must preach it when folks desire to hear it and when they do not wish to hear it. He must not shun to declaring the whole counsel of God without fear or favor.
4. Paul’s preaching was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile. Paul had no hidden motives or agenda. His only motive was to please God and save men. Today, our pulpits are filled with men who will not teach the truth about God’s plan for man. They will not teach the truth about the church of our blessed Lord. They refuse to speak out against worldliness in the church. Thus, they preach of deceit.
5. The Gospel preacher has been put in trust with the Gospel. This great treasure has been placed in earthen vessels! One should be ashamed to be afraid and afraid to be ashamed of this glorious Gospel. If the Gospel preacher is not true to this trust, then who is going to teach the truth to the world? Certainly it will not be done by denominational preachers preaching their lies!
6. The Gospel preacher must preach to please God, not men. “For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ” (Galatians 1:10). Too many today appear to be more concerned with “making friends” than in winning souls. Too many seem to be more interested in making a name for themselves than in proclaiming the name of Christ. Too many allow friendship, family, etc. to alter their teaching. We must preach to please God and Him only!
7. Paul never used flattering words. Plain talk is the easiest to understand. The Gospel is for all and should be taught so that all may hear, understand and respond.
8. God is witness to our preaching. Therefore, I dare not seek to preach to please men. I dare not preach less than the whole counsel of God. I dare not be anything but bold in my proclamation of the Gospel.
9. One can obey all of the teaching of Paul concerning the preaching of the Gospel. One can follow the example of preaching that Paul left for us and still be “gentle…as a nurse cherisheth her children.” One can be bold in telling men the truth. He can be plain. He can be strong and still be gentle.

Expect nothing less…. the gospel of Christ MUST be preached!!!

For part 1 of this epistle, check out Gospel Preaching (Part 1 of 2)

The apostle Paul was a great preacher. By his example and instruction, he teaches much about preaching the Gospel. In his letter to the Thessalonians he gives a glimpse into his style of preaching. In chapter two he writes, “For yourselves, brethren, know our entrance in unto you, that it was not in vain: But even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the Gospel of God with much contention. For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile: But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the Gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts. For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloak of covetousness; God is witness: Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ. But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children” (1 Thessalonians 2:1-7).

From this description of Paul’s preaching among the Thessalonians, we learn the following:

1. Paul’s preaching was not vain, useless. He did not teach the doctrines of men which are useless (Matthew 15:8-9), but preached the “word of God which effectually worketh also in you that believe” (1 Thessalonians 2:13).
2. One who preaches the Word of God is subject to being shamefully treated. In Paul’s day, as in ours, most folks do not wish to hear the pure, simple Gospel of God. Paul even warned the young preacher Timothy, “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” (2 Timothy 3:12). Jesus spoke of a time “when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake” (Luke 6:22). Preaching the Gospel does not make friends from the world or from those who have turned their backs on the truth and deserted the ranks of faithful Christians.

For part 2 of this epistle, check out Gospel Preaching (Part 2 of 2)

Christ, who is all knowing, tells us that many people are going to be lost in eternity. In Matthew 7:13-14 He says, “Enter by the narrow gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it”. According to the Bible the majority of people will be lost. We must take this warning seriously. The Lord says that only a few people will be saved.

How few can few be? In 1 Peter 3:20 we read, “…When once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was preparing, wherein few, that is eight souls were saved by water.” The conservative estimate of the number of people on the face of the earth in the days of Noah is two hundred million (200,000,000) people. But only eight (8) out of the estimated two hundred million (200,000,000) were saved. This is not very good odds. Even though the Bible says in 1 Peter 3:9 that the Lord is “not willing that any should perish”, Jesus says in Matthew 7:13-14 concerning eternal life in Heaven that “there are few who find it”. The vast majority of people will spend forever and ever in the eternal fires of Hell that will never be extinguished. Mankind cannot comprehend how horrible that Hell is going to be.

There are only two roads to eternity and everyone is on one or the other. If we miss Heaven, we will be thrown into the eternal fires of Hell forever. One of the saddest things about being thrown into Hell is the fact that it could have been avoided. The majority of people will be lost in spite of what the Lord has done. Hell is not what God does to us, but Hell is what one does to himself. A person who ends up in Hell is his own worst enemy and only has himself to blame.

Let us make going to Heaven our number one priority in this life.