Most of us have questions about what lies beyond our earthly existence. Do the souls of the righteous immediately enter into the presence of God, or must they await the Judgment Day before being ushered into heavenly bliss? Does the soul merely “sleep” until the last day, unaware of anything until the trumpet sounds?
We live in world of mixed up and misplaced priorities. When a pregnant young lady can give birth to a baby, dispense of it in a garbage can, and then return to the dance floor so as not to miss her prom, we must admit a problem with priorities. When we are outraged over a snail being displaced from its habitat in the course of a public works project, yet are unable to weep or cry out concerning the millions of innocent children slaughtered in the name of progress and women’s rights, we have a serious problem with priorities. What should be top priority in our lives? How can we keep the main thing the main thing?
Everything imaginable vies for our attention, and seeks to garner our allegiance. Athletes and various other celebrities endorse this or that as a superior product, attempting to persuade us to use whatever it is that they are peddling. Religion is no different. Even seemingly good and upright undertakings contend for our allegiance. Why does the New Testament place such emphasis upon confessing Christ?
Often in discussions about the necessity of baptism for salvation, many will bring up the thief on the cross. Such is done in an to attempt to circumvent the Lord’s command to be baptized, as they will point out that the thief was saved without obeying such. Are we saved like the thief on the cross?
As Jesus was dying, he spoke the following to the penitent thief who was crucified with him: “Today shalt thou be with me in Paradise” (Luke 23:43). Many look at this thief and assume that he was saved simply because he called upon the Lord to remember him, and he is often held up as an example of salvation by faith only. There are a number of things that must be considered, however. First, it must be remembered that the thief lived and died under the Old Covenant. As a Jew, he was born into covenant relationship with God. Read More »
Multitudes within Christendom consider Peter to be the first Pope of the church. Tradition holds that Jesus founded the church upon Peter, and that Peter served as the Vicar of Christ upon earth. A supposed unbroken line of succession has brought each successive Pope to sit in Peter’s seat as head of the church. Where did this idea originate, and does it have any credence? Let us examine what the Bible has to say.
Many attempts have been made to undermine the veracity of God’s word. One of the fundamental doctrines of Christianity is the fact that Jesus Christ was born of a virgin. According to human rationale and an understanding of biological processes, a virgin birth is an impossibility. Many scoff and ridicule the Bible because human reasoning cannot fathom nor accept such. Others try to circumvent this plain Bible truth by applying a modernistic twist. Recent movies and writings cast aspersions on Mary, making her not only not a virgin, but less than desirable in character as well. Does it really matter if we believe that Jesus was born of a virgin? Can we accept modernism’s version of the story? What does the Bible say?
Sometimes in religious discussions concerning the nature of Jesus Christ, the question arises as to whether Jesus is a created being or not. A few religious groups hold to the idea that Jesus was created first, and he then created all things thereafter. Often, an appeal is made to Colossians 1:15, wherein Jesus is called the “firstborn of every creature.” Was Jesus created, or is he eternal? What does the Bible say?
Respect for the word of God has waned in the past few decades. Fewer it seems reverence and respect the Bible as the revealed will of God. There are still those who hold God’s word near and dear to their hearts. However, the materialist, the humanist, the atheist, and even the liberal theologian would have us to believe that the Bible is nothing more than a dead letter, void of any real value and capacity to bring about change in one’s life. Is the word of God powerless or powerful? Is it living and active, or dead and dormant?
Jesus stated, “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life” (John 6:63). The words of Jesus bring life! Jesus thought enough of the power of God’s word that he used it to defeat the temptations of the Devil (Matthew 4:1-11). Three times he would say “it is written” in response to the allurements of sin brought before him on that occasion. The word of God is not some “dead letter,” as many claim. It is full of life. “For the word of
God is quick (living, Patrick Morrison), and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12). We are reminded that “all Scripture is given by the inspiration of God” (2 Timothy 3:16). The word translated “inspiration” is translated from a compound Greek word that literally means “God-breathed.” The very breath of God spoke into existence the entire universe, for He spoke, and it was so (Genesis 1). Read More »
We hear much said in religious circles about a kingdom yet future that Jesus will establish when he comes again. There are many who recite the Lord’s Prayer (We should call it the Model Prayer), which includes the petition, “Thy kingdom come” (Matthew 6:10). Should we still be praying after this fashion? Has the kingdom come, or are we still awaiting its arrival?
Jesus told his disciples, “Verily I say unto you, There be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power” (Mark 9:1). Now, either Jesus is the complete embodiment of truth (John 14:6), and as such he cannot lie (Titus 1:2), or he is a fraud. He told his disciples that some of them would be alive to see the coming of his kingdom! Either the kingdom came in the lifetime of some of the disciples of our Lord, or there are some upon earth who are some 2,000 years old, still awaiting the arrival of the kingdom of the Messiah! We can know and understand that the kingdom has come. Jesus said the kingdom would come with power. He told his disciples to tarry in Jerusalem until they be endued with power from on high (Luke 24:49). The power would come upon them when the Holy Spirit came upon them (Acts 1:8). Therefore, if we can find when the Holy Spirit came upon the apostles, then we can find when the power came: if we can find when the power came, then we can know that the kingdom has come! Friends, the Bible tells us that the Holy Spirit was poured out upon the apostles on the day of Pentecost as recorded in Acts 2. The kingdom of Christ came into existence on that day! The church, the kingdom, had its beginnings in Acts 2, and God has been adding the saved to it ever since (Acts 2:47; see also Colossians 1:13).
Do you have a question that you would like for us to consider together, or a comment regarding what has been written? If so, please email us at sixthavenue@bellsouth.net, or write to us at the Sixth Avenue Church of Christ, 1501 Sixth Avenue, Jasper, Alabama,
The Daily Mountain Eagle has posted an article on the Words of Truth program that Sixth Avenue Church of Christ is involved in. To read the full article, on the Daily Mountain Eagle Website, click here.
To view some of our older Newspaper Articles, check them out here at www.sixthavenuechurch.org/resources/newspaper-articles/
Sunday
Bible Class: 9 AM
AM Worship: 10 AM
PM Worship: 5 PM
Wednesday
AM Bible Class: 10 AM
PM Mid-Week Study: 7 PM
