Category: Subject Index

Husbands, love your wives… Wives, submit to your husbands. You must, for your God demands it!

While the husband/wife relationship is not exclusively defined by its sexual aspect, that is what makes it unique. Sex is a blessed privilege and obligation in that union, but is unacceptable in any other context. Men have largely rejected these facts, but the future welfare of our society is dependent upon our acceptance of this truth.

God hates divorce, and intends the contract between a man and woman in marriage to be a lifetime commitment. It is a directive we must obey!

The premise of the series is simple, God must be the primary focus of the home! Our roles, duties and attitudes toward the home must be fashioned through the filter of the divine.

Once the Ethiopian had obeyed, he went on his way rejoicing. We also can go rejoicing in salvation if we will follow the pattern for conversion revealed in the word of God. Regardless of the different messages taught by men today, the gospel of Christ remains the one and only message bringing salvation through Christ to obedient believers.

Imagine that-Methodists eventually may forsake a common Protestant practice and actually break bread as those non-Methodist, New Testament disciples did (Acts 20:7)! What’s more, the “weekly practice” would not only “fit the practice of Methodist founder, John Wesley,” but it also would “fit the practice” of the church of Christ’s founder, Jesus Christ (Matt. 28:20; Acts 2:42; 20:7).

Catholicism is self-imposed religion that cheats people out of the truth, genuine discipleship, and a home in heaven. It is so concerned with its ancient tradition that it has set aside the more ancient words of God. It draws near to God in word, but betrays a distant heart, vain in its works.

Much damage has already been done to the Lord’s cause by preachers who have become known for being overly friendly with women or, worse, for being immoral. Let us all love God and the souls of others above ourselves and be resolute in this matter. The dangers we discuss in this article are real and understandable. Therefore, there is good reason to be wise and understanding with regards to them.

Jesus, the source of divine authority today, speaks through the New Testament. To be His follower, we must obey His word! Everything that we teach or practice as children of God must find its authorization in the pages of the New Testament.

My conclusion is that a church may use a bulletin and its influence may be widely felt without invading another church’s independence. Let us not be critical of any method or medium which a church uses so long as care is used to respect local autonomy. And finally, let us extend the same courtesy to those who stand for the truth as for those who constantly agitate. Don’t call for one to cease while allowing the other to continue. Common fairness and decency demands this much.

Evolutionists are quick to claim for themselves the realm of reason. They seek to contrast their “hard science” with the “superstitious” and “closed minded” believers of the Genesis account of creation. But, while the Bible believer holds to the existence of an invisible first cause whose work can be seen in the visible cosmos, the atheistic evolutionist is forced to believe in multiple universes for which there is no evidence of existence whatsoever. Further they must admit that not only is the evidence lacking, but it will never be possible to verify it in any way. In effect, it must be accepted by blind faith.

Brethren need to understand the danger of conforming God’s will to popular thought. Such attitudes resulted in Israel clamoring for a king (cf. 1 Samuel 8:5-7), the Judaizers binding circumcision upon the Gentile (cf. Galatians 6:6-9), and the Gnostics denying the humanity of Christ (cf. 1 John 4:2-3). It led to the adoption of ecclesiastical heiarchy leading to the establishment of the Catholic church, the embracing of the instrument in Christian worship, and the acceptance of the social gospel concept in our generation. And, it is leading some to deny the literal nature of God’s account of His creation of the world.

Now, if ever there comes a time when everyone is saved, if there were ever a time when there were no lost sinners, if every man were forgiven, would water baptism continue? No, for its purpose would no longer be necessary. That is why the other baptisms ceased. So, water baptism would end and would no longer be practiced if everyone were saved. Obviously, that has not happened, and water baptism continues. It is, therefore, the “one baptism” of Ephesians 4:5.

The application of unity-in-doctrinal-diversity has no logical end. Yes, there will be brethren who will be inconsistent and arbitrarily refuse to fellowship certain errors. However, many of us have noted this same phenomena among our institutional brethren who violate the silence of the Scripture with regards to the work of the church, but will not countenance other violations of the silence of God like instrumental music in worship.

Go to your preacher, ask him how much he makes, and compare his gross salary with the gross salary of the other members. Compare the shoddiness of his clothing and house to the luxuries of others. Ask him how he is criticized and gossiped about, by hypocrites who do the very same things. You may be surprised what you learn.

One must hear the gospel, believe it, repent of his sins, be baptized and continue to do all things commanded by Christ through His apostles. The one who meets those conditions is a disciple of Christ, saved and enjoys the remission of sins.

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops recently (and erroneously) concluded that “Jews can be saved without coming to faith in Jesus Christ.”

Washing the saints’ feet today may include the literal act at times, but it is not limited to that act, nor to times of religious ritual. We wash the saints’ feet when we practice pure religion by visiting widows and orphans in distress. When we share with brethren in need or down on their luck, we wash their feet. When we associate with the humble and refuse to set our minds on high things, we wash feet. When we are willing to get our hands dirty in order to cleanse someone in distress, we wash feet.

Gone are the days when going to the mission field meant leaving most of the information found in your library behind. While computer accessed data may never replace the book in the hearts of many of us, it does allow for a far more normal “office life” for one far from his library than has ever been possible.

Simply put, direction for the Christian in his life must ultimately have as its source the Christ. Those who foist upon us their own opinions and directives practice lawlessness, and stand condemned. Do you want to enter the kingdom of heaven? Then follow Christ, not man.