Sin and Salvation

Sin and Salvation
Tim Haile, for the Parkway church of Christ

“Political correctness” has produced a kind of religious correctness, which has led to the popular notion that Christians are not to be critical of “sinful” behavior. It is alleged that true Christians will have a “live and let live” approach to others. And while it is true that the New Testament contains no mechanism for the coercion of good behavior or for the physical punishment of bad behavior, this does not mean that Christians are to be silent regarding the law of God. God’s word constitutes a standard, and it is applied to humans through instruction and learning. Local churches are to “sound forth the word of the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 1:8). Individual saints are to “hold forth the word of life” (Philippians 2:16). The gospel message is the “word of the Lord” because it was “breathed out” by God (2 Timothy 3:16). It is the “word of life” because it contains life-giving, soul-saving instructions. The gospel of Christ is “the power of God to salvation to everyone that believes…” (Romans 1:16). But “salvation” from what? Religious people often speak of “being saved,” but from what are we “saved?” Paul immediately answers this question in the several following verses following Romans 1:16 and 17: The answer is SIN! We are saved from the guilt and soul-damning consequences of sin.

How many times have you heard the word “sin” in the past few weeks or months? Probably not much. Most people, even many who call themselves “Christians, are afraid to use the little word “sin.” They fear that if they define sinful conduct, someone’s (sinful) behavior might be indicted and they will be charged with unlawful “judging of others.” Matthew 7:1-5 does condemn the kind of judging wherein one condemns others while he is doing the same thing (hypocritical judging), but what about the simple task of holding forth God’s divine standard? What about gospel preaching? If one “speaks as the oracles of God” and teaches what Paul taught in Romans 1:18-32, he will have condemned many different types of sinful behavior. Of course, this is one of the purposes of gospel preaching. Yes, we must preach the facts that are to be believed, but what good does it do one to believe if he refuses to repent? Jesus plainly stated that people will “perish” if they refuse to turn from their sins (Luke 13:3, 5). But how does one repent of his sins if he doesn’t know what they are? Salvation is from sin. Let us ignore this new “religious correctness” and let us get back to the work of showing people why they need to be saved, and what they must do to accomplish salvation!

View past articles at http://parkwayarticles.blogspot.com. Please join us for worship and Bible study at our building located at 125 Hilltopper Ave, Bowling Green, KY 42101. We meet each Sunday at 10:00AM and 6:00PM for worship, and Sundays at 9:00AM and Wednesdays at 7:00PM for Bible study. Our radio program is aired each Sunday morning at 8:00AM on the WKCT 930AM band. Phone: (270) 842-2049 – Email: timhaile@mac.com. Visit www.parkwaychurchofchrist.com.

Religious Changelings

Religious Changelings
Tim Haile, for the Parkway church of Christ

We are living in an age that is obsessed with “change.” North Americans recently watched the “change” mantra literally dominate a presidential campaign. Millions of people voted for a particular candidate on the mere basis of his constant call for “change.” Many of these voters knew absolutely nothing about this particular candidate’s actual views and positions on vital issues. They knew only that he was “for change.”

The clamor for change, however, is not limited to politics. It is a cultural mindset, and as such, it permeates the entire fabric of our society. This includes religion. Sadly, the change mentality exists among religious people, even among those who call themselves “Christians” and claim the Scriptures as their exclusive guide of faith and practice. God does not change (Mal. 3:6; Heb. 13:8), and his word does not change (Psalm 119:89; Matt. 24:35; 1 Pet. 1:25; Rev. 14:6), but these “servants of God” are constantly looking to change something.

Solomon said, “My son, fear the Lord and the King; do not associate with those who are given to change” (Proverbs 24:21).

Not all change is bad. Change that constitutes repentance is good and necessary (Luke 13:3, 5; Acts 2:38; 17:30). In repentance, one changes his mind and his direction with respect to the practice of sin. However, Solomon speaks of a change that is so dangerous and wrong that he urges his son to not associate with those who are “given” to it. He has reference to innovators. These are people who resist and reject established norms, patterns and standards. They are not comfortable with the notion of things having to be done a certain way. Their inclination is to do things differently than do others.

Pride and rebellion drive the spirit of change. Proud people simply believe that their way is better. They see their different way is being better by mere virtue of the fact that is their way - the way that they invented! Rebellious people are those who cast off the restraints of law, often divine law (see Jeremiah 5:5), simply because they want to have their own way and do their own thing. “Every way of man is pure in his own eyes…” (Prov. 16:2). Let us remember that God has an unchangeable law. Faithful service is rendered to God by observing that unchangeable law.

View past articles at http://parkwayarticles.blogspot.com. Please join us for worship and Bible study at our building located at 125 Hilltopper Ave, Bowling Green, KY 42101. We meet each Sunday at 10:00AM and 6:00PM for worship, and Sundays at 9:00AM and Wednesdays at 7:00PM for Bible study. Our radio program is aired each Sunday morning at 8:00AM on the WKCT 930AM band. Phone: (270) 842-2049 – Email: timhaile@mac.com. Visit www.parkwaychurchofchrist.com.

Christmas Time Religion

Christmas Time Religion
Tim Haile, for the Parkway church of Christ

Religious sentiment tends to increase during Christmas and Easter. And even though we admit that a small amount of attention to Bible topics is better than none at all, we do not want people to be deceived into thinking that this seasonal “religion” is sufficient for their souls. There is more to serving God than just attending a “Christmas” or “Easter” church service.

Interestingly, it is the churches themselves that have actually fostered the notion that special religious services should be associated with Christmas and Easter. Christ’s gospel contains no instructions authorizing or requiring such special services or assemblies. The New Testament makes every Sunday equally significant. New Testament Christians assembled upon the first day of every week to give (1 Cor. 16:2), to remember the Lord’s death through the observance of the Lord’s Supper (Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 11:23-26), and to pray, sing and study (Acts 2:42; 1 Cor. 14:26-33). No particular Sunday service was any more or less important than others, for every Sunday has been divinely prescribed as our day of worship. The concept that certain religious services are any more or less spiritual than others is a mere human opinion. It is not founded upon Scripture.

This raises an important question: Why do some people encourage the commemoration of events that God has not told us to commemorate, and refuse to commemorate an event that God has told us to commemorate? The Bible does record the birth (Matt. 1:18-2:12; Luke 2:1-21) and the resurrection of Christ (Matt. 28; Mark 16; Luke 24; John 20). And though we must believe these gospel facts, nowhere does the Bible authorize the establishment of certain holy days or procedures for their commemoration. However, the Bible quite plainly instructs us to commemorate the Lord’s death (by the Lord’s Supper, Matt. 26:26-29; Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 11:23-33), stating the day of the week on which this is to be done, and even implying the frequency of observance. With the approval of an inspired apostle, the disciples at Troas assembled “upon the first day of the week” to observe this memorial. Inasmuch as every week has a “first day,” we are to observe the Lord’s Supper upon the first day of every week. Let us commemorate what God would have us to commemorate. In so doing we will worship weekly, not just annually or biannually.

View past articles at http://parkwayarticles.blogspot.com. Please join us for worship and Bible study at our building located at 125 Hilltopper Ave, Bowling Green, KY 42101. We meet each Sunday at 10:00AM and 6:00PM for worship, and Sundays at 9:00AM and Wednesdays at 7:00PM for Bible study. Our radio program is aired each Sunday morning at 8:00AM on the WKCT 930AM band. Phone: (270) 842-2049 - Email: timhaile@mac.com. Visit www.parkwaychurchofchrist.com.

Homosexuality and Gay Marriage (Part 1)

Homosexuality and Gay Marriage (Part 1)
Tim Haile, for the Parkway church of Christ

Defenders of homosexuality and gay marriage have traditionally gone to great lengths to avoid Bible teaching when making their case. However, Newsweek.com recently published an article that attempts to use the Bible in actual defense of gay marriage. Lisa Miller’s article was published December 6, 2008, and is entitled, “Our Mutual Joy.” The article contains numerous errors and Scripture misrepresentations. Before addressing her specific arguments, lest us see what the Bible does teach about homosexuality:

Genesis 18, 19 record events that transpired before the Law of Moses was given, during the patriarchal age. Angels in human form visited Abraham and confided in him that God intended to destroy the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah because of their sin. Upon seeing these “men” (angels) enter Lot’s house, the men of Sodom, both “young and old,” surrounded the house and called to Lot, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us, that we may have sex with them” (Gen. 19:4, 5). For those who claim that God incinerated Sodom and Gomorrah because of their “inhospitableness,” rather than their homosexuality, I cite Jude’s words in the New Testament. Jude wrote, “Just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire” (Jude 7).

Leviticus 18:22 - “You shall not lie with a male as with a woman: it is an abomination.” This passage is a part of Mosaic Law. Incidentally, the very next verse condemns bestiality. “And you shall not lie with any animal and so make yourself unclean with it, neither shall any woman giver herself to an animal to lie with it: it is perversion.” Homosexuality is classified with bestiality because both constitute sexual perversion. Under Mosaic Law these sexual sins were a capital offense. Leviticus 20:13 says, “If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed abomination; they shall surely be put to death; their blood is upon them.” Those convicted of this type of sexual immorality were to be executed. If we were under the OLD Testament Law today, society would be divinely obligated to execute all who engaged in homosexual and bestial behavior. Of course, we are no longer under the Law of Moses, with its requirements of physical punishment for various moral and ceremonial violations. However, we are under the New Testament, and it also condemns these types of sexual behavior as being sinful and wrong. More to come…

View past articles at http://parkwayarticles.blogspot.com. Please join us for worship and Bible study at our building located at 125 Hilltopper Ave, Bowling Green, KY 42101. We meet each Sunday at 10:00AM and 6:00PM for worship, and Sundays at 9:00AM and Wednesdays at 7:00PM for Bible study. Our radio program is aired each Sunday morning at 8:00AM on the WKCT 930AM band. Phone: (270) 842-2049 – Email: timhaile@mac.com. Visit www.parkwaychurchofchrist.com.

Work Out Your Own Salvation

“Work Out Your Own Salvation”
Tim Haile, for the Parkway church of Christ

Though Bible students are always pleased to hear Scripture cited, they also know that Scripture can easily be taken out of context and misapplied. When context is properly represented, partial citations can be applied effectively. However, misapplication is far more likely to occur when partial citations are made. This may come as a surprise to some folks, but Bible verses are not established by their subject matter! Translators use chapter and verse numbers, not to distinguish topics, but to expedite study. Some Bible subjects span more than just one verse or even one chapter of Scripture. Partial Scripture citations can be dangerous if the context is not taken into consideration.

The words of our title come from Philippians 2:12. The very next verse begins with “for,” which introduces reason. Thus, verse 13 definitely needs to be considered with verse 12. Paul said, “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, {13} for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”

In an effort to prove that salvation is obtainable through many different organizations, ways, paths and methods, some people cite only the words, “work out your own salvation.” But is Paul really telling people that they are at liberty to be saved however they choose? Is he saying that every person is authorized by God to concoct his own scheme of redemption? No, Paul’s admonition has a context. Notice that, just before this admonition, Paul had commended these saints for their sincere obedience. There can be no obedience without command to obey! Whose commands did they obey? Then, immediately after the admonition, he said that this obedience amounted to God working “in” them. The conclusion is unavoidable: These saints “worked out” their “own salvation” by obeying God’s will! They did not “work out their own salvation” by obeying their own will. Salvation is for those who “do the will of God” (Matthew 7:21). This can be demonstrated by reading the account of their conversion in the book of Acts. The Philippians were told to believe and be baptized, and that is what they did (Acts 16:30-33). They did exactly what Jesus had told the apostles to tell people to do (Mark 16:16). One “works out his own salvation” by knowing and obeying God (2 Thessalonians 1:8).

Visit our website at www.parkwaychurchofchrist.com. View past articles at http://parkwayarticles.blogspot.com. Please join us for worship and Bible study at our building located at 125 Hilltopper Ave, Bowling Green, KY 42101. We meet each Sunday at 10:00AM and 6:00PM for worship, and Sundays at 9:00AM and Wednesdays at 7:00PM for Bible study. Our radio program is aired each Sunday morning at 8:00AM on the WKCT 930AM band. Phone: (270) 842-2049 – Email: timhaile@mac.com.