Tuesday, July 30, 2019

The Bible Is Inspired

"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works."  II Timothy 3:16-17.  The Bible has been given so that we might live a life that is acceptable unto God.  The Bible is the mind of God that has been revealed through the Holy Spirit unto us.  The Bible has come by revelation from God.  It is not a work of man, neither has it come from the mind of man.  Man is not capable of thinking on such a high plane.  Because the Bible is inspired of God, it is to be regarded as accurate and authoritative.  Nothing other than the Bible is needed for our relationship with God.  The Bible teaches us, reproves us, corrects us, and instructs us in God's righteousness.  We, therefore, are to hear what the Bible says, and do as the Bible teaches.  No other work can lead us to the character that God desires.  No other work can reveal unto us what is needful that we might be accepted of God, and enjoy the blessings that He has so richly promised.

Friday, July 26, 2019

Make Your Calling Sure

"Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things ye shall never fall."  II Peter 1:10.  There is nothing more comforting to the heart than assurance.  We are called of God by the gospel.  Our election to salvation comes by the gospel.  We are assured of the validity of the gospel, and also, the power of the gospel.  We can be assured of our salvation through the knowledge and understanding of the will of God which has been manifested by the gospel.  This must be the diligent pursuit of our life.  We must study God's plan for our salvation.  We must labor to achieve that plan in our heart.  We must continue with diligence to abide within that plan.  Making our calling and election sure is not something that we do once, but that we constantly pursue.  The writer speaks of the possibility of falling.  We can fall from our election.  Our assurance against falling is our diligent endeavor to make sure our calling and election.  As long as we engage in our election to God's high calling, we will not fall.

Monday, July 1, 2019

What Must I Do?

"And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"  Acts 16:30.  Have you asked this question?  The answer is contained within the Bible, the word of God.  The religious world offers different answers to this question.  We must ask, "What does God say?"  His answer is the only answer that matters.  This man was told to "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ."  Many want to stop at that point and proceed no further.  However, the Bible has more to say on this subject.  Notice that "they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and then took him the same hour of the night and baptized him."  When we study the word of the Lord, we come to understand that one must not only believe, but also repent.  Repentance means that we turn away from sin so that we can follow the Holy God.  We must also confess that Jesus is the Son of God.  And, then as with this man, we must be baptized into the name of Jesus Christ.  These actions place one into a saved relationship with Jesus Christ, who is the Savior of the world.  This is a serious question, and requires a serious answer.  It requires a Bible answer.