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AFTER CONVERSION
[i.e. AFTER - belief, Repentance, confession, and baptism - Mark 16:15-16; Acts 2:38; Romans 10:9-10; Acts 2:38 - Added to church of Christ by the Lord, re, Acts 2:47]
KINGDOM CITIZENS Garreth L. Clair
One of the important facets to being a Christian is duty or doing the works of God. There are times whenever it appears that most Christians have no interest in doing the works of God. As we know various religious denominations teach that salvation from sin is entirely by faith only, this view of salvation from sin is without Scriptural support but many of us in the Lord's Church act as though we have accepted the doctrine, at least in part. I conclude that many have accepted it because so many will become a Christian then does nothing in God's service thereafter. Work is an important part of the Christians direction to maturity. No Christian can mature in the faith that will not involve themselves in the works of God, some of the works are:
1. Assemble, Heb 10:25, "not forsaking our own assembling together, as the custom of some is, but exhorting (one another); and so much the more, as ye see the day drawing nigh."
2. Keep our body and mind pure, Rom 12:1, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, (which is) your spiritual service." (ASV) Acts 2:40, "And with many other words he testified, and exhorted them, saying, Save yourselves from this crooked generation." (ASV)
3. Recognize our role as we serve God, Rom 12:3-8, 3 For I say, through the grace that was given me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but so to think as to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to each man a measure of faith. 4 For even as we have many members in one body, and all the members have not the same office: 5 so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and severally members one of another. 6 And having gifts differing according to the grace that was given to us, whether prophecy, (let us prophesy) according to the proportion of our faith; 7 or ministry, (let us give ourselves) to our ministry; or he that teacheth, to his teaching; 8 or he that exhorteth, to his exhorting: he that giveth, (let him do it) with liberality; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that showeth mercy, with cheerfulness. (ASV)
4. Love others without hypocrisy, Rom 12:9-10, 9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. 10 In love of the brethren be tenderly affectioned one to another; in honor preferring one another; Gal 6:10, 10 "So then, as we have opportunity, let us work that which is good toward all men, and especially toward them that are of the household of the faith." (ASV)
5. Let us pattern our life after Paul or after Christ's example, 1 Cor 11:1, "Be ye imitators of me, even as I also am of Christ." (ASV)
6. Add the seven Christian virtues, 2 Pet 1:4-8, 4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. 8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (NKJ)
7. Determine to live a faithful life until you die, Rev 2:10, "Fear not the things which thou art about to suffer: behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days. Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee the crown of life." (ASV)
Tuesday, October 10, 2006 - Posted October 16, 2006 FAITH FACTS by Garreth L. Clair
One of the great facets to real faith is the acceptance of unseen realities without physical evidence. Man is called upon to believe {i.e. possess faith} in God, whom he has not seen and according to all history, only a few have seen God or felt His Presence, some of them listed below:
JACOB: Genesis 32:27-30, 27 And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob. 28 And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for thou hast striven with God and with men, and hast prevailed. 29 And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there. 30 And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for, (said he), I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved. ASV
MOSES: Exodus 33:18-23, 18 And he said, Show me, I pray thee, thy glory. 19 And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and will proclaim the name of Jehovah before thee; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. 20 And he said, Thou canst not see my face; for man shall not see me and live. 21 and Jehovah said, Behold, there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon the rock: 22 and it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a cleft of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand until I have passed by: 23 and I will take away my hand, and thou shalt see my back; but my face shall not be seen. ASV
MANOAH and his WIFE {Parents of Samson}: Judges 13:20-24, 20 for it came to pass, when the flame went up toward heaven from off the altar, that the angel of Jehovah ascended in the flame of the altar: and Menorah and his wife looked on; and they fell on their faces to the ground. 21 But the angel of Jehovah did no more appear to Menorah or to his wife. Then Menorah knew that he was the angel of Jehovah. 22 And Menorah said unto his wife, we shall surely die, because we have seen God. 23 But his wife said unto him, If Jehovah were pleased to kill us, he would not have received a burnt-offering and a meal-offering at our hand, neither would he have showed us all these things, nor would at this time have told such things as these. 24 And the woman bares a son, and called his name Samson: and the child grew, and Jehovah blessed him. ASV
WITNESS OF THE APOSTLE JOHN: John 1:17-18, 17 for the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared (him). ASV
WITNESS OF THE APOSTLE JOHN: 3 John 11, 11 Beloved, imitate not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: he that doeth evil hath not seen God. ASV
CONSIDER THIS: The faith of millions of Christians attests to the fact, even though few in history have ever had real contact with God, GOD EXISTS. Knowing God does exist gives life to Christians so that they staunchly defend the teaching of the Bible. Indeed, the acceptance of the Bible as the Book from God is an act of faith. Yet, based upon the Christians faith he lives, and moves, and has his being on this earth.
Only the existence of God can account for the faith that endures in the heart of true Christians. Indeed God exist and will reward those that hold on to their faith in Him till their life ends, NOTE THE FOLLOWING BIBLICAL REFERENCES; Matthew 10:22, 22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endured to the end, the same shall be saved. ASV Matthew 24:13-14, 13 But he that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world for a testimony unto all the nations; and then shall the end come. ASV Mark 13:13, 13 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved. ASV 1 Peter 1:9, 9 receiving the end of your faith, (even) the salvation of (your) souls. ASV
Prepared by Garreth L. Clair - October 7, 2006 You are welcome to attend worship with us at 4840 Cemetery Road in Hilliard, Ohio 43026 Phone: (614) 850-7252 Bible study Sunday at 9:45 AM Morning worship Sunday: 10:30 AM Evening worship Sunday: 6:00 PM Email address: glclair@aol.com Posted: October 16, 2006
"A LITTLE DAB WILL DO YOU" Garreth L. Clair
A few years ago Brylcream hair gel used as their motto for their hair product, "A LITTLE DAB WILL DO YOU." In our religious climate today many people have apparently adopted this slogan and applied it to the quantity and quality of their religious conviction, "A LITTLE DAB WILL DO YOU." I say apparently simply because many religious people show very little interest in carrying out all of God's instructions today. Most religious people today seem to feel that "A Little Dab" of religion will "DO." Apparently the religious people that feel comfortable with this "DAB" of religion haven't read and studied their Bible very well; if they had they would know that God is displeased with their "LITTLE DAB" OF RELIGION.
TRUE RELIGION:
Not long ago I saw an article in a religious publication that fostered the position that God is not interested in religious observance or religious activities. This writer indicated that all that God was interested in was for man to acknowledge the work of Christ and that was enough to save him from his sin and transport him eventually to heaven. This writer indicated further that religious observances, the keeping of commandments, and following the instructions that the Bible contain that constitute good works were unnecessary, this writer also suggested that all of man's efforts at keeping God's commandments, worshipping regularly, serving God in various roles, etc. was simply an attempt to substitute human works for Christ's blood in the procurement of salvation from sin. (Source, CHRISTIANITY TODAY, October and November issues, 1995 and "Our Daily Bread" same-).
YOU CAN'T PLEASE GOD BY HEEDING PART OF HIS INSTRUCTIONS.
The most common error taught by most denominational people is partial compliance (i.e., an application of part of God's instructions and ignoring another part equally as important). to revealed instruction from the Creator.
ILLUSTRATION:
Many denominational practitioners, stress the Bible teaching of grace, faith (i.e. faith only) and exclude the following scriptural references that are equally as important as their verses on the subjects of faith and grace. John 14:15 "If ye love me, keep my commandments." John 15:10 "If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love." James 2:14-26 "What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
(EDITOR'S COMMENT: It is apparent from the context of this verse, John is stating that faith alone cannot and will not avail for salvation from sin "alone.").If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also." (KJV)
WORKS IDENTIFIED:
The works and commandment keeping of these references are not the works that man may devise but are the works of God (i.e., instructions that God requires for acceptance of the sinner). Indeed, the works of man are of no benefit to man and will avail naught but the works of God if ignored will result in eternal damnation. James 4:17 "Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin."
CONSIDER MAGAZINE, 3rd Quarter, 1996 Revised: Friday, October 06, 2006 Posted: October 16, 2006 UNBELIVERS AGNOSTICS ATHEISTS Excuses offered
INTRODUCTION: The problems that face personal workers, elders, Bible teachers, and preachers that work from house to house seeking to convert the lost consist of many obstacles [i.e. hindrances]. In this article I want to show some of the excuses that I have received from prospects while attempting to teach them the right path to salvation from sin. During my 47 years of teaching the Divine message to the lost, the following statements have been uttered by one or more of the people that I have attempted to teach. Indeed, these excuses [i.e. listed below], and others are often entrenched in the mind of those with which we seek to convert to the Way of the Lord. REMEMBER THIS: Regardless of the nature of excuses, we are required to seek out and attempt to teach the lost ones as opportunities are presented We also need to understand that the Lord encourages us to take a militant stance toward doing evangelism, even to the point of going out into the secular world and seeking converts, seeking all! Luke 14:17-23, 17 And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready. 18 And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused. 19 And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused. 20 And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come. 21 So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind. 22 And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room. 23 And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. KJV
THE BIBLE CANNOT BE TRUE 2 Tim 3:16-17, 16 Every scripture inspired of God (is) also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness. 17 That the man of God may be complete, furnished completely unto every good work. ASV
MY PARENTS WERE SINCERE AND HONEST CORNELIUS: Acts 10:1-5, 1 Now (there was) a certain man in Caesarea, Cornelius by name, a centurion of the band called the Italian (band), 2 a devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, who gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God always. 3 He saw in a vision openly, as it were about the ninth hour of the day, an angel of God coming in unto him, and saying to him, Cornelius . 4 And he, fastening his eyes upon him, and being affrighted, said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are gone up for a memorial before God. 5 And now send men to Joppa, and fetch one Simon, who is surnamed Peter: ASV
THERE ARE HYPOCRITS IN THE CHURCH Luke 14:27, 27 Whosoever doth not bear his own cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. ASV
TOO MUCH DIFFERENCE IN TOO MANY DIFFERENT CHURCHES Matt 7:13-14, 13 Enter ye in by the narrow gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many are they that enter in thereby. 14 For narrow is the gate, and straitened the way, that leadeth unto life, and few are they that find it. ASV
THERE IS TOO MUCH SICKNESS AND DISEASE A LOVING GOD WOULD NOT LET THIS HAPPEN THE DEVIL IS THE AUTHOR OF EVIL, ETC. - GOD S GIFTS ARE ALL GOOD: James 1:16-20, 16 Do not err, my beloved brethren. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. 18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. 19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: 20 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. KJV
THERE ARE TOO MANY BIBLE TRANSLATIONS MANY ARE UNRELIABLE 2 Tim 2:15, 15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. KJV
BEING FAITHFUL TO GODS RULES IS TOO HARD! Phil 2:12, 12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES IT MAKE WHOS RIGHT AND WHOS IS WRONG? Acts 5:29, 29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. KJV Rom 2:8, 8 But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, KJV
ONE CHURCH IS AS GOOD AS ANOTHER Matt 16:18, 18 And I also say unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. ASV Matt 15:12-14, 12 Then came the disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, when they heard this saying? 13 But he answered and said, Every plant which my heavenly Father planted not, shall be rooted up. 14 Let them alone: they are blind guides. And if the blind guide the blind, both shall fall into a pit. ASV
THERE ARE DIFFERENT WAYS TO GET FORGIVENESS OF OUR SINS Prov 14:12, 12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man; But the end thereof are the ways of death. ASV Matt 7:13-14, 13 Enter ye in by the narrow gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way , that leadeth to destruction, and many are they that enter in thereby. 14 for narrow is the gate, and straitened the way, that leadeth unto life, and few are they that find it. ASV
YOUR CHURCH IS TOO NARROW MINDED 2 Tim 4:1-4, I charge (thee) in the sight of God, and of Christ Jesus, who shall judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: 2 preach the word; be urgent in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure the sound doctrine; but, having itching ears, will heap to themselves teachers after their own lusts; 4 and will turn away their ears from the truth, and turn aside unto fables. ASV 2 Tim 2:15, 15 Give diligence to present thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, handling aright the word of truth. ASV
MOST PEOPLE DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE CHURCH THEY ATTEND BELIEVES: THEY THINK THEY DO, BUT THEY DO NOT!
SERMON By Garreth L. Clair - Saturday, September 09, 2006 Posted: October 16, 2006
Consider Magazine is an independent work by Garreth L. Clair Garreth has over 46 years experience as a preacher, and is currently the preacher for the church that meets at 4840 Cemetery Road, in Hilliard OH. http://www.cemeteryroadchurchofchrist.org/ Copyright 2005, All Rights Reserved. (Please contact us for permission to reprint.) Please help us show up on search engines, by putting a link to http://www.considermagazine.com on your website!
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