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... OWNERS STATEMENT ... Garreth L. Clair is the owner and editor of considermagazine.com. No part of considermagazine.com is a work of any church of Christ anywhere. I have a number of books, tracts, and used books that I am selling through considermagazine.com.
Considermagazine.com is an independant work that is financed and carried on by Garreth L. Clair.
My email address here at considermagazine.com is
THE WORK OF THE CONGREGATION
1. Spreading The Gospel The Lord commissioned His disciples to go out and preach the gospel to every creature and make disciples of all nations (Matt. 28:19-20). This is a primary function of the local church (1 Thess. 1:5-8). It is not something limited to the apostles or evangelists, as the first century saints engaged in this practice (Acts 8:1-4). The church also partakes of this by financially supporting gospel preachers and evangelists to do this work (Phil. 4:10-20).
2. Edifying the Saints To edify means to build up. This word, as used in the New Testament, always implies spiritual activity (e.g., teaching the word, encouragement, strengthening the saints – Eph. 4:11-16). It in no way infers social, entertainment, and recreation activities. These activities belong to the home. The apostle Paul teaches us that the church is responsible for the "edifying of itself in love" (Eph. 4:16). Each member of the local church has a part in this work.
3. Limited Benevolence The congregation is called to see to the physical needs of her own (Acts 11:27-30). This is known as benevolence. There is no authority in Scripture for the local church to become a benevolent agency for the entire world – lost and saved alike. This is the work of individual Christians. The Bible makes a clear distinction between the work of the church and the work of an individual Christian (1 Tim. 5:3-16). The congregation has a responsibility to provide benevolence for those who are Christians and who are genuinely in need (2 Thess. 3:10). All funds for such work were to be laid by in store on the first day of the week (1 Cor. 16:1-3). Fundraisers, bake sales, fairs, burger burns, hog roast, etc. are not the works of the congregation.
Consider this [GLC]: The preacher’s role in these activities is determined by the overseers [i.e. eldership]. Where there are no elders in a congregation it is the collective responsibilities of the membership to inform and aid the preacher in doing his duty in each of the areas of the congregation’s work. glclair@aol.com - Web Magazine: considermagazine.com
THE DIVINE PURPOSE By Garreth L. Clair
The Divine Purpose in Jesus Christ coming to this earth has been misunderstood and misinterpreted by many religious thinkers. One of the reasons for Jesus coming to earth in man's image was to save the sinner from his sin. This fact cannot be disputed as one observes much of the teaching of Christ while He was walking on this earth - NOTE:
Matt 9:13, “But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” (KJV)
Mark 2:16-17, “16 And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eat with publicans and sinners, they said unto his disciples, How is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners? 17 When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. ” (KJV)
Luke 5:30-32, “30 But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners? 31 And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick. 32 I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
A MISUNDERSTANDING:
There are many religious people today who hold to the philosophy that "God is too good to send anyone to hell, that there is no real hell, that God will save everyone who is morally and ethically good and that the bad will die and that will be their end, that Jesus Christ was just a man and was no more Divine than any other person..." (Quote from Handbook of Denominations in the United States, by Frank S. Mead, New Fourth Edition,) The quote is from the doctrinal teachings of the "UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST ASSOCIATION (i.e., churches with headquarters in Boston, MS.).
The philosophy of the Universalistic is contrary to the teaching of the Bible - because of this fact; the Unitarian Churches reject the Bible as a reliable guide. This position toward the Bible is not surprising in view of their doctrinal positions on many subjects. The great problem with the Unitarian philosophy is that it is wholly humanistic; this makes it appealing to the fleshly side of all humanity.
THE PROBLEM:
The problem that the Unitarian Church has is a problem that many other people have, their refusal to accept the truth as God has revealed it to man. The Bible "IS" the truth and the only hope of humanity is to properly understand it and apply it to our life style in each generation. The Unitarian Church refuses to accept the Bible simply because it "condemns as well as rewards man based on man's own ability to do the things which God requires in His Instructions. God has made no demands on anyone that cannot be obeyed, God would be unjust to place on man requirements that he could not obey - "GOD IS PERFECT IN EVERY QUALITY” - therefore He could not require of man the impossible.
Jesus Christ gave himself a ransom for the sins of mankind. This action by Christ made it possible for everyone to be saved from sin and go to heaven. This action by Christ made it possible for everyone to be saved, yet everyone will not be saved. The Bible further states that only those who comply with the conditions of pardon stipulated by Jesus Christ will be saved -
Hebrews 5:8-9, “8 though he was a Son, yet taught him obedience by the things which he suffered; 9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;
Jesus Christ has been given the right to require whatever He will of man to attain "Salvation from sin." Man is simply to make the decision about whether or not he will obey – you see, man is a free-moral-agent, he can choose to obey God or reject God!
Matt 28:18-20, “18 And Jesus came and space unto them, saying, all power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.”
THE CONSEQUENCE OF DISOBEDIENCE DEFINED:
The end of the disobedient is clearly described in the Word of God. There is no room for the speculative religious philosophies of men or of groups of men about what is just and what is unjust - God has already made that decision. The only decision left for man is to "USE HIS GOD GIVEN RIGHT TO CHOOSE" - man can choose to obey God or he can choose to disobey God. Man's free choice will result in consequence -
1. If man chooses to obey God according to God's instructions revealed to him through the Written Word (i.e., the Bible) and will live faithful to God's Word till he dies the consequence will be eternal joy [i.e. a home in HEAVEN] (2 Tim. 4:6-8; Rev. 2:10b).
2. If man chooses to disobey God's instructions revealed to him through the Written Word (i.e., the Bible) The consequence of this choice will result in him being cast into the lake of fire (i.e., Gk. "Gehenna" - Hell fire).
UNDERSTAND THE LEGITIMATE PURPOSE IN JESUS CHRIST MISSION AND ETERNAL PURPOSE WITHOUT PREJUDICE!
There is no reason to misunderstand or misinterpret the Bible about Jesus Christ, about salvation, about man's free-moral-agency (i.e., personal responsibility [and ability] to decide between right and wrong), about heaven and hell, and about the consequences of our choices, and etc.
Isaiah 55:6-11, “6 Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: 7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. 8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, smith the LORD. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. 10For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater
PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT GOD IS SAYING TO YOU; Read the Bible! Monday, March 05, 2007
VARIETIES OF RELIGIONS (i.e., many gods) IS A HINDRANCE TO FINDING "THE TRUE GOD" Garreth L. Clair
Today there are approximately 500 different religious bodies in the world, within these groups there exist approximately 15,000 different sects and factions all claiming to be the way to religious liberty and acceptability to God. Most all of these different religions have differing and conflicting doctrines and practices, yet they all claim to be authentic representatives of the one true God (i.e., "CREATOR").
THE TRUE GOD "IS ONE"
10 Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us? why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, by profaning the covenant of our fathers? 32 And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he: 1 Timothy 2:5, 5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
Since here is only one God why would there be different religions that believe in another God (e.g. Moslem, Buddhist, Hindu, etc)? It is unreasonable to suggest that all religions are acceptable when the God of the Bible (i.e. the 66 books of the Bible that has for its author, Jehovah) says that He "HAS NO EQUALS and WILL NOT TOLERATE MAN'S SERVICE TO ANOTHER" Exodus 20:5, Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;"Joshua 24:19-20, "And Joshua said unto the people, Ye cannot serve the LORD: for he is an holy God; he is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins. If ye forsake the LORD, and serve strange gods, then he will turn and do you hurt, and consume you, after that he hath done you good." (KJV)
Man cannot serve both Jehovah and Buddha, both Jehovah and Mohammed, both Jehovah and the god of the Hindu, Jehovah must be served alone. Matthew 4:10, "Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve." Matthew 6:24, "No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon."
EDITOR’S COMMENT: The context in verse 24 is dealing with man's tendency to pursue materialistic goals to the neglect of God, God will not accept partial allegiance from man - man must commit to Jehovah alone, this concept will not allow for mankind to make choices between the "true God" and false god's of man's invention "there is "ONE GOD." It is in man's best interest that God has revealed Himself to mankind in such an absolute way, man has no excuse to seek after other gods since the "One True God" has revealed Himself so clearly - "man is without excuse,” Romans 1:20-22,"For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:" Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened." Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,"
THERE IS NO GOD BUT THE GOD OF THE BIBLE. THERE IS NO AUTHENTIC BIBLE BUT THE 66 BOOKS OF THE BOOK GIVEN TO MANKIND BY HIS CREATOR: THERE IS NO ACCEPTABILITY OF MAN APART FROM GOD'S APPROVAL THE WHOLE WORLD MUST COME TO THE "ONE TRUE GOD" glclair@aol.com --- July 10, 2007
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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