Category Archives: Obedience

Please

Posted on by
Reply

bald2.jpgTHERE IS AN old tale, attributed to Aesop, concerning a man who had two wives…
One was old; one was young.
The man was getting gray.
His younger wife did not want to be confused for his daughter, so when he was with her, while he was sleeping, she would pluck out his gray hairs.
The older wife welcomed the gray hairs. She was tired of being confused for his mother, so when he was with her, while he was sleeping, she would pluck out the dark hairs.
Soon, he was completely bald.
THOUGHT: If you try to please everyone, you will please no one.
KneEmail: “Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God.” 1 Thessalonians 4.1
Bible reading for 04.08.11: Luke 9.37-62; 1 Samuel 10-12
Be a missionary. Forward KneEmail to a friend, loved one, or co-worker today.
To SUBSCRIBE/UNSUBSCRIBE or to find ARCHIVES go to www.forthright.net/kneemail/

Alone

Posted on by
Reply

TODAY I RECEIVED an e-mail from “Darrel” entitled “concern…”
Darrel is troubled that our congregational web site does not teach “salvation by faith alone.” Darrel asked me to examine more than 30 Scriptures to prove his claim that salvation is by faith alone, but every verse he cited speaks of being saved “by faith” instead of salvation by “faith alone.”
My reply to Darrel included the following statement: “If you could show me where ‘faith alone’ is used in the Bible to describe salvation, I would be grateful.” So far Darrell has not written back. Maybe he has not yet looked at his e-mail or maybe he is searching for just one passage that supports his belief that salvation is by “faith alone.”
“Faith alone” is found just one time in the New Testament; the NIV uses this exact wording in Jas. 2:24 to say “You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.”
Many claim we ARE saved by “faith alone,” but God’s inspired spokesman says a person is NOT saved by faith alone. Who will we believe–God or a man like Darrel?
PS: I received a follow-up note from Darrel, but he did not include a verse which says we are “saved by faith alone.”
Remember:
Without faith we cannot please God (Heb. 11:6).
We cannot be a child of God without repentance (Lk. 13:3).
We must confess that Jesus is the Son of God (1 Tim. 6:12; Acts 8:36-38).
Finally we must be baptized into Christ (Gal. 3:27) for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38; 22:16).
Have we done these things and are we living a faithful Christian life? Brad Price
KneEmail: “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” Hebrews 11:6
Bible reading for 11.16.10: Hebrews 11:20-40; Ezekiel 3, 4
Be a missionary. Forward KneEmail to a friend, loved one, or co-worker today.
To SUBSCRIBE/UNSUBSCRIBE or to find ARCHIVES go to: www.forthright.net/kneemail/

Faith

Posted on by
Reply

faith_works_landscape.jpg WERE IT NOT for faith, or as Paul mentioned the law of faith (Romans 3:27), salvation could not be by grace because faith allows entrance into God’s saving grace…
The two then, grace and faith, are inseparable qualities. Works are associated with faith, for “you see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only” (James 2:24). James further commented, “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also” (v. 26). The premier biblical example of grace, faith, and works combining to bring about salvation is found in Noah who lived in advance of the law of Moses. As God was contemplating the destruction of the world in the great flood, the Bible says, “But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD” (Genesis 6:8). God told Noah to make an ark 300 cubits long, 50 cubits wide, and 30 cubits high, fill it with animals and food as God described, and get in it with his family (Genesis 6:14-7:1). The comment, “Thus Noah did; according to all that God commanded him, so he did” (v. 22) in no way countermanded the grace of God. Regarding Noah’s faith, the Hebrews’ writer said: “By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith” (Hebrews 11:7).
God’s grace coupled with His commands and Noah’s faith brought about salvation. It was not legalism then nor is it now to say God’s grace coupled with His commands and our obedient faith brings about salvation. One who so believes and practices is not a legalist but an “heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.” Gary McDade, “Grace,” The Doctrine of Christ–Nineteenth Annual Florida School of Preaching Lectureship, 126-127
KneEmail: “Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the faith of us all.” Romans 4:15; cf., 5:1-2
Bible reading for 07.30.10: Romans 2; Psalm 51-53
Be a missionary. Forward KneEmail to a friend, loved one, or co-worker today.
To SUBSCRIBE/UNSUBSCRIBE or to find ARCHIVES go to: http://www.forthright.net/kneemail/

Confront

Posted on by
Reply

Point4.jpg …SOMEDAY YOU MAY have to confront someone you love who is caught in sin…
That’s something we don’t talk much about–confronting in love the person who is caught in a sin. But the Bible is clear that we have a responsibility to hold one another accountable, to correct and rebuke one another, to confront in love, and to restore people from sin. If you see a brother caught in a sin and you say, “It’s none of my business,” you don’t really care about your brother, and you’re ignoring Christ’s command (See Luke 17:3; 2 Timothy 4:2; Galatians 6:1).
So one of the applications to the sermon on Nathan and David is that there will be times when you have to confront someone you love. But a good sermon will take that application a step further and give examples. I tried to think of times when people might have to confront someone they see committing sin, and I began to write down ideas in my manuscript. “If you know that your friend is having an affair, or you discover that someone is embezzling money from his business, or you’re a student and you see someone cheating on a test, what do you do?” Then I remembered visiting the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. Etched on the wall is their slogan, “We will not lie, cheat, or steal, or tolerate those who do.” That’s a great illustration of how even people outside the church realize the need to confront those who have done wrong.
Then I remembered that a young man in our church is attending the Air Force Academy. His father once told me a story about his son taking tests there. He once told his dad that whenever they’re taking a test, they all keep their heads down and nobody ever looks up. Ken said, “Why is that, son? Are they afraid they’ll be tempted to cheat?” “No, Dad,” Josh answered, “We’re afraid we will see someone else cheating and have to turn him in.”
That’s a great story, and it made a good illustration in the sermon because it helped me bring to light situations that might arise in every-day life when we are called upon to confront someone who has sinned. We don’t go looking for people’s faults. In fact, we prefer not to find any. But sometimes we can’t ignore them, and we must lovingly confront. Bob Russell, “When GOD Builds a CHURCH, 34-35
KneEmail: “Then Nathan said to David, ‘You are the man! Thus says the LORD God of Israel: ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul. I gave you your master’s house and your master’s wives into your keeping, and gave you the house of Israel and Judah. And if that had been too little, I also would have given you much more! Why have you despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in His sight? You have killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword; you have taken his wife to be your wife, and have killed him with the sword of the people of Ammon. Now therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised Me, and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.” 2 Samuel 12:7-10
Bible reading for 04.23.10: Luke 17:20-37; 2 Samuel 16-18
Be a missionary. Forward KneEmail to a friend, loved one, or co-worker today.
To SUBSCRIBE/UNSUBSCRIBE or find ARCHIVES go to: http://www.forthright.net/kneemail/

Peace

Posted on by
Reply

HO2.jpgON MARCH 10, 1974, Lieutenant Hiroo Onoda, who had been a Japanese lieutenant in the Philippines during World War II, became the last Japanese soldier to surrender…
The war ended in 1945, but Onoda hid in the jungles of the island of Lubang for almost three decades, sucessfully avoiding all efforts to find him.
The Japanese and Philippine authorities, aware of his presence, repeatedly broadcast reports of this war in the Japanese language and left Japanese newspapers on the beach where he could find them. But Onoda thought all these were ruses to lure him to surrender, so he continued his one-man war.
THOUGHT: Onoda’s situation is similar to that of the sinner’s condition before God. Christ’s death on the cross does not automatically bring him peace and save him anymore than the peace concluded between Japan and the Philippines brought peace to Onoda. Onoda had to believe that peace had been made, then he had to surrender and accept it. In a similar fashion today, Jesus makes peace available to us, but we can only enjoy it when we surrender to the Lord, and and then accept it in faith and obedience to the gospel (1 Corinthians 15:1-4; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9; Hebrews 5:8-9).
KneEmail: “For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle way of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace.” Ephesians 2:14-15
Bible reading for 01.15.10: Matthew 10:21-42; Genesis 36-38
Be a missionary. Forward KneEmail to a friend, loved one, or co-worker.
To SUBSCRIBE or find ARCHIVES go to: http://www.forthright.net/kneemail/

Believing

Posted on by
Reply

baptism2.jpgIF YOU WANT to be saved from your sins, just believing in Jesus is not enough…
The first time the Gospel is ever preached is in Acts chapter 2. Peter preaches Jesus as a miracle-working teacher whom the Jews had crucified. But, Peter says, God has raised Jesus from the dead (Acts 2:24).
Peter offers three forms of proof:
. King David prophesied the resurrection in the Psalms (Acts 2:22-31).
. The apostles have seen Jesus alive (Acts 2:32).
. Peter says Jesus is responsible for the miracles the Jews see and hear (Acts 2:33).
Then he reaches the climax of his sermon in Acts 2:36: “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ” (Acts 2:36). Many of the people in the audience believe this message and cry out, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” (Acts 2:37).
These Jews believe the Gospel message of a crucified and resurrected Savior and want to make things right, but they’re still lost. Now note that Peter did not say in reponse, “Do?! Why my friends, you cannot do anything! If you do something you negate the grace of God.” Instead, he tells them in Acts 2:38 to “Repent, and let everyone of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins…” They believe (John 6:29) the Gospel, but they need to obey (e.g., “do something”) the Gospel to have their sins forgiven.
Acts 2:41 says those who received Peter’s message were baptized. That day, about 3,000 souls were “added.” To what? Verse 47 says the Lord added daily to the church those who were being saved. When believing, penitent sinners are baptized into Christ, the Lord simultaneously saves them and adds them to His church.
Many New Testament passages teach the necessity of faith in order to be saved, of that there is no doubt. But saving faith leads a sinner to comply with the Gospel (1 Corinthians 15:1-4; Romans 6:17-18; 2 Thessalonians 1:8) commands to repent (Acts 2:38; 3:19; 17:30), confess Christ (Acts 8:35-38; Rom. 10:9-10; Luke 12:8; 1 John 4:15), and be baptized (Acts 2:38; Mark 16:15-16; Acts 10:48; 22:16; 1 Peter 3:21; Galatians 3:27).
Until we are willing to submit to Christ in Gospel obedience (Acts 10:35), we still bear the guilt of our sins. According to the Bible, even if we believe in Jesus as Savior, and even if we want to make things right, until we contact His blood in baptism (Romans 6:3-4; Revelation 1:5; Ephesians 1:7) we’re still lost.
Faith is essential, but faith alone is not enough (James 2:24). What Peter commands in Acts 2 still stands today, and will stand until the Lord comes again. “Repent, and and let everyone of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins.”
If you are willing to do this, Christ will save you and add you to His church. (Nathan Brewer)
KneEmail: 30 And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized. Acts 16:30-33
Bible reading for 01.05.10: Matthew 5:1-26; Genesis 13-15
Be a missionary. Forward KneEmail to a friend, loved one, or co-worker today.
To SUBSCRIBE or find ARCHIVES go to: http://www.forthright.net/fidelity/

Panic

Posted on by
Reply

panic2.jpgTHERE WERE SOME anxious moments at our house as my daughter and I prepared for our mission trip…
Late in the packing process we discovered that my passport that had been set out earlier, was not a current passport! That current passport was not where we expected it to be.
For about an hour, we gave the term ransack new meaning. God answered our fervent prayers and we found the all-important document.
Those who travel understand the seriousness of misplacing a passport. This document shows you are a citizen of the United States and have been cleared for travel to other countries. Without it I would have been denied admission to Peru. Actually, I wouldn’t have been allowed onto the plane headed for Peru. I would have been left behind.
As I reflect upon that nerve-wracking episode, I think of a more vital appointment. Jesus spoke about it in Matthew 25:31,32:
“When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and
all the holy angels with Him, then He will
sit on the throne of His glory. All the
nations will be gathered before Him, and He
will separate them one from another, as a
shepherd divides his sheep from the goats”
(NKJV).
Following the pronouncement of judgment, only two destinations will await those who have been sentenced. Of the two, heaven and hell, all know the destination to which they want to go.
Earlier in that chapter (verses 1-13), Jesus spoke the parable of the wise and foolish maidens. Ten young women anxiously awaited the arrival of the bridegroom. The wait was longer than expected and five of them found that their supply of oil for their lamps was not sufficient. While they were away buying oil, the bridegroom came and the door was shut. The five foolish maidens were barred from the celebration they had dreamed about. They should have made better preparation.
There will be those at the Day of Judgment who will experience panic far worse than I recently felt. They will assume they’re ready for the coming of Jesus — but they won’t be. For them there will be no second chance. The sound of heaven’s door closing will be heard, and it will prompt “weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 25:30). As you read this, realize one thing: You have this opportunity to make preparations for the coming of the Lord. You may not have another opportunity. We urge you out of genuine Christian love to prepare your soul for the certain arrival of Jesus Christ! Tim Hall at http://forthright.net
KneEmail: “Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them.” Matthew 25:1-3
Bible reading for 09.25.09: Galatians 4; Song of Solomon 6 – 8
Be a missionary. Forward KneEmail to a friend, loved one, or co-worker today.
To SUBSCRIBE or find ARCHIVES, go to: http://forthright.net/kneemail/

Saved

Posted on by
Reply

baptism.jpgTO BE “SAVED” means to be made safe…
It implies that the unsaved person is in danger. Mark 16:16 speaks of salvation and safety from sin. When the term saved is used in reference to a Christian, it means he is made safe from the guilt and eternal consequences of his sins (Acts 2:47; 1 Corinthians 1:18; 15:2; Ephesians 2:15; Titus 3:5). This safety is brought about by God’s pardon, which can be affected in no other way. It means the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38; 22:16). This salvation is equivalent to the promise of pardon for those who believe and are baptized. Many religious people balk at the idea of placing baptism in such a connection with salvation (that baptism is necessary for the forgiveness of sins). However, we must remember that it was Jesus Himself Who placed baptism in this connection. When a mind revolts at any of His words, it is not His fault but their fault. The stubborn heart bears sole responsibility for one’s failure to heed God’s Word. When considering the concept of being saved, one must take into account the power of God to deliver an individual from the bondage of sin by the power of the Gospel. H.D. Simmons
KneEmail: “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.” Mark 16:16
Bible reading for 09.15.09: 2 Corinthians 8; Proverbs 22 – 24
Be a missionary. Forward KneEmail to a friend, loved one, or co-worker today.
To SUBSCRIBE or find archives, go to: http://forthright.net/kneemail/

Reap

Posted on by
Reply

wheat.jpgEVER PLANT A garden…?
Or maybe just a few flowers in a bed or a plant in a pot? Something makes it possible for the gardener to function, or a farmer to produce a crop is a “law” of nature. “Law” really isn’t a very good word, but because it really is just an observation of the consistency of nature. Whatever kind of seed is planted is the kind of plant that will be produced. A farmer can know that when he plants wheat, that wheat is the plant that will grow. It is not random or arbitrary. Wheat seed produces wheat plants and corn seed produces corn plants. Farmers and gardeners can count on it.
What is just as true, though not as readily recognized, is that this same “law” applies in all of life. Whatever a person sows, that is what they will reap. To think otherwise is not only ludicrous, it also mocks God.
We have two choices. We either sow to the flesh or the spirit. This same letter outlines the differences between living according to the flesh and according to the spirit (Galatians 516-18). Sowing to the flesh is involvement in the “deeds of the flesh” (Galatians 5:19-21). The consequence os involvement in these is corruption and exclusion from God’s kingdom (Galatians 5:21; 6:8). This is the harvest resulting from sowing those seeds. Just as surely as planting wheat seeds results in a harvest of wheat. We can count on it. (David Deffenbaugh, Bill McFarland)
KneEmail: “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.” Galatians 6:7
Bible reading for 07.21.09: Acts 23:1-15; Job 29, 30
Be a missionary. Forward KneEmail to a friend, loved one, or co-worker today.
To SUBSCRIBE or find archives, go to: http://www.forthright.net/kneemail/

Know

Posted on by
Reply

know3.jpg“IS IT REALLY possible for a person to KNOW the truth…?”
There are so many opinions about what the Bible teaches. “Is truth even attainable in the religious realm?”
These are common questions today. Consider a few observations from Scripture:
How can a person be expected to OBEY (Hebrews 5:8-9) Christ if he is incapable of knowing what constitutes obedience to Christ?
How can a person be expected to ABIDE IN (John 8:31) the word of Christ if he is unable to learn and know Christ’s teaching?
How can a person be expected to PROVE (1 Thessalonians 5:21; cf. 1 John 4:1) what the Bible says if the truth cannot be distinguished from error?
How can a person be expected to CONTEND (Jude 3) earnestly for the truth if the truth is unattainable?
How can a person be expected to BEWARE (Matthew 7:15; cf. 2 John 7) of false teachers if there is no discernible way of telling whether or not they are teaching error?
How can a person be expected to SPEAK (Ephesians 4:15) the truth in love if he is unable to differentiate between truth and error?
Yes, we can know the truth. (Mike Benson at: http://www.forthright.net/)
KneEmail: “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32; cf. 2 Timothy 3:13-17).