3 The Spirit's Sword

April 20, 1997 Northside church of Christ · 5201 NW RD · Bellingham, WA Volume 1.10

The Spirit's Sword

Easier Said Than Done

_We often use the old expression that something is "easier said than done." We know that it accurately applies to many different subjects. It is possible, for instance, to talk at length about sports, business, or world politics, but it is an entirely different matter to effectively engage in such activities. Even the things of day-to-day living are many times easier to discuss than to do. It is easy to say that I love my wife, but it is more difficult to prove that love by exhibiting genuine care and concern. I can talk about being a proper father to my children, but I must work hard to be the kind of parent that I ought to be. In all of these things, and a multitude of others, we see that it really is "easier said than done."

Living as a Christian is this same way. It is simple to claim a faith in Christ, and nearly as easy to say that we really love Him. A majority of people in our society make such claims. But it is an altogether different matter to prove these statements. The real proof is in our performance as His disciples. Jesus put it most plainly when He said, "If ye love me, keep my commandments" (John 14:15). John added, "And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his command­ments" (1 John 2:3). Let's do more than claim we are Christ's, that's easy. Let's prove we really love Him by obeying His commands.

-Greg Gwin

Assignments: Sunday, April 20

Announcements: TBA

Opening Prayer: TBA / D. Torres

Closing Prayer: Ed D. / W. Golightly

Song Leader: D. Torres / C. Gardner

Scripture: Cary Clemenson / Jason Holt

Lord’s Supper: R. Holt / J. Bass / S. Bass

Building Cleanup (Apr. 26): S. & J. Bass

· Barbara Melton had her knee surgery last week. Remember Mackie DeWispelaere, Marietta Ashton, Beulah Walker.

· Out of town: Keith Alsobrook, Aaron Bass preaching in Tacoma today, Joe Price leaves Wednesday for Lithuania, David Frahm and family while they are apart.

Little Things

A smile is such a little thing, As is a word of praise. But each can warm another’s heart and make a happy day.

A helping hand, a friendly wave, or a kindly deed, Could brighten someone’s burden, could fill another’s need.

An understanding of those who hurt, A willingness to bear, An attentive ear to show someone that you truly care.

These may all be little things as we go along our way. But little things are big things, if they brighten someone’s day.

-Vegas Drive Messenger

SERVICE SCHEDULE

Sunday: 9:30 & 10:30 AM; 6:00 PM

Wednesday: 7:00 PM

Is Doctrine Important?

Does the doctrine which one be­lieves and practices affect his salvation? That is, does it make a difference what a person's religious doctrine is as long as he is sincere? Many people say, "No, doctrine is not crucial to one's eternal salvation." To support this conclusion they point to the religious division in the world as proof that people cannot adequately understand the Bible. Therefore (they reason), God certainly must not think doctrine is very important, or he would have made the Bible understandable. This begs the question. The Bible can be under­stood (Eph. 3:3-5; 5:17). The mistake is to think that because man attaches little importance to doctrine, God must not, either.

Doctrine simply means teaching or instruction. It can either mean the act of teaching (Mk. 4:2) or that which is taught (Mt. 7:28). To say that doctrine is not important is to say that teaching and instruction is not important. Sadly, that is the essence of what is generally accepted today. Hence, we have religious division.

The Bible makes it clear that our doctrine MUST BE good (1 Tim. 4:6), sound (1 Tim. 1:10; 2 Tim. 4:3; Tit. 1:9; 2:1), godly (1 Tim. 6:3) and un­corrupt (Tit. 2:7). The doctrine which we teach and receive must be “the doctrine of Christ" (2 Jn. 9). We MUST REJECT doctrine which is variable (Eph. 4:14), corrupt (Tit. 2:7) or strange (Heb. 13:9). If the command­ments of men become our doctrine, our worship is vain (Mt. 15:9).

True doctrine is revealed in inspired scripture (2 Tim. 3:16-17). It is from God (1 Tim. 6:1; Tit. 2:10). False doctrine is attributed to man (Mt. 15:9; Col. 2:20-22) and demons (1 Tim. 4:1). We must teach what Jesus taught (Mt. 28:20). His teaching - His doctrine - is from God (Jn. 7:16). Yes, doctrine is important because truth is important (Jesus is the truth, Jn. 14:6). The doctrine we accept will determine our eternal destiny (1 Tim. 4:16). -jrp

PREMILLENNIALISM

This may be loosely defined as the doctrine that when Christ returns he will actually come to earth and establish His literal kingdom in Jerusalem, reigning there for 1,000 years.

Within the Premillennial cult (which has infiltrated practically every denomination as well as Christ's church, to some degree), there are almost as many points of difference as there are adherents.

Most Premillennialists would subscribe to the following basic contentions:

1. God did NOT fulfill all of the land promises to the Israelites.

2. Christ planned to establish a literal kingdom in Jerusalem when he first came, in which he would fulfill these alleged unfulfilled prophe­cies.

3. The Jews rejected his aspirations and thwarted his kingdom plans.

4. Since His kingdom plans were upset, he established the church as an emergency after-thought, until the real kingdom could be estab­lished.

5. At his second coming, Christ will enthrone Himself in Jerusalem on David's throne where he will reign for 1,000 years over a kingdom in which all of the land promises will be fulfilled.

If these things are taught in the Bible, we must believe them. But they are not!! Consider the following passages:

1. God has fulfilled the land promises: "So Jehovah gave unto Israel all the land which he sware to give unto their fathers" Joshua 21:43ff.

2. Christ never intended to establish an earthly kingdom! "My kingdom is not of this world" John 18:36.

3. The Jews tried to force Jesus to be their king (they wanted an earthly kingdom), but he refused. John 6:15

4. The church was not an after-thought but a part of God's eternal purpose (Eph. 3:10, 11). The kingdom Christ came to establish is the church, Mt. 16:18,19. It was established in the 1st century, Mk. 9:1 and early saints were in it, Col. 1:13 & Heb. 12:28.

5. Christ is NOW on David's throne, at God's right hand in heaven, Acts 2:29-33. There is NO N.T. passage that says He will ever be on earth again, but He will call His own up to meet him "in the air" forevermore, 1 Thess. 4:17.

Christ will NOT establish His kingdom when He comes, but will deliver His present kingdom (the Church) to the Father, 1Cor.15:23ff.

The 1,000 years necessary to the whole premillennial system (Rev. 20:4) is in a very figurative passage and related only to beheaded martyrs.

-THE WORLD EVANGELIST via The Caprock Church Bulletin