Noteworthy News

(From news of the day)

25th Anniversary of Roe v. Wade Commemorated

Tens of thousands of pro-life advocates will attend the annual March for Life today in Washington, D.C. This year's march marks the 25th anniversary of Roe vs. Wade, the Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion. Meanwhile, Vice President Al Gore was to be the featured speaker at a National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League luncheon.
...The day's pro-life events begin with speeches at noon in the Ellipse near the White House. Protesters then will march up Capitol Hill to the Supreme Court. On Friday, there will be a National Memorial for the Pre-born service at Bishop Cummins Memorial Church in Catonsville, Md.
...The pro-life march has traditionally been a peaceful, religious event. Protesters often carry giant rosaries and huge pictures of aborted fetuses. Parents bring children and infants in strollers. Catholic school students, led by priests and nuns, are let out for the day and bused to the event.
...Yesterday, Norma McCorvey, who used the pseudonym "Roe" in the famous Supreme Court case, told a U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee panel that she is "dedicated to spending the rest of my life undoing the law that bears my name." About 30 million babies have been killed since the 1973 decision.
...At the White House yesterday, 20 pro-life activists took the public tour of the executive mansion while wearing T-shirts bearing a picture of an aborted fetus. The T-shirts carried slogans including "America's Holocaust" and "These are the children of Hillary's village." (Religion Today, January 23, 1998)

Residence of Lynden, WA have seen the white crosses in the field....4,400 of them, depicting the number of daily abortions in this country. The blood of the innocents cry out as a nation denies the cruelty, injustice and tragedy which is abortion (cf. Matt. 2:16-18; Rom. 1:26-32). The reproach of killing the unborn will not be cleansed by political positioning or rationalizing why abortion is necessary (Prov. 14:34). This nation and its people need a change of heart before God, a pleading for His mercy and a ceasing of this horrific crime against humanity. May God have mercy on this nation and on all who defy His holiness. -Joe Price

Assignments: Sunday, January 25, 1998

Announcements: Rusty McGrew

Opening Prayer: Rusty McGrew / Rick Holt

Closing Prayer: Jess Bass / Aaron Bass

Song Leader: Gary Bass / Morris Bass

Scripture: Philip Price / Jason Holt

Lord’s Supper: Charles Fair / W. Golightly / Loren Parker

Bldg. Cleanup (Jan. 31): Shane & Justina Bass

T HE SPIRIT’S SWORD

“And take...the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Eph. 6:17)

The Northside church of Christ

Meeting at the North Bellingham Grange Hall · 5201 Northwest Road · Bellingham, WA

Volume I, Number 50 January 25, 1998

Biblical Principles of Unity (Part 2):

Understanding The Scriptures

by: Joe R. Price

Is it arrogant to teach that we can and should come to a knowledge of the truth -- that we can and must understand the scriptures? Jesus taught that when we read the scriptures we can understand them. By reading the scriptures and understanding them, ones conduct can and should be affected: “So when you see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains” (Mk. 13:14; cf. Matt. 24:15).

If brethren are willing to apply the principle of reading and understanding the scriptures to Daniel’s prophecy about the destruction of Jerusalem, why not also be willing to apply the same principle to what the scriptures teach about the immorality of unauthorized divorces and remarriages (Matt. 5:31-32; 19:6, 9; Mk. 6:17-18; Rom. 7:2-3; 1 Cor. 7:10-11; Heb. 13:4)?

You see, people were expected to read the scriptures and thereby understand God’s prediction of Jerusalem’s fall. They could identify when that destruction was imminent, and they could flee for safety. This was not arrogance on their part. Likewise, through reading the scriptures we can understand what constitutes adultery when remarriages occur. We can identify the sin and man’s need to flee fornication (Matt. 19:9; Rom. 7:2-3; 1 Cor. 6:18). This is not arrogant, either. If we can understand the one, we can understand the other also.

Are you willing to apply the principle of understanding the scriptures to the doctrine of God’s judgment of a wicked nation (Jerusalem) in Matthew 24? If so, then be willing to apply the same principle to the doctrine of God’s judgment against fornicators and adulterers as taught in Matthew 19:9; Romans 7:2-3; Hebrews 13:4 and Ephesians 5:3-11. If we can understand the one, we can also understand the other.

There are other appeals issued by Christ and His apostles which require people to understanding the scriptures: Luke 24:45; John 3:10; Acts 8:30-35; 28:26-27; Romans 15:21; Colossians 1:9; 2:2; 1 John 5:20; Revelation 13:18. When Christ calls us to understand truth, He is not calling us to arrogance, but to humility. When we issue the gospel call to understand the truth we are not being arrogant, either. It is a matter of walking in the footsteps of Jesus (1 Jno. 2:5-6).

Consenting To Sound Words

The Bible teaches that the humble person consents to the sound words of Jesus Christ. “If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, he is proud, knowing nothing.....” (1 Tim. 6:3-4). It is not arrogant to believe and teach there is a “sound doctrine” to which we must adhere. Instead, it is genuine humility, for such a person humbles himself before Christ and the authority of His word (this is the principle which is stated in Mic. 6:8 and Jas. 4:7-10). The humble person consents to the words of Jesus Christ while the arrogant person does not. This is what the Holy Spirit says about it. Therefore, when we submit ourselves to Christ’s revealed word, we are practicing humility. The one who will not do so is conducting himself in arrogance.

But, to submit oneself to Christ’s word necessarily implies that one can understand His word. One cannot obey that which we does not understand. Hence, the need to “preach the gospel to the whole creation” (Mk. 16:15). We can understand and obey Christ’s word on the plan of salvation. Can we not also understand and obey the truth on the subject of divorce and remarriage, adultery and fellowship? If not, why not? We can consent to the words of Jesus Christ on every subject which affects life and godliness (2 Pet. 1:3-4).

Inspiration And Understanding The Scriptures

Some are now appealing to the need for modern-day inspiration in order to assure a proper understanding of the word of God. A fellow Christian recently said, “Unless we believe that we are inspired, we must be humble enough to give some lee-way in those areas that are “hard to understand” (2 Pet. 3.16). If we had the apostles present to always tell us which positions are correct and which are not, then we could always have absolute certainty. But since we do not have them with us, we must rely on our own personal interpretations,....”

If I didn’t know better, I’d say some are making the Mormon case for a living prophet today!! No, the apostles are not alive today, but we have the living word they left behind (Heb. 4:12; 1 Thess. 2:13). I am astonished that Christians are actually advocating the need for a living apostle before we can be certain about the truth! Our faith is not produced by the earthen vessel in whom the word of God came, but by the word they proclaimed (2 Cor. 4:7; Rom. 10:17). If we cannot be sure of what the apostles taught on one subject (e.g., marriage, divorce and remarriage), how can we be sure of what they taught on any subject?

Hebrews 1:1-2 assures us that God speaks to us in His Son. Can we understand what God is saying to us by reading and studying the inspired words of the apostles? Yes, we can. Why then take an approach which flies in the face of this simple passage of scripture (cf. Heb. 2:1-4; Jno. 13:20)?

2 Timothy 3:16-17 teaches us that inspired scriptures complete us and thoroughly equip us for every good work. The suggestion that man is not able to properly understand the scriptures undercuts the divine power of the scriptures to teach, reprove, correct and instruct in righteousness (v. 16; Isa. 55:11).

Understanding truth does not make one wise in his own estimation (cf. Rom. 12:16). It makes one wise in the power of God (2 Cor. 4:7; 1 Cor. 1:18-24). It is a false charge to cry “arrogance” against those who teach we can know God’s truth on any subject which bears upon man’s salvation from sin and fellowship with God.

THREE THINGS SIN WILL ALWAYS DO Notes

(Scripture Reading: Luke 12:15-21)

1. Sin never delivers what it offers - Heb. 11:25; 2 Pet. 2:17-19.

2. Judges 16 - Samson’s life illustrates this fact.

I. SIN WILL ALWAYS TAKE YOU FARTHER THAN YOU WANTED TO GO

- Jgs. 16:4-20.

A. Samson's Will Was Finally Broken By The Constant Enticements

Of Delilah - v.15-17; Prov. 1:10-16; 1 Cor. 15:33; Exo. 32:1-6; 32:21-24.

B. Sin, When Given Occasion, Will Always Progress Into Further Evil

-Psa. 1:1; 2 Tim. 2:16-18; 3:13; Heb. 6:4-6.

II. SIN WILL ALWAYS KEEP YOU LONGER THAN YOU WANTED TO STAY

- Jgs. 16:20-21.

A. Samson Had No Intention Of Remaining Bound - v. 20 (Prov. 23:29-35);

2 Cor. 4:4; Acts 8:18-19, 23; 2 Pet. 2:19; Lk. 15:11-17.

B. Beware Of the Controlling Power Of Sin - Jno. 8:34 (Rom. 7:22-23; 6:11-14);

Rom. 6:16-18 (1 Pet. 4:1-4; Eph. 4:22-24); Jno. 8:31-32.

III. SIN WILL ALWAYS COST YOU MORE THAN YOU INTENDED TO PAY - Jgs. 16:30.

A. Samson's Recklessness With God's Blessing Cost Him His Sight, His Dignity,

His Strength, His Freedom, & Final­ly His Life - 16:21, 25, 30.

--v. 21, 28-30 - Finally acknowledged God as the source of his strength.

B. Choosing Sin Will Cost You:

1. Your soul - Rom. 6:23; Lk. 12:20-21 (4-5); Matt. 16:26.

2. God's fellowship - 2 Jno. 9.

3. Peace of mind, peace w/ man & w/ God -cf. Phil. 4:6-7 (alienation, Col. 1:21).

4. Your dignity & honor - Eph. 5:12

5. Heaven - Rev. 21:7-8, 27.

C. Instead, Pay The Price Of Discipleship - Lk. 14:26-33.

The Work At Northside (A Report)

(Scripture Reading: Acts 14:25-27)

I. SPIRITUAL GROWTH AT NORTHSIDE - Jude 3; 1 Pet. 2:2; Matt. 10:34-38.

II. LET US RISE UP AND BUILD? FACING OPPOSITION TO THE TRUTH - Neh. 2:17-18.

A. False Doctrines Around Us:

1. Divorce and remarriage: “Don’t ask, don’t tell” - Matt. 19:9; Rom. 7:2-3; Heb. 13:4.

2. Fellowship & Romans 14: Unity in doctrinal and moral diversity.

3. Understanding truth: Clear vs. more difficult - Jno. 8:31-32; Eph. 3:3-4; 2 Tim. 2:15; 2 Jno. 9.

4. Salvation by grace: A reason for unity in diversity - Eph. 2:8-9; Rom. 6:1-2, 14-15.

5. One covenant: God has always had only one covenant with His people - cf. Heb. 8:7-13.

B. Charges Against Us For Standing In The Sound Doctrine Of Christ:

1. Fomenting division - cf. Gal. 4:16; Lk. 12:51-53; 1 Cor. 11:19.

2. Too extreme - 2 Cor. 11:3-4; 1 Tim. 6:3-4; 2 Pet. 3:17-18.

3. Teaching false doctrine - On MDR, fellowship and Romans 14, grace and unity.

C. The Encouragement Of Faithful Brethren - 2 Tim. 1:8; Phil. 1:7;