Noteworthy News

(From news of the day)

Annan begins 'sacred' mission in Iraq

Strike threat looms

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- With a peaceful settlement of the weapons inspection crisis as his "sacred duty," U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan arrived in Baghdad at sundown on Friday on a last-minute mission that could decide whether the standoff will be solved by diplomacy or bombs.

The U.N. leader traveled aboard French President Jacques Chirac's official jet for the six-hour flight to Baghdad and was greeted by Iraq Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz after the plane landed at 5:50 p.m. (9:50 a.m. EST)

Annan, whose last visit to Iraq was in 1991 after the end of the Persian Gulf War, said he was "back in Baghdad on a very important mission. In fact, I describe it as a sacred duty, and I'm here in search for a peaceful solution."

"I hope I will leave Baghdad with a package that will be acceptable to all," he said in brief remarks at the Baghdad airport, adding that he was "reasonably optimistic" of success.

Aziz said he shared Annan's optimism. "What Iraq wants is a balanced and fair solution to this problem... that preserves the sovereignty, the dignity and the national security of Iraq as well as the implementation of U.N. resolutions," the deputy foreign minister said.

Indeed. A sacred duty to pursue peace is exactly what God has placed upon every individual Christian at all times (Rom. 12:18). We should constantly pray for the leaders of nations that peace reigns (1 Tim. 2:1-2).

Does this mean that Christians cannot support the legitimate use of national, military force to oppose wicked, immoral actions in the world? No, for Romans 12:18-13:7 establishes the fact that God has ordained civil government to be His instrument of vengeance against evil-doers (read Rom. 12:19; 13:2-4). Herein lies the government’s divine right to punish the criminal as well as honor the doer of good (Rom. 13:4-5).

Christians must necessarily render a judgment as to whether any use of military or police force is a moral response for the punishment of evil before we can or should support it. We must subject ourselves to our governing authorities, with the proviso that we always “obey God rather than men” (Rom. 13:1; Acts 5:29).

-Joe Price

Assignments: February 22, 1998

Announcements: Rusty McGrew

Opening Prayer: Rusty McGrew / Rick Holt

Closing Prayer: Jess Bass / Aaron Bass

Song Leader: Gary Bass / Morris Bass

Scripture Reading: Philip Price / Jason Holt

Lord’s Supper: C. Fair / W. Golightly / L. Parker

Bldg. Cleanup (Feb. 28): Dan & Roberta Head

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

Visit our Web Site on the Internet: http://www.angelfire.com/wa/northsidecofc

Volume II, No. 2 February 22, 1998

Biblical Principles of Unity (Part 6):

Salvation by Perfection?

by: Joe R. Price

NO! “We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do” (Lk. 17:10).

One must obey the law of Christ or His grace will not be obtained. This is how salvation “by grace through faith” operates (Eph. 2:8-9). Some brethren are suggesting that by promoting obedience to the commands of Christ we are somehow advocating salvation by perfect law-keeping. This is not true. The question must be asked, ‘Is faith a requirement for one to obtain God’s grace?’ If so, does this mean that when one has faith that “grace is no longer grace?” Of course not. Yet, some among us are criticizing obedience as a ‘law of works’ that does not effect the matter of fellowship and unity of brethren (cf. 2 Jno. 9-11).

How truly discouraging! We must now spend time opposing and exposing Calvinistic doctrine to gospel preachers and other brethren in Christ! Grace is not a license to sin, nor does grace allow fellowship with error (Rom. 6:1-2; cf. Amos 3:3). This is fundamental to the faith (Jude 3-4; Heb. 6:1). However, as one brother recently put it to me, “which way will you have it? Are we saved by grace or by our perfect works? By grace or by perfect knowledge? By grace or by our perfect doctrinal correctness? Right here are your passages that show we can disagree on matters of doctrinal things. In fact, if you want passages, just read the books of Romans and Galatians, along with Eph 2.1-8, Phil 3.1-9, Tit 3.5, etc.”

We must have it God’s way without the false definitions and constructions men are passing off as ‘salvation by grace.’ The Bible teaches there are works of faith without which one will not be saved (Jas. 2:22-24). Faith without works (obedience to the commands of God) is dead (Jas. 2:17, 26). We know nothing of God’s grace except through the teaching of "the word of His grace,” which includes the terms and conditions for abiding in His grace -- "the true grace of God in which you stand” (Acts 20:32; 1 Pet. 5:12). We are justified by faith when we obey Christ. As a result of our faith, we stand in His grace (Rom. 5:1-2).

Noah was an heir of the righteousness that is according to faith (Heb. 11:7). Did the fact that he had to obey God’s word and build the ark diminish or take away from God’s grace? (Gen. 6:8, 14, 22) Not at all, but unless Noah had built the ark as God commanded him, he and his family would not have been saved. They would have perished with the sinful world.

Now, if we can understand that simple yet profound example of saving faith and God’s grace, why are some stumbling over one’s need to obey Jesus in the matter of marriage, divorce and remarriage? To obey Jesus is not to advocate salvation by perfect works, perfect knowledge or perfect doctrinal correctness. It is to follow the example of Noah and put one’s faith in Christ into action. It is complying with every command given us by our Savior, just like Noah (Jno. 14:15; Lk. 17:10). It is obeying the instructions of God’s grace, just like Noah (Tit. 2:11-12).

One cannot be out of harmony with the apostles’ doctrine and still stand in the grace of God (Rom. 5:1-2; 2 Jno. 9). If such is not true, then testing the teachings of men against the objective standard of Scriptures has been become an unnecessary, trivial and vain exercise (1 Jno. 4:1, 6; Matt. 7:15-23; Gal. 1:6-10). Such a conclusion is not from God.

(to be continued)

Is Our Gospel Meeting Relevant? Notes

[Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:18-25]

Next week, we have a gospel meeting planned: Is it relevant? Are

gospel meetings timely, pertinent, appropriate, fitting, expedient, beneficial?

I. GOSPEL MEETINGS ARE RELEVANT BECAUSE:

A. God Commands Us To Preach The Gospel - Mk. 16:15; Matt. 28:20;

1 Cor. 1:21 (Rom. 10:14); 2 Tim. 4:2; 1 Tim. 4:6, 11.

B. They Are Expedient - 1 Cor. 10:23-24:

1. To edify - Feed us the word of God - 1 Pet. 2:2; Acts 19:9-10 (1 Cor. 14:26).

2. For worship - Acts 20:7 (cf. 4:23-24, 31).

3. To exhort each other - Heb. 10:24-25.

II. OUR GOSPEL MEETING WILL BE RELEVANT:

A. If The Gospel Is Preached.

-Brother Halbrook will do his job - Phil. 2:19-22, 25-30 (3 Jno. 5-8); 2 Tim. 4:2-5.

B. If We Make Time To Be Present - Acts 24:25; 2 Cor. 6:2 (Gal. 6:10).

C. If We Attempt To Get Others To Come Hear The Gospel - 1 Cor. 3:6 (Lk. 8:5).

D. If We Have A Willingness To Use What We Learn - Neh. 8:5-8, 9-12; Matt.

13:13-16; Jas. 1:21-25.

Conclusion: The gospel will never lose its power, therefore, it is always relevant to

preach it to all men! (Rom. 1:16; 1 Tim. 4:13)

The Power Of Godliness

[Scripture Reading: 1 Tim. 4:6-11]

1. The power of godliness should drive us (2 Cor. 3:5). Sadly, we have been made

to believe there is little or no power in godliness (only weakness & ignorance).

2. THE POWER OF GODLINESS UPON.....

I. THE CHRISTIAN - 2 Pet. 3:11 (Acts of godliness).

-Spiritual growth (2 Pet. 1:6-7); Contentment (1 Tim. 6:6-10); Endurance (2 Tim. 3:11-12);

Moral Living (Titus 2:11-14); Clothing (1 Tim. 2:9-10); Over Hypocrisy (2 Tim. 3:1-5).

II. THE CHURCH.

A. Our Knowledge Of Truth - Tit. 1:1; 2 Pet. 1:3.

B. Our Doctrine - 1 Tim. 6:3.

III.THE HOME - 1 Tim. 5:4 (Piety same root word as godliness).

-cf. 2 Tim. 3:1-5

IV.SOCIETY - 1 Tim. 2:1-2; Prov. 14:34; Psa. 144:15; Dan. 2:21.