Noteworthy News

(Current events in the light of Scripture)

Armed Raiders Rob Bank, Pleading Poverty

(Last updated 10:05 AM ET February 12)

NICOSIA (Reuters) - Armed robbers shouting “we are poor, give us money” stole more than $97,000 Friday from a Bank of Cyprus branch in the center of the capital Nicosia, police said.

The two men with stockings over their heads and wielding guns rushed into the bank for the raid, rare in low-crime Cyprus.

The bank had no guard, nor was there a closed circuit camera in operation, police said.

Commentary

(Joe R. Price)

Well, at least they were honest! Of course, that’s no excuse for stealing. Neither is being poor. Jesus lived in poverty His whole life yet He carefully met His financial obligations (Matt. 17:24-27). Those who fear God give themselves to honest labor for the good of society, themselves and their families (Eph. 4:28; 1 Ths. 4:11-12; 1 Tim. 5:8).

This incident also reminded me of a treasure which God makes available to all - free for the asking - if we will only see its value and come to God to receive it. I’m talking about salvation - eternal life in Christ. Isaiah prophesied, “Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; And you who have no money, come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk without price. Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in abundance. Incline your ear, and come to Me. Hear, and your souls shall live; And I will make an everlasting covenant with you--The sure mercies of David....” (Isa. 55:1-3) There will be things in this life we can never buy. The things we buy will tarnish, fade, decay and become useless. But salvation in Christ will grow more valuable every day - and last forever!

We must recognize our spiritual poverty and come to God’s “bank” of spiritual treasures. Not to “rob God,” but to receive from Him, through Jesus Christ, abundant life (Jno. 10:10; 1 Jno. 5:11-13).

Assignments

February 14, 1999

Announcements: Shane Bass

Opening Prayer: Shane Bass / Willie G

Closing Prayer: Shane Bass / Charles Fair

Song Leader: Clarence G / Aaron Bass

Scripture Reading: Justin M / Wesley H

L. Supper: Loren P, Jess Bass, Philip Price

Building Cleanup: Head

The Power To Change

Joe R. Price

Every time I turned on the radio this past week I heard at least one advertisement about “the power to change” one’s life. Churches in NW Washington and SW British Columbia are engaged in an intensive media effort to get people to “give their lives to Christ.”

The spot I heard this morning was the voice of a woman describing how out of control her life had been until she finally agreed to pray with a friend. She recalled that somewhere between a defiant “Dear God” and the last “Amen” something happened. Something changed. A “supernatural” event occurred (according to her description). She was now different. She had now let Jesus come into her life.

Please do not misunderstand. Moral and spiritual change is good whenever one changes from sin to righteousness and from error to truth (1 Cor. 6:9-11; Acts 19:18-20). The gospel of Christ will radically alter one’s values, judgments, motives and conduct (Rom. 12:2; Eph. 4:20-24).

This lady was describing repentance, not salvation from her past sins. Repent means “to change one's mind” (Thayer). That which motivates and produces repentance is godly sorrow over one’s sin against God (2 Cor. 7:10) The effect or result of repentance will be a change in one’s life. So, we read of John the baptizer warning people to “bear fruits worthy of repentance” and of the apostle Paul preaching that sinners should “repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance” (Lk. 3:8; Acts 26:20). Without repentance, we will not be saved from our sin (Acts 17:30-31). With repentance, we will change our life to conform to the changed mind (heart) taught in the gospel (Eph. 4:17-24).

The radio spots do not tell people all they must know in order to change from being a sinner to becoming a child of God! (Jno. 3:3-5; Gal. 3:26-27) Belief that Jesus is the Christ and repenting of one’s sins are mandatory for salvation (Jno. 8:23-24; Lk. 13:3, 5). But there is more to the story if we want God’s power in our lives.

One must also confess his faith in Christ and be baptized into Christ for the remission of his sins, or there will be no change in how God views him - a sinner (Matt. 10:32; Rom. 10:9-10; Acts 2:37-38; 22:16). We may feel different because we pray a prayer, but God says we are still in sin unless we believe, repent, confess our faith and are baptized into Christ. (Where is that passage which says prayer washes away sin? Truly, the silence of God is deafening!) Remember, God’s ways are not the ways of man (Isa. 55:8-9; Jer. 10:23).

“The power to change” from sinner to saint is due to the power of the blood of Christ to wash away sin (Rom. 1:16-17; 5:8-10). Being baptized “into His death” the sinner is raised to walk “in newness of life” (Rom. 6:3-4; Acts 22:16). That is when the change occurs. Faith alone will not save you (Jas. 2:14-26). The power of God to change our lives is found in the power of a faith which obeys Jesus in all things (Heb. 5:8-9; Eph. 2:8-10; Matt. 7:21-23).

The Blessings of Hell? Notes

(or, Things you won’t have to do in hell)

(Scripture Reading: Mark 9:42-48)

· Facts about hell: Torment & outer darkness (Matt. 25:30);

Place of unquenchable fire (Mk. 9:44-48; Rev. 21:8); everlasting

punishment (2 Ths. 1:8-9; Rev. 20:10, 14-15).

· SOME OF THE things you will not have to do in hell:

I. YOU WON’T HAVE TO ATTEND ALL OF THE WORSHIP

SERVICES OF THE CHURCH! - Heb. 10:24-25

A. No Sunday Schedule To Keep Any More.

B. No Longer A Burden To Bear - 1 Jno. 5:4.

II. YOU WILL NOT HAVE TO WORSHIP GOD!

A. No More Having To Sing. - Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16 (Rev. 14:3)

B. No More Having To Pray To God. (1 Ths. 5:17; Lk. 18:1)

C. No More Sermons - 2 Tim. 4:2-4.

-(Length, Acts 20:7; Content, 1 Cor. 1:21)

III. WILL NOT HAVE TO LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR - Gal. 5:13-15.

A. You Will Be All Alone! (No family, neighbors, friends, etc.).

IV. YOU WILL NOT HAVE TO LOVE GOD.

A. No More Commandments To Keep - Jno. 14:15; 1 Jno. 5:2-3.

B. No More Sacrificing For God - Rom. 12:1-2.

C. No More Bible Study - Psa. 119:104.

D. No More Walking By Faith - 2 Cor. 5:7.

V. YOU WILL NEVER HAVE TO STAND FOR THE TRUTH AGAIN!

A. Facing Ridicule For The Sake Of Truth A Thing Of The Past - 1 Pet. 4:4.

B. Weariness Over Fighting The Good Fight Of Faith - 1 Tim. 6:12; Jude 3; Eph. 6:10-17.

Jesus of Nazareth: His Trials (Part 13)

(Scripture Reading: Luke 22:63-71)

I. THE JEWISH TRIALS (Ecclesiastical Trials).

A. First, Before Annas - - Jno. 18:12-14, 19-24. (To obtain incriminating evidence from Jesus!)

B. Caiaphas And The Sanhedrin Council - Matt. 26:57-68.

C. Before The Sanhedrin At Daybreak - Matt. 27:1; Mk. 15:1.

D. Injustice Of The Trials - cf. Acts 8:33.

II. THE ROMAN TRIAL (Political Trials).

A. Charged Before Pilate - Lk. 23:1-7; Jno. 18:28-29.

B. Before Herod - Lk. 23:8-12.

C. Back To Pilate - Lk. 23:13-15, 16, 20-22; Jno. 19:1-12; Matt. 27:18-19, 24, 26.

III. LESSONS WE CAN LEARN.

A. The Ugliness Of Injustice - Deut. 1:16-18; Psa. 82; Isa. 28:16-17; 61:8.

B. How To Endure Injustice - 1 Pet. 2:18-23.

C. The Persuasive Power Of Sin (peter, Lk. 22:33, 61-62), (pilate, Jno. 18:38; 19:4, 6, 12, 15-16);

the crowd - Matt. 21:9-11; 27:20, 25 (Acts 3:14); 1 Cor. 10:12 (Matt. 26:41).

D. The Courage To Do What Is Right - Matt. 27:24; Gal. 6:4-5; Rom. 14:11-12.