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The Cornerstone
This is the Stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the Chief Conerstone." Acts 4:11
Pulbished to Support the Work of the West End Church of Christ, Richmond, Virginia
Volume 9 * Number 26* July1, 2007
Convenience
In the early nineties I worked for the Keebler Company in their convenience division. My route mainly consisted of convenience stores, like a Fast Mart. The whole idea behind the convenience store is it is often closer than the grocery store so it is advantages for one to just stop in for a quick in and out purchase. My largest accounts were Wal-mart stores, which were also built around convenience. Their idea was to conveniently offer everything you would buy in one place. i.e. paper plates, bowling balls, and televisions
American religion has largely become a matter of convenience. The service consists of things which are to man’s advantage. It must be a quick in and out, very short, captivating, and offered at various times to meet busy schedules. If it is not conducive to tee times, family outings, and ball schedules then changes of the service are made to accommodate. The Lord’s Supper lasts too long so just add a few more trays to speed things up, or just schedule it once a month. Why stop at the gym or go to the baseball field, why not just come to one place (the local denomination) and have religion and recreation all at the same stop.
Is God at all pleased when men worship Him only when it is convenient? Shouldn’t worshipping God be according to His will? Isn’t worshipping God to our advantage? Shouldn’t it cost us something? i.e. time, resources, business, recreation, or opportunities. Should worshipping God be what does not fit into the schedule? Felix the governor trembled at the preaching of Christ by Paul. The situation was getting uncomfortable and thing were quickly not to Felix’s advantage/convenient so he says “Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season , I will call for thee.” Acts 24:25 Felix would have to change and that was going to be uncomfortable and cause him much inconvenience. The gospel
Why not give extra effort to serve God and suffer a little inconvenience the next time we are called upon to do so? “Whatsoever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus …” Colossians 3:17
Stacy Crim
The Grace of God
David A. Cox
“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men (Titus 2:11). Grace is something which all religious people would agree that man is saved by. However, there are many varied ideas about how the grace of God saves man. Let us look at what the Bible teaches about the grace of God and salvation.
Genesis 6:8 says, “But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.” Thinking about the grace of God and Noah, let it be understood that this grace was the favor of God extended toward Noah without merit. It was God’s grace extended to Noah in a day and time in which there was nothing about man that was worthy of the grace of God. Noah had not done anything to deserve or merit God’s favor or goodness toward him, but God could and did regard Noah with goodness and favor because of his righteous life. Here we learn that there are two aspects to Noah having the grace of God extended to him and his salvation; Noah’s part and God’s part.
The Hebrew writer says in Hebrews 11:7, “By faith Noah being warned of God concerning things not seen as yet, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house...” First, the Hebrew writer says that Noah moved with godly fear. What was Noah moved to do? He was moved to act by faith and obey all that God commanded him to do (cf. Genesis 6:22). This resulted in Noah and his house being saved. The instructions given to Noah from God were quite detailed as to how the ark was to be built. These instructions included the kind of wood, the size of the ark, the location of the one window and one door. Surely, no one would say that Noah’s faithfulness had nothing to do with his being saved from the flood. Second of all, it seems quite clear that his salvation was definitely the result of God’s grace being extended to Noah, but salvation would not have occurred for Noah, if he had not obeyed God.
This is the very same thing that is taught in Ephesians when Paul wrote, “For by grace ye are saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not of works, lest any man should boast (Ephesians 2:8-9). Again, we see the two aspects:
1. That salvation is a gift of God; it is favor extended to man fromGod that is not earned or merited. This is grace.
2. Salvation comes by or through our faith. God’s grace is extended to man, but man must by faith do what God has told him to do in order to come into contact with God’s grace
There two aspects can be seen throughout the Bible. Examples include Naamanm the leper, who was told to wash in the river Jordan to be cleansed (2 Kings 5) and the children of Israel who were bitten by the fiery sperpents and were told to look on the serpent of brass to be healed and not die (Numbers 21).
Paul told Titus that the grace of God has appeared to all men to save them from their sins. All are invited to receive this grace and be saved, but this is done only as one complies with the conditions God has given to receive forgiveness of sins and recieve eternal salvation. We must hear (Romans 10:17), we must believe (John 3:36), we must repent (Luke 13:3Acts 2:38), confess Christ (Romans 10:9; Acts 8:37), and be baptized (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; Acts 22:16). Truly, salvation is not of ourselves; it is from God. But we must look to the word of God and obey all the commands God has told us to do. Then, we will be “saved by grace through faith”.
Anderson, AL 6/10/07
A Squeak In The Pulpit
Steve HigginbothamRecently I read of an entry found in an old church record of a business meeting. It stated: A committee was appointed to investigate the squeak in the pulpit. Upon reading this, I couldn't help but think th at today's world, even today's church, desperately needs more than a "squeak" coming from the pulpit. Now, as much as ever, we need the clear tones of the gospel resounding from our pulpits.
We are hearing far too much about churches who are selling out to the culture. The distinctive preaching of New Testament Christianity is seldom if ever heard in some pulpits. Sermons that challenge our morals, expound our doctrine, question our ethics, and rebuke our mediocrity are exchanged for sermons that have an air of religiosity, but are lacking in substance.
In 1 Chronicles 12:32, it was said of some of God's children that they "understood the times." There remains a multitude of God s children who understand the times. They understand that now is not the time for a squeak in the pulpit. There are many godly elders, and godly Christians who are demanding to hear more than a squeak from the pulpit. They have not bought into the idea that distinctive preaching has harmed the church. They want substance over style and flair. They want truth over entertainment. They want biblical authority over pragmatism. And they would rather have the sometimes bitter truth over a watered-down gospel. To put it in the words of John MacArthur, they realize that the weakness of the pulpit today does not stem from frantic cranks who harangue about hell; it is the result of men who compromise and who fear to speak God s Word powerfully, with conviction.
There are many challenges that face the church today. If we are to rise up to the occasion and defeat our adversary, we must have a strong pulpit; Pulpits that will speak the truth in season and out of season, with all the love it can muster; Pulpits that will not compromise the truth; Pulpits that do more than just squeak!
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