He concludes that all of this evil had led to a slackening of God’s Word, and that righteous judgments were not being made. This was because the wicked had surrounded the righteous, and what was happening was that wrong judgments were being made.

Isn’t his conclusion right? When men render the Word of God to be weak, they will act out on their own and will make the wrong judgment. He assures us that when we ignore the Word of God, we are headed for troubled ground. It is inevitable that we will not do what is right. How can we? When God’s law is relaxed we give ourselves the green light to take matters into our own hands which Jeremiah clearly proclaims "It is not in man that walketh to direct his own footsteps." (10:23) We just cannot make righteous judgment apart from the Word of God.

Yet, daily conceited man continues to ignore the Word of God, pervert the Word of God or slacken the Word of God. It is only leading to ruin, and isolation from God.

Stacy Crim

Have You Obeyed The Gospel?

Phillip Mullins

Salvation is not a mere emotional ride.

Salvation is not a feeling that strikes you from out of the blue like a lightning bolt.

Salvation is not an irresistible force that overtakes you.

Salvation is the result of obedience to the call of God through His word. In Acts 2:40 Peter passionately pleaded with the Jews, "...Be saved from this perverse generation." The inspired text records the result. "Then those who gladly received his word were baptized... " (vs. 40).

Salvation is the outcome of submitting to the teaching of Christ. "But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered" (Romans 6:17).

Salvation is the product of accepting and continuing to live by the facts, commands, and promises of the gospel message. "Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you - unless you believed in vain" (I Corinthians 15:1-2).

One of the greatest misconceptions about salvation is that salvation is a passive experience characterized by extreme emotionalism. God is supposed to give it to you unexpectedly. The emotions that accompany the experience are the proof that you have been saved.

Nothing could be further from the truth of the Bible. According to the New Testament, salvation comes because a person chooses it. It is given when a person believes upon and obeys the word of the Lord. Though emotions are involved (Acts 8:39), they are a byproduct of salvation not a carrier of it or even proof of it. Salvation involves the use of the intellect in learning and understanding the gospel of Christ. It involves the will, for a person must choose to submit to the commands of God.

When Paul wrote about those who would be lost and suffer eternal punishment he described them as people, "...who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ" (I Thessalonians 1:8-9). We are certainly saved by the grace of God, it is not something that we deserve or earn. Yet, it is something that God offers to us either to accept or reject. What is your choice?

&

Misbehaving Team Members

- by Greg Gwin

It is a common news story involving big-time sports stars: late at night, in a questionable location, with disreputable companions, they are engaged in unseemly activities. The matter is publicized widely throughout the media, and another "black eye" results for professional athletes.

It sure seems that these individuals ought to think more seriously and behave more respectably. After all:

1. Their related teams have paid huge sums of money to bring them on board.

2. They have an incredible ability to influence others. In fact, they are often referred to as "role models."

3. And, any misconduct on their part reflects badly on their team and co-players.

All things considered, it just doesn’t make sense for them to act in such irresponsible ways. They need to THINK!

There is a parallel to this situation that strikes much closer to home than one might imagine. It is this: a church member gets involved in a questionable activity, with unwholesome companions, and in a compromising situation. The matter is ultimately revealed, and another "black eye" results for the local congregation.

It sure seems that these Christians ought to think more soberly and conduct themselves more carefully, because:

1. They were redeemed with the purchase price of Jesus’ own precious blood. ("For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God . . ." 1 Corinthians 6:20)

2. They have a strong influence – for good or bad – on others. ("Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. . . Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." Matthew 5:13-16)

3. What they do reflects on the Lord and His church. (". . . by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of." 2 Peter 2:2)

With all these things in mind, it doesn’t make sense for a member of the Lord’s body to act in sinful ways. THINK!