Posts from 2024 (Page 4)

Jesus said, “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” Just as fruit bearing is natural for the branches of a grapevine, so is fruit bearing for the Christian. In fact, something is seriously wrong if either one does not bear fruit. Let’s notice some basic scriptural principles about fruit bearing. We must bear the right kind of fruit. Just any…

Only a Christian can experience two lives – the old and the new. Jesus told Nicodemus that to enter the kingdom of God one “must be born again.” He then explained that the new birth comes about by “water and the Spirit.” (John 3:3-5) The new birth is followed by a new life. According to the Spirit’s directions, through the Word, one is buried with Christ by baptism and raised with Christ “to walk in newness of life.” (Rom.6:4) This…

Sowing and reaping are principles we live with daily. Seed produces after its own kind. (Gen. 1:11,12) When the farmer sows wheat, or plants cotton, he knows what to expect. This principle is stated in regard to the use of the tongue. “Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh.” (James 3:11,12) Jesus…

In Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians, he wrote, “You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men; Clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink, but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart”. (II Cor.3:2,3) God’s word, translated into human life, is a most important epistle, “known and read by all men”. People…

The Bible gives us numerous motivating reasons for living for Jesus and being submissive to the will of God. (1) It is our duty. “….When you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.” (Luke 17:10) (2) Fear of losing our soul. “For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul?” (Matt.16:26) (3) Love for…

It has never been easy to live for Jesus. It was not easy in the first century, and it certainly is not in the twenty-first. But it is easier than dying for Him, regardless of the century in which one lives. He died for us, and many have died for Him. Stephen, James, Peter, Paul, and most of the other apostles died as martyrs in one way or another. Yet, in doing so they were only following the example of…

In Johns third epistle he commended Gaius for helping traveling brethren, such as providing lodging and helping them on their journey, saying. “We therefore ought to receive such that we might be fellow helpers to the truth” (III John 8) KJV/ The NKJV uses the term “fellow worker.” Of course, the truth does not need our help to make it better, or more complete and sufficient, or more acceptable to man. (II Tim. 3:16,17) But it does need our help…

In the first segment of this article last week five biblical reasons for personal involvement in the work of the church were considered. They were… Because we love the Lord. Because it pleases God. Because of the importance of the Lord’s work. Because it is good. Because of our influence. Please consider four additional reasons for the importance of personal involvement. Because it helps the church. Every member is important in the work of the church. Scripture empha-sizes this fact…