With Freedom Comes Responsibility (Plain Bible Teaching)

December 11, 2015 by

Plain Bible Teaching: The First Ten Years

The following is an excerpt from the book, Plain Bible Teaching: The First Ten Years.

God desires us to be free, but this does not mean we are free to live as we please. Paul told the churches of Galatia: “For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another” (Galatians 5:13). To the Romans he said, “But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness” (Romans 6:17-18).

We have a divine obligation to serve God and do good to others. Let us use the great gift of freedom we have been given to carry out these responsibilities. Do not neglect to show gratitude for your God-given liberties. Pray also that these liberties might be preserved for us and our children and be extended to others as well, and that we, to whatever extent we are able, would help lead others to the freedom that God desires for us to have.

You can read more in Plain Bible Teaching: The First Ten Years. Follow the link to learn more about the book and purchase your copy today!

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Why There is So Much Diversity Among Professed Christians (Plain Bible Teaching)

December 10, 2015 by

Plain Bible Teaching: The First Ten Years

The following is an excerpt from the book, Plain Bible Teaching: The First Ten Years.

The reason why there is so much diversity among professed Christians is because of the lack of importance placed upon doing all things based on the authority of Christ. People assume certain things are good works, rather than going to the Bible to prove them as such. They look to the churches around them, rather than to the church discussed in the New Testament. They profess Jesus as Lord, but do not wholly submit to His authority (Matthew 28:18).

Why do many neglect the search for Bible authority or fail to appeal to the authority of Christ as revealed in the word? Why do many not make the plea: “To the law and to the testimony”? The Lord answers this question: “If they do not speak according to this word, it is because they have no dawn [there is no light in them, KJV]” (Isaiah 8:20). They do not “walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light” (1 John 1:7).

Really, this is how we distinguish a truth teacher from a false teacher – whether or not a direct appeal is made to Scripture for everything said and done. John wrote, “We are from God; he who knows God listens to us; he who is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error” (1 John 4:6). Those who teach and practice the things revealed in God’s word by His inspired men are of the truth. Those who teach and practice things contrary to what has been revealed are in error.

You can read more in Plain Bible Teaching: The First Ten Years. Follow the link to learn more about the book and purchase your copy today!

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Our Responsibility to Preach the Gospel (Plain Bible Teaching)

December 9, 2015 by

Plain Bible Teaching: The First Ten Years

The following is an excerpt from the book, Plain Bible Teaching: The First Ten Years.

Our responsibility is to preach the gospel, period. We are not responsible for the decision of others to obey the gospel. Paul said, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth” (1 Corinthians 3:6). We simply need to “preach the word” (2 Timothy 4:2), and let the word of God do the rest (Romans 1:16).

What if people will not listen? The fact that many are not interested in hearing the plain, unadulterated gospel is the reason often given by those who defend the practice of supplementing the gospel with other things (i.e. the social gospel). But if someone will not listen, it is their problem, not ours. We cannot “pervert” the gospel or else we stand “accursed” (Galatians 1:6-9).

When people will not listen to the gospel, we do not need to look for gimmicks to get them to listen. Instead we need to look for other hearers. Jesus told His disciples to “shake the dust off your feet” and move on when people rejected the message (Matthew 10:14). Paul and Barnabas did this very thing in Antioch in Pisidia. The Jews opposed Paul’s teaching. When they rejected it, Paul and Barnabas did not plan some community outreach programs in an attempt to make the Jews more receptive to the gospel. Instead they said, “We are turning to the Gentiles” (Acts 13:46). If we encounter some who will not listen to the gospel, we need to move on and find others who will.

You can read more in Plain Bible Teaching: The First Ten Years. Follow the link to learn more about the book and purchase your copy today!

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Do Not Let Your Heart Envy Sinners (Notes on Proverbs)

September 10, 2015 by

My Son, Hear My Words: Notes on Proverbs

The following is an excerpt from the book, My Son, Hear My Words: Notes on Proverbs.

“Do not let your heart envy sinners, but live in the fear of the Lord always” (23:17). There will be times when it seems as though sinners are better off than we are. During these times, we may be tempted to envy them. But we must not do this. As noted in the previous verse, one who fears the Lord is better off than one who does not, regardless of the earthly peace and prosperity enjoyed by the godless person (15:16). The future of the one who fears God is better than the future of the wicked man. Therefore, we must continually live in the fear of God so that we can please Him in all things.

You can read more comments on the book of Proverbs in My Son, Hear My Words: Notes on Proverbs. Follow the link to learn more about the book and purchase your copy today!

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It Is Not Good to Fine the Righteous (Notes on Proverbs)

September 3, 2015 by

My Son, Hear My Words: Notes on Proverbs

The following is an excerpt from the book, My Son, Hear My Words: Notes on Proverbs.

“It is also not good to fine the righteous, nor to strike the noble for their uprightness” (17:26). We have already noticed the responsibility of rulers to punish evildoers (20:8, 26). However, they must take care not to punish the righteous along with the wicked. Peter would later explain the primary responsibility of civil authorities: “For the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right” (1 Peter 2:14). A sloppy execution of punishment that affects the righteous is not good. Those who are righteous and upright should not be fined, struck down, or otherwise harmed by those in power.

You can read more comments on the book of Proverbs in My Son, Hear My Words: Notes on Proverbs. Follow the link to learn more about the book and purchase your copy today!

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