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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Daily Notes & Observations: “Uneducated and Untrained Men” (Excerpt)

December 16, 2013 by

November 17

“Uneducated and Untrained Men”

Daily Notes & ObservationsAfter being arrested, Peter and John found themselves before the Jewish Council. This group included the priests, rulers, elders, and scribes (Acts 4:5-6). Among this group was Annas the high priest and Caiaphas, two who were instrumental in bringing about the death of Jesus; and Gamaliel, a well-respected teacher of the Law (Acts 5:34).

For many, this would have been an intimidating audience to have to address. Yet Peter and John boldly defended the cause of Christ. The members of the Council were surprised at their boldness.

“Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus. And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say in reply” (Acts 4:13-14).

However, Peter and John were not “uneducated and untrained” as the Council members supposed. They had been taught by the Master Teacher. They had been trained by the Son of God. But they did not have a “formal” education and training under a mere human teacher.

Many people, like the members of this Council, place a great deal of importance on “formal” education and training — particularly for those who desire to proclaim the gospel. Yet the only education and training that one really needs to be able to preach the gospel is to be “with Jesus.” Obviously, we cannot converse with Jesus directly today as Peter and John were able to do; but we can devote ourselves to the study of His word and be trained that way (2 Timothy 2:15). If we learn the Scriptures, we can teach them with full confidence (Titus 2:15).

It might be possible that a formal education will help one in preparing for the work of preaching the gospel. But there is no substitute for an intimate knowledge of the word of God. Those in the world (and even some in the church) may view some of us as “uneducated and untrained”; but we can still confidently speak the truth, just as Peter and John did before the Council.

Daily Notes & Observations contains 365 articles like the one above – one article per day that will take you through the Bible in a year. Be prepared to start your study on January 1st – order your copy today!

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Daily Notes & Observations: “They Prophesy for Money” (Excerpt)

December 10, 2013 by

July 14

They Prophesy for Money

Daily Notes & ObservationsAfter condemning the rulers for oppressive taxation of the people (Micah 3:1-3), the Lord addressed the prophets who had the same “love of money” (cf. 1 Timothy 6:10) as the rulers. Money, rather than simply proclaiming the word of God, was the primary motivation for these prophets.

“Her leaders pronounce judgment for a bribe, her priests instruct for a price and her prophets divine for money. Yet they lean on the Lord saying, ‘Is not the Lord in our midst? Calamity will not come upon us’” (Micah 3:11).

Since their motivation was money and not truth (their claim that the Lord was with them and would protect them was false), these prophets adjusted their message depending on whether or not their audience would support them.

“Thus says the Lord concerning the prophets who lead my people astray; when they have something to bite with their teeth, they cry, ‘Peace,’ but against him who puts nothing in their mouths they declare holy war” (Micah 3:5).

For those who were willing and able to pay them, these prophets delivered a message that would be pleasing to them. But for those who did not support them, they responded with condemnation.

In every generation throughout the history of man, there have been people who were motivated primarily by money and were willing to compromise principles in order to gain wealth. The prophets were guilty of this in Micah’s day. Preachers can easily be guilty of this today — preaching a message that will be well-received by those who currently or could potentially support them. If a particular topic is controversial or not popular among their supporters, they simply ignore that topic — a blatant violation of their responsibility to preach the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:27).

Preachers must be more concerned with truth than with their support (or lack thereof) for preaching the truth. Paul told Timothy to “preach the word… in season and out of season” (2 Timothy 4:2). Even when brethren would not like it and would “accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires” (2 Timothy 4:3), Timothy was not to compromise. “But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry” (2 Timothy 4:5).

Let us all, whether preachers or not, value the truth over every earthly thing.

Daily Notes & Observations contains 365 articles like the one above – one article per day that will take you through the Bible in a year. Be prepared to start your study on January 1st – order your copy today!

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