26 October 2008

There Is Only One

(Kent Heaton)

In the antique world, owning the only copy of an ancient manuscript or possessing the only artifact from the ancient world suggest great value. If there is only one copy of a piece of music from Beethoven scholars would recognize its great worth. There is only one original Constitution of the United States signed by the early fathers. The value of one is evident. There is only one God. There is only one Savior. There is only one book containing the word of God. There is only one church. There is only one way to salvation. There is only one eternal rest.

The Bible is the only place the principle of one is denied by those who accept it in every other part of life. From the garden of Eden God told man there was only one way of truth. “The Lord God commanded the man, saying, "From any tree of the garden you may eat freely; but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die” (Genesis 2:16-17). Man chose to ignore that law and was expelled from the garden. There was one truth and because of their disobedience, Adam and Eve were punished.

When Moses brought the Law to the people of God in Exodus 20 the first commandment was "You shall have no other gods before Me” (Exodus 20:3). The prophet Isaiah declared the word of the Lord: "Turn to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth; For I am God, and there is no other” (Isaiah 45:22). There is no other God but Jehovah God. There is no Allah, no Buddha, no other God but the one true God.

There is only one Savior. Jesus plainly taught the oneness of His relationship with the Father in John 14:6 - "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me” (John 14:6). Jesus is the only way to the Father; the only truth that comes from the Father; and the only life man can have is through Jesus Christ. There is only one way man can find the Father and that is in Christ. That leaves out Moses, Elijah, the Pope, Mohammed, Joseph Smith, George Bush and Kent Heaton.

The Bible is the only book given to man that reveals the mind of God. Paul said, “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). There is no other revelation from God (2 Peter 1:13-21). Paul warned that angels were not permitted to change the word of God (Galatians 1:8,9) This leaves out the Koran, the Book of Mormon or disciplines written by man as inspired revelations from God.

There is only one church. Ephesians 4:4 says there is “one body” and Ephesians 1:22,23 says the body is the church. There is only one New Testament church. Jesus said He would build “My church” and He died for only one church (Matthew 16:18; Acts 20:28). There is only one church that is nearly 2,000 years old and the churches of men cannot make that claim.

There is only one way to salvation. The book of Acts is filled with stories of those who obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine that delivered them from sin. Upon hearing the word of God they believed it and confessed Christ as their Savior; repenting of their sins and having their sins washed away in the waters of baptism became children of God (Mark 16:15,16; Acts 2:38; Romans 10:9,10; Luke 13:3; Romans 6:3-6). There is only one place of eternal rest – Heaven (Revelation 21 & 22).

My Body, My Slave

(Rick Liggin)

In talking to the Corinthian Christians about the importance of self-discipline, the apostle Paul said: "I buffet my body and make it my slave, lest possibly, after I have preached to others, I myself should be disqualified" (1 Corinthians 9:27). When I read this text, the words, "buffet my body and make it my slave" [NASB] grab my attention. This expression suggests a distinction between my body and the real me. Obviously, my body is not the real me. It is only the outer physical shell that houses the real me.

This fact is confirmed in other Bible texts, like Paul's second letter to the Corinthians (4:16-18; 5:1-9). Here Paul tells us that the "outer man" (our mortal body) is decaying day by day, while the "inner man" (the real me) is constantly being renewed (4:16). This "outer man," Paul says, is only an earthly tent that houses the real me (5:1-4).

We note this distinction because of what Paul said about controlling our bodies. The real me must control my body, even if I must "buffet" it to get the job done (9:27)! To "buffet" a person literally is to give him a black eye [Zerwick]; it is to treat him roughly. Metaphorically, it essentially means what we mean today when we speak of "whipping ourselves into shape."

Our text tells us what Paul did to ensure his salvation; and it suggests what we must do as well! We need to "whip our bodies into shape" and make them our slaves, a slave of the real me, the inner, spiritual me! If I'm serious about my own salvation, I need to exercise some rigid self-discipline over my body, and I need to do it no matter how bad it hurts. I must make my body "my slave"! I have to let my body know just who in this relationship is going to control wholly; who the real boss is going to be! And folks, it must be me! I must not allow my body to dictate to me! I must dictate to my body!

Unfortunately, too many of us have this exactly backward! We let our bodies control us! Instead of telling our body what it must do, we let the body tell us what to do! Instead of making "my body my slave," we let our body make us its slave! Instead of controlling the flesh, we indulge the flesh!

Let me tell you: the man who "vents all his feelings" or "always speaks his mind"--that man is letting his body rule him (Proverbs 29:11). The guy who gets angry or gets his feelings hurt every time someone looks at him cross ways--that guy's body has made him its slave! The person who says, "I couldn't help it! It felt so good, I just couldn't help myself"--again, that man is one whose body (passion) has taken control of him! In fact, anyone who "can't stop it" or "can't control it" is really just allowing his own body to enslave and rule over him.

"Well, it's my body! I'll do with it what I want to!" Not if you are a Christian, it's not! If you are a Christian, your body now belongs to God! "Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body" (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).

Now that we are Christians, we are "under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh," but to God, to live as He wants (Romans 8:12). And if it's now God's will that we must do, then we're going to have to stop indulging the flesh and start making our bodies our slaves even if that means we will have to do some serious body buffeting to get it under control!

How serious are you about making sure that you're not somehow disqualified from receiving the incorruptible crown of life (1 Corinthians 9:24-27)? If you're really serious about it, then you'd better take steps to get your body under control! Your body cannot control you unless you let it control you! Don't do that! I know it might hurt, but buffet your body and make it your slave, lest possibly, after you have served others, you yourself should be disqualified!

The Religious Necessity of Visiting the Sick

(Jay Horsley)

The sick, like the poor, are ever with us. This provides for us almost unlimited opportunities to put our Christian religion into practice. Every week this format and the announcements of the elders inform us as to who is in need of help and prayers. How do we respond to it? Do we ever offer prayer? Do we ever go see these brethren? If we do not - we must begin. If we do - we must continue. Consider these biblical reasons why.

The Golden Rule. The lofty goal of Christian behavior is “all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them” (Matthew 7:12). What would be our desire if sick? We would all hope that when we are aged or grossly infirmed that one would come and care tenderly for us. Yet if we do not now lay up the treasure of doing this good work for others in the time of our health how can we rightfully call for such care for ourselves later? Is it not the very definition of selfishness to expect others to do for you what you refuse to do for them? Instead, we must “not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others” (Philippians 2:4). This is the very law of Christ, “Bear one another's burdens, and thus fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2).

A Sign of Familiar Love. Many of those that are sick among us in this congregation also have family here. In fact, there are very few sick anywhere who do not have relatives. If all relatives did their divinely ordained duties society and the church would be much less burdened. However among this congregation are many sterling examples of this love put into practice: spouses caring for the ones to whom they pledged to be faithful “in sickness and in health”; parents caring for children for whom they must provide, children “making a return” (1 Timothy 5:4) unto their parents, and grandchildren and grandparents showing an active love and concern that spans the generations. In fact this rightful love in action is an example to us, for as the scriptures point out, it only those most dilatory in their faith who are neglectful of this. “But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith, and is worse than an unbeliever” (1 Timothy 5:8) This is, as the pagans were, “without natural affection, unloving” (Romans 1:31).

An Exercise in Humility. One excuse often given by those who refuse to do their duty is how uncomfortable it makes them feel. To be in the presence of the seriously ill, those of greatly advanced age or serious medical condition is not pleasant. It is disconcerting to see bodies so weakened and distorted by time and disease. These bodies are not the way we wish them to be and they are graphic reminders of the approaching death that awaits every man. We naturally don't like to think about death - and disease is an extension of it. To face the one who is sick we must face within ourselves the real possibility that such conditions are to be our fate as well. Our response to this can be to become morose or to be thankful for the health that we do have.

A New Appreciation For Health. One of the greatest ways that we can be reminded of the blessings that we have is to deal with those who don't have them. Some things become much more obvious by their absence. If we have lived with something a long time we tend to take it for granted. A visit to the home of the poor helps us appreciate our wealth. A visit to the bed of the sick makes us appreciate our health. Who would not be moved to thanking God for their good health after spending time with those who lack it and so desperately want it?

A New Appreciation For Prayer. Many who are healthy and well supplied do not pray, as they ought for they do not see the need. A visit to the sick - for who grave danger of life is present or soon expected, or for whom medical science can offer no hope, or for whom pain and suffering attend their every movement and activity - helps us see that prayer is the only response possible. Prayer – for their spiritual security and encouragement as the physical fails. Prayer - for their physical comfort and relief. Prayer – for those who patiently and lovingly care for them that they might be blessed in and for their efforts and have the strength to continue. In all things - prayer. Also, having so closely prayed with them in suffering we are more likely to continue in prayers for them when absent. But if always absent where is the reminder of the need of prayer?

A Sign of True Faith. Many are Christians by loud profession having once made the good confession, but their obsession with self and their own interests is obvious when the continually absent themselves from sick beds and benevolent opportunities. It is not my decision that such faith it vain, it is the proclamation of the divine writer: “This is pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father, to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world” (James 1:27). It not true religion if it continually shirks duty.

The Duty of Elders, Preachers and All Christians to Visit. Some see this duty as one primarily, or even only, for the leaders of the church. Let the elders (they are the ones appointed after all) and the preacher (he is on the payroll) or others go. By this same logic only the elders and preacher should pray, teach, sing or encourage (after all; they are appointed, he is paid). Do elders have a duty to visit the sick? Yes, the scripture says that the sick should call for them to pray with them (James 5:13). Also they should go under the general heading of “caring for the flock” (1 Peter 5:20). The preacher has no specific instruction to go “as the preacher” to the sick (if so, where is the passage?), only the general instruction to “strengthen and encourage” (2 Thessalonians 3:2). Every passage (save James 5:13) that deals directly or by implication with visiting the sick is addressed equally to ALL Christians.

The importance of this duty to every Christian cannot be overstated – for eternal salvation hangs in the balance. Jesus speaks of the separation of the goats and sheep to the left hand and to the right in Matthew 25:37-46. "Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You drink? And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? And when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You? And the King will answer and say to them, Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me … Then He will answer them, saying, Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me. And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” Which side of the divide do your actions put you on?