The Kingdom of God Still Stands

by Edward O Bragwell
www.cvillechurch.com

I once heard someone that that he knew that the church was a divine institution - if it had not been the brethren would have destroyed it long ago. He may have been close to right.

In my judgment, one of the most damaging things to the church is our own pessimism. To hear a lot of us talk, one would think that the Lord's church - His kingdom - is on the verse of collapse. It is one thing to be concerned about any threat to the church, but it is another thing to think and act like because of these threats that the Lord's cause is on the verse of going down the drain. It is not so! As the song says, "The kingdom of God shall stand."


I am not calling for that Pollyannaish optimism, observed in some, that ignores problems and treat threats as trivial matters. On the other hand, I believe that, in the face of our problems, our mood often becomes too negative. Our outlook, in many cases, becomes too fearful and doubtful. Our speech becomes too problem-oriented. Let two informed brethren talk about the church for long and see if the conversation is not dominated by problems and fears tied to the problems. We seem to lose sight of the promises and power of God. Maybe we should, as the politicians sometimes say, look at the record.

The word of God is still with us, as promised (1 Pet. 1:23-25). The kingdom of God is still with us, as promised (Dan. 2:44; Luke 1:33; Matt. 16:18-19). If, after nearly 2000 years, this is so - in spite of all the problems and threats of the past -why should we not be optimistic about the future of the church? Why should we not be more up-beat than down-beat about the kingdom of God? Even if I am just a natural pessimist, I will have to admit that so far the kingdom of God has survived.

So far, no power on earth has been able to destroy it. The combined power of the Roman Empire and the Jewish leader-ship did not keep the church from being established nor could they destroy it after its establishment. That is a matter of record. They tried to prevent its establishment by killing the prospective King. It was still established. They tried to wipe it out by official persecution. It survived and flourished under their persecution.

So far, false doctrine and deception have not destroyed it. This has done more damage that all the persecuting powers combined, but it has not destroyed the church. Brethren are warned in advance that false teachers will find their way into their midst and draw away disciples after them (2 Pet. 2:1- ff). Brethren are warned against encouraging such in any way, (2 John 9) and to faithfully preach the word to pre-vent such teachers gaining a foot-hold (2 Tim 4:1-4). Paul even warned of a great apostasy (1 Tim. 4). But, in spite of that major apostasy, which we believe resulted in Catholicism, and other departures from the faith after false and deceptive teachers - the church is still with us. The kingdom of God still stands. There are still people who are working and worshipping together just like they did before that apostasy ever happened - just like you read about in the New Testament when the church was under the personal direction of the apostles.

So far, internal problems have not destroyed it. One of the marks of the New Testament church was not that it was problem-free. We seem to think that church problems were in-vented in recent years. In fact, nearly any problem that comes up in any congregation today has been faced, in principle, by brethren many times in the past - and the kingdom of God is still here!
The very first congregation - ever - had internal problems. Two of its members conspired to perpetrate a fraud upon the brethren (Acts 5). They were struck dead for their sin -for all the world to see. This church had a problem that caused quite a stir over neglected widows. Those problems were solved and the church survived.

There was a big dispute in Antioch and Jerusalem between brethren over a doctrinal matter (Acts 15:1-2, 7). After that, two leading men who were on the same side in that dispute (Paul and Barnabas) got into such an argument over a matter of judgment that they would up "parting from one another" as they went out to preach the gospel (Acts 15:36-41). Another leading brother, the one given the keys of the kingdom, let some racism show through, acted hypocritically and had to be publicly rebuked (Gal. 2:14-ff), But, all of these problems were overcome and the kingdom of God still stands. A big portion of the New Testament was written to point out and deal with internal problems among brethren in the early church. Especially note, 1 Corinthians, Galatians, the epistles to the Thessalonians, and the letters to the seven churches of Asia in Revelation. They tell of problems among brethren such as open fornication, lawsuits between brethren, confusion over spiritual gifts, corrupting the Lord's supper, brethren who would not work but were evidently free-loading off others, lukewarmness, teaching lewdness as a matter of doctrine, etc. Yet, so far, the kingdom of God still stands.

Brethren, let us recognize any problems we may have. Let us work on them. Let us try to solve and overcome them. But, let us get out this pessimistic mood that I see so much of among us and remember that we are indeed in "kingdom that can not be moved" (Heb. 12:25). Let us not let preoccupation with problems and threats to blind us to the great good that is being done by brethren all over the world - not keep us from rejoicing in that good to the fullest.

Yes, there are problems among brethren - almost everywhere. This has been so from almost the very beginning. But, so far, the kingdom of God is still with it - and will be. It has survived all the problems and threats of the past 19 centuries - it will survive the problems of today, and tomorrow - if the Lord lets there be a tomorrow. If not, then the kingdom will delivered up to the Father. If we will just "be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord" our "labor will not be in vain" (1 Cor. 15:58). How can we be so pessimistic, in view of all of this?

If we will "seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness" - everything is going to be alright. There is just no reason to be pessimistic or overly apologetic about the state of the kingdom of God!

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"Better Felt Than Told" Religion

by Mark Larson
www.cvillechurch.com

The belief that religion is based on the feelings that a person may experience is a major obstacle in getting people to obey the gospel. Those who adhere to such a belief cling to their feelings as the basis of their salvation. Even when the Bible plainly contradicts their beliefs and practices and teaches them what they must do to be saved, they still insist on following their feelings instead of the word of God. “I know how I feel and I wouldn't trade my feelings for a stack of Bibles” is a common response, rather than obedience to the truth. Feelings, not God’s word, are the guides they rely on in life to determine what is right and wrong in morality and religion.

Conversion Begins not by a Feeling nor by a Sensation a Person Feels in the Body, but by Hearing God’s Word.

Today, many people, because of an intense feeling they experienced (e.g., fear, happiness) or a sensation they felt throughout their body (e.g., “I felt like I was floating and could fly”), make the claim to be saved. Convinced that the feeling came from God Himself, they will readily give their “testimony” of how they were “converted” to the Lord. However, there is no record in the Scriptures of anyone ever being converted in this manner.

Instead, each person who was converted to the Lord first heard the word of God: “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Rom. 10:17, NKJV). A saving faith begins by hearing God’s word. The apostle Peter understood this principle by what he said when addressing the apostles and elders at Jerusalem: "Brethren, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe” (Acts 15:7, NASB). The only way anyone can become a believer in Christ and be saved is by first hearing the word of the gospel.

If God converts people by sending them some “better felt than told” experience of salvation, then why did the Lord send the disciples to "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation” (Mark 16:15)? If all people had to do was wait for God to save them through some divine emotional experience, then why send a preacher to preach the gospel so the lost may hear God’s word? (Rom. 10:14-15).

The Holy Spirit Converts Through the Word, not Through Our Feelings.

It is often the case, that the people who base their conversions to Christ on a feeling, also believe it was the Holy Spirit who gave it (e.g., “I felt the Spirit come upon me and I just knew, at that moment, that I was saved”). The belief is that the Holy Spirit works to save people by a direct action upon the heart of each individual after a person prays for salvation or “prays Jesus into their heart.” This belief about the Holy Spirit comes from a serious misunderstanding as to how the Holy Spirit works in the saving of souls.


When a person is saved, that person is “born again” or born of the Spirit (John 3:3, 5; Titus 3:5). The word of God also causes us to be “born again” spiritually when we obey it: “Of his own will begat he us (God caused us to born - ML) with the word of truth . . .” (James 1:18, KJV; cf. 1 Pet. 1:22-23). The “word of truth” is not literally a person that happens to do the same work as the Holy Spirit. Rather, the word of God must be the instrument the Holy Spirit uses in the work of saving souls (2 Thes. 2:13). Jesus, when addressing His apostles, spoke of the role the Holy Spirit would fulfill in our salvation: “And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin, and righteousness, and judgment” (John 16:8, NASB). The Holy Spirit convicts the world by the word of God, which He gave to the apostles (Acts 2:4; Eph. 3:5) who in turn, gave it to us. In the Bible, we have the revealed will of God that we can read and understand (Eph. 3:3-4). The promise that “the Comforter” (i.e., the Holy Spirit) would come was specifically given to the apostles alone who were given the complete revelation of God’s word by the Spirit (John 14:16-20, 25-26; 15:26-27; 16:13).

Feelings Are not Reliable Indicators of Our Salvation.

The feelings we experience from day to day may range from a whole host of different emotions such as happiness, excitement, enthusiasm, embarrassment, disgust, anxiousness, annoyance, frustration, anger, fear, guilt, sadness, depression, etc. The emotions or feelings that we experience will vary depending on a number of factors such as our attitude, diet, health, sleep habits, pleasure, pain, and other circumstances of our lives.


Since feelings may differ from day to day, it is impossible to depend on them for truth and accuracy on whether or not we are the children of God. The person who relies on his or her feelings as the basis of a right relationship with God may feel “close” to God one day (due to feelings of happiness) and then may feel “distant” from God the next day (due to feelings of sadness or anger). The person who puts too much stock in his or her emotions does not enjoy confidence, but instead doubt and fear about their relationship with God (e.g., “Am I a child of God?”).

How We Can Know That We Are Children of God.

It is not enough to feel that you are a child of God. You must have the facts to verify the claim and those facts are established by at least two credible witnesses. Those two witnesses are the Holy Spirit and your spirit: “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him in order that we may also be glorified with Him” (Rom. 8:16-17).


First, the Holy Spirit “bears witness” or speaks to us through the written Word (1 Tim. 4:1). The word of God or the gospel reveals to us how to become children of God. For example, the Holy Spirit did not personally reveal to the eunuch how to be saved, but instead the Spirit sent Philip to the eunuch to preach the gospel to him so he could learn how to become a Christian (Acts 8:26-40).


Secondly, “our spirit” may bear witness of the fact that we believed and obeyed what the Spirit said to do in the Bible on how to be saved. Hearing God’s word produces genuine faith that saves (Rom. 10:17). While faith is important to salvation (Heb. 11:6; John 3:16), we are not saved by faith only (James 2:24). There are other conditions in God’s word that we must meet in order to become children of God and have the hope of salvation. A person must also confess his faith in Christ (Rom. 10:9-10), repent of their sins and be baptized into Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38). Once baptized, a person must maintain an obedient faith to the end to be saved eternally (Heb. 3:12-14; James 2:14-26).


When we obey God’s word, our spirit knows that we have followed the guidance of the Holy Spirit on how to be saved and therefore may “bear witness” that we are children of God. In addition, the Holy Spirit may also “bear witness” that we are children of God because He knows we have obeyed God’s word. Both our spirit and the Holy Spirit may bear witness together of our salvation when they are in agreement with one another. Only when a person has obeyed the gospel can a person truly be confident that he or she is a child of God!

Walk by Faith, not by Feeling As a Christian.

Emotions must not be the basis for the decisions we make nor the rule of our conduct (e.g., “It just felt like the right thing to do. I knew at that moment the Spirit led me to do it”). To “walk by the Spirit” (Gal. 5:25) or “walk by faith” (2 Cor. 5:7), the Christian must make decisions that are based upon the word of God (Ps. 119:105; 2 Tim. 3:16-17; Heb. 5:12-14).

Decisions must not be made on sheer impulse or merely by what seems right (Prov. 14:12). The Christian must not “direct his own steps” (Jer. 10:23) merely by what feels right. Instead, the Christian must “not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is” (Eph. 5:17) and do his or her best to obey it. Our ability to “Rejoice in the Lord always” (Phil. 4:4) and rejoice in our salvation (Ps. 51:12) is not based on our feelings, but on God and His promises and our faithfulness to Him (Rom. 15:13; 3 John 4).

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Speaking the Truth in Love

by John N. Evans
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Some of the most challenging questions Christians must answer are these: "How can I present God's Word in a way that will accomplish the most good? Is my disposition regarding truth and my attitude toward others such that the cause of Christ is helped, not hindered?"

Paul's admonition in Ephesians 4:15 provides the key to answering these questions: ". . . But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ. . . ." I realize we're interrupting the apostle in mid-sentence, but there are three principal points we need to see in v. 15.

First, Paul says we need to speak the truth. Feeble, arrogant man is often tempted in his own conceit to pose the question which Pilate asked in John 18:38, "What is truth?" Pilate suggests by his question that objective truth is a fairy tale, a wisp of smoke, a flight of fancy. Pilate scoffed at the very concept of absolute truth. By his question, he implies that all things are relative.

Contrary to Pilate's appraisal, Jesus affirms that his teaching was based on objective truth. "Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice" (v. 37). Christ's teachings do not emanate from man's philosophy; they are not the result of personal feelings or prejudice.

The Bible tells us in plain language that it is truth and that man can only be saved by humble obedience to that truth in accordance with God's will. "Sanctify them through thy truth," John 17:17 tells us; "thy word is truth." John 8:32 states plainly, "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." Here truth is used in an absolute sense. For the Christian, the Bible is not just the basis for some doctrine or a doctrine; it is the basis for all doctrine.

So, Pilate, you had it wrong. There is such a thing as absolute, objective truth, and Jesus was speaking the truth. "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by me" (John 14:6).

Since you and I are to speak the truth, that means we must speak from the Bible. "If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God . . ." (I Pet. 4:11). It also means that we may not neglect parts of the Bible in our examination of the truth.

For example, it would be wrong for me to construct an entire theological house on John 3:16 and leave out everything else God's Word has to say about the plan of salvation. If I do, I end up with a perversion such as "Man is saved by faith only." Nor should I focus exclusively on the "love" passages of the Bible and conclude that churches should never withdraw themselves from wayward members. It also would be incorrect for me to emphasize Paul's admonition for Timothy to use a little wine for his stomach's sake (I Tim. 5:23) to the exclusion of all other passages on the subject, and decide that social drinking is fine.

Paul understood the importance of speaking the truth. In Acts 20:27, when he tells the elders at Ephesus that "I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God," he's saying he told them all the truth. God's Word makes man complete (2 Tim. 3:16-17), so Paul didn't hold back any part of it from them.

Well, John, are you saying that we must preach the whole Bible in every lesson, or else we have lied? No, but like Paul we can resolve to preach only that which is true, and we can endeavor to examine all that God has revealed on a subject to come to an understanding of the truth.
If we neglect part of the truth, if we speak part of the truth as though it were all, or with a view to deceive, we err.

Second, Paul tells us how we are to speak the truth: We are to speak it in love. This describes our attitude in presenting the truth. While love is an abstract noun we often struggle to understand, I find it easiest to think of acting in another person's best interest.

First, as Christians, we remember the love which God and Christ manifested for us. In Rom. 5:8 we read, "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." God loved us enough to send His son to this earth as the only acceptable, perfect sacrifice for sins. Christ loved us enough to suffer the cruelest kind of death to pay the penalty for our sins. Deity acted in our best interest.

With the example of Christ in our minds, then, we act in the best interest of others. We don't speak the truth just to win a fuss fight. We don't use the truth like a hammer to hit someone over the head. Love means we don't look for opportunities to grill someone like a steak or to show the superiority of our knowledge. We don't use the truth like a harsh spotlight to create unnecessary embarrassment in some poor soul.

We speak the truth in love-with a view to saving souls. We speak the truth to uplift and comfort the fainthearted. We speak the truth to restore those who have wandered from God and into sin. We speak the truth to instruct and exhort. We speak the truth to encourage and admonish. We speak the truth to correct and persuade. Always, always, we speak the truth to glorify God.
The third point we need to understand is found in the last part of v. 15. Speaking the truth in love is a mark of a mature Christian. By doing this, Paul says, we ". . . may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ. . . ." Speaking the truth in love is a sign of one who is becoming more Christ-like in his attitude and actions.

Ephesians 4:15 is not a verse which is difficult to understand, but it is a challenge to practice! I'm going to work on it. I'm sure going to pray about it. I'm going to ask God to grant me spiritual wisdom that I may apply it correctly.

May I humbly suggest that it's a special challenge for each one of us as we wrestle with some of the difficult problems of our day. As we struggle with such issues as marriage and divorce, church discipline, and the deity of Christ, let us remember to speak the truth in love.

Let us remember that it's not genuine love if we refuse to speak the truth. Oftentimes I'm afraid we use love for brethren as an excuse not to deal directly with a problem. Also, let us remember that it's not truth as God would have it expressed if love is absent. The mature Christian heeds Paul's full admonition. He speaks the truth in love.

Please don't misunderstand my message here. I'm not saying that love must validate truth. In Phil. 1:15-18, for example, Paul describes a situation where some taught truth from the wrong motives. He disapproved of their attitude, but he rejoiced that Christ was preached.
The point is, there's a way Christians are to proclaim the truth. Our attitude should reflect the fact that we want to help, not hinder.

Is there a time to deal directly, plainly, even forcefully with a problem? Absolutely! In Titus 3:10 Paul instructs Titus to "Reject a factious man after a first and second warning" (NASB). That's plain, isn't it! Paul says if you get a fellow who's a divisive and factious element within a congregation, you don't tap dance around like you're tiptoeing on jacks. You get after it and deal with the problem. Show some starch, some backbone, before more harm is done!

But, love for all the brethren and love for God should be a Christian's attitude of life, even when we are pressed to make firm stands on difficult matters. Our speech can be direct and bold, with courage and conviction, even as we maintain a Christian's character.

As we labor with fellow saints in a local church of Christ, let our attitude be one of loving the truth and loving one another. Let us prefer brother and sister above self (Phil. 2:3-4). Let us labor together in the kingdom of our Lord.

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What Think Ye?

by Dee Bowman
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Thinking, the process of digesting information, is common to man. While it is true that animals—and even plants, for that matter—engage a kind of crude thinking, real thinking is peculiar to man. It’s part of his nature, part of who and what he is.

Thinking is the process by which we formulate our choices; and choices are what makes us what and who we are. Everyday, we do think, and every day we make choices. Some of our decisions are small and seemingly insignificant at the time we make them. Others are important and have lasting consequences. Even the small choices, however, can often be of much more significance than we thought when we made them. Actually, there is no such thing as an unimportant choice. And all of them are result of how we think.

One of the prime purposes for the revealed word of God is to facilitate thinking, making it possible for the choices we make to be truthful and productive of the highest possible good. 1 Corinthians 2 argues that fact clearly. Read it when you have time. And think about it.

“The fool hath said in his heart, there is no God” (Psalm 14:1). That’s where it all begins. When your thinking begins with God, good things happen. The last part of that verse gives a true indication of what happens when God is the not the beginning of our thinking. Listen to it: “They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.” See what happens when God is not in our minds? We become “corrupt.” That means we become depraved, devoid of good conduct. Another result of leaving God out of our minds is “abominable works.” Abominable works are those that are detestable or loathsome. They result from not having God in our mind. And the finish of the verse is very graphic depiction of what is the end of those who choose to think about everything selfishly and without respect to the Creator: “there is none that doeth good.” That’s a terrible indictment.

God defines what is good, for He is the essence of good. He is good and cannot be bad. As a result, all that He calls for, all that He does, all that He approves or rejects, is good, for He is good. That makes the Bible, His word, the most important thing in your life. It means that He has spoken what is good. All He has said is good. “O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in Him” (Psalm 34:8). Thinking good things makes us like Him and gives us a trusting reliance on His grace.

Paul enumerates some good thinking in Philippians 4:8. “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” These are high things to contemplate, noble things to consider. They deserve our attention—and regularly.

These things are fodder for meditation. If you give some thought time to God, using these simple thought-starters, you will profit immediately. Your attitude will take on a new vivacity. Your true aspirations will become more spiritual. Your focus will be sharper, and your hope brighter. “Honest” things—or as some renditions say, “honorable” things—make for high considerations. Thinking things that are “just” just results naturally in good decisions, fair ones, too. Things that are “pure” produce nothing but good. “Lovely” things bring peace to a troubled mind. Contemplating “good reports” keeps us from considering gossip, scandalous conduct, and other trash. These wonderful thinking-things, and others like them, make for a balanced mind and a high expanse of spirituality.

Perhaps the most obvious passage of Scripture having to do with proper contemplation is Proverbs 23:7: “As he thinketh in his heart, so is he.” We become what we think. Those who give their minds to gross, inordinate things are more apt to be involved in pornography. Those who have a grasping mind are more liable to be involved in lawless endeavors at financial success. Those who are excessively prideful are destined to bring eventual misery and wretchedness to themselves because of such self-elevation. You become what you think. A scary thought, don’t you think?

Now that makes the word of God so vital. So why don’t we think about it more?

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