Posts Tagged ‘obedience’
You don’t really teach children about the stoning of Achan, do you?
Question: I stumbled across your web site and saw the drawing of the stoning of Achan. In the upper right, it said something about pictures going with children’s Bible stories. You don’t really mean to teach children about stoning, do you? The Stoning of Achan Joshua 7:24-26 Answer: You misunderstood. The pictures are from an old…
Read MoreHow do I know if I’m doing what God wants me to do?
Question: How do I know if what I am doing is what God wants me to do? I don’t know if I should do what I want to do or what others want me to do. Above all, I don’t know if what I am doing is right or wrong. How do I find out?…
Read MoreI learned some life lessons from the lesson ‘Why did Uzzah have to Die?’ Thank you
Question: Hi. I was reading about Uzzah in the Bible the other day and how he had touched the ark and died. I had always wondered why he had to die. I knew that God had to have a reason for it. I found your lesson which talked about the reasons for Uzzah’s death. Now that…
Read MoreDoes the Bible say the spiritual world is more real than the physical world?
Question: I remember reading in the Bible that “the spiritual world is more real than the physical world.” I have tried to find it again and cannot. Do you know what the reference for this is? Answer: I recall reading a short book by C.S. Lewis that had this idea as its theme. I also…
Read MoreWhy Was God About To Kill Moses?
by Terry W. Benton The text of Exodus 4:24-26 seems oddly placed, but it is a separate paragraph from the rest of the text. Moses has been commissioned to go back to Egypt where the Israelites are and tell Pharaoh to free them. Moses thought of excuse after excuse, which angered God, and then made…
Read MoreDo you believe that the only way to heaven is by accepting Jesus as your Savior and not by good deeds or grace?
Question: Does the church of Christ believe that the only way to heaven is through the Lord Jesus Christ, by accepting Him as your Savior and not by good deeds or grace? Thanks. Answer: “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15). You cannot claim to accept the Lord as your Savior if you…
Read MoreThe Soul of Obedience
Robert Turner via Gospel Power, Vol. 14, No. 14, April 8, 2007. Remember the old story about the man who was going on a journey, and asked his son to lay out the farm according to his instructions? Corn was to be planted in this field, beans in that, the garden here, a shed built…
Read MoreA Perversion of Biblical Faith
by Wayne Jackson One of the great tragedies of ecclesiastical history is the fact that so many have failed to find a balanced view of human redemption as this concept is set forth in the biblical record. On the one hand, there is Roman Catholicism, arrogantly contending that salvation is conferred upon the basis of…
Read MoreHow can we be children of God and slaves of God at the same time?
Question: I have been struggling with the concept of “children of God.” I understand we are made children of God when we becoming Christians, yet we are bondservants to God and Christ — we are servants. I was wondering when it refers to us being children of God, is it a general reference like the…
Read MoreDoes true faith mean the command to be baptized does not save a person?
Question: I guess I would not mind seeing the other side of my argument. It is simply this: true faith saves you. I could go in-depth of what I mean if you would like me to, but I guess I just want to hit on the issue. I believe that baptism has absolutely no part…
Read MoreHow can I follow God when He is so strict?
Question: First of all, I can’t thank you enough for your time. There’s a lot more I want to talk about, possibly so much that neither you nor I have enough time for. Before I ask you more questions I want to continue to discuss this issue of sex and what not because it’s been…
Read MoreWhy do I feel so disconnected after making the sign of the cross?
Question: When I make the “Sign of the Cross” before praying, I feel so blessed ‘opening’ and ‘connecting’ myself to God and all those in Heaven. It is very uplifting. However, when I make the “Sign of the Cross” finishing the prayer, I feel I’m closing myself off, away from God, until I pray, again.…
Read MoreOh, Daddy, I Forgot!
by Gary W. Holladay, Sr. At sunset, I was quite tired from transplanting a cherry tree in the front yard of my corner lot; but I still needed to tie it down to protect it from the wind. As I pounded stakes into the ground, I heard the gleeful squeals of small children in the…
Read MoreLord, Lord!
by Ethan R. Longhenry “Not every one that saith unto me, ‘Lord, Lord’, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy by thy name, and by thy name cast…
Read MoreWhat saved Joshua and Caleb?
Question: While teaching then the book of Numbers last evening all went pretty well until we arrived at chapter 14. The question was asked: “Apparently, what saved Joshua and Caleb?” I said that it was Moses because he was their mediator and interceded for the people. Several in the class disagreed and said it was…
Read MoreThe Role of Obedience in Salvation
by Jack Holt Obedience is an obligation each human being sustains to God. This is so because God is the Creator and Ruler of the universe, and we are his creatures. Beyond the fact that God is Creator and Ruler, love places us under a moral obligation to obey. As creatures with moral ability love…
Read MoreIs it too simple to say we are to believe and we will be saved by God’s grace?
Question: I’m concerned that purgatory does not exist in the Bible. I believe that imaginary doctrine can be changed, as has the belief of Limbo, with innocent newborn babies, who have died prior to baptism, no longer going to Limbo. I always thought that God has told us to believe in Him and we will…
Read MoreThe Obedience of Faith
by Steve Dewhirst via Gospel Power, Vol. 12, No. 17, April 24, 2005. How odd, that one of the Bible’s most fundamental teachings should have become so puzzling to folks. God is not the author of confusion, but man is. And during the centuries since Jesus walked the earth, the very nature of the faith…
Read MoreWhat Do You Need to Serve the Lord?
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton I. John 4:34-38 – Jesus told his disciples to serve the Lord by bringing others to Him A. Mt. 28:19-20 – Commanded to go into all the world. B. We all have this responsibility. II. Yet, many find excuses to not work. A. “I’m not eloquent enough to be of any great service.” 1. Moses tried this…
Read MoreHow Did Jericho Fall?
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Joshua 6:6-20 I. The record of the fall of Jericho is familiar to many people. A. It was an impressive victory for the people of Israel who had recently entered the land. B. Despite the fact that the city was heavily fortified – Joshua 6:1 C. It was completely destroyed – Joshua 6:21…
Read MoreNotes on Obedience
Leviticus 18:4 I Samuel 15:22 Ecclesiastes 12:13 Matthew 7:13-14 Matthew 7:21-24 Matthew 28:20 Luke 6:46-47 John 8:31 John 14:15 John 14:21 John 14:23 Acts 5:29 Acts 10:34-35 Romans 6:14-18 Romans 16:26 Ephesians 6:1 Philippians 2:12 II Thessalonians 1:7-9 Titus 3:1-3 Hebrews 5:8-9 James 1:25 James 2:24 I Peter 1:22-23 I John 2:3-5 I John 3:22…
Read MoreNotes on Faithful Life
John 8:31 John 15:4-10 Colossians 1:22-23 Revelation 2:10 see Notes on Obedience see Notes on Apostasy see Notes on Things that Accompany Salvation
Read MoreAt What Point Does Faith Save?
by Richie Thetford Many denominations will have us believe that we are saved by faith before we do the action in accordance with God’s command. No doubt you have seen those on television attending a huge denominational service who are invited to come forward at the conclusion of the service and simply say that they believe…
Read MoreDid Lot’s wife go to heaven or hell?
Question: Did Lot’s wife go to heaven or hell for her sin of looking back? Answer: “When the morning dawned, the angels urged Lot to hurry, saying, “Arise, take your wife and your two daughters who are here, lest you be consumed in the punishment of the city.” And while he lingered, the men took…
Read MoreThat’s More Than I Am Supposed to Do
by Harry E. Rice Practically all progress in the world has been made by those who did more than their share, “more than they were supposed to do.” Our independence was won by George Washington and his men who “did more than they were supposed to do” as they suffered privation at Valley Forge while…
Read MoreSalvation is Unlimited — But Conditional
by Earl Robertson via “The Instructor”, October 1982, Volume 19, Number 10 John wrote “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely” (Revelation 22:17). Many of the creeds of men…
Read MoreSince Jesus said to keep the commandments, shouldn’t we keep the Sabbath?
Question: Christ was asked in the Bible, “Lord, what must I do to enter the kingdom of Heaven?” Christ replied, “keep the commandments” and named a few of them. Since keeping the Sabbath was one of them, shouldn’t we keep the Sabbath today? Answer: You are referring to the question asked by the rich young…
Read MoreWhat Must I Do to be Saved? (Walker)
by Wayne S. Walker Of all the questions asked … Where did I come from? Who am I? Why am I here? Where am I going? The most important question ever asked was: “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:30) In the sixteenth chapter of the book of Acts, the apostle Paul…
Read MoreSince teaching is a work, then it doesn’t save. Right?
Question: Telling others about Christ is a work. “For by grace we are saved through faith, it is the gift of God, not of works lest any man should boast ” (Ephesians 2:8-9). Answer: There was a branch of the Baptist denomination that fully accepted the idea that being saved was entirely a work of God…
Read MoreHow does obedience relate to saving faith?
Question: How does obedience relate to saving faith? Answer: “What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and…
Read MoreMust a member of the church follow the truth?
Question: Is it true that if a member of the church of Christ is shown a truth from the Scriptures, they are bound to follow that truth? Answer: Jesus said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15). Hence, any true follower of Christ (a Christian) will strive to as obediently to the truth…
Read MoreHonor Your Father and Mother (Hamilton)
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton The command to honor your parents was carried over into the law of Christ intact. “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with promise: “that it may be well with you and you may live long on…
Read MoreWhy didn’t the Jews believe Jesus?
Question: Why didn’t the Jews believe Jesus? Answer: It is a curious thing, is it not, that the Son of God came to live among men (John 1:14), and yet he is rejected by the very people who had been expecting his arrival for thousands of years. “He was in the world, and the world…
Read MoreIs the Spirit only given to the obedient?
Question: In your study on Cornelius, you indicated that receiving the Holy Spirit did not necessarily indicate that a person believed or was saved. You cited the examples of Saul and Balaam as proof, but doesn’t Acts 5:32 contradicts this? Answer: The study being referred to is “Cornelius Received the Holy Spirit.” Acts 5:32 states, “And we…
Read MoreThe Scheme of Redemption in Perfection and Presentation
by Bryan Vinson via The Preceptor, Vol. 1, No. 12, October 1952. In the survey thus far of the development of God’s purposed and planned redemption of man from sin, we have reached the point wherein the promised Messiah has come in fulfillment of Divine prophecy. While here on earth, prior to His death, He very…
Read MoreObedience Is Not Enough
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton I. Ps. 110:3 – God’s people will be volunteers A. A reference to this age and to this people assembled here B. What does it mean that you are volunteers? 1. Today, we have a president interested in increasing volunteers 2. He is even willing to compensate them, but that is not what being a volunteer…
Read MoreIf I do all the commandments, when will I do enough?
Question: If I do all the commandments, when will I do enough? Answer: In asking this question, you have started off in the wrong direction. Essentially you have asked what is the minimum that I can do to be pleasing to God. Yet God doesn’t want our minimum effort. When a lawyer asked Jesus what…
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