Calling Attention to the Heart

by Doy Moyer One can work and not have faith, but one cannot have a living faith and not work. One can do for others and not have love, but one cannot love and not do for others. We may be prone to evaluating the outward works, the visible doing, “but the LORD looks on…

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Not By Faith Only

by Terry Wane Benton When the Bible says, “not by faith only” (James 2:14-24), why is it that you hear major denominations claiming that salvation is “by faith alone”? I would be embarrassed to hold to a doctrine that directly contradicts the word of God. If the Bible actually taught both things, it would be…

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Works, Grace, and Faith

by Doy Moyer Works won’t save us, but failure to engage in them can condemn us. Likewise, being moral won’t save us, but being immoral will condemn us (I Corinthians 6:9-10). This is a consistent message throughout Scripture. Salvation is “by grace through faith,” and faith means that we will trust God and seek to…

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“Religion says DO, Jesus says DONE”?

by Terry Wane Benton People come up with the strangest viewpoints and don’t realize how unbiblical those ideas are. I keep passing a sign that says the above but offers no scripture reference. Because the Bible is the final authority, I would suggest that both Jesus and His religion say, “Do the will of the…

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Faith, Works, and Grace in Romans

by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Romans 1:1-17   I.         In understanding biblical writings, it is important to remember that God is the author             A.        II Timothy 3:16 – All the written writings are breathed from the mouth of God             B.        This was Paul’s point in I Corinthians 14:33 when discussing roles and organization of the worship service.                         1.         God…

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What Calvinists call “the Finished Work of Christ”

by Terry Wane Benton The Calvinists are often heard making of “the finished work of Christ” something that was never intended. They say there is nothing we can do to be saved. They say all doing is “finished” by what Christ did on the cross. But that is a misuse of the verses. Sure, Christ…

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Learning from Noah

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Learning-from-Noah.mp3 by Raymond Warfel

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Salvation by Grace

by Matthew W. Bassford Recently, I have become an even louder proponent of grace, indeed of the naked necessity of grace, than I ever was before. I can tell from the comments I’ve been getting on social media that this has made some good brethren nervous. They reply with variations of, “Yes, but you have…

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Every Good Work

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Every-Good-Work.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Psalms 111   I.         From the beginning, God has given men work to do             A.        Adam was to care for the garden – Genesis 2:15; 3:17-18             B.        As Christians, we are commanded to work – I Thessalonians 4:11             C.        We are being disobedient if we do not work – II Thessalonians 3:6-13 II.        This…

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Are You a Good Samaritan?

by Jefferson David Tant If you know anything about the Bible at all, you probably know the story of The Good Samaritan as recorded in Luke 10:30-37. But before we get to that, please read the story about a young boy in Leeds, England. Chivalry Is Not Dead In Leeds, on a very wet wintry…

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Fruitful Christians

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Fruitful-Christians.mp3 by Jeffery W. Hamilton Text John 15:1-8   I.         We know that Jesus’ words in John 15 concerning the vine and branches are dealing with individual Christians and not denominations.             A.        Jesus is the vine, each one of us are branches off that vine, and God is the vinedresser.             B.        But don’t get so caught up in…

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Are good works the result of salvation?

Question: Are good works the result of salvation? I was in a discussion earlier with someone of the Baptist faith who used Ephesians 2:10 to say that good works are the result of salvation and not required for salvation since Paul is referring to us being saved in Ephesians 2:8-9, then immediately talks about how…

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But It’s a Good Work

by Jefferson David Tant From time to time, when discussing the mission and work of the church, questions are raised about certain practices that some will claim are not authorized in Scripture. The response often given is “But it’s a good work.” This has been a standard thought when discussions arise about orphan homes, “Christian”…

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Justification by Works in James

by Matthew W. Bassford Earlier, I wrote about Paul’s discussion of justification by works in the first four chapters of Romans. In it, he says that justification by works requires perfect obedience to God, which no one but Jesus has achieved. Thus, Christians must seek salvation by faith apart from works. Similarly, baptism for the…

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Justification by Works and Baptism

by Matthew W. Bassford At the end of Romans 3 and the beginning of Romans 4, we encounter the most famous of Paul’s teachings: justification by faith in Jesus. Throughout the context, he contrasts it with justification by works. Abraham was not justified by works, nor was David, nor can we be. From this magnificent…

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Obligations of Grace

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Obligations-of-Grace.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Matthew 18:21-35   I.         Every person is important!             A.        “Well, of course!” You might be thinking. “I’m glad someone sees my worth.”             B.        But Jesus told a parable – Matthew 18:12-14                         1.         When one person gets himself into trouble, it is God’s will that he be rescued, if possible.                         2.         And that will mean…

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Disobedience and Unbelief

by Matthew W. Bassford The epistle to the Hebrews might be the most tightly reasoned book in the whole Bible. Sentence by sentence, clause by clause, the Hebrews writer constructs intricate arguments that establish the superiority of Christ over Moses and the folly of Christians returning to Judaism. The more closely we read Hebrews, the…

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Where God Put Water

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Where-God-Put-Water.mp3 by Raymond Warfel

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How Noah Was Saved

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/How-Noah-Was-Saved.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: I Peter 3:18-22   I.         In our reading, Peter draws on the account of Noah’s salvation to illustrate how the Christian is saved.             A.        Many people object to the straight forward reading of I Peter 3:21 because it stands contrary to what they have accepted.                         1.         To many people, baptism is simply…

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Freedom in Christ

by Matthew W. Bassford A few days ago, I posted a bulletin article about Galatians 3:23-25 and Paul’s proclamation that we are no longer under the Law of Moses. In particular, I applied this to the use of instrumental music in worship and explained that the use of the instrument in Psalms and elsewhere is…

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Blessed in What He Does

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Blessed-in-What-He-Does.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: James 1:21-25   I.         Sin is the breaking of law – I John 3:4             A.        Sin is universally found in mankind – Romans 5:12             B.        Thus, we cannot be surprised that rebellion (going against authority) is also widespread             C.        Obedience then is submitting to authority. It is subjecting your will to the will…

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Faith Is Active

by Floyd Chappelear Sentry Magazine, June 2000 “Faith is always active,” the speaker declared. “It is never passive, but always indicates a spirit of obedience,” he quickly added. He is not the only preacher I have heard who has said such a thing, nor will he be the last. There is something in the concept that…

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Romans 12

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Romans-12.mp3 by Raymond Warfel

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To Whom Shall We Go?

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/To-Whom-Shall-We-Go.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: John 6:48-69   I.         When Jesus feed the 5,000, his popularity was at an all time high             A.        Some of the people decided it was time to make Jesus their king – John 6:14-15             B.        Jesus left because the people’s motivation was wrong. They were only thinking of the free food Jesus…

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Shouldn’t we live by faith and not law?

Question: You said in one of your articles, “He offers forgiveness of sins if a person submits to God’s laws.” What about faith? Shouldn’t we live by faith and not law (Galatians 3:12)? Also, what about Romans 7:1-6? Answer: The requirement for faith is a part of God’s law. “And without faith it is impossible to…

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Can Men Change God’s Will?

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Can-Men-Change-Gods-Will.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Daniel 4:28-37   I.         A difficulty those raised in Calvinist beliefs is resolving the idea of God’s sovereign will with the actions of men.             A.        To many Calvinists, God’s will is immutable (unable to be changed). The idea that men might do something to alter God’s decisions is inconceivable.             B.        This is…

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How do you do good when you live in a dangerous country?

Question: Hello, I am a member of a church of Christ and have been continuously blessed by the spiritual resources on your website. May God continue to provide you with the effort to keep this work going. Amen. You will be surprised how many people around the globe with good heart comes to your website…

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Does God expect us to do our part?

Question: When Simon helps carries Jesus’ cross in Mark 15:21, does it have any special meaning? I remember a pastor talking about how Jesus told Christians to deny ourselves and take up our own cross (such as in Luke 9:23), but He could not carry His own cross. Simon had to carry it for Him.…

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Faith Illustrated

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/FaithIllustrated.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton   I.         The great stories of the Bible never grow old             A.        We tend to idealize the characters and forget that these are ordinary people, like you and I             B.        People whose faith was tested and many triumphed over sin             C.        After discussing many people who illustrated faith, the writer of Hebrews to stand…

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Doesn’t Jesus rebuke those who did works in his name?

Question: Many teach salvation by works. Matthew 7:22-23 clearly shows that Jesus revealed they boasted in their many wonderful works they did in the His name. Yet Jesus did not praise them nor did He exalt them; He rebuke them. Many today are modern day Pharisees. They try to make people live under the Law.…

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A Comparison of Romans 4 and James 2:14-26

by Jim Sasser Recently, we have been listening to a speaker on this radio station discussing the 4th chapter of Romans as compared to the 2nd chapter of James. It was obvious, from some of his statements, that he was trying to make Paul teach salvation by faith only and at the same time cause…

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Helpers

by Jefferson David Tant “And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues” (I Corinthians 12:28) Perhaps you have noticed that people are different — different in personalities, appearance, talents. Evidently, God designed us that way, and Paul acknowledged this…

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Does the Bible say we don’t deserve anything?

Question: I have a question: The Bible says that we don’t deserve anything. Then why do people say, ‘You deserve that achievement’ or ‘You deserve it’? Isn’t this wrong? Answer: First, I can’t recall any passage that says we don’t deserve anything. It is true that we cannot earn salvation (Titus 3:5-7), but that doesn’t…

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Your theology that we will be judged by works is false doctrine

Question: In regards to your website about predestination and the verse in Genesis, I believe your theology on how we will be judged by works is false doctrine. While the verse is true and stands, we will be judged by works, there is a deeper issue I believe you did not come to because of…

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Commandment Keeping and Boasting

by Edward Bragwell, Sr. via Biblical Insights, June 2014 Jesus declares that hypothetically if we were to keep all his commands, we would still have no right to boast. “So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to…

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Notes on Works

We are not saved by the things that we do. God’s grace saves us and not works in which we could boast – Ephesians 2:8-9 Works of the Old Testament Law cannot save, by themselves, because the Law brings the knowledge of sin – Romans 3:20 We are justified by faith apart from works of…

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