Question of the Day
Author: Brandi With An I
•9:03 AM
How can we teach without appearing self-righteous?
Todd Clippard
Topic(s): Evangelism, Bible Study

For those who inquire without a sincere desire for truth, there may be no way to accomplish this task in their eyes. Some are only interested in starting an argument (1 Tim 6:3-5; 2 Tim 2:23-24).

The easiest way I know to accomplish this is to eliminate oneself from the discussion. This can be done by saying, "The Bible says ", thus removing the focus from self and placing it on the Bible where it belongs. There were several times in Jesus' ministry where He used this approach (cf Matt 12:3-5; 19:4). Jesus also asked others what they read in the scriptures (Luke 10:25-28 - though this was an insincere questioner).

In recent months, I have been approached several times by sincere individuals asking various Bible questions. Usually they started by saying, "What do you believe about... ?" or "What do you think about... ?"

I always respond, "The Bible says " They appreciated this approach, and even said so after a number of encounters. I believe this approach also helps gain the confidence of the inquisitor.

It is always good and right to point people to the scriptures. We must "be ready to give a defense" (1 Pet 3:15), and at the same time speak the truth in love (Eph 4:15), having our speech seasoned with salt, so that we may know how we ought to answer every man (Col 4:6).

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Devotional
Author: Brandi With An I
•10:25 AM
Are We Being An Encouragement To One Another
by J. Raymond Pecoraro 

We all have the opportunity to be an encouragement to others, especially to those of the “household of faith.” 

We all are in need of encouragement from time to time as well. 

The opposite of “encouragement” is “discouragement” or “judgmental” or “critical” of others. This doesn’t make for healthy relationships with each other, but especially with us & God!

Christians should never be quick to pass judgment upon another unless there is just cause to do so. Then it must be done in the spirit of wanting to reach out to this brother or sister to save a soul & in the spirit of meekness & love! 

The Indians had a saying that shows much wisdom, “Walk in another’s moccasins before judging him.” 

I wonder if we all practiced this if, perhaps, our judgments would be wiser? 

God said it this way, “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye & pay no attention to the log in your own eye?” (Matthew 7:1-5). 

Would you go to a surgeon to have a tiny sliver removed from your eye while he is blinded by a huge plank in his own eye? 
I can’t imagine anyone doing such a thing! 

We aren’t qualified, nor did God equip us with a built-in x-ray devise to search & read the hearts & examine the minds of others! 
This is a job that is reserved for a just, all-knowing, all-wise, & all-powerful God! (Jeremiah 17:10). 

Let us not be arrogant or presumptuous in thinking we can do God’s job. 

Paul tells us, “We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves & compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise.” (II Cor. 10:12). 

We can drive folks away from the Lord, especially those who are still “babes in Christ.” 

We always want to be a positive influence & an encourager of others, especially our brethren! 

We must treat others as we are expected to be treated. 
Therefore, may we hold our criticisms & let our brethren draw nearer to God!
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Campaign for Christ 2012
Author: Brandi With An I
•12:57 PM





On Saturday August 4, 2012 from 2:00pm-4:00pm a "Day of Good Works" will take place.

Come out for backpacks/school supplies, immunizations, counseling, family photos & more
for
FREE!

Throughout the week there will be singing, inspiring messages & great fellowship.

Be sure to come out & bring someone with you!



For more information, visit: http://www.houstonchurchesofchrist.org/

God Bless!



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Question of the Day
Author: Brandi With An I
•8:30 AM
Will those who never hear the gospel be lost?
Bob Prichard
Topic(s): Evangelism, Nature of Man, Salvation

Gods loves all people. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance<. He desires that none should perish, But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up (2 Peter 3:9-10).

Even in our day of sophisticated communications, many live and die without hearing the saving gospel of Christ. Some reason that a loving God will save those who have no chance to receive or reject the gospel. Christ said, however, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned (Mark 16:15-16). He made no distinction between those who openly reject His gospel, and those who have not heard.

Paul warned that Jesus and His angels shall be revealed, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power (2 Thessalonians 1:8-9). Vengeance is on them that know not God and that obey not the gospel.

Paul asserted that because of the evidence of creation men should know God and are thus without excuse. However, Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator. Because the heathen world rejected God and worshipped the creature rather than the Creator, God gave them up unto vile affections (Romans 1:20-26). If God will save the heathen in their sins, rather than from their sins, then Jesus died in vain. God would save ALL in their sins. Peter said, however, there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved (Acts 4:12). If the heathen are not really lost, why did Christ command, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature (Mark 16:15)?

Since all must obey the gospel, each who hears and understands should obey the gospel immediately, and work to share the gospel with the world. Paul warned, the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead (Acts 17:30-31). David warned, The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God (Psalm 9:17). Our lost world needs the gospel of Christ.

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Question of the Day
Author: Brandi With An I
•2:06 PM
Is baptism necessary for salvation?

Todd Clippard
Topic(s): Baptism, Church, Evangelism, Salvation

This is not simply a claim of members of churches of Christ, but rather a clear statement from the Bible. Everyone can agree that salvation requires forgiveness of sins, or the washing away of sins. In light of this, please consider the following scriptures and comments (any emphasis is mine):
"Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized< shall be saved, but he that believeth not shall be damned." (Statement of Jesus in Mark 16:15-16). In this verse, Jesus specifically joins faith in the gospel message and baptism to salvation. The two verbs are joined by the conjunction "and" which places equal value on each action as necessary to receive salvation.

"Repent, and every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." (Peter, preaching the first gospel sermon in Acts 2:38). In this verse, repentance and baptism are joined to the reception of remission of sins and the reception of the Holy Spirit.

Some argue the phrase "for the remission of sins" means "because of the remission of sins", and is akin to saying one is sent to jail for (because of) murder, not in order to commit murder. This line of argumentation denies the thrust of the word translated "for" in the verse. It is the Greek word eis. This word occurs over 1700 times in the New Testament, and always looks forward in its view, never backward (not even in Matthew 12:41). 

Additionally, this argument overlooks the statement regarding Barabbas in Luke 23:19 which says Barabbas was imprisoned for sedition and for murder. The word for in this text is not eis, but dia. In Matthew 27:18 and Mark 15:10, the Bible says the Jews delivered Jesus to Pilate for (because of - jtc) envy. Dia is also the causal preposition found in these two verses.

In instituting the Lord's Supper in Matthew 26:28, Jesus, spoke of the fruit of the vine as "my blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins." The Greek construction of the phrase, "for the remission of sin" in this passage is the same as that in Acts 2:38. Question: Did Jesus shed His blood in order to bring about the remission of sins, or did He shed His blood because our sins were already forgiven?

The same phrase also appears in Mark 1:4, where Mark writes of John the Baptizer who "did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins." Applying the "because of" argument in this text would place the remission of sins prior to repentance. How could such be possible?

Additionally, how can one deny baptism when Saul of Tarsus was told in Acts 22:16 to "Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord"? This verse not only shows the washing away of sins takes place in baptism, but also explains how one "calls on the name of the Lord" in order to be saved (cf Acts 2:21; Rom 10:13).

Finally, Peter's statement in 1 Peter 3:21 should put this argument to rest once and for all. The KJV reads, "The like figure whereunto even baptism doth now also save us." The NASB reads, "Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you -not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience - through the resurrection of Jesus Christ."

To deny the essentiality of baptism for salvation is to deny the clear statements of Jesus and the inspired writers.
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Question of the Day
Author: Brandi With An I
•1:20 PM
Is baptism simply a picture of a new birth that has taken place?

Todd Clippard
Topic(s): Baptism, Evangelism, Salvation

Baptism is a picture of the death of the old man, but it is more than that. Pertinent to this discussion is Romans 6:3-7:

"3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?
4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
5 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection,
6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.
7 For he who has died has been freed from sin." NKJV

Verse 3 teaches we are baptized into Christ, but we are also baptized into His death (where His blood was shed for the remission of sin - cf Matt 26:28, Heb 9:14).

Verse 4 says that in baptism, we are buried with Christ into death, which is followed by a raising unto newness of life. Therefore, Jesus was speaking of death when He said we must be born again. We must die to Satan, self, and sin -- bury that old dead man in the waters of baptism -- and be raised in a new life.

Note the conditional statement in verse 5: "IF we have been planted together in the likeness of His death." Being planted in the likeness of His death must refer to baptism as noted in verses 3 and 4. Therefore, the only way to be in the likeness of Jesus' resurrection -- raised from the dead to die no more (Romans 6:9) -- is to be planted in the likeness of Jesus' death = baptism.

Also, 2 Corinthians 5:17 says "if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature, old things are passed away, behold, all things have become new." This "new creature" sounds much akin to being "born again." So how do I get in Christ? Galatians 3:27 says "For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ." 

Therefore, one can only be a new creature after he has been baptized (immersed) into Christ. 

[SOURCE]
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Question of the Day
Author: Brandi With An I
•1:42 PM
Is baptism part of the gospel message?

 Topic(s): Baptism, Evangelism, Gospel, Salvation
Todd Clippard

Paul did indeed say in 1 Corinthians 1:17 that he was not sent to baptize, but to preach the gospel. However, this is a long way from saying that baptism is non-essential to obtain remission of sins nor a part of the Gospel.

First, baptism is< a part of the Great Commission. It is explicitly stated in the accounts of Matthew (28:19) and Mark (16:16), and implicit in Luke's account (24:46-37; cf Acts 2:38). One cannot read the Great Commission or the conversion accounts in Acts and come to any other conclusion.
 
In Matthew 28:19, Jesus said disciples were made by baptizing them into the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Therefore, disciples cannot be made without baptism.

In Mark 16:16 - "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved." He that believeth what? The preached Gospel of Mark 16:15. The proper response to the preaching of the Gospel is to believe and be baptized in order to be saved. According to Jesus, preaching the Gospel includes preaching about baptism, else how would one know to be baptized as seen in verse 16?

When Peter preached the first Gospel sermon in Acts 2, he preached the death, burial and resurrection of Christ (vv 22-35). In response to the preaching of the Gospel, the audience asked, "What shall we do?" (v 37) What was Peter's response? Let's first note what it wasn't. Peter did not say to them:
"Accept Jesus as your personal savior"
"Ask Jesus to come into your heart"
"Pray the sinner's prayer"
"You can't do anything because that would be earning salvation"
"You obviously believe what I have preached, and thus you are now saved based solely upon faith alone."

No, Peter did not give any of these responses, but these are the responses that most in the religious world would give today. Why not just say what Peter said: "Repent, and be baptized, every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins" (v 38)?

In Acts 8:5-13, Philip was preaching in Samaria. Verse 5 says he "preached Christ unto them." Verse 12 says he preached "the things concerning the kingdom and the name of Jesus Christ." What was the response of the people? They believed and were baptized (vv 12-13). Now, where in the text does it say Philip preached baptism? Nowhere! Thus, it is logical and right to conclude that preaching Jesus and His kingdom includes preaching about baptism, else the Samaritans (including Simon) would not have known how to respond to Philip's preaching.

In that same chapter (Acts 8), Philip was called away from Samaria to preach to the Ethiopian nobleman (eunuch). In verses 30-33, we see this man is reading from the book of Isaiah, chapter 53. Upon inquiring of Philip about whom the scriptures were speaking, "Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus" (v 35). 

What was the response to this preaching about Jesus? Verse 36 provides the answer: "Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, "See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?" Now, where in the text does it say Philip preached to him about baptism? Again nowhere! Therefore, we logically and rightly conclude that preaching about Jesus necessarily includes preaching about baptism.

Therefore, baptism (immersion) to obtain remission of sins is a part of the Gospel message. 

SOURCE
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