Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil

Hebrews 6:19 (KJV)

But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.

For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.

(NKJV)

But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

(NKJV)

For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked for, but that we may receive a full reward.

Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds.

(NKJV)

James 5:7-8

Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord's coming is near.

by J. Randal Matheny

Forthright Magazine

Wisdom sparkles from every line of Scripture. 

To fulfill our mission of proclaiming Christ to the world, look to other emissaries of peace for a great education in working with people and doing the will of God. 

The travels and experiences of the apostle Paul in Acts 19 provide many lessons for the followers of Christ. 

Open your Bibles and read Acts19:1-41; then follow the Seven Gospel Imperatives.

#1. Do it right (1-7). Make sure your obedience is complete, and help others to obey the Lord Jesus in all things, as he commanded in Matthew 28:20. A partial or incorrect obedience requires proper knowledge and correct compliance.

#2. Find your platform (8-10). The gospel is for proclamation. When the synagogue closed its doors to him, Paul found a school from which to preach. Discover how you can get out in the community to reach people.

#3. Know what you're doing (11-16). Going off half-cocked by going through the motions without personal obedience and submission to God will leave you exposed and bruised.

#4. Don't skip repentance (17-20). Not until sinfulness is exposed -- confessed and repented of --will God have space to remake us and use us for the gospel.

#5. Make plans for the gospel (21-22). The Lord will at some point change our plans, but He does use them to advance the kingdom.

#6. Expect disturbances (23-27). People have hidden motives and selfish interests and will often attempt to protect them at all costs. Beware!

#7. Avoid the uncontrollable (28-41). Sometimes you can bring sense to senseless situations; other times, you should stay out of mobs that react violently. Listen to those close to you.

Topic(s): Marriage
Todd Clippard

The Bible teaches the headship of man in the home (1 Cor 11:1-12; Eph 5:22-33). This Divinely-given line of authority began all the way back in the garden of Eden (Gen 3:16). A focus on at least one truth in each text will help us understand what is meant by male headship in the home.

In 1 Corinthians 11, there is more than marriage authority discussed. This is an extended discussion about God's authority and how it influences the relationships in the home. In verse 3 we see the head of woman is the man, the head of man is Christ, and the head of Christ is God. When one understands the relationship between Christ and God, he can understand how the husband and wife relationship is to function. Christ was equal in some ways (John 1:1; Phil 2:5-7), yet submissive in others (as a subordinate - John 6:38). A wife is equal to her husband in some ways, for example as a Christian (Gal 3:28). She is also equal in that her role is indispensable in the home (Titus 2:3-5).

In Ephesians 5:22-33, Paul discusses primarily the relationship between Christ and the church (v 32). Read the text and see Jesus' relationship to his church:
1) He loves his church (v 25);
2) He gave His life for the church (v 25);
3) He loves the church as Himself (v 28);
4) He nourishes and cherishes the church (v 29).

Any husband who understands these principles and puts them into practice, will have a wife who will love him and follow him to the ends of the earth.

In Genesis 3:16, the husband is said to rule over his wife. The word for "rule" is the same word that describes how an eldership rules in the local congregation. An eldership does indeed rule in the local church (Heb 13:7; 17). However, they are not lords over the flock (1 Pet 5:3). That is, they do not rule the church as being unanswerable to anyone else. They must answer to God for their leadership.

We close with the text of 1 Peter 3:6, given here without comment:
1 Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives,
2 when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear.
3 Do not let your adornment be merely outward - arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel -
4 rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.
5 For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands,
6 as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with any terror.

Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth: Lest the Lord see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.

Proverbs 24:17-18

 

The Word of God will not be held from the people by the church and its leaders. 

The Bibles will not be chained in church buildings and kept from readers. 

No, the Word is now and will be in the future set aside by how people feel about their religion.

An important passage of Scripture says, “So then faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God” (Romans 10:17). The modern paraphrase that fits what is happening says, “So then faith comes by feelings and feelings by the experiences of man.” 

More and more God’s Word is ignored and twisted so that man’s sentiments prevail over God’s revelation.

There are many reasons for the New Dark Age but it is upon us. 

This means that preaching the Word is “out of season” but it still must be preached.