Article - Do Not Separate A God-Joined Marriage! (part 2)
From our previous article we learned that divorce violates Jesus’ clear command, “What God has joined together, let not man separate” (Matthew 19:6). Some take the position that if a non-Christian divorces his spouse (which is a sin, unless it for the reason of fornication) and marries another (another sin according to Matthew 19:9), he has not violated Jesus’ command because a non-Christian is not held accountable to Jesus’ laws until he becomes a Christian. Such a position, however, is false for the following reasons: (1) When Jesus stated His commands concerning marriage, divorce and remarriage, He was talking to a pre-Christian audience that also consisted of unbelievers who were His enemies, Matthew 5:1; 19:2-3; Mark 10:1-2,10; Luke 16:1,14. (2) God’s law that joins marriages is universal and applies to everyone, including non-Christians (notice the universal words “male, female, man, wife” in Matthew 19:4-6). So also God’s law concerning divorce and remarriage applies to everyone universally as indicated by the word “whoever,” Matthew 5:32; 19:9; Mark 10:11; Luke 16:18. (3) John the immerser told Herod it was not lawful for him to have his brother Phillip’s wife, clearly implying that though Herod was not a believer, yet he was held accountable to God’s law, Matthew 14:3-4. (4) When Peter stood before a non-Christian audience, he told them to repent and be converted, Acts 3:19. Hence, a non-Christian is held accountable for his sins (including, divorce and adultery) and must repent of them (and be baptized) in order to be saved, Acts 2:38. “Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent” (Acts 17:30).
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Article - Raising Godly Children
I never knew how true the old phrase was “everybody’s an expert on raising children until they have their own” until, of course, I had my own children. To say the least, raising godly children is a challenging and at times exhausting task. However, the rewards of molding someone to live a life that is heaven-bound are surely worth all the time, toil, and tears. Since the Bible is our guide for life (Colossians 3:17), we must look to it as the perfect manual for raising children (2 Peter 1:3). What does the Bible say one must do to raise godly children?
Emphasize God from Infancy. The one thing parents can do that will help their children be godly is to emphasize the person and power of God from infancy. This very idea comes from the Scriptures themselves. Paul encouraged Timothy by saying, “But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 3:14-15). An interesting fact about this verse is the word used for childhood is the Greek word which describes the earliest stages of life, and can even describe the baby before it is born (See Luke 1:41). Thus, it is clearly emphasized in this passage that the earlier one starts teaching his child about the Bible and God, the better off he will be spiritually. Recent medical studies have shown the importance of teaching children at a very young age. For example, “During the first eight months after birth, neurons link up at an amazing pace. By the end of that period, a baby can have as many as 1,000 trillion synapses. These synapses, however, operate on a “use it or lose it” principle. In order to become permanent, the connections must be reinforced through everyday experience and stimulation. Many of those early connections end up in the discard pile, and by age 10 a child has about half as many (500 trillion) synapses, roughly the same number as an adult” (The Facts About Baby’s Brain). What is so important about this information is the “use it or lose it principle” that is reinforced and made permanent by everyday experience and reinforcement. Parents, we are that everyday stimulation that can create a permanent link to godliness for our children! We must emphasize God from infancy.
Emphasize Godliness All the Time. To raise godly children, parents must emphasize the importance of God in every part of their life. God gives this instruction to parents when He says, “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates” (Deuteronomy 6:6-9). From this text, several important points jump off the page of the Bible for raising children. For example, the fact that Godliness is taught sitting down, walking, lying down and rising up should emphasize the supreme importance of teaching about God and the Scriptures at every opportunity. Let me illustrate. Suppose a father and son are out walking and they come upon a covey of birds feeding. What kind of practical lesson can be taught from this scene? This is the prime opportunity to teach a child about God’s providential care for the birds and more importantly for those who put God first (Read Matthew 6:25-34). Or, maybe you have someone in your family who is very sick and will likely die. What lessons can be taught from this life experience? This would be a wonderful opportunity to teach them about things like the importance of prayer in healing the sick (James 5:14), about the brevity of life (James 4:14) and about life after death (John 14:1-6). A second lesson that jumps off the pages of this text is that parents must make Bible study a regular part of home life. What a powerful lesson it is to children when from infancy they see mom and dad studying the Bible and making it the most important priority in the home. Just imagine, if we turned off the old tube, and spent more time studying the Bible what an impact we could make on our children’s lives.
What can parents do to raise godly children? Emphasize God from infancy and emphasize God in everyday life. May God give us the strength and courage to be the best parents and grandparents we can be!
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Article - A Better Covenant
“But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises” (Hebrews 8:6). One of the main points of the book of Hebrews and the New Testament is the Superiority of Christ and the New Covenant. Notice a couple of ways the Book of Hebrews illustrates the Superiority of Christianity.
A Better Offering
Under the Old Testament system, the priests were commanded to take offerings of animals and grain (Leviticus 1-5). Yet, with these bloody sacrifices, there was the ever-present reminder that they could never take away sin. Of this the Hebrew writer says, “But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins” (Hebrews 10:3-4). The great thing about the priesthood of Christ is His offering is once for all. Of Jesus it is said, “But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God” (Hebrews 10:12). Imagine what it would have been like to live under the Levitical sacrifice system. If a man sinned (and all did!—Rom. 3:23), he would go out to the field and get a spotless bull from the flock take it to the door of the tabernacle and kill it before the Lord. Then, the priest would slaughter the animal placing its blood on the altar and it’s entrails as a burnt offering for sin (Leviticus 4:1ff). And, if he sinned the next day, the whole process started all over again. How thankful to God we ought to be that Jesus is our once for all sacrifice for sins! Why would anyone want to go back to an inferior system of sacrifice that could never really save?
A Better Priestly Order
It is impossible for Jesus Christ to be a priest on earth today (Hebrews 8:3-4). He does not fit the divine pattern for the Levitical priest. He came from the wrong tribe (Hebrews 7:14). His parents were not of the proper genealogy. His priestly service would have began and ended at a certain age (Hebrews 7:3). Thank God Jesus is High Priest according to a better order. As God Himself said, “You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek” (Psalm 110:4). This order far exceeds the priestly order of Aaron because it is not dependent upon genealogy (7:3), has no beginning or ending point (7:3) and is superior to Levi from its inception (7:1-10). And, since Jesus is of a “new” priestly order the Hebrew writer says, “For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also a change of the law” (Hebrews 7:12). This idea of a change in the priesthood necessitating a change in the law naturally turns the Hebrew writer’s attention to the “better” covenant.
How wonderful it is to live in the New Testament Age! Friend, have you taken advantage of the great salvation that can only be found in Jesus? If not, you can do so today. You can do so very simply by believing in Jesus as God’s son (John 8:24), repenting of your past sins (Luke 13:1-5), confessing him as Lord (Romans 10:10; Matthew 10:32-33), and being baptized in water for the remission of your sins (Acts 2:38; Acts 22:16).
This material is copyrighted by The Gospel of Christ and its authors. This information is free to use in its entirety without further consent, however, modifications should not be made without contacting mail@thegospelofchrist.com for permission. Any and all images contained herein are believed to be free for all distribution and content.
Article - Does Forgiveness Remove All Consequences? (Part 2)
From the previous article we learned that although the consequences of the sins of Adam, Eve, Moses and David continued to affect them until their death, they were forgiven of their sins by God and are likely enjoying the bliss of Paradise to this day (Luke 23:43; Hebrews 11). The Bible says that the blood of Jesus cleanses sins (not the consequences of those sins, Revelation 1:5). However, the cleansing blood of Jesus only comes after one has repented of those sins (and been baptized, if not a Christian, Acts 2:38). If any one of these Old Testament characters had asked God to forgive him but were not genuinely sorry, did not have a change of heart and did not intend to cease their sinful activity, God would not have forgiven him. God does not forgive anyone who is not willing to repent (Acts 17:30; 2 Peter 3:9). Furthermore, if a Christian or non-Christian asks God to forgive him of his adulterous marriage, but then enters right back into that same unscriptural marriage, God has not forgiven him. Repentance must precede forgiveness (Luke 17:3). Repentance is not just being pricked in your heart and saying you are sorry (Acts 2:37-38). It involves a genuine change of heart which results in changing any unscriptural action and/or activity (Acts 26:20). Can a thief repent and still keep the car he stole (Mark 6:17-18)? Are you willing to gain or hold on to an unscriptural marriage that you say makes you happy and lose your own soul by exchanging it for the passing pleasures of sin (Mark 8:34-38; Hebrews 11:25)?
This material is copyrighted by The Gospel of Christ and its authors. This information is free to use in its entirety without further consent, however, modifications should not be made without contacting mail@thegospelofchrist.com for permission. Any and all images contained herein are believed to be free for all distribution and content.