Are You Sure?

Posted on August 5, 2019 by glenn

Have you ever been absolutely convinced of something and yet it turn out not to be true?  Unfortunately there is so much information we encounter each day that is not factual.  The news networks can no longer be trusted to present the truth.  And this comes from both sides of the political aisle.

It has been said we should only believe what we see with our own eyes.  Unfortunately, this is true only if we see it in real time because photos and film can be manipulated to produce a false image. 

The Apostle John did not live in the 21st Century when he said, “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled…”  It is interesting to note the senses involved in 1 John 1:1.  The three senses of hearing, seeing, and touching are all noted.

So, are you sure?  How certain can you be about anything?

What about this question:  Are you going to heaven? Are you sure?  How would you answer this question?  Most people I know would say, “I hope so.”

Actually the Scriptures tell us we can be more certain than that. 

These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of GOD, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of GOD.   1 John 5:13

That you may know!  John says it is possible to know we have eternal life.  How can we know?  How can we be sure?  John says our confidence and assurance of our eternal destination is rooted in what is written in the pages of the Bible.

It is here we read passages such as:

Eph 2:8 – For by grace you have been saved through faith…

Rom 5:8 – But GOD demonstrates His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 1:16 – For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of GOD to salvation…

Is there anything I need to do?  Sure there is.  But I want to recognize first and foremost that it is by the grace of GOD that I have the opportunity to go to heaven.  Only then do my actions come into the discussion.

My obedience to the gospel is a part of my salvation.  Romans 6:17 reads, But GOD be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered.

So why is it so hard for us to answer the question of the certainty of our salvation in the affirmative?  Is it because we don’t fully understand the role Jesus plays?

We are saved by the blood of Christ.  And that process is continual if we remain faithful.  In the following passage many of the verbs including walk and cleanses, are in the present tense, meaning they are continual.

But if we walk in the light as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.  If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.  If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.     1 John 1:7-9

Are you going to heaven?  Are you sure?  It is easier to answer this question when we remember verse 9 of this passage.  Our salvation depends on His faithfulness.  Please note, if we confess our sins, HE IS FAITHFUL.  My salvation depends on my walking in the light; it depends on my confessing my sins.  But ultimately, it depends on His faithfulness.  And on that I can be sure.

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Peter, Paul, and Who?

Posted on July 10, 2019 by glenn

In the days of my childhood there was a musical group called Peter, Paul and Mary.  They represented a genre of music referred to as folk music.  If you remember this group then you have dated yourself.  Welcome to the 60s! And by that I am referring not only to the decade of the 60s but also to the fact that you likely are at least 60 years of age if you remember this trio.

I’d like to take a look at a different threesome today.  Peter, Paul and John were the penmen for the majority of the New Testament. They wrote all but seven of the New Testament books.

Peter is sometimes called the apostle of hope.  Hope is a key word in his 1st epistle.  He writes a letter of hope and encouragement to those saints dealing with trials and suffering persecution.  He begins the letter of 1 Peter reminding them that their hope is a living Hope.

Blessed be the GOD and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,   1 Peter 1:3

Peter knew about suffering and trials.  John 21:18, 19 tells us that Peter was told by the Lord that he would suffer a martyr’s death.  He likely was referring to this in 2 Peter 1:14.

In the second case, let us consider Paul.  Paul could be called the apostle of faith.  This penman of 13 books of the New Testament mentions the word faith in every one of those books.  Even in the one chapter book of Philemon, with only 25 verses, faith is mentioned twice.  Faith is addressed in the book of Romans more than any other New Testament book.   It is here we learn the origin of our faith.

So then faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of GOD.   Rom 10:17

Paul also knew about suffering and trials.  He wrote four of his epistles from a prison cell and eventually was put to death by the Romans.

Finally, we consider John whom we will refer to as the apostle of love.  In the New Testament, the two books containing the most references to love are the epistle of 1st John and the gospel according to John.  The following two passages will serve as examples of his use of the concept of love.

For GOD so loved the world that He gave His only His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.   John 3:16

He who does not love does not know GOD, for GOD is love.   1 John 4:8

There is another reason we could identify John as the apostle of love.  On several occasions he is identified as the disciple whom Jesus loved.  (John 21:20ff)

Secular history tells us John was the only apostle not to face a martyr’s death.  But he knew about suffering and trials having spent time in exile on the island of Patmos.  It was here he received and recorded the Revelation.

The trio of Peter, Paul, and John, is a great Biblical threesome indeed.   And you may have noticed, with them we have the great trio of faith, hope, and love.  Refer to a blog titled Faith, Hope and Love, posted on September 15, 2018, for a further look at these three.

We learn much about faith, hope, and love, from Paul, Peter, and John.  May our lives be characterized by faith, hope, and love as well.

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Be A Man

Posted on June 11, 2019 by glenn

I suppose our society is struggling with the idea of manhood now more than ever.  What is your definition of manliness?  What is your description of a real man?  Is it the idea of the Marlboro man of the cigarette commercials many years ago?  Or is it the husband/father of today’s sitcoms in which men are portrayed to be so inept?  In truth, we are in trouble if we rely on our world to define manhood for us.

I am passionate about this discussion.  In part because I believe if our country is to be saved, the men must step forward and lead us back to GOD.  The foundation of the home, grounded with a faith in GOD, is the cornerstone of this country.  And for several generations the men have abdicated their position in the home.

Recently I have examined passages like Job 38:2 and Job 40:7 wherein GOD said to the patriarch Job, “Prepare yourself like a man.”  Paul said to the Corinthians in 1 Corinthians 16:13 (ESV) “…act like men…”  This caused me to wonder.  What does GOD expect a man in today’s world to look like? What does it mean to the Father to act like men or to prepare oneself like a man?  It is past time for us to examine what our Creator expects of us as men.

The corollary to our discussion, the worthy woman, has been studied many times.  Indeed, Proverbs 31 is a wonderful study answering the question, “who can find a virtuos wife?”

There is an equally compelling discussion in the book of Proverbs directed at the man.  I am surprised that more attention is not given to the question found in Proverbs 20.  Here by Inspiration, the question is asked, “Who can find a faithful man?”  In the surrounding verses of Proverbs 20 we find at least 10 traits of the faithful man.

It is noteworthy that the English word “man” is found more times in the book of Proverbs than any other book.  In the NKJ version it is found 146 times.  Looking at Proverbs 20 and all the verses containing the word “man” makes for a great study.  Let us observe some characteristics of the faithful man.

  • A faithful man can manage his emotions.

Verse 3            It is honorable for a man to stop striving, since any fool can start a quarrel.

  • A faithful man will work!

Verse 4            The lazy man will not plow.

  • A faithful man acquires wisdom.

Verse 5            Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water.

  • A faithful man has humility.

Verse 6            Most men will proclaim each his own goodness.

  • A faithful man has integrity.

Verse 7            The righteous man walks in his integrity.

  • The faithful man leaves a good name.

Verse 7            His children are blessed after him.

  • A faithful man is a student.

Verse 15          But the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.

  • A faithful man is careful with his speech.

Verses 19 and 20            …talebearer…flatters with his lips…curses father or mother…

Verses 14 and 25 further describes the man who is not careful with his speech.  And verse 25 ends with the idea of needing to reconsider afterward.  How many times have I said something that I later regretted!

  • A faithful man is loving and compassionate.

Verse 28          Steadfast love and faithfulness preserve the king (ESV)

  • A faithful man follows the LORD.

Verse 24          A man’s steps are of the LORD.

As I consider what it means to be a man, I realize the Scriptures have much to say about the subject.  I wish to be like the Apostle Paul when he said “when I became a man, I put away childish things.”  Let us strive to be the men GOD wants us to be. Yea, men who will lead our families and communities to a closer relationship with Him.

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The Number 200

Posted on June 6, 2019 by glenn

I live in the state of Alabama.  This year we are celebrating the 200th birthday of our state.  Two centuries is quite a milestone.  I recall as a young man the celebration of our nation’s 200th birthday in 1976.  In the small town where I lived, many of the men grew beards that year as part of the celebration.  200 years!

Alabama officially became a state on December 14, 1819.  The city of Tuscaloosa was incorporated the day before on December 13, 1819.  So Tuscaloosa is actually one day older than the state and we thus are celebrating the 200th birthday of our city as well.  200 years!

Biblical numerology is a fascinating study.  Often the numbers given in the Scriptures are significant.  For example the number 7 appears frequently.  Seven is a number representing completeness.  Think about the 7 days making a complete week.  There were 7 sayings of Jesus on the cross.  There were 7 churches of Asia in the Revelation letter.  Or consider the list of “ones” given in Ephesians 4.  There are 7 of them!  There is one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one GOD. 

Numbers are important and are often symbolic. Today’s study takes a look at the number 200.  Generally the symbolic meaning of the number 200 is insufficiency. This is the obvious use of the number in the passage from John 6.

John 6:7 – In the account of the feeding of the 5,000, Philip answered Jesus, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may have a little.” 

There are other references where the symbolism may not be of importance so we shouldn’t press the symbolic meaning into every situation.  For example the following uses are probably not symbolic.

Acts 23:23 – 200 soldiers and 200 spearman were sent to accompany Paul on his journey to Felix, during his incarceration by the Romans.

John 21:8 – The disciples were about 200 cubits off shore fishing when they saw Jesus the third time after His resurrection.

 Joshua 7:21 – Among the spoils that Achan kept, were 200 shekels of silver.

The number 200 is found several times in Scripture.

The number 200.  Happy 200th Birthday to my home state and my hometown in 2019.

And there is one other reason for my look at the number 200 today.  Today marks my 200th devotional blog to post on this site.  I began this blog in March of 2012.   I hope that along the way you have enjoyed some of my stories.  But my greatest desire is that the really important matters have been shared.  The blog is entitled, “What Does the Bible Say About It?”  I hope you are encouraged to seek answers there.

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Final Words

Posted on May 22, 2019 by glenn

What would you talk about if you knew the conversation with a loved one would be your last on this side of eternity?  Discussions such as these are not about frivolous things.  These conversations are about the important things, the core values of life, and the foundations on which one’s life is built.

I recall the last conversation I had with my mother before she succumbed to a terminal illness.  Suspecting it would be my last one, I wrote the conversation down when we were finished talking.   My mother was a masterful story teller and could always make the family laugh with all her tales.  But the conversation that day was not the time for storytelling.

One of my spiritual mentors was Wendell Winkler.  I went to the home of this spiritual friend on Saturday, October 22, 2005, to see him for the last time.  Everyone knew the time was very close and in fact he died in the early morning hours of that very night.  He called me to his side and we talked.  We both knew it would be our last visit.  The topics were about spiritual matters.  We discussed the future of the church and the need to stay true to the word among other things.  He then called my wife to his side and privately they discussed various issues as well.

Final words.  We actually have a very good example of a last visit found in Acts 20.  The Ephesian congregation was one near and dear to the heart of Paul.  The latter part of the chapter records a visit between Paul and the Ephesian eldership.  In a touching scene, the chapter closes with these men weeping and hugging Paul, sorrowing most of all because they would see him no more. 

Final words.  So what was the topic of conversation that day?  The conversation was about spiritual matters. 

Twice in the context (vv 20, 27), Paul notes the importance of taking the whole counsel of GOD.  We are reminded in Psalm 119:160 that the sum or entirety of the Bible is truth.  We can’t pick and choose the Scriptures.  Leroy Brownlow once said we should preach what we practice, that is, the whole counsel of GOD.

Paul says he kept back nothing.  Because of this, he could say he was innocent of the blood of all men.  He had declared the whole truth to them.

A second observation can be made as Paul addressed this eldership.  Leadership must be brought to Calvary!  The church was purchased with the blood of the Savior.  It is unfortunate that some will say the church is not necessary in the scheme of salvation.  This institution was established through the shed blood of Jesus that day on Calvary.  Elders will become dead to self (power, ego, etc.) and alive to GOD when they are brought to the cross!

The future of the church was also discussed.  Paul urged these leaders to first consider themselves and then the church as a whole, because men speaking perverse things would come.  Amazingly, he noted that some of this perversion would even come from within the leadership.  He called these men wolves and urged the leaders to remain in the word of GOD’S grace.

Paul’s topics were the whole counsel of GOD, Calvary, and an appeal to remain in the word.  I’d say this is a great example of final words.  And then Paul’s final act with the Ephesian eldership was to pray with them.

I can think of no better way to part company when it comes time to do so with my family and my friends.  Final words.  What will yours be?

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Keys

Posted on May 2, 2019 by glenn

When I was a school principal, I had a ring of keys that hung from a clip on my belt.  I recall one time a student came up to me and very discreetly said, “Mr. Taylor, do you want to find someone smoking?”  He then told me where they were.  As I walked away, he said, “Mr. Taylor, hold your keys.”  And he motioned to the keys on my belt.  That was the first time I realized the students were tracking me by the clanging sound of those keys.  

Keys…

After Peter wisely and correctly identified Jesus as the Son of GOD, Jesus said to him, “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven…”  (Matthew 16:19)

I believe Jesus rewarded Peter that day by promising him the privilege of unlocking the kingdom, the church, the abode of the saved under the coming new covenant.  It is noteworthy the word key is in the plural form.  Peter’s unlocking the kingdom happened on at least 3 different occasions.   Let’s observe each of these.

The first occasion occurred in Acts 2 on Pentecost.  It is Peter’s sermon that is recorded in verses 14-36.  This sermon was delivered before Jews from various nations according to verse 5.  At the conclusion, the Jews were cut to the heart and wanted to know what they should do.  Peter then gave instructions on how to become a part of the church, the kingdom.  This was the unlocking and opening of the door of the church to those of a Jewish background.  Verse 47 notes that those who responded to Peter’s message were added to the church.

The second occurrence we note is found in Acts 10.  It is estimated that about 10 years had passed during which time the church was growing in size but only with the converts of Jewish backgrounds.  Peter received a vision convincing him the church was to be opened to Gentiles as well as Jews.  This was going against centuries of segregation.  Peter was called to the Gentile home of Cornelius.  He began his sermon acknowledging the fact that GOD was no respecter of persons. (Acts 10:34)  Peter continued and preached the message of Jesus to the household of Cornelius.  They too were baptized in the name of the Lord and became a part of the kingdom.  (Acts 10:48)  The second key unlocked the church, making entry possible, for the Gentiles.

Sometimes people will wonder about sins committed after their conversion.  Peter’s 3rd key revealed GOD’S second law of pardon and dealt with a Christian who had sinned.  In the city of Samaria, Peter encountered a man named Simon who had recently been baptized by Philip.  Simon saw that Peter had the ability to lay his hands on new converts and bestow on them the ability to perform miracles.  Simon saw an opportunity and offered to pay Peter for this ability. 

Peter responded to Simon, “Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of GOD could be purchased with money!  You have neither part nor portion in the matter, for your heart is not right in the sight of GOD.  Repent therefore of this your wickedness and pray GOD if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you.”

Peter laid out the plans for an erring child of GOD to once again get his life right with the Lord.  He was to repent (stop the wrong) and pray to GOD for forgiveness.  The church at Laodicea, with all its troubles, was given the same instructions in Revelation 3:19.

Very soon after these 3 instances, the apostle Paul became the most prominent of the apostles in the latter part of the book of Acts.  Paul penned 13 of the New Testament epistles, while Peter wrote only two.  But it was Peter who was blessed with the privilege of unlocking the kingdom to the Jews, the Gentiles, and the wayward Christian.  Indeed, it was Peter who had been given the keys to the kingdom.

Oh yeah, about those keys on my belt.  I held my keys that day as I slipped around back of the old ag shop and caught the young men smoking.  When I stepped around the corner, those boys sure were surprised and as I write this I am smiling at the memory these many years later.

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Mob Rule

Posted on April 16, 2019 by glenn

Then Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests, the rulers, and the people, said to them, “You have brought this Man to me, as one who misleads the people.  And indeed, having examined Him in your presence, I have found no fault in this Man; no, neither did Herod; and nothing deserving of death has been done by Him.” 

But they shouted, “Crucify Him, crucify Him!”

Then he said to them, “Why, what evil has He done?  I have found no reason for death in Him.”

But they were insistent, demanding with loud voices that He be crucified.  And the voices of these men and of the chief priests prevailed.

So Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they requested.

                                                Selected statements from the passage found in Luke 23: 13-24

This is the very definition of mob rule.  Earlier in the week Jesus had entered the city with much fanfare.  The people had welcomed Him as a king.  However the chief priests and rulers had for some time looked for the opportunity to destroy Him.  Mark’s account says the chief priests stirred up the crowd.  By week’s end, it was mob rule.  Pilate, wishing to gratify the crowd, delivered Jesus to be crucified.

Even the Jews’ own law stated one should not follow a multitude to do evil.  (Exodus 23:2)

But this is mob rule.  The majority rules.  When the mob takes over, reason, rule, and laws are disregarded.

We should be very thankful we live in a country with laws to protect us as individual citizens.  These very laws are established to protect the citizenry from mob rule.

On occasion, I hear our country referred to as a democracy.  I am sure it is by well-meaning people.  But the truth of the matter is we are not a democracy.  The definition of a democracy is a government ruled according to the will of the majority.  The majority rules.  In some cases, that could turn out to be mob rule. 

In a democratic form of government, if the majority of people decide to take something that belongs to the individual, then so be it. In a true democracy, the majority rules in all cases, regardless of any consequences for individuals or for those who are not in the majority on an issue.

The fact is, the U. S. is not a democracy.  We are a republic.  There is a big difference. 

A republic is a representative form of government.  This is a government ruled by a constitution or set of laws that protect the individual.  In a republic, power is limited in order to protect the individual from the will of the majority.

Yes, there is democracy involved in the process of making those laws.  But the point is that there is a process.  It should never be a mob rule mentality. 

We are a republic.  We state that every time we recite the pledge. 

“I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands…”

When our nation was formed, Ben Franklin was asked if it was a republic or a monarchy.  He replied, “A republic, if you can keep it.”

Centuries before Christ was crucified, Plato wrote, “Democracy is a charming form of government, full of variety and disorder, and dispensing a sort of equality to equals and unequal alike.”  That doesn’t sound appealing to me.

I am thankful I live in a republic.  I am thankful there are laws to protect the individual.  For the sake of my grandchildren, I pray that we can keep our republic.

But I am most thankful there was a King 2000 years ago that was willing to subject Himself to the mob-rule mentality.  He went to the cross for me.  Thank You, Lord.

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Deceived

Posted on April 1, 2019 by glenn

I enjoy a good magic trick.  The magician can fool us with a sleight of hand.  He makes us think we have seen something that in fact did not happen.

Today is April Fool’s Day.  This is a day usually associated with practical jokes and attempts to fool someone.  I have several April Fools memories for which I am fond.  One such incident occurred when I was about 10 years old.  While crossing a railroad track I shouted “train” with all the vigor I could muster from the backseat of the car.  After nearly wrecking to get across the tracks my father was not amused when I proudly announced “April Fools.”  Indeed, he was plenty mad and I feared physical injury that day.  I still think about the train story each first day of April.

Perhaps we have all been a victim to deception at some point.  The April Fools deception is usually done in fun.  However, today I would like to consider deception of a very serious nature.  The Bible has a clear warning against allowing ourselves to be deceived. 

The statement, “Do not be deceived,” appears four times in Scripture. 

Note the following 4 Scriptures that contain the warning, “Do not be deceived.”

1 Corinthians 6:9             Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of GOD?  Do not be deceived.  Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, will inherit the kingdom of GOD.

1 Corinthians 15:33        Do not be deceived; “Evil company corrupts good habits.”

Gal 6:7                 Do not be deceived, GOD is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.

James 1:14-16                  But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.  Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.  Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.

There are powerful lessons to be learned from each of the four passages.  The following truths come in order from the four texts listed above.

  1. The unrighteous will have no place in heaven.
  2. The wrong friendships will negatively impact us.
  3. There is a law of sowing and reaping concerning our actions in this life.
  4. There is a progression of sin that begins with desire and ends in death.

Each of these teach us important lessons and would make a profitable study individually. But I would like to observe a general truth common to all four.  The common thread is deception.  Do not be deceived.  In each case it is apparent we are being warned not to be deceived.  There is something deceptive about each situation.

So what is the deception?  What is it that puts us in danger of being led away?  Could it be a mindset of thinking sin will have no effect on me?  Maybe I deceive myself when I think it won’t happen to me.

Consider the common deceptive thread of the unrighteous and the kingdom of GOD, or consider the effect of wrong friendships or influences, or consider the deceptive thinking that consequences of sinful choices won’t happen this time, and lastly, the progression of sin.  We can so easily be caught up in the moment and end up succumbing to the deception.

Sometimes our mindset is that we can be strong. It won’t affect us.  Yet, we have been warned.  Do not be deceived.  Be very aware!!

Again, noting the four passages in order, we state the following truths.

  1. A sinful lifestyle will lead to eternal punishment.
  2. A sinful friendship will lead us astray.
  3. A sinful act will bring a harvest.
  4. A sinful action began with an uncontrolled desire of the heart.

If we think otherwise, we have already been deceived.  LORD, help me to “Be not deceived.”

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The One Reason

Posted on March 25, 2019 by glenn

There are so many different religious options today.   The number of distinct denominations is estimated to be in the thousands.  The word denominate means to name or designate. There are at least a dozen various names of religious bodies and faiths that are found in my community.  Why all the division?

I am occasionally asked why I worship where I do.  I guess the question that really should be addressed is “Why am I a member of this particular church?”  Let me consider several possibilities.

Is it because it meets for worship on the first day of the week?

Is it because it observes the Lord’s Supper each and every Sunday as opposed to quarterly or on certain holy days throughout the year?

Is it because it believes in the penitent believer’s immersion for the remission of sins as opposed to the recitation of a sinner’s prayer?

Is it because the worship is composed of, among other things, singing without the accompaniment of instruments?

Is it because it is not a part of some ecclesiastical organization but has each autonomous congregation operating independently under the oversight of a plurality of elders?

Is it because it believes Christ is the head of the church, serving as our High Priest, with all members making up a royal priesthood operating underneath His sole authority?

Is it because it believes the Bible to be the inspired word of GOD, and is the sole authority for our spiritual direction with no other books needed or able to make that claim?

Is it because its members are referred to only as Christians?

Is it because it believes that a person forgiven of their sins can still choose to live in such a way so as to fall from grace and be eternally lost?

Is it because it believes the Lord is returning one day to gather the saints for their heavenly reward but it does not believe the Lord is returning to earth to set up an earthly kingdom in the Middle East to reign 1000 years?

The answer to all of these is an emphatic yes!!  All of these along with other truths form the basis or the foundation of my faith and are rooted in the pages of the New Testament.

But these are not the reasons I am a member of the church.  I am a member of the church, the body of Christ (Eph 1:22, 23), because Jesus died for my sins (1 Cor 15:3), and I have been justified by the blood of Christ (Rom 5:9) because of my obedience to that form of doctrine (Rom 6:17; 6:3, 4), and thus GOD added me to the church (Acts 2:47).

Why am I a member of the church?  The reason is quite simple.  I am a member of the church because GOD added me to it!

According to Scripture, that makes the following statements true.

I am a member of the church of the Living GOD.  (1 Tim 3:15)

I am a member of the church.  (Acts 2:47)

I am a member of the body of Christ.  (Eph 1:22)

I am a member of the church of the first born.  (Heb 12:23)

I am a member of the kingdom of the Son of His love.  (Col 1:13)

I am a member of the household of GOD.  (Eph 2:19)

I am a member of the flock.  (1 Pet 5:3; Acts 20:28)

I am a member of that blood bought institution, the church of GOD.  (1 Cor 1:2, Acts 20:28)

I am a member of a local congregation that is part of the churches of Christ.  (Rom 16:16)

I choose to assemble and worship with those of like-minded faith. (Rom 15:5)

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The One Word

Posted on March 18, 2019 by glenn

We all know people who talk a lot and some who are relatively quiet, speaking very little. How would your friends describe you?  How many words do you suppose you speak each day?  According to a recent study the average person speaks about 16,000 words a day.  Do you consider yourself average?  That seems to me to be a lot of talking!

This caused me to wonder, how many words are in the Bible?  Of course it depends on which translation you use, but the count is somewhere just less than 800,000 words.  That is a lot of words. 

What if you were asked to reduce all of the Bible down to just one word?  What is the one word that would summarize the entire Bible?

I’d like to suggest the word love would be a good possibility. The word love is found in every book of the New Testament with the exception of Acts.  In fact, of the nine different writers of the New Testament books, each one addresses the idea of love.  Listen to Jesus, Paul, James, John, Peter, and the Hebrew writer address this topic. 

Recall in Matthew 22:36, when Jesus was asked to pick the one law He considered the most important.  I’m told the Old Law consisted of a total of 613 do’s and don’ts.  Of course the Pharisees were trying to get the Lord to make a statement that would divide the crowd.  The lawyer asked Him to pick out one from the 613, which was most important.  Jesus simply said to love GOD and to love your neighbor.  Love.

Paul had much to say about the matter of love.

Gal 5:14 reads, “For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”  This quote actually appears 1st in the OT book of Leviticus (19:18).

Paul said the same thing in Romans 13:10, when he said, “love is the fulfillment of the law.”

In Colossians 3, after enumerating a list of desirable things to put on, Paul says but above all these things put on love.  Above all!

In 1 Corinthians 16:14, in the closing verses of the book, he says “Let all that you do be done with love.”  All that you do!

In 1 Timothy 1:5, after urging Timothy to teach no other doctrine, Paul said “the purpose of the commandment is love…”

From 1 Corinthians 13, we know – love never ceases which is why the chapter ends declaring love to be greater than hope and faith.  Love is eternal.

James, the brother of our Lord, reiterated the command in James 2:8 – You shall love your neighbor as yourself.  James then went on to call this the royal law.

Of course we have 1 John 4:8 – let us love one another, for love is of GOD – for GOD is love.

1 Peter 4:8 – Above all things have fervent love for one another, for love will cover a multitude of sins.  Above all things.

The Hebrew writer, in the closing chapter, begins by saying, “Let brotherly love continue.” 

My one word is love.  I think we have made a strong case for that.

I remember the words of a song from 1965 and think how true they ring today.

What the world needs now

Is love, sweet love

It’s the only thing

That there’s just too little of.

True then, true now.  Let’s do our part to fix that.

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