Obeying the gospel is a scriptural and necessary part of drawing near to God and being saved by His grace. Jesus said in Matt.7:21 "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord' shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven". It is mentioned in Acts 6:7 that many were "obedient to the faith". "Obedience to the faith" is the same as "obedience to the gospel". Paul preached "the faith" (Gal.1:23), he preached "the gospel" (1Cor.15:1), of which there is only one, genuine and true, authored by Jesus Christ (Eph.4:5, Heb.12:2).

In Rom.1:5 Paul says that the purpose of the apostles' calling and of their efforts was "for obedience to the faith among all nations" or, "to bring about the obedience of faith" (NASB). He says the gospel has been made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, "for obedience to the faith" (Rom.16:25-26). However, in Rom. 10:16 he says they haven't all "obeyed the gospel". In 2Thess.1:6-9 he warns that when Jesus comes again He will take vengeance on those who don't "obey the gospel". Peter gives a similar warning in 1Pet.4:17.

Of course the Bible teaches that works don't save us. The mercy and grace of God makes salvation possible when we truly believe in Him and what He tells us. God's grace is demonstrated in His providing and offering to us that salvation through Christ. And our faith in God and His word is demonstrated by our obedience to Him (Heb.11:6). It is not the works that save us. God saves us by His grace (Eph.2:8-9, Titus 3:4-5). But He saves us when we, by faith, obey His will. Jesus said, "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends. You are My friends if you do whatever I command you" (Jn.15:13-14). The salvation that He authored is for those who obey Him, Hebrews 5:9 says.

God, by His grace, offers us salvation, teaches us His ways and gives us faith and hope, these passages of scripture plainly teach: Titus 2:11-12, 2Tim.3:16-17, John 6:44-45. "Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God" (Rom. 10:17). So the gospel itself, with its teaching, its commands, its promises and its blessings, is a part of the grace of God. And it may come as a surprise to some that belief itself is called a work (John 6:28-29). Believing is something that the individual must do, just like all the other acts of obedience. Anyone who believes that faith is necessary for salvation believes in the necessity of works for salvation. Genuine scriptural faith and works - those taught by Christ - cannot be separated. "Faith without works is dead" (Jas.2:26), and "By grace you have been saved through faith" Eph.2:8). Therefore all of these things are necessary - grace, faith and obedience to Christ. The Bible does not contradict itself - all of it is true. Faith and works are not mutually exclusive, as some teachers would have you believe, and neither is grace and works. The infallible word of God includes all three in its teaching.

The scriptures make it clear that no one is saved by faith alone or at the point of faith. Jesus said in Matt. 10:32 that confession of Him before others is one requirement. John 12:42 mentions some who believed on Him, but were afraid to confess Him because they didn't want to be put out of the synagogue. Other passages of scripture enlighten us to other requirements.

The Bible mentions different degrees of faith, from no faith (Mk. 4:40) to little faith (Matt. 8:26) to great faith (Matt. 8:10). It is only when a person hears/ reads/ studies the gospel of Christ that faith grows within him to the point of moving him to act on what he learns from it. It is only then that he has sufficient faith to be saved. Paul says in Gal. 5:6, the only way to avail, or gain anything through Jesus Christ is by "faith working through love". Works, action, obedience makes faith complete (perfect, KJV) as James uses the example of Abraham to make the point (Jas. 2:22). Without any action it is dead (v. 26).

But it is only the works that we're instructed to do by Christ and the Holy Spirit through the word that avails anything. Anything we might think up on our own to do is worthless and useless (John 8:31, 32, Col.3:17, 2Jn.9).

In the teaching of the gospel there are certain things which are necessary for the individual to do to be saved initially, to come into fellowship with God, to have his sins washed away, to be added to the body of Christ, the body of saved people, of whom Christ is the savior (Eph.5:23).

We must first hear the word (Rom.10:17), (audibly or by reading it). We must believe the word (John 3:15-16; 8:24, Acts 16:31, etc.). We must then repent of our sins (Lk.13:3, 5; 24:47, Acts 17:30, etc.). We must confess Christ before man (Matt.10:32, Rom.10:9-10), as the Ethiopian eunuch did before Philip baptized him in Acts 8:37. The final step to salvation is to be baptized for remission (forgiveness) of sins (Matt.28:19, Mk.16:16, Acts 2:38; 22:16, Rom.6:3-6, Col.2:12-13, 1Pet.3:21). At baptism we are added, by the Lord, to His church, the body of Christ (Acts 2:38, 41, 47, Gal.3:27, 2Cor.12:13). It is at this point that we can truly rejoice, as the Ethiopian eunuch did, and as the Philippian jailer did (Acts 8:39; 16:34).

Hear, believe, repent, confess, and be baptized, these are the steps that bring us into a saved condition, a covenant relationship with Christ. When we comply with these scriptural requirements we undergo what the Bible calls the "new birth" (John 3:3-5, 2Cor. 5:17, 1Pet.1:22-23). We are called "newborn babes" and are instructed to "desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby" (1Pet. 2:1-2).

We are told to continue to study, learn, and apply the word of God to our lives to increase our faith, our hope in His promises, to be filled with and led by the Spirit, to be fruitful in the vineyard of Christ (Acts 20:32, 2Tim.2:15; 3:16- 17, Eph.5:18, Phil.3:20-21; 4:4-9, Col. 1:5, 1Pet. 1:3-5, Rom. 8:14, Gal.5:18, 1Cor.15:58, 2Pet.1:3-11).

When we "obey the gospel", according to the teaching and examples given in the New Testament, we are "set free from sin", according to Rom, 6:17-18. We have been made free by the truth (John 8:32). We have been set free from the slavery to sin and the consequences of sin. We must then continue to trust and obey Christ, submitting to His will and walking in His light and having fellowship with Him, so that His blood, which He shed on the cross, demonstrating His love and grace for us, continues to cleanse us and keep us safe and give us hope (1John 1:5-10). We can never rely on our own knowledge, wisdom, strength, and zeal to keep ourselves saved by perfect obedience. God knows that we are weak creatures who sin from time to time, and He has made provision for that through the blood of Christ. We must continue to make a genuine effort to obey Him, and trust in His grace to make up for our shortcomings.

When we fall into sin, we have instructions in God's word on how to get out of that condition and back into His grace. We must repent of our sin, confess it, and ask God's forgiveness and we can be assured that He forgives (1John 1:5 - 2:2, Acts 8:22-24). If one finds that he is struggling with certain weaknesses and recurring sins, or sins of a public nature, he should confess them to other Christians and ask for their prayers to help strengthen him (Jas. 5:16, Acts 8:24). (These scriptural instructions are for Christians only, those who have been saved and become members of the body of Christ).

Peter said in Acts 10:34-35, "...... God shows no partiality, but in every nation, whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him". But He doesn't leave it to us to make up our own works of righteousness. He says in 2Tim. 3:16-17 that He has given us the scriptures for "instruction in righteousness", so that we can be "thoroughly equipped for every good work". He has given us "all things that pertain to life and godliness" (2Pet. 1:3).

May God bless us all and help us to see, understand, and apply His word to our lives, that He may welcome us to the eternal home in heaven when this earthly life is over.

THE IMPORTANCE OF CHRIST’S RESURRECTION
by Heath Rogers

        No event has had a greater impact upon the history of mankind than the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. We know that it is a Bible doctrine, but sometimes I fear we fail to see just how vital it is to our faith. Consider the following:

        1. It Proves Jesus is the Christ. The resurrection of Jesus from the dead was the crowning piece of evidence to mankind that Jesus was who He claimed to be.
        On one occasion, when Jesus had cleansed the Temple, His critics approached and asked Him, "‘What sign do You show to us, since You do these things?’ Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.’ Then the Jews said, ‘It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?’ But He was speaking of the temple of His body. Therefore, when He had risen from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this to them; and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had said" (John 2:18-22). His disciples did not understand what He meant by this statement until after His resurrection. It was then that they believed.
        In Deuteronomy 18:22, Moses told the children of Israel how to tell if a prophet was indeed from God. "When a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the thing does not happen or come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him." Jesus said that He was going to be raised from the dead (Matt. 16:21, 17:22-23, 20:19). If He hadn’t raised from the dead, then He would have failed the test that Moses gave, and no one would have a reason to listen to anything else He had said. But, since what He said about His resurrection did come true, we must accept everything He has said, including His claim to be the Son of God.

        2. It Gained Victory Over Sin and Death. When Jesus died on the cross it appeared that Satan had won. Death came into the world because of sin. It was the greatest power that the devil had. But it was not powerful enough. Peter says that God raised Jesus up, "having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it" (Acts 2:24). When Jesus rose from the dead, He gained victory over the devil and all his power, including sin and death.
        We can share in this victory too. Paul says that Jesus "was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification…For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life" (Rom. 4:25, 5:10).

        3. It Validates Our Faith. The whole of Christianity rests on the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. In First Corinthians 15, Paul is speaking about the reality of our future resurrection from the dead. He says the assurance of this promise is found in our Lord’s own resurrection. Notice how much our faith depends upon the resurrection of Jesus from the dead: "And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty... And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable" (vs. 14, 17-19).
        If Christ did not raise from the dead, then everything about Christianity is a lie, because all of Christianity is based upon the resurrection. The Lord’s resurrection was a major theme in the preaching of the gospel in the New Testament (Acts 2:24-32, 3:15, 10:30, 13:33, 17:31; 1 Cor. 15:3-4). Without it, there was no reason to believe or obey what the apostles preached.

        4. It Assures Us of Judgment. Paul told the people of Athens, "Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead" (Acts 17:30-31). A day is coming in which every person will stand before the judgment seat of Christ, give account of themselves, and receive from the Lord according to what they have done (Romans 14:10-12; 2 Cor. 5:10). Paul says that the proof that this will happen is the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. If we believe that Jesus rose from the dead, we must also accept the fact that we will be judged. Assurance of this fact should move all men everywhere to repent.
        It has been observed that more people attend worship services on Easter Sunday than on any other Sunday of the year. That tells me that people feel there is something special about Easter Sunday. The resurrection of Jesus from the dead should motivate people to do more than just attend one church service a year. It should move people to repent of their sins, change their life, and faithfully serve the Lord until He returns.

        Conclusion. The resurrection of Jesus from the dead is very important. Without it, Jesus is just another dead prophet. But He did raise from the dead. The New Testament tells of eyewitnesses who claim they saw the risen Christ. Based upon their testimony, we can believe that Jesus is the Son of God and our Savior. We can have assurance of the forgiveness of our sins and a hope in our own resurrection from the dead. And, if we believe Jesus rose from the dead, we must also accept the fact that He will return to judge the world in righteousness. Are we ready?

EVIDENCE OF PARDON -
HOW CAN I KNOW I AM SAVED?
by Heath Rogers

        Christianity is a system of faith, but it is not a leap of faith. Our faith in God is founded firmly upon the evidence of His existence found in His creation. "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork" (Psalm 19:1). "Because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse" (Rom. 1:19-20). Our belief in the resurrection of Christ is founded upon the testimony of eyewitnesses: "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, concerning the Word of life" (1 John 1:1; see also 1 Cor. 15:3-8). The assurance of these things gives us confidence, which is important. Without confidence we can begin to waver and lose our faith.
        The most important thing to man is the salvation of his soul. Jesus asks, "For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?" (Matt. 16:26). We need reliable evidence of our salvation. Without it, we can begin to doubt. And when we begin to doubt is when we become most vulnerable to the devil.
        The importance of this confidence, this assurance of salvation, is shown in a piece of the armor of God - the Helmet of Salvation (Eph. 6:17). In battle, the helmet allows one to have confidence to boldly stand and fight. Assurance of our salvation does away with all doubt and gives us the ability to stand for the truth, defend our faith and resist Satan's attacks. We need this confidence.
        The Bible tells us that we can be assured of our salvation. "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). God wants us to know that we are saved, not think we are or wonder if we are. We can know it!
        But the real question is, "How?" How can we have this assurance? How can we know that we are saved? What is our evidence of pardon?

Our Own Feelings?
        Same people say that they feel they are saved. They had an emotional experience, a strong feeling came over them, and that's when they knew they were saved.
Are personal feelings really proof? Even strong feelings? No. The only thing that feelings prove is that we feel a certain way. I'm sure there are a lot of prisoners who feel like they should be set free, but they are still behind bars.
        The Bible warns us about our feelings. Our hearts can deceive us: "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?" (Jer. 17:10). The conscience alone is not a safe guide. The apostle Paul believed he was doing the Lord's will when he was persecuting the church (Acts 23:1, 26:9).
        Some believe they are saved because they had an experience with the Holy Spirit. They would rather give a testimony than study the Bible. Some churches and people thrive on this kind of emotionalism, but it is not reliable. The fact is that our hearts can deceive us. We can't trust our feelings alone. They may be right, but what if they are wrong?!

The Words Of Others?
        Some believe they are saved because a loved one, friend or preacher told them they were. I am glad that people have friends and loved ones that they feel they can trust. But the Bible tells us that our soul's salvation is too important to take anyone's word for. Paul told Christians to "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling" (Phil. 2:12). The apostle John warned, "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world" (1 John 4:1).
        We are not to believe someone just because they claim to be speaking the truth. We are to test their message and prove it to be true to the word of God. The Bereans are noted for this very thing: "…they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so. Therefore many of them believed," (Acts 17:11-12a). They were not willing to accept Paul's message as truth until they had first examined it in light of what the Scriptures said.

The Word Of God!
        God's word is adequate evidence of our salvation. The Bible is inspired by God. "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work" (2 Tim. 3:16-17). God cannot lie (Titus 1:2). What His word says is the truth. It is our evidence of pardon. But how?
        Paul wrote, "The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs - heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together" (Rom. 8:16-17). We don't have to trust our feelings, or take another's word for it. The Spirit of God bears witness with our spirit that we are saved. These two testify together.
        If our salvation were on trial, the Holy Spirit and our own spirit would testify to the fact that we are saved. The testimony of the Holy Spirit is the word of God. The testimony of our spirit is what we have done in response to the word of God.
        For example, the Spirit says, "He who believes and is baptized will be saved" (Mark 16:16). If our spirit can honestly say, "I've done that. I believe and have been baptized," then we can know we are saved.
        Again, the Spirit says, "Repent, and let everyone of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins" (Acts 2:38). If my spirit can honestly say, "I've done that. I have turned away from my sins and have been baptized," then we can know that we are saved.
        Compliance with God's word is our evidence of pardon. As long as we know we have done what the Bible tells us to do, then we know we are saved.

Conclusion
        Assurance of our salvation is not meant to make us comfortable or negligent, nor should it make us arrogant or haughty. It is meant to give us the confidence we need to "continue to believe in the name of the Son of God." There are many inconsistent, unpredictable things in their world that can cause us doubt and fear. Assurance of our salvation isn't one of them.

        The Bible itself answers our question: "when you read, you can understand" (Eph. 3:4). And, "Consider what I say, and may the Lord give you understanding in all things" (2 Tim. 2:7).
        Our problem in understanding the Bible is illustrated by the story of a man who decided that he was going to "figure out the Bible." So, as he placed his Bible on his lap it fell open to Matthew 27:5. He read the phrase about Judas that says he "went and hanged himself." Well, that didn't help him much, but he decided he would try it again. This time the Bible fell open to Luke 10:37 and he read, "Go and do likewise." With that he slammed it shut and was now thoroughly convinced no one could make any sense out of the Bible.
        Obviously, just letting the Bible fall open, or any other hit-and-miss approach, will always leave us with the idea the Bible is not understandable. Such would be true for any book. To understand the Bible there must be some organization to our study, and we must give ourselves time to absorb the ideas taught.
        Also, we must reject the idea that "common people" are not supposed to understand it; that the job of understanding belongs to professional teachers. They are to explain it to us. That is simply not so!! The Bible's message is about Jesus and our salvation; that message is intended to be understood by common people. Such is the declaration of Mark 12:37 (KJV, NKJV): "And the common people heard Him gladly." As it was with Jesus' words, so it is with Scripture's words.
        Another problem to overcome is the conflicting interpretations that supposedly knowledgeable people give to Bible texts. Many are led to think, "If Bible educated people understand it in contradictory ways, then how can I figure it out?" I sympathize with their confusion. But the fault lies, not with the Bible, but with those who misuse it with contradictory interpretation. Jesus did not pray for such divisiveness (John 17).
        I have a suggestion. Forget other people's theories; yes, even your theories, and just read the Bible as you would read a friend's letter. Let God's message come through to you. Keep asking yourself as you examine "the Scripture" (Acts 17:11), "What does the Scripture say?" (Rom. 4:3). Start reading Luke, then Acts; when finished, read John. Don't read into it your ideas, but let God's words be the sole source of the ideas you form. Remember, "You can understand."
- Rogers Reflector, Oct. 8, 2000

THE DECEITFULNESS OF RICHES
by Heath Rogers

        While giving an explanation of the Parable of the Sower, Jesus spoke of the seeds that fell among the thorns: "Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful" (Matt. 13:22).
        Riches can be deceitful, it all depends upon our attitude. "But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows" (1 Tim. 6:9-10). What are some ways that riches can deceive us?
        1. Riches can take the place of God in our heart. In the parable, the seed couldn't grow because the thorns choked it out. The nutrients that the seed needed from the soil were taken away by the thorns. The same is true with the word of God in man's heart. The cares of the world and the concern for wealth can take our time and mental resources away from the Word of God.
        2. Riches can make us indifferent to spiritual matters. With an unhealthy emphasis on obtaining or maintaining our wealth, we can become worldly minded. Suddenly things like the church and our spiritual lives no longer matter. These things are set aside while we pursue money. Many professed Christians have obviously made their job their top priority - even over their family, not to mention the Lord and His church.
        3. Riches can give us a distorted view of life. One time Jesus told His disciples, "Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses" (Luke 12:15). Unfortunately, there are many people who have been deceived into believing that they would be happy if they could just have more things. Life is not about accumulating things, it is about seeking first God's kingdom and His righteousness (Matt. 6:33).          We need to be laying up treasures in heaven, not on earth (Matt. 6:19-20).
        4. Riches can give us a false sense of security. The Lord went on to give a parable about a rich fool (Luke 12:16-21). In this parable, the farmer mistook his physical life for his soul. He had enough wealth to be secure in this life for many years, but he had not prepared his soul for eternity.
        Those who are wealthy sometimes fail to see their reliance upon God. Their riches have deceived them into thinking they don't need anyone - including God. But God is not impressed by our fortunes. No one is going to buy their way into heaven. And no one is guaranteed "many years."
        5. Riches can give us a false sense of importance. The world determines a person's importance by how much money they are worth. Because of this treatment, a wealthy person can become puffed up and think they are something when in reality they are not. God shows no partiality, He demands the same thing from everyone of us (Acts 10:34-35).
        There is nothing sinful about riches themselves, and there is nothing wrong with having great wealth. The problem has to do with our attitude. And - we don't have to be rich to be deceived by riches.

DOES THE SPIRIT DWELL IN ME TODAY?
by Allen Dvorak (from Abundant Life, 09/95)         

        We live in a time when much emphasis is placed upon the Holy Spirit by our religious neighbors. Some claim that God works miracles by the power of the Holy Spirit dwelling in them. This claim may seem genuine to those who are unfamiliar with the nature and purpose of New Testament miracles. Others claim that the indwelling of the Holy Spirit guides them into an understanding of God's word or gives them some mysterious (unexplainable) assistance in resisting temptation.
        One reaction to such claims is to run in the other direction and deny that the Holy Spirit really dwells in the Christian at all! Does the Holy Spirit dwell in men today? Does He enable them to perform miracles? Rather than trust our own feelings on the subject, we must consult God's word to answer these questions.
        Any discussion of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit must begin with the understanding that the Holy Spirit indwelt and assisted the apostles in a special way. Jesus promised His apostles that not only would the Holy Spirit dwell in them, but the Spirit would enable them to reveal His Word (John 14:16-17). The Spirit would teach them all things and help them remember the things that Jesus had already taught them (John 14:26). He would guide the apostles into all truth and reveal to them things to come (John 16:13).
        Some folks appeal to these promises as evidence of their own guidance by the Holy Spirit. Jesus' statements, however, were not made to the disciples in general, but only to the apostles. While that is not a conclusive argument per se, the comments of Jesus make it plain that He intended that such promises apply only to the apostles. Note, for instance, that the apostles heard Jesus teach personally and thus the Spirit could remind them of things that they had heard from the Master Himself (14:26). They could bear witness to Jesus because they had been with him from the beginning (John 15:27). No person today possesses such qualifications.
       The apostles were endued with power from the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2), and they revealed the gospel of Jesus Christ in its entirety (Jude 3). The word of God was revealed through miraculous means and confirmed by miracles (1 Cor. 12:8-10; Mark 16:20; Heb. 2:4). Those miraculous gifts ceased to be needed or exercised when God's revelation had been completed (1 Cor. 13:8-10). I believe that some passages in the New Testament regarding the indwelling of the Holy Spirit refer to the special sense in which the Holy Spirit dwelled in the apostles (e.g. - 2 Cor. 1:21-22).
        While we cannot claim the abilities or role of the apostles, the Holy Spirit certainly dwells in the Christian.
        Paul wrote, "Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?" (1 Cor. 6:19). To the Romans he affirmed, "But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you" (Rom. 8:11). The real question is not "if," but "how" and "why?"
        Does Paul's language in the above passages demand a literal, personal indwelling of the Holy Spirit? Before we accept such a conclusion, however, we must note that the Scriptures also teach that both the Father and the Son "dwell" or "abide" in the Christian (Rom. 8:10; Eph. 3:17; 1 John 4:12, 15). It is possible for sin to dwell in a man or, in contrast, for truth to dwell in a man (Rom. 7:17-20; 2 John 2). Paul exhorted his readers to "let the word of Christ dwell in you" (Col. 3:16). Jesus stated that Satan dwelt at Pergamos (Rev. 2:13). These passages illustrate that the words "dwell" and "abide" can refer to relationship and influence rather than location. The word of Christ, the truth, dwells in us when we study it, meditate on it and are controlled by it. Sin dwells in a man when he is controlled by it. Satan did/does not literally live in the city of Pergamos; rather his influence was over it and was keenly felt there. The Father and the Son dwell in us when they control our lives.
        If such an understanding can be applied to these other passages which speak of various things or persons dwelling in a person, why can we not understand the passages which speak of the Holy Spirit dwelling within the Christian in the same fashion? I know of no passage which demands a literal, personal indwelling of the Spirit in the Christian. The Spirit dwells in us when we form and maintain a relationship of fellowship with Him and we do so by letting the influence of the Word work in our lives.
        What does the Spirit do for us? We must harmonize our understanding of the indwelling of the Spirit with what the Bible says about the function of the Word. The Scriptures are sufficient for doctrine, for reproof, for correction and instruction in righteousness (2 Tim. 3:16). The Word of God is the means by which God's people are sanctified (John 17:17).
        Even if there remains some mystery surrounding the means by which the Holy Spirit dwells in us, we must remember that such is a fact. The indwelling of the Spirit, however, was not intended by the apostles to foster controversy. Instead it emphasizes the closeness of our relationship with Deity when we live as Christians. What a wonderful thought-God abides with me and I with Him!

- The Voice of Truth, 7/22/01

GOD'S TWO LAWS OF PARDON
by Heath Rogers

        "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Rom. 6:23). We live in a fallen world, the wages of sin are felt by everyone. All the pain and problems that plague mankind can ultimately be traced back to sin. But, as the above passage points out, God offers a way out.
        The word pardon means "to release a person from further punishment of a crime" (Webster's). What man needs, and what God provides, is pardon. We have suffered enough for our sins, we want to be released from further punishment. We seek eternal life with God and Christ. The Bible is the best selling book of all time because it contains the message of pardon or forgiveness of sins. Man's greatest need - salvation - is found in the Bible.
        God is able to forgive us of our sins because of the shed blood of His Son Jesus Christ (Matt. 26:28; Eph. 1:7). But the fact that the blood has been shed does not mean that everyone is automatically forgiven. We chose to sin, resulting in our being lost. We must also choose to be saved. God has made a way for us to be forgiven, and this way can be referred to as a law of pardon.
        God is not going to save us on the merit of our goodness. Cornelius is a great example of this (Acts 10). Cornelius was "a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always" (v. 2). Yet, he was told to send for Peter who would tell him what he "must do" (v. 6). The fact that he was told he must do something implies that a law exists which he had to obey in order to be saved.
        1 Timothy 2:3-4 says, "For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." God wants to save everyone, but this is not possible until man comes to a knowledge of His law of pardon. Man is not free to choose HOW to be saved. There is a truth which must be learned, believed and obeyed before we are saved. Jesus provides the truth and points the way (John 14:6). He has been given all authority (Matt. 28:18). He is God's approved spokesman (Heb. 1:1-2). And He is the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him (Heb. 5:9). To learn God' law of pardon, we must listen to Jesus.
        What has Jesus said we must do to be saved? Believe - "Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins" (John 8:24). Repent of Our Sins - "I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish" (Luke 13:3). Confess Faith in Christ - "Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven" (Matt. 10:32-33). Be Baptized - "He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned" (Mark 16:16).
        Anything other than, or short of, what Jesus said is not the truth. It is through obedience to the gospel that we enter into Christ (Gal. 3:26-27) and enjoy every spiritual blessing in Him (Eph. 1:3-14).
        We do not become perfect when we become a Christian. We all sin. Unforgiven sins have the same effect on Christians that they do on alien sinners - spiritual death, eternal Hell. So, the question of how Christians receive the forgiveness of their sins is also very important.
        We Must Confess Our Sins - "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9). Confession is good for the soul. Our forgiveness is dependant upon our willingness to own up to the fact that we have sinned. God must see in us a heart like that of David who confessed, "I have sinned against the Lord" (2 Sam. 12:13).
        Repent of Our Sins - Acts 8 tells of Philip the evangelist taking the gospel to those in Samaria. Among those who were converted was one identified as Simon the sorcerer (vs. 9-13). He sinned by trying to buy the ability to dispense the gifts of the Holy Spirit for his own personal gain (vs. 18-19). He was told by the apostle Peter to "repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you" (v. 22).
         Repentance is more than just being sorry that you have sinned. To repent means to turn away from sin. God must see in us an effort to turn away from sin and back towards Him.
        Pray For Forgiveness - Simon was also told to pray for forgiveness. God must hear from us that we desire to be forgiven.
        God is ready and willing to forgive everyone of their sins. But we must seek His forgiveness through the means which He has made available. If you are not a Christian, the blood of Jesus will cleanse you of your sins if you will fulfill the requirements of God's first law of pardon. If you are a Christian, the blood of Jesus will cleanse you of your sins if you will fulfill the requirements of God's second law of pardon. God is faithful to do what He has promised if we will do what He requires of us.

          Paul’s words ring true today just as they did two thousand years ago. They are immortal. Christ crucified, the hope of a lost and dying world. Though unpopular through the ages, these words have endured the test of time and shall bear the test of eternity.

          So often I am asked about my church affiliation. I always respond the same, "I am a member of the Lord’s church. It’s the church you read about in your Bible." Sometimes I’m asked, "What do you preach?" Again, my answer is a pat one; "I preach Christ crucified!" Why would it be anything else?

          This lofty theme has changed the entire world. In the early days of the church it produced moral revolution in a perverse society. Today the battle rages over a multiplicity of moral subjects. What more pertinent message could be offered, than that of righteousness, self-control and judgment to come? (Acts 24:25)

          With the passing of hundreds of years, thrones have vanished and empires have fallen, but Christ’s kingdom has endured. It has been the one constant. It is still a kingdom of solace, a place of blessing, for those who believe in Christ crucified, the power and wisdom of God.

          The apostle declared emphatically, "We preach Christ." Paul was not concerned with the social, economic, or military conditions of the empire of Rome. His preaching was the doctrine of a person - a divine, an immortal being. It was the revelation of the Creator and Savior of man. Nothing else, in its true sense, is preaching. Neither before or since has there been a more unpopular theme than this.

          In the days of the apostles, men were being stoned, beaten, persecuted and even killed for preaching the message of the crucified Savior, Jesus of Nazareth. The Jews rejected Jesus, the son of Mary, as the Messiah. The very Christ was denied for they desired a sign from God. They persisted, rejecting the vivid prophetic statements of Isaiah and others regarding His coming. The Greeks sought the wisdom of men, refusing Christ, the promised seed of Abraham, through whom all nations of the world would be blessed.

          Men and women today are saddened by the rejection of these. Some even scoff, and ask, "How could they do it?" Yet, man still greedily prefers his own temporal and physical cures for sin. Creeds, rituals, magnificent buildings, sensational claims of the miraculous, entertainment and the social gospel are principal appeals for souls today. The tragedy is that people are placing faith in these human inventions. Worse, they depend on them for their salvation. And yet, there is absolutely no saving value or power in them whatsoever.

          What should our response be? Jesus pointedly answered the Jews - "A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign" (Matthew 16:4). Paul could have satisfied the Greeks who sought after wisdom. He was a scholar in his own right. But, he was not willing to leave the task of preaching for a mere display of wisdom and intelligence. Neither miracles nor wisdom will conquer sin or make us holy! On the contrary Paul vigorously proclaimed, "I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek" (Romans 1:16).

          Friend, the simple Gospel was and is an unpopular theme in this world. Men are still seeking signs. Scholars are still calling for wisdom. Inspiration’s answer? "Christ crucified," the hope of a lost and dying world.

- Viewpoints, 4/16/2000

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