Thanksgiving Day until the New Year will have Americans concentrating on family, goodwill, and thanksgiving. It is this time of the year when most folk including Christians contemplate their numerous blessings. Although Christians should focus on these things year round, we too are overwhelmed with gratitude by this seasonal atmosphere of kindness and love. Our neighbors encourage us as we see so many with exhibiting Christ-like behavior. They are trying to mimic the goodness of Jesus (Acts 10:38), and for this we are grateful. Christmas is not a religious holiday or Jesus Christ’s birthday. There is no bible authority for Christmas or for Christians to annually observe December 25^th as Jesus’ birthday. (Col. 2:8,16; 3:17) The shepherds who were out in the fields when Jesus was born would not have spent the winter nights outside in the cold. (Luke 2:7-8) This thought alone points to another warmer month for Jesus’ birth. Since the bible does not tell us when, it is not for us to know. (Deut. 29:29) However, Christians are commanded to weekly remember/observe the Lord’s suffering, death, burial, and resurrection every first day of the week/Sunday. (Mat. 26:26-29;

Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 11:23-34; 15:1-4) Nevertheless, it is still comforting seeing so many recognizing and proclaiming Jesus Christ as the Savior of the world at this time of the year. We should be thankful for times like these as they present new opportunities to share the gospel of Christ. (Rom. 1:16; 1 Pet. 3:15) We have a lot to be thankful for. (Eph. 5:20) As our children make their lists of Christmas desires and we our lists of what we can afford, there ought to first be a list of thanksgiving. What are you thankful for? Can you name 10 things you thank God for? Write them down and then thank God again (Heb. 13:15).

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In the immediate context of Psalms 96:7-9, worshiping and giving glory to God, the psalmist said to “…bring an offering, and come into his courts” (v.8). Every child of God should honor and praise God with their life through their words and actions. But they should also do so through their giving. “Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase” (Pr. 3:9). Our giving is reciprocated to God for all he has given to us. We should not feel that we will have less if we give generously. One, because it is not true. “But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully” (2 Cor. 9:6). Then two, because such thinking lends itself to the concept that we can somehow out give God, meaning we can give more than he can bless us with. Nothing can be further from the truth. Here are two reasons why.

I. Nothing in this world is really ours. Everything belongs to God only. “Behold, the heaven and the heaven of heavens is the Lord’s thy God, the earth also, with all that is therein” (Deut.10:14; 1 Cor. 10:26,28). This means the whole universe is the Lord’s possession. While speaking to Job out of a whirlwind the Lord said “…whatsoever is under the whole heaven is mine” (Job 38:1; 41:11). God also said “For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills. I know all the fowls of the mountains: and all the wild beasts of the field are mine. If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof” (Ps. 50:10-12). The Lord even declared that all people are his (Ezek. 18:4). The reason everything belongs to him is because he is the Creator of everything (Gen. 1:1; Acts 17:24-26). You cannot beat God’s giving when you own nothing to give.

II. Whatever we have to give is what God has given us to give. “For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?” (Rom. 11:34-35). No one gave to God first but was first given to. We are all stewards of God’s property and should be faithful with it (Mt. 25:14-30; 1 Cor. 4:2). The devil has power to give earthly riches unto men (Mt. 4:8-9). But he understood what the righteous have is because of God (Pr. 10:22). Satan speaking of Job said to the Lord “…thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land” (Job 1:10).

Job understood this as well saying “…the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1:21). It is impossible to beat God’s giving when we only give what he gave us to give. “Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him…” (1 Cor. 16:2).

King Josiah was only eight years old when he began to reign in Judah and he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord (2Kg.22:1-2). The book of the law was found in the house of God and read before the king. “And it came to pass, when the king had heard the words of the book of the law, that he rent his clothes” (v.11). Josiah was upset because the people had not kept the law written in the book. The king sent to enquired of the Lord. Because the king had humbled himself before the Lord, wept, and rent his clothes, the Lord promised to bless him. The blessing was that he would be “gathered into thy grave in peace” (v.20). That is probably the desire of us all. I know I would like an easy death. One that is quick and painless. It is not my desire to die horribly or to suffer. However, Josiah’s death was not necessarily an easy one. The good king died fighting in battle (23:29-30). He is not alone. There have been many good faithful folks who have died tragically (Heb.11:35-39). John the baptizer was beheaded (Mt.14:10). Stephen was stoned (Acts.7:59-60). James was killed with the sword (Acts.12:2). Jesus was crucified (Acts.2:22-23).

Therefore, being “gathered into thy grave in peace” is not a promise of having an easy death. It is not speaking of how one physically dies, but of what the faithful in the Lord of will enjoy after death. Peace is on the other side of death for God’s people. There is no true peace here in this world. The world, the majority, live under the influence of the wicked one (Jn.14:30; 1Jn.5:19). There is no peace to the wicked or with the wicked (Is.57:20-21). The righteous are blessed in death by being taken away from the wicked and the evil here that they might enjoy true peace (Is.57:1-2). This is what king Josiah was promised. “…thou shalt be gathered into thy grave in peace; and thine eyes shall not see all the evil which I will bring upon this place” (2Kg.22:20). Nevertheless, king Josiah’s difficult death was indeed a blessing.

It is easy to think something may be wrong with the Christianity of a Christian who dies horribly in an accident, or suffers tremendously from disease, and so on. However, it is not the death that one dies which determines their faithfulness but the life they have lived (Rev.2:10; 22:14). In addition, God has great concern when his people die. “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints” (Ps.116:15). It is the way God calls us home.

“Rolling stones gather no moss,” is an old saying describing people who do not have commitments and responsibilities because of being away so much. In a forest or river bed, green moss only grows on stones that have been there a while. Rolling stones gather no moss. I want to use this saying in another way that Christians are the stones and the green moss is sin. Jesus Christ is the Chief Stone (1 Pet.2:4; Eph.2:20), but Christians are spiritual stones too (1 Pet.2:5). This means that Christians must keep rolling by remaining faithful and active in their Christianity that they gather no sin.

Christians need to keep rolling to gather no moss of worldly folk. When Christians stop meeting and hanging with brethren they will often pick up the moss of bad characters and habits by running with sinners. The apostle Paul warned brethren not to keep company with sinners (1 Cor.5:9-10). He was not forbidding any association. We work with them, shop with them, bank with them, participate in recreational activities with them in restaurants, movies, and parks, and even have them as neighbors. But, we do not fellowship them in ungodly activities and places. We may work together but after work we go separate ways (1 Pet.4:3-4; 2 Cor.6:14-17). “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them” (Eph.5:11). Christians are in the world with sinners but to keep rolling we must influence them without being influenced by them (Mt.5:13-16; Phil.2:15).

Christians need to keep rolling to gather no moss of worldly brethren. Paul also warned not to keep company with sinful brethren (1 Cor.5:11). Again, this did not mean to have no association. Brethren should always attempt to restore erring brethren when they can (Gal.6:1; Jas.5:19-20). But Christians are forbidden from fellowshipping wayward brethren as though their sin is not an issue. There was a brother in public sin who had his father’s wife in the congregation in Corinth and they tolerated it (vs.1-2). His sin influenced others to sin. “a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump,” to which Paul commanded it be purged (vs.5-6). In other words, to keep rolling as faithful Christians they needed to, “put away from among yourselves that wicked person” (v.13). We must keep in mind that sinful moss sinfully affects us (1 Cor.15:33). Therefore, never stop rolling as faithful Christian stones.

Baptism is For the Remission/Forgiveness of Sins. “For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins” (Matt. 26:28; cf. Heb. 9:22). “And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem” (Luke 24:46-47). “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and BE BAPTIZED every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:38).

Baptism is How We Received the Blood of Jesus Christ.

“The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). “…For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us” (1 Cor. 5:7; cf. Ex. 12:5-8,13). “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace” (Eph. 1:7; Col. 1:14; 1 Pet. 1:18-19). “…Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood” (Rev. 1:5). “And now why tarriest thou? arise, and BE BAPTIZED, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22:16).

Baptism is How We Imitate the Death of Jesus Christ.

“For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures” (1 Cor. 15:3-4). “Know ye not, that so many of us as were BAPTIZED into Jesus Christ were BAPTIZED into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by BAPTISM into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection” (Rom. 6:3-5; Col. 2:12).

“For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:12-13).
The pot can’t call the kettle black is an old proverb that is true for a few reasons as it relates to people. It proves how all folks are the same.
First, the pot can’t call the kettle black because both are in a sense, pots. Both are made for the stove to heat stuff. One is not better than the other even though they have slight differences. In a similar way, all people are alike even though we have slight differences in nationality, education, wealth, height, weight, etc., all are still the offspring of God made in his image (Gen.1:26-27; 5:1-2; 9:6; Ps.100:3; Jas.3:9). “And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth…” (Acts.17:26).

Second, the pot can’t call the kettle black because both have stains. At one time both were shiny and new but later developed black blotches after being burned on the stove. All folks are born into the world “shiny and new” without any blotches of sin. But as accountable folk we have all sinned through transgression of God’s law (1Jn.3:4; 1Kg.8:46; Eccl.7:20; Rom.3:9,22-23; 1 Jn.1:8,10). “Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?” (Pr.20:9). No one.

Lastly, the pot can’t call the kettle black because both get dirty and need to be washed. No one can use a dirty pot. They must either be cleaned or thrown away. Likewise, God cannot and will not use people who are dirty in sin (Is.59:1-2). They must obey the cleansing gospel by having faith in what they’ve heard (Rom.1:16-17; 10:17; 1Cor.15:1-4), believing in Jesus (Jn.8:24; 20:31), repenting of their sins (Lk.13:3,5; Acts.3:19), confessing Jesus (Mt.10:32-33; Rom.10:9-10), and having their sins washed away in blood of Jesus through water baptism (Acts.22:16; Rev.1:5). Again, this is something that both the pot and the kettle (all folks) must do since all are eternally saved the same way.

“And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body” (Ephesians 2:16).

God has been working through Christ since Jesus came from heaven reconciling the world unto Himself (2 Cor. 5:19). And for people to take advantage of this supreme opportunity to “be ye reconciled to God” (2 Cor. 5:20), the reconciliation must take place God’s way. Notice in Ephesians 2:16 that the plan of reconciliation is for “both.” The context explains “both” as being “Jews and Gentiles” (vs. 11-13), meaning reconciliation is possible for everyone since Jews and Gentiles represent all people. However, observe how all reconciled persons must be reconciled into the “one body.”

There is just ONE body (Eph. 4:4). The church is His body and the body is the church (Eph. 1:22-23; Col. 1:18). So, to be reconciled into the one body is to be reconciled into the one church. Jesus only established one church (Matt. 16:18), purchased one church (Acts 20:28) and gave Himself for one church (Eph. 5:25). The one church of our Lord, only soul-saving institution on the face of the earth, has many congregations in various communities all over the world with the same doctrine (Acts 2:42; 1 Tim. 1:3), same worship (John 4:23-24; Acts 20:7) and same practices (1 Cor. 4:17; Phil. 3:16). It is like there is only one McDonald’s, but many McDonald’s stores in various communities that all have the same menu and all makeup the one McDonald’s restaurant.

This one authorized church of the Bible is the only church that people can be reconciled to God through because it is the only church they can be saved through! “Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved” (Acts 2:47). When people correctly respond to the gospel invitation through belief (John 8:24), repentance (Luke 13:3,5), confession (Matt. 10:32-33) and water baptism (Acts 2:38,41; 8:36-39; 10:47-48; 22:16), the Lord reconciles them by “adding” them to the one body, which is His church (Acts 2:41,47; 5:14; 11:24).

May God continue to bless us all!

Richard Stevens, III

We must absolutely do all within our power to win souls to Jesus Christ. This is the Lord’s command (Mark 16:15-16), example (John 19:10), work (Mark 1:15,38), and our work (1 Cor. 3:6,9). Moreover, we are shown how saving ONE soul is vitally important to God (Luke 15:4-32; Acts 8:26-39; Jas. 5:20). Souls is the main priority when we wholeheartedly embrace the concept of truly loving our neighbors as ourselves (Mark 12:31; Luke 10:29-36). Agape love was heaven’s motivation to begin the soul-saving process (Rom. 5:8; 1 John 3:16). The same earnest love must be our catalyst to be about our Father’s business of saving souls (Luke 2:49).

Once revived, motivated, and zealous in the endeavor of winning lost souls (John 4:35), we must then remember that winning folks to Christ will take contemplation and wisdom in arranging and conducting a bible study. When Jesus sent the disciples out on the limited commission to Jews only, He said, “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves” (Mat. 10:16). Wisdom must come into play as we negotiate the terms for Bible studies. “…he that winneth souls is wise” (Pr. 11:30).

During hostage standoffs, police will do all they can to save lives and will negotiate exchanging food, water, and other supplies in hopes of resolving the situation.  However, there are wrong things they will not negotiation like swapping prisoners, drugs, alcohol, and firearms. We too must be willing to do all we can to save souls, but at the same time, be unwilling to negotiate in ways that are contrary to God’s will. We love folks and desire to help them, but there are things we will not do and places we will not go (1 Thess. 5:22). We will not buy people alcohol, cigarettes, or drugs, or visit nightclubs or man-made churches just to win folks. Jesus established one church for all humanity (Matt. 16:18; Eph. 5:25). Our main objective is not to get people to worship with us but to study with us. Let’s negotiate with folks a convenient time at an agreed place to reason together from the word of God (Acts 17:11).

There are three great confessions that an individual must make to achieve the coveted goal of salvation.

1. The Confession of Christ. This confession, which must be made prior to baptism, is like the others—absolute for salvation. “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Rom. 10:10). The Ethiopian eunuch wanted to be baptized and was told by Philip: “If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest”        (Acts 8:36-37a). The eunuch then made the greatest confession of all. “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God” (v. 37b). He was then baptized into Christ (v. 38). That is not the end of verbally acknowledging Christ—it is just the beginning! We continually confess Him as Lord and Christ as we tell others about him (Mat. 28:19).

2. The Confession of Life. Our everyday life must confess, what we verbally profess. Succinctly, we must live it! Jesus taught that this determines his reply to God: “Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven”    (Mat. 10:32-33). Notice, Jesus is not talking about mouth confession only, but more so a way of a God-directed life before men (Mat. 5:16). Moreover, Jesus promised the unwavering faithful in Sardis that he would one day confess their name “before my Father, and before his angels” (Rev. 3:5). Let us also hope for such a day!

3. The Confession of Sins. Many Christians pray to God never acknowledging their sins while others repetitiously pray, “Lord forgive me of my sins,” without having any conscious thought of the sins committed. In the area of swearing, unclean things, unclean people, and oaths; the sinner of old was told, “when he shall be guilty in one of these things, that he shall confess that he hath sinned in that thing” (Lev. 5:1-5). God wanted them to confess the wrong they knew they had committed, “in that thing.” Sure, we confess that we might have unknowingly sinned. But, we too, should honestly confess known violations of God’s Word and avoid child-like blanket statements such as, “My many sins” and “If I have sinned.” We are told, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all as, “My many sins” and “If I have sinned.”

“Hook, line, and sinker,” is an old fishing proverb describing folks who are easily misled. They are like gullible fish that swallow all the tackle; hook, line, and sinker. God’s people should not be gullible that they will fall for any and every false thing. Jesus said to be, “…wise as serpents, and harmless as doves” (Mt.10:16). Paul said, “Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is” (Eph.5:17). We need spiritual wisdom to combat the devil, “Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices” (2 Cor.2:11). God’s wisdom cries out to folks to take hold of it (Pr.1:20-33). It resides in the counsel of the Lord. “Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way” (Ps.119:104). Without the counsel of God, we will gullibly fall hook, line, and sinker to false teachers and teaching.

Through the counsel of the Lord, Christians should not be gullible when it comes to biblical error. However, many have blindfolded themselves when it comes to false teachers. They act as though there are none around. However, the bible affirms that false teachers are ever present (2 Pet.2:1-3; 1 Jn.4:1). The devil uses them as his ministers for his purposes against the truth and the church (2 Cor.11:13-15). They have the appearance of godly sheep but are in truth, spiritual wolves. Jesus said, “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits” (Mt.7:15-15). False teachers teach false doctrine (1 Tim.4:1-2,16). I’m not talking about inadvertent error, but a purposed agenda. They refuse to remain in the old true paths of the apostle’s doctrine (Jer.6:16; Acts 2:42). If they can, they will come in among God’s flock, or even arise from within the flock (Acts 20:28-30).

This is the reason every local congregation needs biblically qualified “shepherds” (faithful elders; Tit.1:9), and “sheep dogs” (faithful preachers, deacons, and teachers; Tit.2:2), to combat false teachers and their error. We must teach sound doctrine to every member so that none are gullible (Tit.2:1; 2 Tim.4:2). “That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive” (Eph.4:14).

Anyone listening ought to search the scriptures to make sure what they hear is consistent with the word of God (Acts 17:10-11). This is the way to prevent a child of God from falling hook, line, and sinker to false doctrine.