Think on These Things
September 2001
There is nothing more important to learn from the pages of God’s word than His plan for man, the plan of salvation. It should be the very first thing that a bible student looks for. The thread of this plan unites old and new testaments, providing a unified view of God from the creation to the end times pictured in the closing chapters of the book of Revelation. God never intended for man to sin, but His creation of a creature with free will necessitated that possibility. We do not know how long Adam and Eve were in the garden before they sinned. But we do know that when this catastrophic event occurred, it changed the very nature of the universe (Rom. 8:20f). But God had a plan even for this eventuality (Gen. 3:15). This plan survived the flood in Noah’s time, and eventually was manifested in the faith of Abraham and in the promises that God gave him, the most significant being that “in your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed” (Gen 22:18). This blessing was received in Christ (Gal. 3:16).
Today we can participate in this blessing if we demonstrate the same faith that Abraham had, a faith that is clearly defined in the eleventh chapter of the book of Hebrews. This is not a dead faith, without works (James 2:14f), but a living faith that actively seeks after God (Heb. 11:6): “And without faith it is impossible to please {Him} for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and {that} He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.” Seeking God requires us to ask the same thing as those who crucified our Lord asked on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:38): “What must we do to be saved?” Many today would answer: “nothing,” or “accept Jesus” or “just believe.” These quick pat answers do not show a seeking after God, but the desire for a quick fix. Salvation requires us to “obey the gospel” (2 Thes. 1:8; 1 Pet. 4:17), and to be “faithful until death” (Rev. 2:10).
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The goal of this page is to promote morality and justice in our society (Prov. 14:23).
Declaration of War. We all watched with horror on September 11th as war was declared on our nation by a relatively few radical terrorists, who made up what they lack in resources with a willingness to endure certain death for their cause. Believing in the all powerful and loving God of the bible, it is only natural to ask why God would allow so many innocent people to become victims of such brutality. We do not claim to have all of the answers, nor to understand the mind of God in our weak mortal state. However, God has revealed through His word at least two reasons that such calamities might occur. In Revelation chapters 8 and 9, we learn about the seven trumpets (warnings) of God, which were either natural or man-made catastrophes. In Rev. 9:20 it indicates that these warnings should have caused the survivors to repent. Later on in the book it tells of even more calamities that are called bowls of God’s wrath that are poured out upon the earth as a punishment for non-repentance.
The events in Revelation do not specifically refer to what is happening today, since they were “things which must shortly take place” (Rev.1:1) nearly two thousand years ago. We are just reviewing how God has turned the evil acts of men around to accomplish His ends in the past. It is sin (the abuse of the free will that God has given us) that creates these calamities in the first place. As with all sin, innocent victims often suffer its physical consequences.
Our country has a God-given right to protect itself and its citizens (Rom. 13). At this writing our leaders have exercised great wisdom in not over-reacting. The perpetrators of this atrocity probably had in mind the galvanizing of the Arab world against us by creating as much carnage as possible. But we have not fallen into this trap. The credit for this goes largely to the principles of Jesus Christ, e.g., to love and pray for our enemies, and the sanctity of human life. Justice will be served through God’s appointed “minister” (Rom. 13:4). Patience.
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We hesitate to summarize God’s plan in such a short space, lest we give the impression that a person can just press some buttons and manipulate God. It does not work that way. The steps that God requires produce a profound transformation of the nature of the believer who will ultimately become a “living sacrifice” to the Lord (Rom. 12:1).
It is impossible to come to God without hearing the truth, and the hearing of God’s word is the drawing power of God (Jn. 6:44-46), and faith comes by the hearing of the word (Rom. 10:17).
Once one hears God’s word, that truth must be accepted and believed (John 3:16). This will immediately produce a change in one’s life. It is impossible to hear God’s word and not be convicted of one’s sins (e.g., Acts 2:37).
This sorrow for one’s sins and the strong desire to be free of them is the beginning of repentance. Hear Peter respond to the question of “What must we do?” with the first word “Repent...” (Acts 2:38). Repentance is likened by Paul to the crucifixion of the old man (Rom. 6:6): “...that our body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin.”
The vacuum left with what repentance takes out of our lives can only be restored by a life of confession of Christ (Rom. 10:9). Confession is not a one-time obligation, but evidence of a changed life. The willingness to confess that we believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God is essential to our reconciliation with God (Matt. 10:32; Acts 8:37).
Those who had satisfied these conditions were commanded to be baptized (Acts 2:38; 8:12; 8:38; 9:18; 10:48; 16:15; 16:33; 18:8; 22:16). That this was a command of the apostles in the first century is not arguable. Consider Acts 2:41: “So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and there were added that day about three thousand souls.” Then ask yourself: what should you do when you “receive his word?” Consider: Rom 6:3: “Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death?” How does one get into Christ?
Baptism is the only command of God that we do only once. Being “faithful until death” (Rev. 2:10) includes continuing to hear, believe, repent and confess Christ for the rest of our lives.
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About a year ago I relocated from Tuscaloosa to the Montgomery, Alabama area and became associated with the Prattmont church of Christ in Prattville, Alabama. I have the fondest memories of my association with the Northwood church of Christ near Tuscaloosa, where Carolyn, Lesley, Jonathan and I worshipped for nearly ten years. The Prattmont church also puts out a monthly paper that is very similar in its goals to TTT. In discussions with involved elders and deacons at both churches, the decision was made for the Prattmont church to add the TTT distribution list to their monthly mail out and to consolidate the two papers. So those of you who receive the hard copy version of TTT can expect something different in your mailbox next month.
The distribution list for TTT is dynamic. Many of those who receive TTT submit the names of their friends and relatives to receive this paper. If you know of anyone who you think can profit from receiving it in the future, please submit their names and addresses to us. However, if you would like to be removed from the mailing list, please let us know about that as well. It is not our intent to impose.
We hope that you have profited by TTT, and that you will continue to profit from the Prattmont paper that you will begin receiving next month. Please contact us if you have any questions or comments about this work.
In His love,
David B. Brown
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