One a major region of Europe, the other a relatively small city in Texas, what do these two geographic references have in common? Ten years ago an answer would have been hard to imagine. Today the mention of either conjures up the worst images of man's inhumanity toward man: rape, hatred, and the shedding of innocent blood -- more heinous because it is directed against children.
Both tragedies graphically expose the true nature of sin. The immediate physical consequences of sin almost always hurt the innocent more than the guilty. Justice in this world will generally be thwarted by the "prince of this world" (Jn. 14:30). But the day will come when all will be made right (Jn. 5:28-29).
Those of us who do not partake in the atrocities of the Bosnias and Wacos of our world should not take comfort in our own righteousness. When ordinary people like us asked Jesus about the worst of sinners, His response to them was quite direct and clear: "I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish" (Luke 13:3). What is my Waco? my Bosnia? Where do I fail in the love that I exercise toward my fellow man -- of all races and all political and religious persuasions. If I cannot answer, I am much further from the truth than I would like to admit.
If mankind in general had the proper love for God, we would learn His word and keep it. Then there would be no Wacos, no Bosnias. This will only be a complete reality in heaven; but the degree to which it exists on this earth starts with each one of us assuring that we do not harbor hatred toward our fellow man.
These bible study questions provide assistance to you in studying and teaching God's word. The answers are quite clear, and they prove that we can have the same understanding as the apostles had by reading the New Testament (Ephesians 3:4). We challenge you to open your bible and establish the truth.
On Baptism
Acts 2:36-41. Does being "pricked in their hearts" indicate they believed? When they asked what they must do, what were they told to do? What did those who "gladly received the word" do?
Acts 22:16; 1 Peter 3:18-21. Was baptism commanded because sins were already washed away? Does baptism have anything to do with saving a person?
Acts 8:36-39. Did this man confess faith in Jesus before being baptized? Was this example of Bible baptism a baptism in water? Did both Philip and the eunuch go down into the water? Does this indicate that Philip immersed the eunuch?
Romans 6:3-4; Colossians 2:12. Was Paul buried with Christ in baptism? Would you be pleasing God to be baptized as Paul and the eunuch were? Is it God's will for men to substitute sprinkling or pouring for baptism?
Acts 2:41,47. Does the Lord immediately add those who are baptized to the saved?
James 2:24; Acts 2:47. Is there any scripture which indicates that the Lord added someone to His church by "faith only?"
Shocking fact: "Some 27.5% of pregnancies in the United States ended in abortion in 1992, the latest year for such estimates, the US government estimates" (National and International Religion Report, 1/23/95).
Many reason that if we were not divided into black and white, many social problems would be solved. Yet, two of the greatest atrocities of man against man today are not between black and white: in Rwanda, both ethnic subdivisions are black; and in Bosnia, all are white. Without Christ, men consistently create differences by which they exercise their hatred; color is just a convenient excuse. See Jude 10-16: "... showing respect of persons for the sake of advantage."
The nation of Bosnia is a mixture of Croatian, Serbian and Moslem nationalities, about one third of each. Historically it was a model of diverse people living together in peace. The former Yugoslavia consisted of six republics, five of which had a predominant single nationality: Slovenia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, and Croatia. The sixth was the unfortunate Bosnia. Serbia, the largest of the six, was the custodian of most of the arms from the former Yugoslavia when it broke up. With the largest number of men under arms, they blamed everyone else for their problems and embarked upon their campaign of hatred, rape and murder (ethnic cleansing). The Serbian and Moslem populations within Bosnia continue to receive the brunt of their brutality, being relatively defenseless due to a general arms embargo imposed from the West. As families are displaced, torn apart, their members killed and their women systematically raped, the seeds of war are sown for generations to come. Our governments offer no solutions.
But there is one, and only one, answer: Christ. God only created one race! God never intended that our differences be the source of hatred and animosity. He sent His son to die upon the cross that such enmity would no longer exist (Eph. 2:14). This is why Paul stated that "there can be neither Jew nor Greek (Gal. 3: 28), and Peter stated: "ye are an elect race." Spiritually, Christians are one race.
Jesus said "Love your enemies, pray for them that persecute you" (Mt. 5:44); and he made our forgiveness conditional upon our forgiveness of others (Mt. 6: 15). Nothing short of willing obedience to these commands will solve the problem! This makes the accomplishment of the Great Commission (Mt. 28: 19-20) all the more urgent to Christians. [Our appreciation to Nenad Jukic for his assistance with this article.]
Editor's note: Nenad Jukic is a Croatian graduate student at the University of Alabama. Since this article was written the US has sent troops to Bosnia, and a state of peace appears to be forthcoming. We continue to pray that these efforts might be successful.
Thou shalt not commit adultery ... (Mt. 5:27)
but Jesus went far beyond this (Mt. 5:28): "But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart."
This is not a popular teaching in our day and age. Our entertainment industry has become a virtual religion in itself, giving the highest accolades and worship to some whose public behavior is calculated to create the maximum lust in the hearts of others.
This is not an easy teaching even for those who are trying to do all that our Lord directs. But Jesus gave us further direction (Mt. 5:29): "And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast [it] from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not [that] thy whole body should be cast into hell." This, of course, is not to be taken literally. Jesus is calling for the same discipline that the Apostle Paul described in 1 Cor. 9:27: "But I buffet my body daily, and bring [it] into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway."
With God's help we can keep all of His commands (Jn. 14:13). His way is best, for we know that if we keep ourselves from lust, we will also keep ourselves from adultery and fornication.