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Save
Yourselves By
Terry W. Benton Only because of what Jesus did for us on
the cross and only through knowledge of what He did can we engage in the
activity of faith that will result in our salvation. There is a common
expression these days that "there is nothing you can do, Jesus did it all
for you" which is misleading. Jesus did not believe for you. He did
not repent for you, and He was not baptized for you. When Peter
told the Jews who asked "what shall we do?" (Acts 2:37)
what they should do (Acts 2:38), and then told them with many other words
to "save yourselves from this perverse generation" (Acts
2:40), he was not denying that Jesus had paid the price for their sins, but
he was affirming that the benefit of what Jesus did is not automatically applied
to our account until and unless we meet these conditions. No one is saved by the
blood of Christ until and unless they truly believe enough to meet these
conditions: "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of
Jesus Christ for remission of sins...." The gift is offered
freely on those terms. Those who believe will "gladly receive his word"
(Acts 2:41) and be baptized accordingly. Those who do not will be
condemned (Mark 16:15-16). Now, let us also observe that
baptism is to be "in the name of Jesus Christ", which is by His
authority. On our own authority we could not be baptized and the act itself save
us or give us remission of sins. But, baptism that is done in the name of Jesus
Christ will be active faith that puts us in the position to have saved ourselves
from this perverse generation. It is a separating act that cuts out sins and
ties to a perverse generation of people and allows us to cross the Red Sea of
Jesus' blood to rise on the other side totally free from the past sins and now
totally committed to the leadership of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior (I
Corinthians 10:1-3; Romans 6:3-5; Colossians
2:12; Acts 22:16;
Acts 8:33ff).
3,000 gladly received his word, were baptized, crossed over into the heavenly
land, the heavenly places in Christ (Ephesians
1:3,7;
Colossians 1:13),
and were saved from sin and condemnation (Romans
8:1). They were now risen
to new life in Christ with Christ as their head. This is what happens when a
person gladly takes the exit route Jesus offers. This is how they were able to "save
themselves." This is how we must cut the ties we have to a
perverse generation and save ourselves from the condemnation that is certain to
come upon a world of spiritually blind people II Corinthians 4:2-4. Jesus wants you to be saved (Matthew 11:28ff; II
Peter 3:9). Jesus died to pay for your sins. He told you what to do now to
save yourself. Have you done it? If not, why not? & Why
Some Don’t Believe #5 By Bill Walton Some
people do not believe in God, Christ, and the Bible, because they
have not seriously considered the alternatives. They have considered the
evidence. They have heard the arguments. And they are not convinced. It just
seems too incredible to believe that there is a Being who is without beginning
and without end and who has the power to create the universe and the power to
create life. They think, “That’s just beyond belief. How could that possibly
be?" Now, with all candor, we must admit that
the Biblical explanation for the universe and life in the universe is
incredible. It’s incomprehensible. But so is any other explanation! Consider
the alternatives. If God is not the Creator then we must believe the universe
(or matter) materialized out of nothing. And then we must believe that matter
sprang to life spontaneously by chance. If you think it’s hard to prove the
existence of God to an atheist, just try to prove either of the two alternatives
to anybody! If you have ever felt foolish in trying to defend the truth that the
living God is eternal, how do you think you would feel if you tried to defend
the idea that lifeless matter is eternal? Or that something can come from
nothing? The idea that the universe (or matter) is
eternal is not only incredible and incomprehensible; it’s demonstrably false!
For example, if the universe were infinitely old there would be no hydrogen left
in the universe, because hydrogen is being steadily converted into helium
throughout the universe and this conversion is a one-way process; that is,
hydrogen cannot be produced in any appreciable quantity through the breakdown of
other elements. If matter were infinitely old, the universe could not consist
chiefly of hydrogen as it does. It was evidence of this kind that drove Fred
Hoyle, the British astronomer and atheist, to believe in “continuous
creation” (creation of matter out of nothing). Hoyle suggests that matter is being
continuously created out of nothing in the empty spaces of the universe. He
argues that “continuous creation” must be true because it’s the only
alternative to an infinitely old universe (see chapter 6 in Hoyle’s book, The
Nature of the Universe). Of course, he refuses to consider God. He cannot
believe that everything came from God, but he has no trouble with the idea that
it all came from nothing! But the fact that this nonsense is coming from the
mouth of a scientist does not make it any less nonsense. The idea that something
can come from nothing is not only incredible and incomprehensible; it’s
lunacy! Philosophically, there are three possible
explanations for the existence of the universe and life in the universe. But, as
a matter of practical reality, there is only one: God. Is there any evidence at all to suggest
that the universe (or matter) is eternal? No. But there is abundant evidence to
the contrary. Is there any evidence at all to suggest
that something can come from nothing? No, there is none at all. Is there any
evidence at all to suggest that lifeless, dead matter has ever spontaneously
generated life? No. But there is compelling evidence that God
created the heavens and the earth. And there is compelling evidence that God
created all living things and that He created man in His own image. Thinking through the “alternatives”
ultimately brings any honest person to the realization that there really are no
alternatives. There is only God. Anyone who thoughtfully considers the vastness
of the universe, the existence of life in the universe, the complexity of living
things, the orderliness of nature, and the moral sensibility with man must
conclude that it couldn’t just happen. The evidence of design all around us,
and within us, makes it obvious that there is a Designer. The creation provides
abundant evidence of the Creator, and every honest person intuitively
understands that there is a Creator. Matter is not eternal. And something cannot
come from nothing. And we all know it. &
The
Beginning of the Gospel By Bob Myhan If you are thinking Pentecost you are mistaken. It was first preached the
day that Adam and Eve sinned by eating the forbidden fruit. It was preached by
God to the serpent in the presence of those who had sinned. (Gen. 3:15) To
promise enmity between the serpent and the woman was to promise amity
(friendship) between her and God. “Her seed” would make this possible by
bruising the serpent’s head. & |