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I am thinking especially of two or three things in connection with this topic. First, is baptism essential to salvation? A great many people think it is, but I want to let the Word of God answer that question. And then if we find that it is not essential to salvation, another question arises: Why then baptize at all? In the next place, I am thinking of a slightly different question: Has water baptism any place at all in this present dispensation of the grace of God or has it been done away with altogether? If not, just what place …
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“Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is transgression of the law.” —1 John 3:4
That is the Authorized Version, and of course that is true, but it is not all the truth. The Revised Version and several other translations make it clearer: “Every one that doeth sin doeth also lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness.”
You see, sin is not necessarily simply the transgression of the law of God, for where there is no law, still, men sin. Sin is lawlessness. That is, sin is self-will; the will acting in independence of God.
Every little while our newspapers …
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This question can be asked in reverse: “How does one get a Christian husband?” for the two are really the same. To answer it, I would like to put together three verses from the Word of God.
“Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favor of the Lord” (Proverbs 18:22).
“Art thou bound unto a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife” (1 Corinthians 7:27).
“Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33).
From the …
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There are many good things that a man can do in the world today. But I have a conviction that the greatest work any of us can do is to help lead people to Jesus Christ. You do not have to be a “full-time Christian worker” to be a soul-winner. In fact, many of our greatest soul-winners are dedicated men and women who hold “ordinary” occupations, but who use every opportunity to witness for Christ.
We use the word “soul-winner” so often, and yet I wonder if we really know what it means? Perhaps it would be helpful to us …
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The great supper of Luke 14 speaks of what God has prepared for sinners and it is to such the invitation goes out, “Come for all things are now ready.” Where then, will God find His guests? How our heart rejoices and the soul bows in adoration and praise as we think of the grace of God which goes out to the despised man of the street, or the destitute inhabitant of the lanes, or any wretched child of poverty who has been driven by sheer necessity to take shelter wherever found. “Go out quickly into the streets and lanes …
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More is at stake in 2020 than public policy and political leadership. Recently, Decision spoke with Erwin Lutzer, author and pastor emeritus of The Moody Church, about what’s at stake for the church in a culture that seems ever more secular and opposed to biblical truth.
Q: What issues does the church need to address this coming year?
A: I believe that as the church enters 2020, many of the issues we’ve already seen are going to have to be confronted, and there is really no place to hide. Courage will be essential—the willingness to stand for truth against incredible …
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“He that covereth his sins shall not prosper, but whosoever confesseth and forsaketh them shall obtain mercy” Proverbs 28:13. I like the “shalls” of the Bible, for they mean just what they say. Oh! That we might learn to take God at His word and know that when He says “shall” He means just that thing; nothing more and nothing less. A man says, “I shall do so and so,” but a hundred things may happen to prevent him carrying out his word, but not so with God, who says, “All power in heaven and in earth is given unto …
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“But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing: for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing: and the anger of the Lord was kindled against the children of Israel. And Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is beside Beth-aven, on the east side of Beth-el, and spake unto them, saying, Go up and view the country. And the men went up and viewed Ai. And they returned to Joshua, and said unto him, Let not all the people …
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“Now therefore, I pray you, swear unto me by the Lord, since I have showed you kindness, that ye will also show kindness unto my father’s house, and give me a true token.”—Joshua 2:12
“By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.”—Hebrews 11:31
“Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?”—James 2:25
Israel’s crossing the Jordan River speaks to us of our death with Christ. Joshua sent spies over to Jericho to find …
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Love is the missing link in the world today. Love is the cure-all medicine for our sin-sick generation. By the word “love” we do not mean a fleshly love of the opposite sex, but a divine love shared by those who know the Lord. Love is the foundation of all that is worthwhile.
Love for one’s country is the foundation of a nation. Without this love everyone becomes a law to himself, and unity and strength are dissipated. A nation minus love equals self-destruction.
Love for each member of the family is the basis of the home and a sample …
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