The Bulletin
of the
Church of Christ at
New Georgia
Tim Johnson, editor
September 23, 2007
In
This Issue:
The
Power of the Word in Salvation
by
Lowell Blasingame
Three
Responses (Acts 17:32-34)
by
David Cox
The Power of the Word in Salvation
Once we were a religious people who emphasized the power and importance of the word of God in the salvation of the lost. Now we seem to have lost that conviction and, like denominations, appeal to all kinds of gimmicks and gadgets to draw a crowd. Some must have concluded that the way to the heart is through man's stomach because practically every church activity is accompanied by picnicking and playing games which are labeled as "fellowship." I wonder when these brethren will become consistent and substitute sprinkling for immersion and call it "baptism." One is as close to being Scriptural as is the other is.
The prophets Isaiah and Micah foretold the time that the "word of the Lord" would go forth from Jerusalem (Isa. 2:1-3; Mic. 4:1-3). Jesus, after His resurrection, said that repentance and remission of sins were to be preached in His name "beginning at Jerusalem," (Lu. 24:47). Jesus told the apostles to begin in Jerusalem and preach the word through Judea, Samaria and the uttermost parts of the earth (Ac. 1:8). With the coming of the baptism of the Holy Spirit to prepare them for their work by bringing to their remembrance what Christ had taught (Jno. 14:26) and guiding them into all truth (Jno. 16:13), they began the task assigned them of carrying the word throughout the world
On Pentecost as the apostles preached, Peter called upon his audience to "hear these words" (Ac. 2:22) and proceeded to tell them that;
(1) They had slain Christ, whose approval by God was shown by His miracles, and He had been raised from the dead (v.22-24).
(2) David had foretold this and rejoiced in His resurrection (v.25-28).
(3) David had not spoken of himself but of Christ's resurrection and they were witnesses that it had taken place (v.29-32). In fact, He had been raised "to sit" on David's throne in fulfillment of the promise of the Holy Spirit and that He is now Christ and Lord (v.33-36).
(4) Many were pricked in their hearts by these words and wanted to know what to do and when told to repent and be baptized in Christ's name for the remission of sins, those that gladly received his word were baptized, that number being about 3,000 (v. 37-41).
This example on Pentecost (Acts 2) illustrates the power of the preached word of God to convict sinners and to motivate those who "gladly receive" the word to obey it.
Examine each record of conversions given in Acts and without exception the person or persons heard the word in the process of being converted. Philip preached Christ to the Samaritans, who believed and were baptized (Ac. 8:4, 12). He preached Jesus (Ac. 8:35-38) to the eunuch, who, when they came to water, was baptized. Saul asked the Lord what He would have him do and the Lord told him to go into the city "and it shall be told thee what thou must do" (Ac. 9:6). Ananias preached the gospel to him (1 Cor. 15:1-3) and he arose and was baptized (Ac. 22:16; 9:18). Cornelius was to be told "words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved," and this resulted in his being baptized (Ac. 11:14; 10:48). Examine the conversions of Lydia, the Philippian jailer (Ac 16) and that of the Corinthians (Ac. 18) and all heard the gospel and "gladly received" the word in being saved.
Not all who heard did this. At Antioch in Pisidia, some heard, then blasphemed and contradicted and put the word "from you," and Paul told them that by doing this, you "judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life" (Ac. 13:44-46). We can save ourselves by receiving God's word (Ac. 2:40) and we bring condem-nation upon ourselves by rejecting it. Friend, have you considered the power of God's word?
-- Lowell Blasingame
Via Taking A Stand, Vol. 43, No. 9, September 2007
As Paul had preached his sermon to the men of Athens at Mars Hill, he concluded by telling them that God commands all men to repent and then reminded them to the coming judgment. Beginning in verse 32 we have three responses of those that heard Paul.
"And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter. So Paul departed from among them. Howbeit certain men clave unto him, and believed: among the which was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them." (Acts 17:32-34).
We are told that some mocked him (v.32). We read that some heard Paul preach the truth of gospel but, instead of accepting the preaching of Christ by Paul, they were unwill-ing to change their lives acceptable to the will of God. The response of some was the same as those on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:~3), they made fun or mocked the preaching of Paul. This is the type of disposition Paul mentioned to the Corinthians when he referred to people thinking the preaching of the cross as foolish-ness (1 Corinthians 1:18,21).
Another response seen in verse 32 was "We will hear thee again of this matter." They were wanting to wait. Perhaps it was a difficult decision for some to hear to truth and obey it. They still desired to learn more, but they needed to respond. The disposition of some was like that of Felix (Acts 24:25). The parable of the virgins in Matthew 25 teaches the importance of not waiting, for, while we are delaying, our lives may end without being prepared.
Lastly, we read that through Paul's preach-ing there were some that had believed. These were those that, as Paul preached the word of God, their hearts were pricked and they re-sponded and continued on in the work of the Lord.
The response to Paul's sermon was three-fold and the responses Paul encountered are the same responses people have today to the preaching of God's word. What is our re-sponse to the preaching of the gospel? Do we mock the word of God by defying the necessity to obey or mock those that are striving to live right? Are we waiting to hear more? Or, do we believe the truth of God's word? Are we ready to make the commitment to obey and cleave to God's word? Let us remember the lessons of God's word and believe and obey Him now; not mocking or waiting until a convenient time.
-- David Cox