The Bulletin
of the
Church of Christ at
New Georgia
Tim Johnson, editor
May 6, 2001
In
This Issue:
"God
Gave
Them
Up"
By
David Brown
"Made
Alive
With
Him"
By
Dan Shipley
Those who can remember the 1950's know what a radical moral transition our society has undergone since then. Led by the mass media, there is now almost majority acceptance for things that were not even publicly discussed in 1950. Read Romans 1:24-32:
"For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: and likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error... God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them."
There is a point where a society fails to provide enough moral foundation to give its children a fair chance to be godly citizens. It is not enough for those who just abstain from "such things," especially if they "have pleasure in them that do them." Our society's only hope is for righteous men everywhere to take a stand and speak out against all forms of immorality and unrighteousness. If not, there is every reason to expect that God will give us up. If Romans 1:24-32 does not communicate this, what would?
Those of the world often complain about the morality of religious people. The world seems to have a very good understanding of the standard that God has set for His people, and Christians' failure to maintain that standard inevitably brings reproach upon our Lord.
Immorality can rear its ugly head among God's people. But if it does, the Lord has given both the erring individual and the church a way to deal with it (1 Cor. 5). If we fall into sin we must readily repent and remember the words of Eph. 5:3: "But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints."
Many who call themselves Christians now proudly proclaim their participation in all kinds of perversions that were not even known to polite society twenty years ago. Non-participants often take pride in their liberality toward those of "alternative" lifestyles (Rom. 1:32). Pre-marital sex and adultery are rarely denounced outside of the church, since they seem tame compared to these other acts of "gross" immorality.
Give Romans 1:24-32 your serious consideration and ask yourself: Has God given our society up? See also (2 Pet. 2:9).
Do we understand the meaning of being "strangers and pilgrims" (1 Pet. 2:11)? Peter was speaking of the church when he said, "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light" (1 Pet. 2:9).
There is no room for compromise here (1 Cor. 6:9-11). As individuals, we must flee fornication (1 Cor. 6:18); and religious institutions, which do not teach all of God's word on moral issues, are clearly not in fellowship with God (1 Cor. 6:14-7:1).
Christians cannot claim to be perfect (1 Jn. 1:8); but there can be no doubt that the Lord's church is the only sanctuary of morality in this world today. The worldly might pick at the exceptions, but that is exactly what they are -- exceptions to models of honor and virtue.
In stark contrast to the trend of this world, "Let your lights so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven" (Mt. 5:16).
By David B. Brown, via Think On These Things
September 1995
When the apostle Paul preached the gospel, he preached death, burial, and resurrection of Christ (I Cor. 15:1-4). And, equally important, he showed how every believer identifies with Christ's sacrifice in order to procure its benefits. Indeed, salvation is made dependent on the believer's fellowship with the death, burial, and resurrection of his Saviour.
Accordingly, there is a death to be experienced by every believer who would live with Christ. "But if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him" (Rom. 6:8). As Paul shows in Rom. 6:2, the Christian is one who has died to sin. None can make a rightful claim to being "of Christ" who has not "crucified the flesh with the passions and the lusts thereof" (Gal. 5:24). Where else but in repentance does the believer determine to "put off the old man with his doings" (Col. 3:9)? Thus, he "reckons" (considers) himself to be dead unto sin (Rom 6:11) and determines that sin shall not have reign and dominion over him (Rom. 6:12,14). That means no longer live unto themselves, but "unto him who for their sakes died and rose again" (II Cor. 5:14). When Christ and not the world determines how we live, we can say with Paul that "the world hath been crucified unto me, and I unto the world" (Gal. 6:14). In view of such truths, it is obvious that a crucified self is no less important than a crucified Christ! The fact that He "died for our sins" (I Cor. 15:3) has real significance only to those who are willing to die to sin.
Then, as every believer dies with Christ, he must also be buried with Him. Paul shows that this burial is in the waters of baptism and no other place. "Or are ye ignorant that all we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? We were buried therefore with Him through baptism into death&ldots;" (Rom. 6:4). As Whiteside says, "We are not baptized into the literal death of Christ, but into the benefits of His death, including freedom from sin. A person is not completely dead to sin till he is separated from it, and that separation takes place in baptism" (Commentary on Romans, p. 29). The death to sin that is resolved in true repentance is consummated in baptism. Any man who ever put on Jesus Christ is a man who was baptized into Christ (Gal. 3:27) and any man who was ever baptized into Christ was buried with Him in baptism (Rom. 6:4; Col. 2:12). This burial in baptism cannot be the sprinkling or pouring that some call baptism because the word itself means immersion or submersion.
Finally, the believer who has died and been buried with Christ is also raised with Him to a newness of life (Rom. 6:4). This is possible because of what happened in baptism. As Jesus promised, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved" (Mk. 16:16). Saul of Tarsus was told that his sins would be washed away in baptism (Acts 22:16). Remission of sins is promised to such believers as will repent and be baptized (Acts 2:38). With the forgiveness of sins we are made alive together with Him (Col. 2:13). This life comes only with this death, this burial and resurrection.
By Dan Shipley, via Plain Talk