willingly ignorant

 by David Long

"Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,  And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water" (2 Pet. 3:3-5).

There are people who are "willingly ignorant" of the word of God. They don't know and they don't want to know and in their ignorance they mock the Bible. There are those who may be able to quote the Bible but they still don't know it. Ignorance of the Bible is dangerous (Hosea 4:6). 

Fact or fiction?

 by David Long

Well it’s that time of year when we see nativity scenes and church pageants about the birth of Christ or what the world refers to as “Christmas.” When it comes to Christmas what is fact and what is fiction? (1) Was Jesus really born on December 25^th? “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord” (Lk. 2:11). What day was “this day?” The Bible does not give the month or the day. It just gives us the event. The truth is, we don’t know. We do know it was during the time of year when Rome did a taxing of its citizens (Lk. 2:1-5). The problem is we don’t know the exact time of year that was. We do know it was a time of year when shepherds stayed with their sheep out in the fields (Lk. 2:8). It is a fact that Jesus was born. It is fiction that He was born on December 25^th. 

(2) Was there really three wise men who came to see Jesus? The Bible doesn’t tell us how many wise men came to see Jesus. The Bible tells us that there were three kinds of gifts presented (Matt. 2:11). It is a fact that wise men came to see Jesus. It is fiction that there were three of them. All we know for sure is that there was more than one. 

(3) Were the wise men kings from the orient? The Bible doesn’t say they were kings. The Bible just says, “There came wise men from the east” (Matt. 2:1). 

(4) Did the wise men visit Jesus in the manger? The Bible says they visited Jesus in a house (Matt. 2:9-11). By the time the wise men arrived in Bethlehem Joseph and Mary had moved out of the barn and into a house. In fact, by the time the wise men arrived Jesus was possibly two years old (Matt. 2:16). The only ones to visit Jesus as a babe in the manger were the shepherds (Lk. 2:8-20). 

(5) Did Mary ride a donkey from Nazareth to Bethlehem? The Bible doesn’t mention the mode of transportation. It just says they went. 

So, what do we believe about all this? First, we don’t believe or practice something just because the majority of people believe it or do it. God said to His people a long time ago, “Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil…” (Ex. 23:2). We want to believe and do it because the word of God teaches it. Second, we must beware of man-made religious traditions. “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ” (Col. 2:8). Third, we don’t want to add to or take away from the word of God (Rev. 22:18-19).  Just because man puts Jesus in something doesn’t mean that He is in it. Just because man connects Jesus to something doesn’t mean He is connected. The word of God must be our standard (Rom. 10:17). We must be sure to do our own Bible study. “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15). The Bible says, “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good” (1 Thess. 5:21). So, we must ask ourselves the question, “Is what I believe and practice really what the Bible teaches? Can I prove it from the word of God? Dear reader, are you a Christian? Have you done what the Bible teaches to become a Christian or have you accepted what the majority of the religious world teaches to become a Christian? Know what the Bible teaches for yourself!

Traditions of men

by David Long

"Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ" (Col. 2:8).

Most of the religious world is made up of the traditions of men. They value the traditions of men above the word of God. Jesus told the religious leaders of His day, "And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition" (Mk. 7:9). Sounds like a lot of people today. They reject God's word for their traditions. 

Every knee shall bow

 by David Long

"For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God" (Rom. 14:11). You may not bow now but one day you will. You may not believe in God now but one day you will. You may not believe the Bible now but one day you will. You may not give an account for your actions now but one day you will.  "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad" (2 Cor. 5:10).

Not an after thought

 by David Long

There are those in the religious world who believe and teach that the church that Jesus built (Matt. 16:18) was an after thought of God. They believe that Jesus came to establish a kingdom on earth but because the Jews rejected Him, He had to build the church instead. The problem with that is, it is wrong. The church of Christ was not an after thought of God but His eternal purpose (Eph. 3:10-11). Establishing the church has always been in the mind of God. It's the vehicle by which God saves us (Eph. 5:23). The saved are in it (Acts 2:47). 

Not branches

 by David Long

Read  John 15:1-8. These verses are often used by those in the religious world to say that the branches refer to the denominations. But Jesus was talking to His disciples not denominations. In fact verse 6 says, "if a man abide not in me..." Jesus is the vine and His disciples are the branches. Denominations aren't connected to the vine. Denominations aren't planted by God, they are planted by the devil (Matt. 13:37-43). 

I thought

 by David Long

Read 2 Kings 5:9-14. Naaman thought that God should have done it his way. Naaman thought that the rivers of Damascus were better so why couldn't he wash in them and be clean. But when God says a thing must be done a certain way then that thing must be done the way God says (Lev. 10:1-2). This is something that the denominational world hasn't learned or don't care to learn. 

Worse and worse

 by David Long

"But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived" (2 Tim. 3:13). How do evil men and seducers wax worse and worse? By deceiving and being deceived. There are a lot of lies in the world today, to believe them won't make you better, they just make you worse. Only the truth of God's word can make you better (John 8:32). Reject every false idea (1 Thess. 5:21).

Common sense

 by David Long

"Every house is built by some man, but He that built all things is God" (Heb. 3:4). When you see a house you don't believe it just happened by accident. Common sense tells you someone built the house. You don't have to see the builder to know that someone built it. Evolution makes no sense and yet "wise" people believe it. Using their reasoning given enough time a tree would eventually become a house. But anyone with half a brain knows that's stupid and so is evolution. There is a lot of non-sense being taught in the world, don't believe it. Believe the Bible! 

Didn't come from a rock

 by David Long

Evolution teaches that life came from a rock and that our ancestors were fish. There is no evidence for it but evolutionists believe it. They believe something came from nothing. They believe dogs can produce cats and birds can produce dogs. Evolution is a big lie but they will do anything and say anything to protect it and if you don't believe it then they consider you stupid. The Bible says, "The fool hath said in his heart, there is no God" (Psa. 14:1). Who is the are stupid person? 

No literal 1000 years earthly reign

 by David Long

There are those in the religious world who believe that Christ is coming back some day to reign on earth for a thousand years. This false doctrine is taught from Revelation 20:1-6. But read that again. Where in those verses does it say that Christ will reign on earth for a thousand years? It doesn't. And why are they taking the thousand years literal? Other things in the context aren't taken literal. Nowhere does the Bible teach that Jesus will ever set foot on this earth again. Jesus is reigning in His kingdom now and He will continue to reign till the end of time. 

No literal battle of armageddon

 by David Long

Does Revelation 16:12-16 teach a future literal battle of armageddon? No it does not! The book of Revelation is full of figurative and symbolic language. Why would we interpret the battle to be a literal? Other things in the context aren't interpreted literal? The battle that is being fought and will be fought till Jesus returns is a spiritual battle (2 Cor. 10:3-5; 1 Tim. 1:18; 2 Tim. 2:3-4; 1 Tim. 6:12; Eph. 6:10-17). 

No rapture

 by David Long

There are those in the religious world that teach something called the rapture. They teach that when Jesus comes back the saints will be raptured away and no one will know what happened. They use 1 Thessalonians 4:14-17. But the word rapture is not found in those verses nor anywhere in the Bible. Those verses teach the return of Jesus will be with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trump of God. Sounds like we will know when it happens. The rapture is a false doctrine. When Jesus comes back all will be raised and stand before God in judgment (John 5:28-29). 

End times

 by David Long

When will the "end times" be? We are in the "end times" and have been since the first century (Acts 2:16-17; Heb. 1:1-2; 2 Pet. 3:3-4). The problem is people are looking for some kind "signs" for the "end times." There are no "signs."  Read Matthew 24:36-39. The Christian age is the last dispensation of time on planet earth. When Jesus comes back it's all over (2 Pet. 3). 

No earthly kingdom

 by David along

Many believe when Jesus comes back He will establish an earthly kingdom. But Jesus said,  “My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews” (John 18:36). The kingdom of God is a spiritual kingdom and it’s here. It’s the church of Christ (Matt. 16:18-19).

I will come again

 by David Long

Jesus said, “I will come again” (John 14:3). For the faithful child of God those are some of the sweetest words in the Bible. We don’t know when He will come again but He will come and when He comes it will be a glorious day for the Christian but a bad day for those who know not God and obey not the gospel (2 Thess. 1:7-9). 

On the wrong path

 by David Long

“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:

Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it” (Matt. 7:13-14). Do wrong paths lead to right places? They don’t when it comes to going to heaven. The broad path will never lead to heaven.

Ignorance is destructive

 By David Long

Some people are happy to be religiously stupid. They don’t know the Bible and they don’t want to know the Bible. Yes, ignorance is bliss, but spiritual ignorance is eternal damnation (Hosea 4:6).

I never knew you

by David Long

“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity” (Matt. 7:21-23). Who will these people be that the Lord will reject? It will be people who claimed to have done many wonderful works in the name of Jesus.

Condemnation

 By David Long 

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit” (Rom. 8:1).

Notice the condition placed on “no condemnation”: “them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” There is condemnation to those who walk after the flesh and not after the Spirit, even if one is in Christ (James 5:9, 12). 

Just one way

 by David Long

“Jesus said unto him, “I am the way, the truth and the life: no man comes unto the Father, but by me.”

Now that is being narrow minded. But the way to heaven is narrow (Matt. 7:13-14). All roads don’t lead to heaven. Only one does. 

Saved by water

 by David Long

“Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.   The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ”

(1 Pet. 3:20-21). How does water save? Acts 22:16

Not binding

 By David Long

“And certain men which came down from Judea taught the brethren and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses ye cannot be saved” (Acts 15:1)

They were trying to bind an Old Testament practice on Christians. We live under the New Testament not the Old Testament. Got it?!

Make me feel good about myself

 by David Long

"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables" (2 Tim. 4:3-4).

That is so true of many people today. They want to hear messages that please them and they will heap up to themselves such teachers. They turn their ears away from the truth and turn to fables or falsehoods. A lie makes them feel good. The truth hurts. 

A way that seems right

 by David Long

"There is a way that seems right unto man but the end thereof are the ways of death" (Prov. 14:12; 16:25).

How true of of many today, both in and out of religion. Like in the time of the Judges we do that which is right in our own eyes and we think its right with God (Judges 17:6).  We better search our ways of life, our opinions and practices by the test of the word of God (Acts 17:11). Make sure what you believe is the truth of God's word and not a lie from the devil. 

Who is the head?

 by David Long

You want to read some unpopular Bible verses with most people? Read 1 Cor. 11:3, 8-9; 14:34; 1 Tim. 2:11-12. The man and woman roles as God has appointed has almost been completely rejected in our modern society and we think we are the better for it. 

The bed defiled

 by David Long

"(Let) marriage (be) had in honor among all, and (let) the bed (be) undefiled: for fornicators and adulterers God will judge" (Heb. 13:4). Is that clear enough? Fornicators and adulterers defile the marriage bed. Sex outside marriage is sin and to have sex with any one other than one's spouse is sin. 

"The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause? And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away? He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so. And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery" (Matt. 19:3-9).

Trifling with God

 by David Long

I am told that originally the word "trifle" meant trickery or deceit. To trifle was to say or do something that one did not really mean, pretending to be serious. Today "trifle" means, "to deal with something as if it were of little significance or value; to speak or act with little seriousness or purpose; to play or toy with something." Are we trifling with God? Do we pretend to be serious about Christianity but really aren't? Do we just talk a good "game" of Christianity?  Do we really think we are tricking God with our half-heartedness? Do we think God is someone to be trifled with (Rom. 11:22)? 

Strangers and pilgrims

 by David Long

Read Hebrews 11:8-10

Abraham lived out his life wandering from one shepherd camp to another. This was a great blessing for him because  it made it much easier for him to look beyond this world. He never considered this world his home. Our challenge is not to keep from enjoying this world but to keep from "settling down" in it. When we stop eagerly waiting for Jesus to return and take us home then we will find ourselves in trouble (Phil. 3:20). If you can't let go then maybe you are holding on to tight. 

Salvation has two parts

 by David Long

Salvation has two parts: God's part and man's part. "For by grace are ye saved through faith and not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them" (Eph. 2:8-10).

Grace is God's part and faith is man's part. What kind of faith? "faith which worketh by love" (Gal. 5:6). Faith that obeys God's commandments (James 2:17-26). 

Faith without works is dead

 by David Long

"Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also" (James 2:17-26).

What don't you understand about that? 

Things connected to obeying Jesus

 by David Long

Things connected to obeying Jesus.

1. "...If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed" (John 8:31).

2. "Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples" (John 15:8).

3. "If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love..." (John 15:10).

4. "Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you" (John 15:14).

Bible baptism

 by David Long

Bible baptism is an immersion (Col. 2:12). Pouring or sprinkling is not Bible baptism. Bible baptism is for those who can and will believe (Acts 8:12). It is for those who will repent (Acts 2:38). It is for those who will confess their faith in Christ (Acts 8:37). Bible baptism is for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38; 22:16). Bible baptism puts one into Christ (Gal. 3:27; Rom. 6:3-5). Bible baptism saves (Mk. 16:16; 1 Pet. 3:21). 

Obey the gospel

 by David Long

"And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob" (Rom. 11:26). How shall Israel be saved? In the same manner as the Gentiles. By obeying the gospel (Rom. 1:16; 10:16). Jesus is the Deliverer and in order to be delivered by Him we must obey Him (Heb. 5:8-9). God has only one plan to save man and that is by obeying the gospel (Rom. 6:3-4). No matter who you are if you want to be saved then you must obey the gospel and live the gospel faithfully. 

Things you will hear

 by David Long

Things you will hear at a denominational church but not found in the Bible.

1. "Ask Jesus to come into your heart."

2. "Accept Jesus as your personal savior"

3. "Say the sinner's prayer."

4. "Baptism is an outward sign of an inward grace."

5. "You are born a sinner."

Children of light

 by David Long

"While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light...". (John 12:36).

"For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light" (Eph. 5:8).

"Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober" (1 Thess. 5:5-6).

From these verses think about what it means to be children of light. Are you living as child of the light or are you living as a child of the darkness? 

You won't hear it

 by David Long

Here are some things you won't hear at a denominational church.

1. You must obey the gospel to be saved (Rom. 10:16; 2 Thess. 1:8).

2. You must be immersed into Christ to have forgiveness of sins (Rom. 6:3-4; Acts 2:38; Gal. 3:27).

3. There is only one true church (Matt. 16:18; Eph. 1:22-23; 4:4).

4. You must have Bible authority (Col. 3:17; Matt. 28:18). 

5. Denominationalism is condemned (1 Cor. 1:10). 

Preach the word

 by David Long

"Preach the word...." (2 Tim. 4:2). Preach what word? God's word, the Bible. Why? Because the word of God saves (Rom. 1:16; James 1:21). The word of God edifies (Acts 20:32). And make sure you preach all the word of God (Acts 20:27). Not just the parts you like or the parts that make people feel good. Preach the goodness and severity of God (Rom. 11:22). Preach the word when they like it and when they don't like it (2 Tim. 4:3). Preach what people need to hear not what they want to hear. 

Establish their own righteousness

 by David Long

"Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God" (Rom. 10:1-3). Why wasn't Israel saved? Because they were going about to establish their righteousness. True of people today. They reject God's way of salvation for their own way. They follow the doctrines, traditions and commandments of men. They turn their ears away from the truth and turn to fables or falsehoods (2 Tim. 4:4). That's the majority of people today.

The door was shut

 by David Long

"And they went in unto Noah into the ark, two and two of all flesh, wherein is the breath of life. And they that went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God had commanded him: and the LORD shut him in" (Gen. 7:15-16). When Lord shut Noah and his family in, He shut all others out. 

"And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh" (Matt. 25:10-13). One of these days the door is going to be shut. Will you be ready? If not you will be shut out. 

Have you obeyed the gospel?

 by David Long

The apostle Paul wrote concerning his fellow Jews, "But they have not all obeyed the gospel..." (Rom. 10:16). Those who do not obey the gospel will be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord (2 Thess. 1:7-9). How does one obey the gospel? Is obeying the gospel just believing in Jesus? Is it accepting Jesus into your heart as your personal savior? No! Obeying the gospel begins by hearing the word (Rom. 10:17). Then one must believe it (John 8:24). Then one must repent of sins (Acts 17:30). Then one must confess faith in Christ (Acts 8:37). Then one must be immersed in water for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38). Then on must live faithfully (Rev. 2:10). 

Silence of the Scriptures

 by David Long

"For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood" (Heb. 7:14). Why couldn't Jesus be a priest on earth? Because He was from the wrong tribe of Israel. Moses mentioned nothing about priests in connection with the tribe of Judea. 

Remember this: The Bible authorizes by what it says not by what it doesn't say. Some people will use the silence of the Scriptures for their authority to do something. Bad idea (1 Pet. 4:11).

Many believed on Him; but

 by David Long

"Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue" (John 12:42). Here is proof that belief alone will not save. Saving faith requires obedience. "Ye see how that by works a man is justified and not by faith only" (James 2:24). This will help you understand Acts 16:30-34. 

Who you gonna believe?

 by David Long

"Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ" (1 Pet. 3:20-21).

There are those who teach that baptism doesn't save. 1 Peter 3:20-21 teaches that it does. Who you gonna believe: man or the Bible? 

Are you part of the problem?

 by David Long

Jesus prayed for unity (John 17:20-21). The Bible condemns denominational division (1 Cor. 1:10-13). If you are a member of a denomination then you are part of the problem. If you believe that the church that Jesus built doesn't matter then you are part of the problem. If you believe you can have Jesus without the church then you are part of the problem. If you believe that one church is as good as another then you are part of the problem. Jesus has only one church (Eph. 1:22-23; 4:4). If you are not a member of it then you are part of the problem. 

My church

 by David Long

Jesus said, "I will build my church" (Matt. 16:18). The church that Jesus built is not your church or my church, it's the church of Christ. Jesus died for the church (Acts 20:28). It belongs to Christ. He is the builder and owner. It doesn't wear man-made names and it doesn't teach denominational doctrines. The church that Jesus built is not a denomination nor part of a denomination. Jesus has only one church (Eph. 1:22-23; 4:4).  

Your truth

 by David Long

Jesus said, "Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:3). Truth is objective not subjective. The idea that what may be truth to you, may not be truth to me is nonsense. "Sanctify them through thy truth: they word is truth" (John 17:17). It's not your truth or my truth, it's God's truth. We don't get to decide what truth is, God does. Truth doesn't change. If we want to be saved we must obey the truth of God's word (1 Pet. 1:22). 

No man knows the future

 by David Long

"Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit" whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that" (James 4:13-15).

Who knows what tomorrow will bring? Only God does. There are those who claim to be able to tell what will happen tomorrow but no one knows the future but God. Trust God, no matter what tomorrow brings. Live godly, no matter what happens tomorrow (Titus 2:11-12).

Temptation and sin

 by David Long

"Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death" (James 1:13-15).

That is how the process of temptation and sin works. God is not the tempter, the devil is (Matt. 4:1-3). Don't give in to the temptations of the devil. 

No good came from it

 by David Long

"And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil" (Gen. 3:4-5). See how Satan works? He convinced Eve what would not happen and what would happen if she ate of the forbidden fruit. She wouldn't die and she would be become like God. Maybe Eve thought that she could even become God. Did anything good come from disobeying God? No and it never will (2 Thess. 1:7-9). 

Turning the world upside down

 by David Long

"And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also" (Acts 17:6).

That's the world's view of what the gospel does. The gospel actually turns the world right side up. Those who do not want the truth of God's word accuse those who preach and teach the truth as being the trouble makers. Actually the opposite is true (1 Kings 18:17-18). If you preach, teach or believe a lie then you are turning the world upside down. 

Be not conformed

 by David Long

"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God" (Rom. 12:1-2).

Don't let the world shape you into its mold. It's all about mind control. The world want's to control the way you think. Don't let it. Let the Bible be your guide (2 Cor. 10:5). The Devil wanted to control Jesus but Jesus wouldn't allow it (Matt. 4). 

Spared not His own son

 by David Long

What has God done for you?

"He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?" (Rom. 8:32).

"For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life" (Rom. 5:6-10).

Does it get any better than that? 

God at a distance

 by David Long

"No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him" (John 1:18).

"Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father" (John 6:46).

"No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us" (1 John 4::12).

God is somewhat at a distance. We can't experience God with our 5 senses. We can know and see God through Jesus. "If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. Philip saith unto him, Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us. Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father?" (John 14:7-9).

They say and do not

 by David Long

"Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples, Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat: All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not. For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers" (Matt. 23:1-4).

Sounds like a lot of leaders today. 

Are we blind?

 by David Long

"And Jesus said, "For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind." Then some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these words, and said to Him, "Are we blind also?" Jesus said to them, "If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, 'We see.' Therefore your sin remains" (John 9:39-41). 

Their sins remained because they were unwilling to repent. In their minds they didn't think that they needed to repent. They claimed that they could "see." But they were really blind, spiritually speaking. How true of many today. Jesus was not talking about their physical condition but their spiritual condition. 

Fight the good fight

 by David Long

"Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses" (1 Tim. 6:12).

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith" (2 Tim. 4:7).

The battle is real. It is a battle for your mind, the way you think, what you believe (2 Cor. 10:3-5). Do you believe the lies of the Devil or the truth of God's word? 

How giving is measured

 by David Long

"And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living" (Mk. 12:41-44).

The Lord measured giving not by the amount gave but how much was left over. 

Apple of the eye

 by David Long

"Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye" (Prov. 7:2). The apple of the eye is the pupil. How important is the pupil? Without it, we don't see. The word of God ought to be just as important as the pupil of our eye. Lose focus of the word of God and we can't see. Make the word of God a distant thing in our lives and we lose sight of what's really important. Can't make it to heaven if the word of God is not the apple of our eye. 

Fall from grace

 by David Long

The Bible clearly teaches that a Christian can fall from grace.

"Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace" (Gal. 5:4).

"Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness" (2 Pet. 3:17).

"Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God" (Heb. 3:12).

Beware of false teachers

by David Long

"Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them" (Matt. 7:15-20).

If we are going to beware of false teachers then we gotta know the truth and put the teachers to the test (1 John 4:1). 

Love God, how much?

 by David Long

"And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these" (Mk. 12:30-31).

We get these two commandments right and all the other commandments will fall into place. We get these two wrong and we will be messed up on all the others. 

We don't know the meaning of sacrifice

 by David Long

"And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living" ( Mk. 12:41-44). Compared to the poor widow the average Christian today doesn't know the meaning of sacrifice. 

Your father is the devil

 by David Long

"Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it" (John 8:44).

Is your father the devil? The people to whom Jesus was speaking claimed God as their father (John 8:41). But their attitude and actions said otherwise. If God was their father they would have loved Jesus but they didn't (John 8:42). If God was their father they would have obeyed Jesus but they didn't (John 8:47, 51). Like them we have a choice, we can make God our Father by submitting to Jesus or have the devil as our father by disobedience (Acts 13:8-10).

Manna a type of Christ

 by David Long

"Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread. And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst" (John 6:32-35).

"I am that bread of life. Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world" (John 6:48-51).

Jesus' death provides life. But in order to obtain that life we must believe and obey Jesus. "He that believeth on the Son hath eternal life; but he that obeyeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him" (John 3:36).

The brazen serpent a type of Christ

 by David Long

"And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread. And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died. Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD, and against thee; pray unto the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people. And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live. And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived" (Num. 21:5-9).

"And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life" (John 3:14-15).

Just as looking upon the brazen serpent required obedience so does believing in Jesus (Heb. 5:8-9). 

The cities of refuge a type of Christ

 by David Long

Read Numbers 35:9-28; Dt. 4:41-43; 19:1-13 and Joshua 20:1-9. The Old Testament cities of refuge were types of the refuge we have in Christ when we obey the gospel. 

"Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec" (Heb. 6:17-20).

The flood a type of baptism

 by David Long

"who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water. There is also an antitype which now saves us -- baptism(not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God)" (1 Pet. 3:20-21).

God had a plan to save man and in the Old Testament He was revealing that plan in types. Now in the New Testament we understand that plan in the antitypes. Those who reject baptism as necessary for salvation don't understand the types and antitypes. 

The tabernacle a type of the church

 by David Long

Read Hebrews 6:19-20; 8:2; 9:1-9, 11, 24. 

The Old Testament tabernacle had two rooms: the holy place and the holy of holies. The holy place was a type of the church and the holy of holies was a type of heaven. Out in the outer court there was the alter of sacrifice and the laver. The alter of sacrifice was where the animal sacrifices were offered, which was a type of Christ. The priests had to wash themselves with the water in the laver before they entered the tabernacle. The laver was a type of baptism. Now here's the application: in order to enter heaven one must go through the church and in order to get in the church one must be baptized. 

Nothing in a name

 by David Long

When talking about the importance of the "name" of the church, people will say, "There's nothing in a name. It doesn't matter what you call the church." If there is nothing in a name then what do these verses mean?

"Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved" (Acts 4:12).

"but if (a man suffer) as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God in this name" (1 Pet. 4:16).

There is something in a name. The church is the bride of Christ (Eph. 5:24-32) and it should wear His name (Rom. 16:16), not a man-made name. 

"not of works"

 by David Long

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them" (Eph. 2:8-10).

"Not of works" can't refer to what God commands us to do because faith itself is a work of God (John 6:29). James tells us that we are justified by works (James 2:14-26). The works James is referring to are the commands of God. The "not of works" is referring to the Old Testament works (Eph. 2:15). Some were trying to bind the old law (Acts 15:1; Romans 4). We are saved by the law of Christ (Gal. 6:2). 

Hate the light

 by David Long

"And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God" (John 3:19-21).

Evil doesn't like being exposed. Hypocrites don't like their hypocrisies being made known. They love their lies and hate the truth. They want to pull the wool over your eyes. Don't let'em do it. Expose them (Eph. 5:11). 

Thou fool

 by David Long

Read Luke 12:13-21.

God's epitaph over the rich farmer was, "Thou fool." The world would have said, "Here lies so and so, a good man, a good example for us all." 

Easy prey

by David Long

Are you easy prey? Gullible people are easy prey for the Devil and His false teachers. If you don't have the mindset of the Bereains (Acts 17:11) then you are easy prey. There are a lot of warnings in the Bible about not being easy prey (Col. 2:8, 18; Matt. 7:15; Eph. 5:6; 1 John 3:7; 4:1). 

choice not chance

 by David Long

Choice, not chance, determines human destiny. 

"I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live" (Dt. 30:19).

There is no hell

 by David Long

A billboard reads, "The good news is, there is no hell." My question is, how do they know there is no hell? Have they been everywhere? In order to know that there is no hell, a person would have to be God. The Bible teaches that there is a hell (Lk. 12:5) and if we don't get on the strait and narrow path, we will go to hell (Mattt. 7:13-14). 

Justified

 by David Long

"Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Rom. 5:1).

"Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him" (Rom. 5:9).

"That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life" (Titus 3:7).

"Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only" (James 2:24).

By what are we justified?

By faith, by His blood, by His grace and by works. 

So you have a copy of the Bible?

 by David Long

"What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision? Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God" (Rom. 3:1-2). They had an advantage but wasted it. What good was the advantage to them if they didn't keep the oracles of God? 

So you have a copy of the Bible, God's word, the oracles of God? But what good is it to you if you treat it like a doorstop? What advantage do you have over someone who does not have a copy of the Bible, if you don't read and obey the Bible? 2 Tim. 2:15

The love of money

 by David Long

"For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil: which some reaching after have been led astray from the faith, and have pierced themselves through with many sorrows" (1 Tim. 6:10).

We think more money is the answer to everything. If the schools are failing give them more money. If a city is failing give them more money. If the economy is failing print more money. If we want to be happy we need to make more money. But money is just a tool to be used wisely. When not used wisely all the money in the world won't do any good. 

Understanding repentance

 by David Long

The word repent means "to think differently; to change one's mind." Repentance involves a change of mind that leads to a change of life. Repentance is not just feeling sorry for your sins. You can feel sorry all day long but if you don't change your attitude and actions then there has been no repentance. 

How important is repentance? Read Luke 13:3, 5; Acts 17:30. If we don't repent of our sins, we will perish! 

Understanding baptism

 by David Long

The word "baptism" or "baptized" comes from a Greek word which means "to immerse or submerge." New Testament baptism is not a sprinkling or pouring. When people were baptized in the New Testament they were immersed. People today who have been sprinkled or had water poured them have not been baptized scripturally. When Phillip took the eunuch down into the water "he immersed him" (Acts 8:38).

Why be immersed in water? 

1. To be saved (Mk. 16:16).

2. To have forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38).

3. To have our sins washed away (Acts 22:16).

4. To put Christ on (Gal. 3:27; Col. 2:12).

5. To walk in newness of life (Rom. 6:3-4).

6. To be added to the church of Christ (Acts 2:41, 47; 1 Cor. 12:13).  

I will build my church

 by David Long

".. The churches of Christ salute you" (Rom. 16:16). Where do you find the church that you belong to in the Bible? Jesus said, "I will build my church" (Matt. 16:18). Do you belong to the church that Jesus built? 

We are dust

 by David Long

We came from dust. "And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground..." (Gen. 2:7). 

We are dust. "for dust thou art" (Gen. 3:19). "For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust" (Psa. 103:14).

We will return to dust. "In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return" (Gen. 3:19).

Any questions? 

Are you willing?

 by David Long

"If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself" (John 7:17). Jesus said, "If any man will do his will." You have to be willing. You gotta have the "want to." But therein lies the problem for most folks, they are not willing. Why? Because they want to do what they want to do and not what God wants them to do. 

No other one to go to

 by David Long

"From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life" (John 6:66-68). If Jesus has the words of eternal life (and He does) then we must believe and obey those words. To not believe and obey is to walk away from eternal life. 

Here for the food

 by David Long

Jesus fed 5000 (John 6:1-13). Those 5000 wanted to take Jesus by force and make Him king (John 6:15). Jesus and His disciples travel across the Sea of Galilee over toward Capernaum (John 6:17-21). The next day those people Jesus fed came to Capernaum seeking Jesus (John 6:22-25). Why were they seeking Jesus? "Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled" (John 6:26). They were there for the food. Jesus gave them food but not the kind of food they wanted. He gave them spiritual food (John 6:63). They didn't like that so they left (John 6:66). Jesus let that whole group of people walk away. Why?  Because motive matters when following Jesus. 

What kind of soil are you?

 by David Long

"A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it. And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it. And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. And his disciples asked him, saying, What might this parable be? And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand. Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall. And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection. But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience." (Lk. 8:5-15).

Wayside soil describes a hard heart. This is a person who completely rejects the word of God.

Rocky soil describes a shallow heart. This is a person has an emotional response to the gospel but when things get tough, they don't last. 

Thorny soil describes a crowded heart. This is person allows other things choke out the word of God in their lives. 

Good ground describes an honest and good heart. This person puts the kingdom of God first, last and always because his heart is neither impervious, nor previously committed, nor superficial. 

This is how it works

 by David Long

"No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me" (John 6:44-45).

How does one come to Jesus? Jesus said, "the Father draws him." How does that happen? Read the verses again. It's by hearing and learning. Hearing and learning what? The word of God. You don't come to Jesus by getting some special sign or calling. You come to Jesus by hearing and learning the word of God (Matt. 11:28-30; Rom. 10:17). This is how it works. 

Labor for it

 by David Long

"Labor not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed" (John 6:27).

What's your chief aim in life? Is it laboring to put food on the table or to receive everlasting life? Yes, we have to work for our food but that is secondary to laboring for the meat which endures unto everlasting life. Don't put the physical before the spiritual. 

Just one way

 by David Long

Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life, no man cometh unto the Father but by me" (John 14:6). Is that clear enough? 

The end of slavery

 by David Long

Will slavery ever end? No. I'm not talking about physical slavery. I'm referring to spiritual slavery. 

 "What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not! Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one's slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness. For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Rom. 6:15-23).

Slavery to sin can end when one obeys the gospel (Rom. 6:3-4; John 8:32). 

When God shuts the door

 by David Long

"And they went in unto Noah into the ark, two and two of all flesh, wherein is the breath of life. And they that went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God had commanded him: and the LORD shut him in" (Gen. 7:15-16).

When God shut him in, He shut everyone else out!

"Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth t o meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh" (Matt. 25:1-13).

One of these days God will shut the door to the kingdom and if you are not in it, you will be lost. 

Come to a knowledge of the truth

 by David Long

"If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them" (John 13:17). Someone said, "To obey the truth and not know it, is impossible. To know the truth and not obey it, is unprofitable." 

There are people in denominational churches who think they have obeyed the truth but how could they, they don't know the truth? For example: they may have been immersed in water but it wasn't for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38; 22:16) then they didn't obey the truth, they are yet in their sins. 

Relationship with Jesus

by David Long

Do you have a relationship with Jesus? A relationship with Jesus involves being a member of His church (Matt. 16:18; Eph 5:22-32). The church of Christ is referred to as His body (Eph. 1:22-23). There is no relationship with Jesus apart from His body. The church of Christ is referred to as the bride Christ (Rev. 21:9). A personal relationship with Jesus involves the bride of Christ. Are you a member of the bride of Christ? If not, then you have no relationship with Jesus. 

What would you sell your soul for?

 by David Long

"For Herod himself had sent and laid hold of John, and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife; for he had married her. Because John had said to Herod ,"It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife." Therefore Herodias held it against him and wanted to kill him, but she could not; for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just and holy man, and he protected him. And when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly. Then an opportune day came when Herod on his birthday gave a feast for his nobles, the high officers, and the chief men of Galilee. And when Herodias' daughter herself came in and danced, and pleased Herod and those who sat with him, the king said to the girl, "Ask me whatever you want, and I will give it to you." He also swore to her, "Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half my kingdom." So she went out and said to her mother, "What shall I ask?" And she said, "The head of John the Baptist!" Immediately she came in with haste to the king and asked, saying, "I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter." And the king was exceedingly sorry; yet, because of the oaths and because of those who sat with him, he did not want to refuse her. Immediately the king sent an executioner and commanded his head to be brought. And he went and beheaded him in prison, brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl; and the girl gave it to her mother. When his disciples heard of it, they came and took away his corpse and laid it in a tomb" (Mk. 6:17-29).

The sin of adultery was the price of Herod's soul. What's your? 

Purity pays

 by David Long

"But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. Now God had brought Daniel into favor and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs. And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who hath appointed your meat and your drink: for why should he see your faces worse liking than the children which are of your sort? then shall ye make me endanger my head to the king. Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink. Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the king's meat: and as thou seest, deal with thy servants. So he consented to them in this matter, and proved them ten days. And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king's meat" (Dan. 1:8-15)

When God grieves

by David Long

"Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart" (Gen. 6:5-6).

Sin grieves God in His heart. Does it grieve your heart?

God's power to save

 by David Long

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek" (Rom. 1:16).

The gospel message is God's power to save but the gospel must be obeyed (Rom. 10:16). Doom awaits those who will not obey the gospel (2 Thess. 1:7-9). 

Profane person

 by David Long

"And Esau said unto his father, Hast thou but one blessing, my father? bless me, even me also, O my father. And Esau lifted up his voice, and wept" (Gen. 27:38).

Esau wept because he had lost the blessing, not because he had sold his birthright (Gen. 25:29-34). The Bible calls Esau a profane person (Heb. 12:16). Men mourn for the evil that sin brings but not for the sin which brings the evil. 

Good and faithful servant

by David Long

Most people think that if you are a "good" person then you will go to heaven. But just being a "good" person will not get you to heaven. Here's the kind of person that get's into heaven: "And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord" (Matt. 25:20-23).

Angels that sinned

 by David Long

What happened to the angels that sinned? 

"For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment" (2 Pet. 2:4). "hell" here refers to the "deepest abyss of hades."

"And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day" (Jude 6).

After death

 by David Long

Where do we go after we die? Read these verses carefully to know where we go.

"There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house: For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead" (Lk. 16:19-31).

Not all will make it

 by David Long

Not everyone is going to heaven. I know that's not a popular idea but it's the Bible truth. The only people going to heaven are those who have entered the strait gate and going down the narrow way (Matt. 7:13-14). All others are headed to destruction.

Higher standard of love

 by David Long

Christians are called to a higher standard of love. What is it? Read John 13:34-35 and 15:12. Notice the phrase "as I have loved you." It doesn't get any higher then that! 

Memorial day

 by David Long

"For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come" (1 Cor. 11:23-26). Jesus established a memorial meal for His followers to partake of to remember His death. The day Christians are partake of Jesus' memorial meal is Sunday (Acts 20:7). Every Sunday Christians are to assemble and partake of the Lord's Supper. 

God does not approve of you

 by David Long

"Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it" (Matt. 7:21-27).

There are a lot of people who think they have God's approve for what they are doing. But come Judgement Day they will find out otherwise. 

Pick your companions wisely

 by David Long

"And they took their daughters to be their wives, and gave their daughters to their sons, and served their gods. And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and forgat the LORD their God, and served Baalim and the groves" (Judges 3:6-7). That was in direct violation of God's word (Ex. 34:12-16). 1 Cor. 15:33 is still true and always will be. We can think that we are above it but we will only be falling for the lies of the devil. 

God doesn't settle for second place

 by David Long

"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you" (Matt. 6:33). God doesn't settle for second place. If we are not putting the kingdom of God and His righteousness first in our lives then we aren't putting them in our lives at all. "And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God. And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house. And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God" (Lk. 9:57-62).

Jesus ran them off

 by David Long

Did you know that Jesus ran people off? At one point Jesus fed 5000 people (John 6:10). That same group of people came seeking Jesus (John 6:22-25). Jesus told them that the only reason they were following Him was because of the food He provided for them (John 6:26). Then Jesus taught them some hard truths (John 6:27-65). How did they respond? "From that time many of his disciples when back, and walked no more with Him" (John 6:66). Jesus ran them off. Why? Because the reason why people followed Him mattered to Him and it still does today!!

The promise of eternal life

 by David Long

In Jesus Christ eternal life is given (1 John 5:11; John 10:28) but it is given in promise (1 John 2:25; Titus 1:2). Will God be true to His promise? Absolutely but it's based on our obedience to Jesus (Heb. 5:8-9). If we will be faithful unto death then we will receive that life (Rev. 2:10). Refuse to keep God's commandments and you will know God's breach of promise (Num. 14:34). 

build it according to the pattern

 by David Long

"Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern showed to thee in the mount" (Heb. 8:5). See also Exodus 25:9, 40. 

God gave Moses a pattern to build the tabernacle and Moses was to build it according to the pattern. The same is true of the church that Jesus built (Matt. 16:18-19). If you are a member of a church that is not built according to the New Testament pattern then you need to get out. Can't worship God according to the doctrines and commandments of men and worship according to God's pattern (Matt. 15:9). 

You can't have it both ways

 by David Long

"No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon" (Matt. 6:24).

"He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad" (Matt. 12:30).

Jesus is God

 by David Long

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men" (John 1:1-4). "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth" (John 1:14).

Reap what you sow

 by David Long

"And Judah went up; and the LORD delivered the Canaanites and the Perizzites into their hand: and they slew of them in Bezek ten thousand men. And they found Adoni-bezek in Bezek: and they fought against him, and they slew the Canaanites and the Perizzites. But Adoni-bezek fled; and they pursued after him, and caught him, and cut off his thumbs and his great toes. And Adoni-bezek said, Threescore and ten kings, having their thumbs and their great toes cut off, gathered their meat under my table: as I have done, so God hath requited me. And they brought him to Jerusalem, and there he died" (Judges 1:4-7). What the king had done to others was now being done to him. We reap what we so (Gal. 6:7-8). This is a farming principle with spiritual application. 

Jesus is king and priest

 by David Long

Knowing the types and antitypes of the Bible helps combat error. There are people who believe and teach that Jesus will one day be king on earth and reign for a thousand years. But if you know the types and antitypes of the Bible then you know that can't be true. Melchisedec was a type of Christ (Psa. 110:4; Heb. 5:6, 10; 6:20; 7:1-21). Melchisedec was king and priest at the same time. Christ is king and priest at the same time (Zech. 6:12-13). If Christ were to be on earth He could not be a priest (Heb. 8:4). But He is king and priest right now! 

Can't stop the process

 by David Long

Read Eccl. 12:1-7. The Bible gives a description of aging. If a person lives long enough Eccl. 12:1-7 will happen to them. We can do some things to slow down the process and we can do some things to speed up the process but we can't stop the process. Some of the most sobering words in the Bible are Gen. 3:19. As each day passes we get a little closer to it. Sooner or later it happens to us all. 

God's covenant has two parts

 by David Long

"And an angel of the LORD came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said, I made you to go up out of Egypt, and have brought you unto the land which I sware unto your fathers; and I said, I will never break my covenant with you. And ye shall make no league with the inhabitants of this land; ye shall throw down their altars: but ye have not obeyed my voice: why have ye done this? Wherefore I also said, I will not drive them out from before you; but they shall be as thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare unto you" (Judges 2:1-3).

God's covenant has two parts: God's part and man's part. God makes the rules for the covenant and man's part is obedience. When man breaks God's covenant he suffers the consequences. 

Salvation has two parts: God's part and man's part. Man's part is to obey Jesus to obtain eternal salvation (Heb. 5:8-9). 

A generation that knew not God

 by David Long

"And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the LORD, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel. And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim: And they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, which brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the people that were round about them, and bowed themselves unto them, and provoked the LORD to anger. And they forsook the LORD, and served Baal and Ashtaroth" (Judges 2:10-13).

How is it that there arose another generation after the faithful generation that didn't know God? How could that happen? 

(1) They reject what they had been taught (Dt. 4:9). 

(2) They follow the bad examples around them (Judges 1:19-35; 1 Cor. 15:33).

(3) They chose to forsake God and serve idols (Joshua 24:15). 

The whole world lies in wickedness

 by David Long

"And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness" (1 John 5:19). Not a good commentary on the first century world but things hasn't changed much between here and there. The phrase "lieth in wickedness" can mean "lies under the sway of the wicked one" or "in the power of the wicked one" or "under the control of the devil." How true that is. The masses never have followed God for very long. Only a few will be saved (Matt. 7:13-14). 

Rebellion

by David Long

Rebellion is a sin. How serious is rebellion? Listen to what Samuel told Saul in 1 Sam. 15:22-23, "And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king."

Most people today are in rebellion against God's word, the Bible. What will the rebellious hear come Judgment Day? Read Matthew 7:22-23

Accept Jesus as Lord

 by David Long

I hear denominational people say, "Just accept Jesus as your Lord." What does that mean? Is it Biblical? Is it something one just does mentally with no actions? Is it just faith only? Jesus said, "Why call me Lord, Lord and do not the things which I say" (Lk. 6:46). If we think we can accept Jesus as Lord and not obey Him then we are seriously mistaken (Matt. 28:18-20; Heb. 5:8-9). If we think we can accept Jesus as Lord and belong to a church that isn't the church of Christ then we are in error (Matt. 16:18). If we think we can accept Jesus as Lord and reject baptism as necessary for salvation then we have missed the ball. We accept Jesus as Lord when we submit to Him (Lk. 6:47-49).  

The rainbow

 by David Long

"And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations: I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth. And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud: And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh. And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth. And God said unto Noah, This is the token of the covenant, which I have established between me and all flesh that is upon the earth" (Gen. 6:12-17).

The rainbow is a token of God's covenant that "the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh." It's s beautiful reminder that God is true to His word! I believe God, do you? 

Choose the church of your choice

 by David Long

"Choose the church of your choice" says the local newspaper where it lists all the churches in the area. It should read, "Choose the church of God's choice" because there is only one true church. Jesus built His church (Matt. 16:18) and that's the one I choose (Rom. 16:16). All others are counterfeits.  

What do you expect from the world?

 by David Long

"Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts" (Isa. 55:7-9).

The world doesn't get God's ways because God's thoughts are foreign to them. Why are God's thoughts foreign to the wicked? Because they have rejected God's word (Rom. 1:28; Eph. 4:17-18). But what do you expect from the world? The masses never have stayed with God for very long.   

Violence

 by David Long

Are you a violent person? Do you encourage violence? There's a lot of violence in our society right now and there are people encouraging violence. Read these two verses carefully.

"A violent man enticeth his neighbour, and leadeth him into the way that is not good" (Prov. 16:29).

"The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth" (Psa. 11:5).

Don't be involved in violence and don't encourage it. 

Someone who understands

 by David Long

"Having then a great high priest, who hath passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we have not a high priest that cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but one that hath been in all points tempted like as (we are, yet) without sin. Let us therefore draw near with boldness unto the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy, and may find grace to help (us) in time of need" (Heb. 4:14-16).

Having someone who understands your situation is not always easy but Jesus does. That's one of the great things about being a Christian, Jesus understands. He can be touched with the feeling of my infirmities. If you are not a Christian you are missing out on one of the great blessings in Christ, someone who understands. 

Are you content?

 by David Long

Content means "to be satisfied, to be enough, to suffice." Most people aren't content. They are never satisfied and never have enough. 

"Be Ye free from the love of money; content with such things as Ye have: for himself hath said, I will in no wise fail thee, neither will I in any wise forsake thee" (Heb. 13:5).

"But godliness with contentment is great gain: for we brought nothing into the world, for neither can we carry anything out; but having food and covering we shall be therewith content" (1 Tim. 6:6-8).

"Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therein to be content.  I know how to be abased, and I know also how to abound: in everything and in all things have I learned the secret both to be filled and to be hungry, both to abound and to be in want" (Phil. 4:11-12).

What's really important?

 by David Long

"But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content" (1 Tim. 6:6-8). Notice the text says, "it is certain we can carry nothing out." How certain is it? You ever see a U-Haul behind a hearse? If you put money in a dead person's coffin, will they spend it? No! So, if it is true that when we die we carry nothing out then what is really important?