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.
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.
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?
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)
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?
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).
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.
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).
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).
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).
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.
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!
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.
