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).