All roads don't lead to heaven

 by David Long

All roads don't lead to heaven. There are people who believe that all paths lead to heaven. But the Bible doesn't teach that. The Bible teaches that there is just one way to heaven. "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). If you are not on the narrow way then you won't make it to heaven. 

How much do you really know?

 by David Long

When a person is young they think that they know everything. But how must do they really know?

1. Do they know that God will bring them into judgment (Eccl. 11:9-10)? If not, they better get to knowing it.

2. Do they know that evil companions corrupt good morals (1 Cor. 15:33)?

3. Do they know that the Bible can make them wise even while young (Psa. 119:98-105)? You can be smarter then your science teacher. How? Because your science teacher believes something can come from nothing. How smart is that? You believe God created all things (Gen. 1). 

Surprise, surprise, surprise

 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).

They thought that they were doing the will of the Father but they were wrong. A lot of religious people are in for a rude awakening come Judgement Day. 

Expose them

 by David Long

"And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them" (Eph. 5:11).  

"And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God" (John 3:19-21).

One of the reasons why people hate the Bible is because it exposes their sins. One of the reasons why people hate Christians is because Christians expose sin and people don't like to have their sins pointed out. 

Can't live that way

 by David Long

"Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God" (1 Cor. 6:9-11).

Here is why many do not like the Bible. It condemns their lifestyle. But there's no easy way to say it, you can't live that way and go to heaven. 

Can a person divorce their spouse for any cause?

 by David Long

Can a person divorce their spouse for any cause? Let's let Jesus answer that question. "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). 

What's the answer? NO!

Does baptism wash away a sinful relationship?

 by David Long

Does baptism wash away a sinful relationship? For example: a couple living in an adulterous marriage, would baptism make their marriage right? No. Why? Because they would still be living in a sinful relationship (Matt. 19:9). They didn't repent (Acts 2:38). To repent of adultery you have to stop committing adultery. "Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God" (1 Cor. 6:9-11). Can't walk in newness of life and continue to live in sin (Rom. 6:1-4; Col. 3:5-7). 

Show me

 by David Long

"But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe" (John 20:24-25). 

What was Thomas's attitude about believing Jesus had risen from the grave? It was "show me." When he was showed, he believed (John 20:26-28). That's a good attitude to have, "show me." This was the attitude of the Bereans in Acts 17:11. We need more people to have it today. The problem today is when you show someone the truth from the Bible, they usually say, "I see that but..." 

Can all these churches be wrong?

 by David Long

Can the majority of people be wrong? Most of the religious world teaches some type of faith alone or faith only salvation. It comes as a shock to a lot of folks when they visit a church of Christ and hear that the majority of people are wrong. Salvation is not by faith only (James 2:24). In the minds of many there is just no way for all those people to be wrong. It is sad but true, the majority are wrong (Matt. 7:13-14). 

The gospel

 by David Long

Is the gospel just the death, burial and resurrection of Christ (1 Cor. 15:1-4)? The death, burial and resurrection of Christ are the facts of the gospel but the gospel also has commands that must be obeyed (Rom. 10:16). How does one obey the gospel? By believing in Jesus (John 8:24). Repenting of sins (Acts 17:30). Confessing faith in Christ (Acts 8:37). Being baptized in the death, burial and resurrection of Christ (Rom. 6:3-4) and then every day thereafter live faithfully the Christian life (Rev. 2:10). The gospel is good news and the New Testament message is that good news.  

You can say No

 by David Long

The Bible teaches that man has free will (Gen. 3; Josh. 24:15). God created man in His image and one feature of divine image is absolute free will. God created man with the power to say “No” to Him. Now that’s a scary thought but true. Why did God do that? Because it’s the only way to have a being to truly love God (Mk. 12:30-31). Without absolute free will we could not love God. On the flip side God’s free will makes it possible for Him to give eternal life to those who will obey Him and reject those who will not (Heb. 3:8-4:1). Free will cuts both ways. You can say no to God but God can say no to you (Matt. 7:21-23). Do we like our free will? Yes, we do but remember: choose wisely, eternal life or eternal damnation will be result (Matt. 7:13-14). There are two roads before you, make your choice.

Brought nothing in, carry nothing out

 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).

Difficult verses for our modern materialistic society. But it is something need to give serious thought to. We came in with nothing and we will leave the same way. Sense that is the case we need to put more emphasis on spiritual or eternal matters and not on physical or material things. 

No better than the demons

 by David Long

“Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble” (James 2:18-19). Faith only people are no better than the devils (demons). In fact, they may be worse because at least the demons believe and tremble. But they both are lost. The really sad part is a lot of members of the church fall into this category. They claim to believe in the one true God and His Son Jesus Christ but where are the works that show that they do? If your faith is not backed up by works (works being obeying God’s commandments) then you are no better than the demons.

Not under law

 by David Long

"For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid" (Rom. 6:14-15).

There are those who use these verses to teach that we are not under law. You ever heard of the law of Christ (Gal. 6:2)? You ever heard of the law of the Spirit (Rom. 8:2)? You ever heard of the law of faith (Rom 3:27)? You ever heard of the perfect law of liberty (James 1:25)? You ever heard of the law of God (Rom. 8:7)? Yes, we are under law, it's called the New Testament. We are not under the Old Testament law.