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).