by David Long
"These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren" (Prov. 6:16-19). The word "abomination" means "something disgusting; a foul thing; a detestable thing."
by David Long
"Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead" (Acts 17:31). Judgment Day is an appointed day. We don't know when but it's coming. God will judge the world in righteousness, which means the standard of judgment will be His word (John 12:48) and judgment will be done by that man whom He has ordained, Jesus Christ.
by David Long
There is a God in heaven. He is the Creator and sustainer and all people will answer to Him. "Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device. And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead" (Acts 17:24-31). We better change our ways while we can (2 Cor. 5:10; 2 Thess. 1:7-9). Judgment Day's coming!
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: For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God" (John 12:42-43). What is the praise of God? It's obeying God and having his approval (Matt. 25:21). In the case of the chief rulers it was not only believing on Jesus but confessing Jesus which meant they would have to follow Him but that would mean being rejected by their peers. Which do you want: the praise of men or the praise of God? If you want the praise of God then you gonna have to obey Jesus (Heb. 5:8-9). Remember this: the praise of men won't get you to heaven.
by David Long
"But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship (serve) I the God of my fathers..." (Acts 24:14). Paul here said that he worshipped or served God after the way the Jews called "heresy or sect." What was that way? Was it the Jewish way? No. Why? Because the Jews would not call their way "heresy." Was it the Gentile way? No. Because Paul condemned the Gentile way (Acts 17:22-25). That leaves only one way left, the Christian way, the church of Christ. What way is right with God? It was the way Paul worshipped and served God. All other ways are false.
by David Long
"See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise" (Eph. 5:15). The word "circumspectly" means "exactly, accurately, pertaining to strict conformity to a standard, involving both detail and completeness." The command is like the one given by God to Joshua. "Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left..." (Josh. 1:7). Christians are to give constant care to walk within the framework of God's word. anything less and we walk as fools.
by David Long
"And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood" (Rev. 1:5). Notice what the last part of that verse says, "washed us from our sins in his own blood." Forgiveness of sins comes by being washed in Jesus's blood. "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God" (1 Cor. 6:9-11). Notice the Corinthians had been washed. When does the blood of Jesus wash away our sins? Notice what Saul was told in Acts 22:16, "And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord."
