Whosoever does not righteousness is not of God

 by David Long

"In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother" (1 John 3:10). How can one tell the difference between a child of God and a child of the devil? If you are not doing righteousness you are a child of the devil. Doing righteousness is keeping God's commandments (Psa. 119:172). So if you are not keeping God's commandments then you are a child of the devil. A child of God will obey God's word. 

Hear ye Him

 by David Long

"And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him. Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him" (Matt. 17:1-5). The Father in heaven made it clear, we are to hear Jesus. Jesus is the authority (Matt. 28:19). How do we hear Jesus? By studying His word and obeying His word. His word is the New Testament (John 8:31). Who are you listening to? 

Jesus' church

 by David Long

Jesus has a church (Matt. 16:18). He has only one church (Eph. 4:4; 1:22-23). He purchased His church with His blood (Acts 20:28). He is the head of His church (Col. 1:18). In order to go to heaven one must be a member of Jesus' church (Eph. 5:23). Jesus' church is not made up of all the different denominations (1 Cor. 1:10). Jesus' church does not wear man-made names nor teach man-made doctrines (Rom. 16:16; Matt. 15:9). Jesus' church is the manifold wisdom of God (Eph. 3:10-11). Jesus' church is where true unity is found (Eph. 2:12-22). 

Jesus is the model

 by David Long

"He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked" (1 John 2:6).  Jesus set the model on how to live life. If we claim to be living the Christian life then we must follow Jesus' example.

"And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure" (1 John 3:3). Jesus is the model for purity. If we have the hope of being like Him then we must follow his example of purity. 

"Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous" (1 John 3:7). Jesus is the model for righteousness. If we are going to be righteous like Jesus then we must continue to do what is right in God's sight. Obeying God's commandments is righteousness (Psa. 119:172). That's what Jesus did and that's what we must do! 

Doing righteousness

 by David Long

"Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous" (1 John 3:7).

"In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother" (1 John 3:10). 

"If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him" (1 John 2:29).

Here is the difference between a child of God and a child of the devil, "Doing righteousness." Doing righteousness means keeping the commandments of God (Psa. 119:172). 

Who is the Lord that I should obey His voice?

 by David Long

"And afterward Moses and Aaron went in, and told Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Let my people go, that they may hold a feast unto me in the wilderness. And Pharaoh said, Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, neither will I let Israel go" (Exod. 5:1-2). Pharaoh would learn the hard way who the Lord was and why he should obey His voice. He would finally let Israel go but in his hard heart he would pursue after them only to die in the Red Sea. 

Dear reader, do you know who the Lord is and why you should obey His voice? Don't be like Pharaoh and perish in your hardness of heart. 

"open minded"

 by David Long

The phrase "open minded" is used in refers to someone who will believe or accept just about anything that comes down the pike except the truth. The Bereaians were not willing to believe anything without investigation.  "And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so" (Acts 17:10-11). Are you "opened minded" to the truth of God's word?