This edition is being printed extremely early! In an effort to get things back on schedule, I am printing this edition much earlier than usual. The announcements in it will therefore be less than timely. Please refer to the Assembly for current information. Thanks.
Sick List: Thelma Greenwood, Cathy Gott (released from hospital), Bertha Johnson, Neva Johnson, Floyd Turk, Clarice Turk, Doris Yeoman, Crosher Whitehead, Mary Elmore, Alberta Roney, Lola King, Adam Knox, Debbie Martin, Phil Williams, and others.
GOSPEL MEETING: Remember our Homecoming and Gospel Meeting – the date has been changed for this year. JULY 9-14 Speaker: Charles Box of Greenville, AL. Plan to be with us! (And, don’t plan to be out of town that week!!!)
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What Must I Do To Be Saved? Hear the Gospel (Romans 10:17), Believe the Gospel (Hebrews 11:6), Repent of Sins (Acts 2:38), Confess Faith In Christ (Acts 8:37), Be Baptized (Acts 22:16), and remain faithful, even to the point of death (Revelation 2:10). May we help you?
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Cemetery Letter: Some of you have already received a letter concerning donations to the cemetery for the purpose of erecting a memorial to our deceased veterans. Bonnie Ingram is heading this up, in cooperation with another agency, and it is worthy of your support. If you would like to donate to this, follow the instructions on the letter or contact her. We thank her for her interest in the cemetery, and for honoring those who served our country. Tim Smith
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Obeying The Gospel
V. IN ORDER TO BE SAVED, ONE MUST FIRST BE BAPTIZED IN WATER FOR THE REMISSION OF SINS. (Continued).
Why is it that we are to be baptized today? What is the “reason” which must move us to be baptized? Is it important “why” we do it, just so long as we do it? Let us open our Bibles and see.
We are to be baptized because Jesus commanded it! When He gave what we call the Great Commission, he told the apostles to carry His word to all the world, baptizing them, and commanding them to do whatsoever He commanded the apostles to do. So, though the original command was given to the apostles, part of that command was that they should tell all who would follow the Lord under their preaching to do the same thing He told them to do in the first place. In that sense, then, the Great Commission is as binding today as it was when it was first spoken. Would you feel comfortable going into judgment, then, not having done what Jesus commanded? I would not.
The apostles clearly understood it to be commanded (and therefore required) by the Lord, for they repeatedly preached and practiced it. On Pentecost of Acts 2, what we have come to call “The birthday of the Lord’s Church,” in response to the question, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” Peter said, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins…” (Acts 2:37-38). The questioners stood in their sins as they asked their question, Peter told them what must be done in order to have their sin removed: Repentance and Immersion. It was required – and if it be argued that it was not required, but only optional, why did Peter not tell them that? He could have said, “Nothing at all – Jesus did it all on the Cross, you are already saved…” Of course, if such is the case (as some contend), then preaching itself is rather a foolish endeavor, wouldn’t you say? Why preach anything at all, if there is nothing at all that men must (or, for that matter, even can) do to be saved? They were lost, and Peter gave them the way of salvation, and that way included baptism.
What about Galatians 3:27, Colossians 2:12, I Corinthians 12:13, Acts 22:16, and I Peter 3:21? Do not all of these deal with baptism in a way that connects it with salvation? Can one read I Peter 3:21 (“The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us…”) and not understand the connection between baptism and salvation? Why would God repeatedly mention it in connection with what men must do if it really did not matter?
But further, does it matter why we do what we do? For example, if a man submitted to baptism to join a church which exists by the authority of man only, (and is therefore not the One built by Jesus [Matthew 16:18; cf., Ephesians 1:22-23, 4:4]) and have that baptism “count” for the one baptism of Ephesians 4:5? There is no power in the water itself (cf., I Peter 3:21 – not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience…”). The power is in obediently submitting to the authority of the Lord. To be baptized for something other than the remission of sins, therefore, is not to be baptized according to the teachings of the New Testament. Most man-made churches practice baptism “because of the remission of sins”. That is, they claim that a person is saved first, and then at some later time, he is baptized. Some say that he is baptized to join their denomination, others say that one is baptized to show proof of his/her salvation, and I am sure others say still other things. But notice this: The Bible never says any of those things! It commands baptism for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38), in order to the washing away of sins (Acts 22:16), into the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus (Romans 6:3-4, Colossians 2:12), into the body of Christ (I Corinthians 12:13), to be saved (I Peter 3:21), etc. To do what the Bible commands concerning baptism is to understand that it is for the remission of sins, not because of the remission of sins; that it places one into Christ, not that it is the first thing a new Christian does after entering Christ; that it saves, because it involves doing what Jesus commands. Have you been properly baptized? If not, we would love to baptize you! Let us study with you on this important point.
Tim Smith 1272
Enon Road Webb, AL 36376
[email protected]
www.geocities.com/fp5699/
http://community-2.webtv.net/gradowith/
http://gradowith.listbot.com
Won’t you join us this week for Bible Class and Worship Services? We would love to have you with us!!!
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Will You Be Ready?
When the Lord calls time to a halt, or when you leave this world in death, will you be ready? I know, you are busy. There are many things pulling from every direction – it seems there is little time for work, let alone time for rest and relaxation. I understand that you are tired, and I know how easy it is to fall short. In fact, I sympathize with your weaknesses. There are many temptations in life, and the busy man or woman can easily fall victim to them. I like to fish, so I understand the desire to go; I suppose if one worked all week, and if they weren’t as strong in the Lord as they should be, well – I can see them missing services to go fishing. I can even see sleeping through Bible Class and coming late for worship service on Sunday Morning and not coming at all on Sunday Evening or Wednesday Evening or to any Gospel Meetings. I see all of these things – the problem is: I am not the judge. The one who is the judge said that He will judge us by His Word (John 12:48). His word makes no provision for “excuses”, it says: …be faithful unto death… (Revelation 2:10). Be ready – not in my eyes, not in your eyes – in His eyes. Tim Smith [email protected] 1272 Enon Road, Webb, AL 36376
BUT WITHOUT FAITH
The Writer of the Book of Hebrews penned the following: But without
faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must
believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek
him (11:6). We have many things in which to place our faith, let
us take a few minutes to notice some of them.
I. God
1. He is our Creator (Genesis 1:1-2, Isaiah 44:24, Jer. 10:12, John 1:1-4).
2. He is Eternal (Deuteronomy 32:40, Psalm 90:2-4, Isaiah 44:6).
3. He is Faithful (Genesis 9:15-16, Deut. 7:9-11, Joshua 23:14-16).
4. He loves us very much (John 3:16, John 16:27, I John 3:1).
II. Truth
1. It saves (John 8:32, I Peter 1:22-23, James 1:21-25).
2. It is the Bible (John 17:17, II Timothy 3:16-17, John 12:48).
3. It is our job to teach truth (Matthew 28:19-20, II Tim. 4:2).
III. Love
1. We should love God (Matthew 22:37-38, Deut. 6:5, I Corinthians 8:3).
2. We should love the Church (John 13:34-35, I John 4:7-12).
3. We should show our love for the lost (Gal. 6:1-2, Mark 16:15).
IV. Prayer
1. Prayer is a privilege (James 5:16, Psalm 66:18, Prov. 28:9).
2. It is a blessing (Hebrews 4:16, II Samuel 22:42).
3. There is confidence in it (I John 3:22, James 5:16).
V. The Church
1. Jesus built it (Matthew 16:18).
2. Jesus is the head (Eph. 1:22-23).
3. It is the One Body (Eph. 4:4).
Is your faith properly placed?
Tim Smith 1272
Enon Road Webb, AL 36376
Email me: [email protected]
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www.geocities.com/fp5699/
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http://community-2.webtv.net/gradowith/
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…Do my duty to God and Country…
It seems there are some people in our nation who just will not be satisfied until they have perverted everything that exists! Perhaps you have heard about the trouble in New Jersey with the Boy Scouts of America and a Sodomite who was expelled from their number after he was listed in a local newspaper as President of a University “Gay and Lesbian” association? The reasoning of the BSA seems sound to me: who would want to send their small children to a meeting, much less a campout, with someone who prefers the company of men to the company of women? Who would want their child to look up to and be influenced by a sexual deviant? I understand that Sodomites do not like to be considered “sexual deviants”, but based on the Bible that is what they are. I applaud the BSA for fighting this, and I am ashamed of the New Jersey Supreme Court for ruling against the BSA. They should be ashamed of themselves also! It is now to go before the United States Supreme Court – let us pray that they make the right decision. Should they fail to do so, I hope every parent in America pulls their children from BSA in the interest of safety. Regardless of who is at fault, if they must permit “proselytizing” Sodomites to be leaders, it is time to leave. Tim Smith