SICK LIST:  Buck Adams, Luneal Russell, Monie Epperson, Bertha Johnson, Quinton Crawford, Neva Johnson, Phil Williams, Herman Cotton, Debbie Hall, Debbie Martin, Allie Knowles, Cathy Gott, and many others.

MEMBERSHIP PLACED:  We are pleased to announce (somewhat belatedly) that Janet Ridgeway has placed membership with the congregation here!  We are looking forward to working with her.

CONTRIBUTIONS:  When I get a full list of those who have contributed to the cemetery monument in honor of the veterans, I will post it here.  This is not a work of the church, and no church funds have been or will be used toward it.  If you would like to contribute to the fund, please see EThell Kilgore or Bonnie Ingram.   We appreciate all contributions very much.

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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?

Whatever happened to hell???

Article 3

(As we left off last week, we were considering some of the residents of hell as indicated by God in the Scriptures.)

C. LUKEWARM CHURCH MEMBERS WILL BE IN HELL.

 We must be active in the work of the Lord.  Paul wrote, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord” (I Corinthians 15:58).  This forever settles the issue:  we must be active!  Jesus said, “So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth” (Revelation 3:16).  There is no place in the kingdom of God for the one who will not actively work in the service of the King.  Why claim “membership” in an institution for which you will not labor?  Backsliding is condemned in no uncertain terms in the scriptures:  “For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.  For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire” (II Peter 2:20-22).  This would envelop all who, in any way, having once known the truth (and such is a requirement for those who would become members of the Church or citizens in the Kingdom), turn back from it.  From the so-called Gospel Preachers who wallow in the mire of liberalism and denominationalism to the weak-willed member who will not stand up for the truth; all who turn back on the Lord turn their back on salvation.

D. THE DISOBEDIENT (IN ANY WAY) WILL BE IN HELL.

  Paul wrote, “And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:  Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day” (II Thessalonians 1:7-10).  What was their sin?  They “obeyed not…”  They were, then, disobedient.  The very concept of “Lord” demands at least 2 parties:  1) the master, and 2) the servant.  Christ is the Master and we are servants!  Let us be obedient!  For those who contend that obedience stops at baptism, and that all we must do is be baptized – after that we are covered by an umbrella of grace – consider:  “For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?” (I Peter 4:17-18).

E. THE FALSE TEACHER WILL BE IN HELL.

 We are not to teach error, and we are not to encourage such as do teach error.  This is one of the simplest doctrines in the New Testament, and yet it is also one of the most ignored by brethren today.  What saves, truth or error?  (For those among us who like to play on words, learn the truthfulness of this question by seeing John 8:32; I Peter 1:22-23; James 1:21-25; etc. {those are in the New Testament, if some were wondering}).  Is it not truth?  What, then, will become of one who believes in and obeys error?  Will he be saved?  Not according to these verses.  John addressed the plague of false teachers:  “Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.  If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed.  For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds” (II John 9-11).  Paul instructed:  “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.  For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple” (Romans 16:17-18).  We have “preachers” today who are supporting and endorsing preachers who have themselves never obeyed the Gospel of Jesus Christ!  Brethren, these things ought not so to be…  The followers of false teachers will be in hell with them, for Paul wrote:  “And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:  That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness” (II Thessalonians 2:10-12).  We are to love the truth!  We are to hear it (Romans 10:17), believe it (Hebrews 11:6), preach it (II Timothy 4:2), and live it in all things (Philippians 2:12).

CONCLUSION:

 Hell is real!  Many are headed there even now.  On the day of decision arguments will be offered, but to no avail (cf., Matthew 7:21-23).  Prepare for “then” by obeying “now”.  Hear and believe the gospel (Hebrews 11:6), repent of sins (Acts 2:38), confess faith in Christ (Acts 8:37-38), be immersed properly (I Peter 3:21), and then be faithful even to the point of dying for the Lord if so required (Revelation 2:10).  The way to miss hell is to trust and obey Christ.  May we assist you is your obedience?

Tim Smith  1272 Enon Road  Webb, AL 36376  (334) 899-8131
http://gradowith.listbot.com  http://www.geocities.com/fp5699/  http://Community-2.webtv.net/gradowith/
[email protected]

HAVE YOU SEEN OUR WEB PAGE?

We offer on the Enon Church of Christ homepage every Enon Endeavor since December 5, 1999.  Just look at the titles to the articles available:
 
EE 22-45  December 5, 1999
1912 Sussex, England
Angry Publishers, Scientific American Discovering Archaeology
The Pyramids, Aliens, and Fox News
Texas Baptists and Paul
Georgia Baptists and Paul
Who Wrote the New Testament?

EE 22-46  December 12, 1999
Evolution -- A "tongue-in-cheek" look
BEREAVED  Poem by H. L. Gradowith

EE 22-47  December 19, 1999
Repentance and Forgiveness

EE 22-48  December 26, 1999
How do you read the Bible?
Remember
Noah -- saved by grace
Unto Death
Poem -- Money

EE 23-1  January 2, 2000
Good Fortune -- Bad Business
But of that day and hour...
Really Preparing For The End Of Time
Does God Hear My Prayers?
DIRECTION Poem by H. L. Gradowith

EE 23-2  January 9, 2000
Three Men -- One Problem
The Doctrines Of Men
THE HOME FAR AWAY Poem by H. L. Gradowith
Fake Agnostics
10 Things an Agnostic Doesn't Know

EE 23-3  January 16, 2000
When I Say Unto The Wicked...
Atheist
II KINGS AND THE CHRONICLER OF TIGLATH-PILESER
A CUP OF WATER  Poem by H. L. Gradowith

EE 23-4  January 23, 2000
UNTO DEATH

EE 23-5  January 30, 2000
HOW TO WIN SOULS FOR CHRIST  Part I

EE 23-6  February 6, 2000
HOW TO WIN SOULS FOR CHRIST  Part II
 
EE 23-7  February 13, 2000
"Truth and the fool"  Poem by H. L. Gradowith
Who is H. L. Gradowith?

EE 23-8  February 20, 2000
PREMILLENNIALISM: SCOURGE OF MODERN MAN
Heaven Poem by H. L. Gradowith

EE 23-9  February 27, 2000
A PROPHET...REALLY???
WHY BE BAPTIZED?
TRULY LIVIN'  Poem by H. L. Gradowith

EE 23-10  March 5, 2000
What are You Saying???
Participate  Poem by H. L. Gradowith
The Farmer And The Wolf
WHO WAS PETER?

EE 23-11  March 12, 2000
WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES IT MAKE?
DELIVERANCE  Poem by H. L. Gradowith

EE 23-12  March 19, 2000
CALIFORNIA:  NEW LAW
ABORTION AND POLITICS
POLITICAL CORRECTNESS
Bitten by a dog...
Say what...???
EARNESTLY CONTEND...
WHAT SAVED RAHAB?

EE 23-13  March 26, 2000
OBEYING THE GOSPEL  1
WHAT WERE YOU THINKING???
THE WORLD WIDE WEB....AND ME
MATTHEW 15:9 AND FALSE TEACHERS
EPHESIANS 5:19 AND THE PSALMS

EE 23-14  April 2, 2000
VERMONT, GOVERNOR DEAN, AND SODOMITES
OBEYING THE GOSPEL 2
AUTHORITY -- SHALL I GO TO...

EE 23-15  April 9, 2000
OBEYING THE GOSPEL 3
INVASION OF THE SODOMITES
"MY PEOPLE ARE DESTROYED FOR LACK OF KNOWLEDGE"
"I BELIEVE IT, THEREFORE IT IS SO..."

EE 23-16  April 16, 2000
SPECIAL EDITION:  This edition contains short essays in acrostic by H. L. Gradowith. Each has a spiritual meaning, and I hope you enjoy them.  Tim

EE 23-17  April 23, 2000
OBEYING THE GOSPEL 4
SOME THOUGHTS ON SINCERITY
MY HOME OVER THERE  Poem by H. L. Gradowith

EE 23-18  April 30, 2000
OBEYING THE GOSPEL 5
Vermont, Vermont, Vermont...
OUTLINE:  "Father, the hour is come..."
Where Did Cain Find His Wife? Dillard Thurman (deceased)

EE 23-19  May 7, 2000
Obeying The Gospel 6
Will You Be Ready?
OUTLINE:  BUT WITHOUT FAITH
…Do my duty to God and Country…

EE 23-20 May 14, 2000                                                   Whatever Happened To Hell? Article I

EE 23-21 May 21, 2000                                                  HARD QUESTIONS:  Barbara Walters and George Bush  The Land Of Rest (Poem by H. L. Gradowith)

EE 23-22 May 28, 2000                                             Whatever Happened To Hell?  Article II

EE 23-23 June 4, 2000                                                    Whatever Happened To Hell? Article III                     Directory of Web Page.

Visit us today!  It’s all free, and there’s much more than what is listed here.  Tim