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October, 2020
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Volume 12
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Issue #4
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"Thy word is a lamp unto
my feet, and a light unto my path."
Psalm 119:105
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Robert T. Oliver
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WHY ATHEISTS CAN'T FIND GOD
Many people today deny that God exists because they are
looking for a god like the one in the "Star
Trek: the Next Generation". In that series there are gods known
as "Q". These beings have miraculous powers in this
fictional series, but they always lose to the commander of the Star
Ship. While "Q" is intended as pure fiction, I believe the
concept indicates why atheists cannot find the true God.
I
believe even many Christians today do not understand the great power
of deity as the Bible describes the Godhead. Remember the God of the
Bible was powerful enough to speak the universe and all it contains
into existence. He was powerful enough to create life from nothing.
He was powerful enough to control all that he created. Now that I
have stated this, notice the Bible teaches what I have said.
GOD
CREATED THE UNIVERSE: Genesis 1:1 "In the beginning, God
created the heavens and the earth." All that we call
our universe is wrapped up in this passage.
GOD
CONTROLLS THE UNIVERSE: Speaking of Christ, the writer of Hebrews
writes in Hebrews 1:3 "He is the
radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and
he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making
purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty
on high". Note that is
says, speaking of Christ that He "upholds the universe by the
word of His power."
GOD
CREATED LIFE: In the following passages we see that God created the
life of the plants, the creatures of the water, animal life, and
finally mankind.
Genesis 1:11 "And God
said, Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and
fruit trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to
its kind, on the earth."
Genesis 1:21 "...God
created the great sea creatures and every living creature that moves,
with which the waters swarm, according to their kinds, and every
winged bird according to its kind...."
Genesis 1:24 And God
said, "Let the earth bring forth living creatures according to
their kinds-livestock and creeping things and beasts of the earth
according to their kinds." And it was so.
Genesis 1:26-27 Then
God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness....So God created man in his own image, in the image
of God he created him; male and female he created them.
Now
imagine how powerful God must be to do this. Atheists might accept a
mini-god as created by the ancient civilizations or one like
"Q" in the "Star Trek" series. But a God as
powerful as what we have just read about is far beyond what they are
willing to understand or accept. They tend to dismiss even the
concept of a power such as this. If anything they are looking for a
god created in their own image.
While
addressing a group of people that did not believe in the God of the
Bible the apostle Paul wrote in Acts 17:24-28: "The God who made the world and everything in it, being
Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he
needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and
breath and everything. And he
made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of
the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of
their dwelling place, that
they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find
him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, for "'In him we live and move and have our
being'; as even some of your own poets have said, 'For we are indeed
his offspring.'".
We
must never let our faith be clouded by the lack of understanding of
those that deny the existence of God. They do not even follow their
own beliefs. Notice what has been written:
"To
manufacture matter in a way that adheres to the
first law of thermodynamics, you have to convert energy into matter.
... So yes, humans can manufacture matter.
We can turn light into subatomic particles, but even
the best scientists can't create something
out of nothing."
science.howstuffworks.com
That is their belief. However, they must admit that
something was created from nothing and that this something exploded
and became the Big Bang. "Some physicists think they can explain why
the universe first formed. If they are right, our entire cosmos
may have sprung out of nothing at all."www.bbc.com '
20141106-why-does-anything-exist-at-all
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Feature Two: an article by R. C. Oliver
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R C Oliver
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Marks
of the New Testament Church*
* [In
the last quarter of Light for our Age I included the following
article from my dad's work. Unfortunately I did not realize that the
article was incomplete. I searched for the continuation of his
article, but could not find it. Therefore I will finish the article
for the evidence of which he speaks is plainly found in the
scriptures for all to see. If you would like to go back and reread
his article from last quarter, it can be found at
Abiblecomentary.com/Lightforourage]
THE
ARTICLE BEGAN AS FOLLOWS: Our greatest aim is to set before you in all
clarity the New Testament church, as she is identified in the New
Testament.
Our
greatest reason for teaching the one church philosophy is the fact
that that is the way it is taught in your Bible. Our second reason
for teaching this philosophy is that we desire to see the day when
all who profess Christianity shall be ONE.
The
Bible teaches that it is possible for all who profess Christianity to
be one, but this glorious event cannot become a reality until we are
willing to accept the one church mentioned in your Bible. When this
great task shall have been accomplished, then shall be brought to
pass the answer to the Savior's prayer when He prayed, "Neither
pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me
through their word; 21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art
in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world
may believe that thou hast sent me." (John 17:20-21).
To
those of you who do not believe the Bible, I beg you to consider the
following evidence. (The following questions were posed in
the article.)
- What
does the term 'church' mean?
The word
"church" comes from the Greek word (ekklesia) and is
defined by Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon as: 1) a gathering
of citizens called out from their homes into some public place, an
assembly. 1d) in a Christian sense an assembly of Christians gathered
for worship in a religious meeting.
Therefore when Jesus spoke of
the "church" (as in Matthew 16:18), he was speaking of a
group of people "called out" for Him.
- What
is the New Testament church?
The New
Testament church is simply the "church" that Jesus
established. It is the people that follow and obey Him. As noted, the
Greek word for church was a generic term for people called for a
specific purpose. In Grecian terms it might be people called to vote
on some political issue. Jesus used the term to indicate it would be
people called to follow His will and teaching.
- What
are some of the New Testament terms applied to the Church?
The
church of the first-born
Hebrews 12:23
The
church of God
1 Corinthians 11:22
The
churches of
Christ Romans
16:16
- What
organization does the New Testament church have?
Elders (also
known as bishops, pastors, presbyters)
Deacons (Philippians 1:1)
There are to be a plurality of
elders in each congregation to lead and direct the church according
to Acts 14:23 "And
when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed
with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they
believed." Their
qualifications are found in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1.
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How can one become a
member of the New Testament church?
Obedience to the teaching of Christ
and His apostles.
The Bible teaches the following:
Someone must hear what God wants them to do. That may seem obvious,
but it is also found in scripture. In John 8:47 Jesus said, "He
that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not,
because ye are not of God." If we want to
follow God we will listen to what He teaches. After we hear we must
obey what we hear. James writes in James 1:22-24 "But
be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own
selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a
doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For
he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth
what manner of man he was."
What is it that we are to obey?
Jesus said people that follow Him must believe what He says. He is
recorded as saying in John 8:24, "I
said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye
believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins." You
see, faith in Christ is a work that is necessary to salvation. Jesus
told us in John 6:29, that "...This is he work of God,
that ye believe on Him whom He has sent."
But
Jesus continues His teaching and requires everyone to repent of their
past sinful life. In Luke 13:3 and 5 Jesus says, "I tell you,
Nay, but except you repent, ye shall all likewise perish." Paul
also in speaking on Mar's Hill made the following statement in Acts
17:30, "And
the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men
every where to repent:".
Jesus
also taught that we must be willing to confess him before others. We
actually read about priests that believed on Jesus, but refused to
confess Him. In John 12:42 the text reads, "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". Jesus
had a stern warning for those that refused to confess Him. He said in
Matthew 10:32-33, "Whosoever therefore
shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father
which is in heaven. But
whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my
Father which is in heaven." Part
of "believing on Christ" is believing that what He says is
true.
Jesus
goes further and commands that one more thing is needed for
salvation. He spoke in Mark 16:15-16, "...Go
ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He
that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth
not shall be damned." It
is obvious that if one does not believe that they will be lost. If a
person believes what Jesus said they will also be baptized. I realize
that some question the reason for baptism, but the reason for its
importance is clearly stated.
Peter
tells us it is for "the remission of sins" in Acts 2:38.
Certainly no one would insist that God will take people to heaven
that are sinners! But the Bible continues its explanation. In Romans
6:3-7 "Know ye not, that so many of us as were
baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?Therefore
we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was
raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also
should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the
likeness of his death, we shall be also in
the likeness of his resurrection:Knowing
this, that our old man is crucified with him, that
the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not
serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin."
Finally,
Jesus speaking through John in Revelation 2:10, "...be thou
faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life." If we are going
to obey Christ we must do all that He tells us. If we do what he
says, the Lord will add us to His church. Acts 2:47
- To
what manner of worship does the New Testament church subscribe?
Studying God's word
Acts 20:7
Partake of the Lord's
Supper Acts
20:7; I Corinthians 11:17-30
Giving of our means
I Corinthians 16:1-2
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Feature Three: Sandy's Women's
Corner
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Sandra Oliver
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Editor's
Note: You can read weekly articles from Sandy at the following Web
site: abiblecommentary.com "Blog for Christian
Women"
TOO MANY WIVES
Recently, in
my 4th and 5th grade Bible class, we
were studying about Solomon. I explained how Solomon took the daughter
of the king of Egypt as his wife, along with many other wives. The
children were eager to know why Solomon had so many wives. I explained
that he made alliances with various kings of other nations, and it was
common for the kings of those nations to offer gifts, one of which
might be a daughter or sister as a wife.
One
of my new students is an excellent Bible student, and he had been
engaged in this discussion as to why Solomon had so many wives. Almost
to himself he said, "How did he ever tell them all
goodnight?" Everyone was amused by his question, but there is
some real truth in what he said. Can you imagine what it would be like
to be one of seven hundred wives?
One
of the things I emphasize in class is that God's plan has always been
one man for one woman for life. All I have to say is, "What is
God's plan for marriage" and the children respond with the
phrase, "one man for one woman for life."
It
frightens me to think that saying that may one day be illegal. In
fact, that is true in some places in the world now. The problem is no
longer having too many wives, although that is a problem in some
places; it is that we may be held accountable for what we teach about
a marriage between man and woman. We may be told to say that marriage
can be between two men or two women. We may also see the time that
multiple wives or husbands may be the accepted lifestyle.
A
few years ago, I had a girl in my class that had two mothers. I taught
this same thing then, one man for one woman for life. I have to teach
it because that was and is God's plan. The child never questioned me,
and she never corrected me.
Eventually,
she moved away. I only hope she remembers that God's plan is different
than the way many in the world live.
"Therefore
a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife,
and they shall become one flesh" (Genesis 2:24 ESV). This
same Scripture is repeated in the New Testament. "Therefore
a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and
the two shall become one flesh" (Ephesians 5:31).
As
teachers, there are some things we need to teach in every class. One
man for one woman for life is certainly one of the most important
things we can teach the children.
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Feature Four: Our Communication
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What many people do not realize is that words are coded
thoughts. When you have a thought you encode that thought into a
symbol. We call that symbol a word. Your job as a communicator is to
get that thought coded in such a fashion that the listener could decode
the symbol and have a thought as close to yours as possible.
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Feature Five:
Bible Question
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Feature Five: Bible Question
Do you believe people that have never heard about God
will be lost?
While that is an emotionally charged question, it
deserves a Biblical answer. In 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9 the apostle Paul
writes: "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;...." While that
may seem so unfair to many, we need to look at it as the Lord looks at
it. He came to earth and made a way of escape for us. Sin separates us
from God. A study of Ephesians 2:12-16 illustrates this point. 'That
at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the
commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise,
having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far
off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and
hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of
commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain
one new man, so making peace; And
that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having
slain the enmity thereby...."
Note
here that it is only through the death of Christ that we may be saved.
Those not covered by his blood are separated from God. In Romans 6:3-8
we see this explained by the apostle: "Know
ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were
baptized into his death? Therefore
we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was
raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also
should walk in newness of life. For
if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we
shall be also in the
likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body
of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve
sin. For he that is dead is freed from
sin. Now if we be dead with
Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:"
You
need to realize that every man, woman, and child was lost for all
eternity, separated from God because of sin. Jesus gave us a way to be
saved. He is the only way. Those that die without obedience to Him
will be lost. That is why Jesus told his followers to "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in
the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have
commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the
world." Matthew 28:19-20. It
is our challenge to seek and save that which is lost.
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Finding one of her students making faces at others on the
playground, Ms. Smith stopped to gently reprove the child. Smiling
sweetly, the Sunday School teacher said, "When I was a child, I
was told that if I made ugly faces, it would freeze and I would stay
like that. The child looked up into her face and replied, "Well,
Ms. Smith, you can't say you weren't warned."
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I have enjoyed once again to visit
with you through this medium. My dad would be amazed to see what can
be done with today's technology. If fact, I am amazed to see what can
be done and I know I can only scratch the surface. It is certainly not
of my generation.
And so closes
another year. Perhaps it will be good to get past this year. I know it
has been hard, not only here, but for our brethren around the world.
Many have been hurt badly. Pray for a better year to come.
Basic Bible Knowledge About the Holy
Spirit Speech & Debate
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