What must I do to be saved?

We all know about Paul’s three missionary journeys. He did not, however, travel alone; far from it. Barnabas and Mark traveled with him on the first tour (Acts 13:2,5). Paul heads out the second time with Silas (15:40). In Lystra, he invites Timothy to join them (16:1). The third journey begins from Corinth, as Paul is accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila (18:18).

Throughout these travels, others join Paul’s entourage off and on, depending on Paul’s directions. There was Erastus “who ministered to him” (Acts 19:22), Also Sopater, Aristarchus and Secundus, Gaius and Tychicus (Acts 20:4), and Trophimus, who, once he had to leave at Miletus sick (2 Tim. 4:20).  We can add fellow travelers Crescens and Titus (2 Tim.4:10). Most prominent was Luke, “the beloved physician” (Col. 4:14), who would chronicle Paul’s travels.

With his second arrest, and his entourage scattered by harsh persecution, he spends his final days alone in a prison in Rome.   “No one supported me, but all deserted me.”  He pleads for Timothy to come to him, “only Luke is with me” (2 Tim. 4:9-16). This old soldier of the cross writes, “But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me” (2 Tim. 4:17). Do you have an entourage of Christian friends to help you spread the gospel, face adversity, and in your final days, will be by your side?

-Dennis Doughty

When I was in junior high school, I was involved in 4-H. My 4-H advisor, Mr. Walker, was very much an outdoor kind of guy. He was the one who inspired me to go tent-camping when Rachel and I got married. He introduced me to white-water rafting and to rock climbing. I have been rock-climbing twice. For safety, you are on a rope, with a belay, and you have someone whom you trust holding onto the rope to keep you safe, at least, when you are a junior high school kid in 4-H.

All those safety features are designed to keep you safe. In Christianity, Jesus has designed several safety features to keep us safe from Satan and to try to ensure that we make it to heaven.

In our text for study, the Hebrew writer will mention three of those “walls of defense” to keep us faithful to God: the Word, Christian fellowship, and Jesus Christ.

LET US PRESS ON TO MATURITY (Don’t forget Bible study!) – 6:1-8:

We have to leave the “elementary” principles of Christ in order to mature in our faith. If we try to live our lives based solely on a handful of Bible verses, then our defense against the trials of life and the doubts that Satan throws at us will be extremely thin. But the more we know of God’s Word and the more we walk with Christ in prayer, Bible study, fellowship with fellow Christians, and in worship, then the stronger and thicker our “wall of defense” will be!

If you and I do not keep our spirits in tune with the Word of God, our spiritual lives can spiral downward and we can lose control of our spiritual health so that we can get to the point where biblical teaching does not phase us anymore. Those are the ones for whom it is impossible to “renew them again to repentance.”

SHOW THE SAME DILIGENCE (Don’t forget Christian fellowship!)- 6:9-12:

But the Hebrew writer is hopeful for the Christians he is writing to (ver. 9). They were already serving each other and Christian fellowship and service are some of the most important things that Christians can do to stay faithful to Christ! God will not forget our service (ver. 10)! God is diligent to remember and to bless Christians who are active and faithful.

WE WOULD HAVE STRONG ENCOURAGEMENT (Don’t forget Jesus!)- 6:13-20:

When God wanted to encourage His children that He would absolutely fulfill what He had told them, He could not swear by someone greater than Himself. He could only swear by Himself and that’s what He did. Jehovah God swore an oath to show that His purpose was unchangeable and God cannot tell a lie in any way, shape, or form.

So the situation with Abraham is given as an illustration of the fact that Christians can also rely on God to fulfill His promises. That’s why we can take refuge in Jesus Christ and be strongly encouraged to find our hope in Him (ver. 18)!

We need to mature in our faith and knowledge so we will have the diligence we need to stay faithful and find our encouragement in Christ and His promises.

Paul Holland

A memorial is something that keeps remembrance alive, such as a monument. The rainbow is not a memorial of the flood, but a memorial of God’s promise after the flood. In the flood we see God’s power, His wrath, and His plan at work. Through the flood, God was not merely destroying; He was renovating.

Observing God’s actions following the flood, one sees God laying the foundations for the new world. One significant feature of this renewal is the first explicit covenant in Scripture. A covenant is an agreement between two parties. Some describe it as a “sealed promise,” since, in Scripture, the covenant nearly always has a sign or seal that guarantees it. A covenant can be broad or specific, conditional or unconditional.

The covenant in Genesis 8-9 is specific and unconditional, and its purpose is to affirm God’s commitment to life. Even though God gives responsibilities to humans while making this covenant, His promise in this case does not depend on human obedience. God’s actions following the flood reveal that 1) He Preserves Life (Genesis 9:1–7), and 2) He Promises Life (Genesis 9:8–17).

In Genesis 9:1–7, God seeks to preserve life by giving several commands to Noah and his sons. By keeping these commands, the family of Noah could help prevent the corruption that precipitated the flood in the first place. God commands Noah and sons to produce life, vv. 1, 7; to preside over life, vv. 2–4; and to preserve life, vv. 5-6. God does not want to see the same kind of violence that had corrupted the earth prior to the flood, thus He gives an explicit command and He reiterates the truth that man is made in God’s image.

In Genesis 9:8–17, God promises life in the “rainbow covenant.” This covenant is universal, vv. 8–11. Just as God had destroyed all but a small portion of the living, so He now promises to all living things that He will never again destroy through water. The covenant is also signed, vv. 12–13. Unlike Gideon or Hezekiah, Noah did not seek a sign. Yet, God gave it as a visible affirmation and reminder of His promise. Old Testament scholar Gerhard von Rad sees symbolism in this sign, in that “bow” is the same word that refers to both the rainbow and the battle bow. “God hung up his ‘battle bow’ to be a sign of peace.”

Finally, this covenant is sealed, vv. 14–17. God seals the promise by declaring that the sign is a perpetual reminder. There is no rainbow without the rain. Following the destruction and darkness comes a sign and seal of peace. Allen P. Ross writes, “Covenant treaties were often made after wars in order to ensure peace, a sequence that seems to be occurring here.”

Every time we see a rainbow, we’re reminded of God’s commitment to life, a commitment He invites us to share by keeping the commands given in earlier in ch. 9.

Clay Leonard

Since Paul’s letter to the Christians in Philippi is filled with calls to “rejoice in the Lord” (3:1) while Paul himself was in prison (1:7, 13-14, 17), we are meditating on just what Paul tells us to do to live a “defiant joy.” Meditate with me on chapter 3…

Don’t put confidence in the flesh. We make plans. We have our strengths. We have our expectations. But they can easily come crashing down and then we realize that man proposes and God disposes. Don’t put confidence in the flesh. Trust in God.

View everything else as garbage compared to having a relationship with Christ. Paul had it all when he was living as a Jew. In fact, he was even righteous under the Law of Moses, but he would rather be righteous living by faith in Jesus Christ! Since Christ has risen from the dead, everything else is garbage (comparatively speaking).

Remind yourself of the righteousness you have in Christ. Your sins are forgiven. What else is there to be concerned about?

Know Him. Develop your relationship with Jesus. Read the Gospel accounts regularly. Meditate on them. Read the broader message from God, both the Old and New Testaments. Worship Him often.

Meditate on the power of His (and your) resurrection. The next time you preside over the Lord’s Table, share what the resurrection means to you.

Be satisfied with the fellowship of His sufferings. Paul was glad to share in Christ’s sufferings to bring the Gospel into the heart and mind of others because he knew that was the only way others could be saved. If we are worthy to suffer because we are teaching and / or defending the Gospel, then that is a good thing!

Acknowledge that you have not obtained perfection yet! Cut yourself some slack. This is not to ignore sin or to tolerate it, but you are human. You will not live up to your own view of perfection, much less Christ’s.

Stay focused on reaching the goal! But don’t let the world distract you from your goal of sharing in Christ, the resurrection, and the hope of heaven. Allow heaven to always stay in the center of your heart, your life, and your decisions.

Live by Christ’s standard. He is the standard. We will answer to Christ for living Christ’s teachings. That is all.

Eagerly wait for the Savior! He is coming back and He will change this body of our humiliation and conform it to the body of His glory. Can you imagine how that will feel?

Paul Holland

“For there must also be factions among you, so that those who are approved may become evident among you” (1 Cor. 11:19). Tension between Christians is going to happen. Some suggest that one of the purposes of the letter to the Philippian Christians is to encourage the church to get two Christian sisters, Eudora and Syntyche, to reconcile.

Some Christians will not even talk to each other. Some Christians cut off communication with others. Some Christians simply walk away from the relationship without even making an effort to reconcile. That’s the price of pride; it’s more important than the humility it takes to work through tension.

All quality relationships experience problems. And the strength of the relationship is seen in how well the two individuals resolve those problems. In fact, problems test our Christianity and the strength of our Christianity is tested by how we resolve those disagreements. I am not the judge, but I fear that there will be Christians who lose heaven because of how they handled the Covid problem. Too many, it seems to me, had the attitude: “It’s my way or I’m leaving!” That’s not how you develop healthy relationships.

Yes, we tend to overreact. We tend to get irrational. We tend to walk away from unpleasant discussions but we take our hurt feelings with us when we go and nothing gets resolved. Jealousy. Gossip. Self-centeredness. Possessiveness. Personality clashes. Misunderstandings. The origins of conflict are legion.

And many times, the offender does not even know that he or she has offended, because the offended one takes their hurt feelings and leaves, without even bringing it to anyone’s attention. That’s not how Christ taught us to handle conflict!

We should ask yourselves, first, and then talk to the other person about these questions: “Is this my fault? Do I have the right to feel this way? What did I do to deserve this?”

It takes a Christ-like heart to confront someone. We should be sensitive. We should be mature. We should acknowledge that we might be at fault as much as or perhaps more than the other person. We need to acknowledge that our memory is not perfect. We need to admit that we – none of us – do not say the right thing at the right time in the right way all the time. We ought to be willing to apologize for any misunderstanding or miscommunication that has occurred. And we need to make adjustments.

That’s how we keep down “factions” in the church.

Paul Holland

At one time in our country, most people recognized Sunday as “the Christian Sabbath.” Stores were closed and chores were limited. Folks went “to church,” ate a big meal, then spent the afternoon napping and visiting with family and friends. Our culture has changed. Attendance in religious services has dropped, all the major stores stay open 7 days a week, and few “have time” for big Sunday meals and lazy afternoons.

In the latter half of the book of Hebrews, the inspired author refers to the “first covenant” and the “new covenant” (cf. Hebrews 7:12; 8:8–13, etc.). By these he means the Law of Moses and the Law of Christ. The Christian lives under God’s instruction and authority and understands Old Testament commands only in light of their New Testament interpretation and application.

Based on this understanding and the teaching of Jesus in Mark 2:23–28 (cf. parallels in Matthew 21:1–8 and Luke 6:1–5), Christians do not observe a ritual Sabbath. Instead, we set aside the first day of the week, but not as a day of rest; rather, we understand Sunday primarily as a day of communal worship and remembrance of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus (cf. John 20:1; Acts 20:7).

This does not mean, however, that Christians should ignore the value of rest. In fact, both the Old and New Testaments teach its value. Genesis 2:2–3 indicate that God finished His creative work on the seventh day and then consecrated the seventh day. Jesus teaches, “The Sabbath was made for man” (Mark 2:27). Paul cites Deuteronomy 25:4 in 1 Corinthians 9:9, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain.” Then he adds, “Is it for oxen that God is concerned?”

The Jews, in their zeal to observe God’s laws as strictly and stringently as possible, had lost the intended blessing of the Sabbath. God gave it to man so that we might benefit from a period of rest. The nature of work has changed even in America in the last half-century. A much smaller percentage of the population works outside, and even fewer work outside without the aid of machinery. The nature of rest has changed as well.

In expressing our freedom from the Sabbath law, have we ignored the blessings that come with designating a time for slowing down and resting? Christians should not seek to enforce an Old Covenant statute while living under the New Covenant. At the same time, we can recognize and take advantage of God’s wisdom in setting aside time for rest.

Clay Leonard

I have always enjoyed walking through old cemeteries, reflecting on lives long gone. During a recent stroll, I came across this faded tombstone; Irvin E. Griffin, May 12, 1864-March 15, 1939, followed by this intriguing inscription: “Still the World Goes On.”

Having died before I was even born, Mr. Griffin left me with the realization of my own insignificance. What difference will my death have upon this world? None. My passing may affect my family, but the world will not take notice. The truth is that Mr. Griffin gave us an inscription that could be placed on every tombstone and bronze marker.  At all deaths, the world goes on.

“Life is but a vapor, that appears for a moment and then vanishes away” (Jms 4:14). As Job said, “Man, who is born of woman, is of few days and full of trouble. He comes forth like a flower and fades away” (Job 14:1-2).  Only a few things will matter at your death: Have you been washed in the blood of the Lamb? Are you a child of the King?  Are you ready to face God in judgment? If so; the world may go on, no matter, for you will be safe in the arms of Jesus.

-Dennis Doughty

King Saul began well but ended poorly. In 1 Samuel 14, we have recorded the account of Jonathan – King Saul’s son – winning a victory over the Philistines. In Saul’s battle, things were not going so well. In fear, Saul put the people under an oath – “Cursed be the man who eats food before evening, and until I have avenged myself on my enemies” (vs 24).

Observe these matters. First, Saul put the people under an oath, not himself. Second, it was a foolish oath since the men were in battle and would need nourishment. Third, Saul’s focus was on himself – “until I have avenged myself…” God’s glory or honor is not in view at all.

To his credit, Saul did restrain the people from eating the meat with its blood (vs 34) and Saul built an altar to the Lord (vs 35). This was his first altar. Despite these external appearances of obedience, Saul’s heart did not follow God. That is the reason God did not answer Saul when he prayed that day (vs 37).

Rather than reflecting on himself, Saul made a further oath: “As the Lord lives, who delivers Israel, though it is in Jonathan [the reason God was not answering Saul’s prayer], he shall surely die” (vs 39). Still, no self reflection at all. Finally, it was determined that Jonathan is the one who had previously eaten (honey), violating his dad’s oath (which he knew nothing about). Saul foolishly charged his son: “you shall surely die, Jonathan” (vs 44). But the people stepped in and saved Jonathan from the foolishness of his father.

Fast forward to King David. After King Saul’s death, his family and supporters grew weaker and weaker while David’s grew stronger and stronger (2 Sam. 3:1). Abner was the commander of Saul’s army; Joab followed David. In 2 Samuel 3, Abner was falsely accused by Ish-bosheth, Saul’s son, and Abner decided to switch allegiances to King David.

Because Abner had earlier killed Joab’s brother, Asahel, Joab had the opportunity to kill Abner and took it. David is trying to build up God’s kingdom and unite the people of Israel so he has been bending over backward to reach out to Saul’s clan and supporters.

In light of Abner’s murder, David commands a national state of mourning, complete with sackcloth. King David, himself, wept over Abner’s death and wrote a psalm of lament. He also fasted. His people tried to get David to eat but in that state, David makes an oath: “May God do so to me, and more also, if I taste bread or anything else before the sun goes down” (3:35). Observe David’s oath. He called on God to punish him (not the people, as in Saul’s oath) if he ate anything.

The major difference between Saul and David was in their heart. Saul was self-centered. David was other-centered. David truly cared about his people. 2 Samuel 3:26 says, “Now all the people took note of it [David’s oath], and it pleased them, just as everything the king did pleased all the people.”

Are you fundamentally self-centered or other-centered?

Paul Holland

The movie A River Runs Through It was directed by Robert Redford and starred Brad Pitt, Craig Sheffer, and Tom Skeritt. It originally came out in 1992.

Skerritt plays a minister in the Presbyterian Church with Sheffer and Pitt playing his two sons. The church has a role that runs through the movie but it is the river, more specifically fly-fishing, that draws the characters together from beginning to end. The story is told from the perspective of Sheffer’s character, the older brother, Norman. It begins with a septuagenarian Norman fly-fishing and the story ends with the same scene.

The setting is rural Montana, in a small town. The boys grow up together, periodically rebelling against their father. Eventually Norman leaves town and goes 3,000 miles away to college at Dartmouth. He becomes the more “straight-laced” brother. Pitt’s character, Paul, stays home, goes to school, and becomes a journalist. Paul is also the more rebellious, giving himself to alcoholism and gambling.

Through the years, when Norman comes home for example, the two brothers find themselves at the river, fly-fishing.

Eventually, Paul’s behavior catches up to him and he is killed. Mother and Father also give in to the ravages of time and pass away. Norman even has to bury his own wife, Jessie. Through it all, the river runs through it. When our family watched the movie when they were still young, I asked the girls what the point of the movie was and what the river had to do with it.

Jewell recalled a quote (she is, after all, our literary genius) by the septuagenarian, fly-fishing by himself: “I knew just as surely, just as clearly, that life is not a work of art, and that the moment could not last.”

I also recalled a statement Norman makes at the end: “Eventually, all things merge into one, and a river runs through it.” The movie picks up in the middle of the Maclean family’s life and the movie ends in the middle of the Maclean family’s life (albeit the second generation). No neat little bows are tied. Life changes. Generations come and go but the river runs through it all, constant.

So, it made me think. We may not have a river that runs through our family’s but we have One more constant and certainly more dependable than a river. God runs through our generations, from one to the next. God is the “God of generations.”

The word “generation” is used 212 times in the Bible. God is the Savior of my great-grandparents and my grandmother and my dad and me and my daughters and my grandchildren. At least five generations; four on Rachel’s side. Will he be the God of the sixth generation?

The psalmist writes: “Let this be recorded for a generation to come, so that a people yet to be created may praise the Lord: that he looked down from his holy height; from heaven the Lord looked at the earth, to hear the groans of the prisoners, to set free those who were doomed to die, that they may declare in Zion the name of the Lord, and in Jerusalem his praise, when peoples gather together, and kingdoms, to worship the Lord” (Psalm 102:18-22).

Teach your children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren the ways of God so He can be the God of the next generation.

Paul Holland

It was their second anniversary, and the husband sent his wife flowers at the office.  He told the florist to write “Happy Anniversary, Year Number 2” on the card.  She was thrilled with the flowers, but not so pleased about the card.  It read “Happy Anniversary.  You’re Number 2.”

*******

An aged farmer and his wife were leaning against the edge of their pig-pen when the old woman wistfully recalled that the next week would mark their golden wedding anniversary.  “Let’s have a party, Homer,” she suggested.  “Let’s kill a pig.”

The farmer scratched his grizzled head.  “Ethel,” he finally answered, “I don’t see why the pig should take the blame for the terrible mistake that happened fifty years ago…”

******

A man walked over to the perfume counter and told the clerk he’d like a bottle of Chanel #5 for his wife for their anniversary.

“A little surprise, eh?” smiled the clerk.

“You bet,” answered the customer. “She’s expecting a cruise.”

******
I hope that you will all forgive me for sending out a message today that is more personal than usual.  I know that many of you are going through (or have gone through) a divorce, and my heart breaks for you.

There are many others of you who are single — some content with the blessing of singleness, and others crushed with feelings of loneliness.

But, this day, I rejoice in the fact that God has blessed me with a beautiful wife.  Yesterday, Sueanne and I celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary.  I could not ask for more in a wife.  She is my greatest fan, my strength when I feel like giving up, the one who loves me more than I could ever hope to be loved.  She knows my every fault and weakness, yet she continues to love me.  She has been my best friend for more than 25 years.  She is the one I most enjoy talking to, and the one I most enjoy doing things with.  When I hear good things, she is the first person I want to share them with.  I trust her completely and take comfort in knowing that she trusts me as well.  My elders have told me that without her, I would have stood no chance of being hired.  They joke, but deep down, I know there is some truth to it, for she completes me; she makes me who I am.  And today, I give thanks to God for blessing me far more than I deserve with the most wonderful wife in the world.

“Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice with the wife of your youth.”  (Prov. 5:18)

“An excellent wife is the crown of her husband….” (Prov. 12:4)

Have a great day!

Alan Smith