In This Issue

• JESUS – MIGHTIER THAN JOHN
• “WHOSOEVER SHEDDETH MAN’S BLOOD…”
• THE CHURCH OF CHRIST’S CHOICE
• FROM TIM SMITH’S LIST…
• UPCOMING GOSPEL MEETING SCHEDULE
• MORE INFORMATION...

JESUS – MIGHTIER THAN JOHN

In foretelling the coming of Jesus, John the Baptist said, ‘There comes One after me who is mightier than I, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to stoop down and loose. I indeed baptize you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” (Mark 1:7-8). In another passage, he said of Jesus, “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30). John had an accurate understanding that he was simply a servant of God, and that his mission was to make preparation for the Messiah who would soon come. Later, when Jesus came to John to submit to John’s baptism, John was reluctant. Matthew says, “John tried to prevent Him saying, ‘I have need to be baptized by You, and You are coming to me?’”. (Matthew 3:14).

Certainly, Jesus did not submit to John’s baptism for the same reason as those John had previously baptized. Neither did He do it for the same purpose as those John would baptize after Him.  All others were being baptized for the remission or forgiveness of sins, Mark 1:4; Acts 2:38, etc. Jesus had no sins to remit. Jesus baptism was to be an example to others of submission to God’s instructions -- to fulfill all righteousness, Matt. 3:15. Note that John had spoken of Jesus as “One who is mightier than I.” We learn from others that John never worked a miracle, John 10:41. Jesus, on the other hand healed the sick, raised the dead, walked on water, fed multitudes miraculously and did numerous other mighty deeds. But in the context of John’s statement, he made reference to one particular area he had in mind in which Jesus could easily do what John could never do. Whereas John could and did baptize people in water, and that in harmony with the will of God, he could not administer Holy Spirit baptism, as Jesus would later do. By virtue of God’s will, John was involved in a practice which helped repenting Israelites re-establish a rightness with God. As they confessed their sins, John baptized them in the Jordan River “for the remission of sins.” But John could not actually do the forgiving. Their sins were against God, and it was God who would do the actual forgiving.

There is much controversy surrounding the concept of Holy Spirit baptism. Note that John’s statement that the One coming after him would “baptize you” with the Holy Spirit does not necessarily imply that everyone who heard him speak would receive Holy  Spirit baptism. John is not emphasizing who will receive that promise, but Who can fulfill it. John couldn’t do it. The One coming after him could and would do so. But as surely as there were some in John’s audience who would receive a baptism or overwhelming of the Holy Spirit through the power of Jesus, others, because of their unfruitfulness, would be overwhelmed or baptized in the fire of everlasting punishment, Matt. 3:10-12.

--CRJ

“WHOSOEVER SHEDDETH MAN’S BLOOD…”

When Uk the Neolithic hunter came home after work to find that Guk had taken over his cave and had bashed his wife’s skull in with a stone axe, he didn’t call the cops or swear out a warrant. He went after Guk and laid the wood to him personally, permanently insuring Guk’s nonparticipation in crime.

About 4,000 B.C., society took over the function of avengement. The blood feud went out of style. So did family ambushes, trial by combat, and eventually the duel.

Until quite recently this was one sure-fire way of telling a civilized man from a savage. But today society seems to be going out of this line of work. Courts have become more concerned with the poor, frustrated, bloodthirsty Guk than they are with the law abiding unfortunates who look to the law to keep Guk from slicing our throats while we sleep.

Never mind if some surly slob blasts his neighbor with a shotgun. He’s probably got some pent-up aggression locked up inside him dating back to childhood. And don’t be beastly to some brute who stomps a polio victim to death in a dark alley for kicks. It’s not his fault. He’s sick. Oh, I’m sympathetic with the poor misunderstood murderer. But I’m a lot more sympathetic with his victims, especially when statistics show I’m increasingly apt to become one of them.

I suggest we get our states back into the business of lowering the boom on Guk. Permanently. Nothing, incidentally, accomplishes this task half so well as capital punishment, promptly and vigorously applied.  It may not deter potential criminals, but it certainly deters the criminal who receives it. He’ll never swing any more axes. Let’s not take away the fear which is the beginning of wisdom out of the murky minds of murderers.

“Whosoever sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed.”  Shocking statement, eh, Guk? Ferocious, too. Funny thing, though. It’ll never bother you if you just use that axe on kindling wood.

--adapted from The Church Speaks, Vol. 28, No. 6

THE CHURCH OF CHRIST’S CHOICE

You have probably been told many times to join or attend the church of your choice.  We need to be immensely grateful to live in a land where such freedom is granted to us.  But we must also be mindful that our civil freedom does not excuse us from studying and obeying God’s will.  If we should find that God has a choice in churches, the wise servant will desire to be a part of the church of Christ’s choice.

The Bible teaches that Christ built a church, Matt. 16:18.  Before the end of the first century, a number of local congregations existed, Rom. 16:16.  Christ is the head of His church, Col. 1:18,  and seeing that He is “head over all things to the church,” (Eph. 1:22-23), His church has or needs no human head.  Jesus is also the foundation of His church, and “other foundation can no man lay,” (1 Cor. 3:11). Not only did He build His church, Psa. 127:1, but He loved it and gave Himself for it, Eph. 5:25-26. It is this body of people that Christ will save, Acts 2:47; Eph. 5:23. Having cleansed His church by the washing of water by the word, He will present it to Himself spotless in the day of the Lord, Eph. 5:26-27. He recognizes no other religious body, Eph. 4:4 and He openly stated that to teach the precepts and commands of men in religion only causes one’s worship to be vain, Matt. 19:9-13.

We must seek out Christ’s church and obey His gospel in order to be added to His saved. Godly men of old have not sought to have their own way; they sought to behave according to God’s choice. Noah did not ask, “Should I build the boat of my own choice?” By faith, he built according to a pattern given to him by God, Gen. 6:13-14; Heb. 11:7. Abel did not ask, “Should I offer the sacrifice of my choice?” He did that which he could do by faith, Heb. 11:4. And remember, faith comes by hearing God’s word, Rom. 10:17. Paul did not wonder, “Should I preach the gospel of my own choice?” God didn’t give him a choice, Gal. 1:6-12. Of course, all these men were free to have acted differently, if they so chose, but acting differently, they would not have pleased God, Heb. 11:6; Rom. 10:17.

We encourage you to study your Bible, seek out the church of Christ’s choice, and let the Lord add you to its membership where you can serve Him faithfully and acceptably.

--CRJ

FROM TIM SMITH’S LIST…

An old missionary couple had been working in Africa for years and were returning to New York to retire. They had no pension; their health was broken; they were defeated, discouraged, and afraid. They discovered they were booked on the same ship as President Teddy Roosevelt, who was returning from one of his big-game hunting expeditions. No one paid any attention to them. They watched the fanfare that accompanied the President's entourage, with passengers trying to catch a glimpse of the great man. As the ship moved across the ocean, the old missionary said to his wife, "Something is wrong."

"Why should we have given our lives in faithful service for God in Africa all these many years and have no one care a thing about us? Here this man comes back from a hunting trip and everybody makes much over him, but nobody gives two hoots about us."

"Dear, you shouldn't feel that way", his wife said.

He replied "I can't help it; it doesn't seem right."

When the ship docked in New York, a band was waiting to greet the President. The mayor and other dignitaries were there. The papers were full of the President's arrival. No one noticed this missionary couple. They slipped off the ship and found a cheap flat on the East Side, hoping the next day to see what they could do to make a living in the city.

That night the man's spirit broke. He said to his wife, "I can't take this; God is not treating us fairly".

His wife replied, "Why don't you go in the bedroom and tell that to the Lord?"

A short time later he came out from the bedroom, but now his face was completely different. His wife asked, "Dear, what happened?"

"The Lord settled it with me", he said. "I told Him how bitter I was that the President should receive this tremendous homecoming, when no one met us as we returned home. And when I finished, it seemed as though the Lord put His hand on my shoulder and simply said; "But you're not home yet."

--Author Unknown (submitted by M/Mriverrats)

MORE INFORMATION...