November 24, 2002

Mark tells us that as Jesus "walked by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. Then Jesus said to them, 'Come after Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.' And immediately they left their nets and followed Him. When He had gone a little farther from there, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the boat mending their nets. And immediately He called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went after Him" (Mark 1:16-20).

This was not Jesus' first acquaintance with these four men -- nor theirs with Him. Sometime earlier, Andrew and another disciple, probably John, had learned from John the Baptist that Jesus was the Messiah. The first thing Andrew did after learning this important fact was to find his brother Simon and tell him the good news. So Andrew, Simon, John, and perhaps James had already become followers of Jesus. See John 1:35-42.

But now Christ asks them to give up their lucrative fishing business, detach themselves from family, at least to some extent, and travel with Him from city to city as He trains them to fish for men instead of fish.

Their willingness to leave all and follow Him is a monument to their faith. Immediately they left their ships, their nets, their servants, their parents, etc., to follow their Lord.

Mark tells us, "Then they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath He entered the synagogue and taught. And they were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes." (Mark 1:21-22).

Wherever Jesus went, wherever He taught, the multitudes were amazed at the authority with which He spoke. At the end of the sermon on the mount, Matthew records that "when Jesus had ended these sayings… the people were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes" (Matt. 7:28-29). Luke tells us that when Jesus later returned to His hometown of Nazareth and spoke in their synagogue, they "marveled at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth. And they said, 'Is this not Joseph's son?'" (Luke 4:22).

Before leaving this earth, Jesus clearly pointed out that He has all authority in heaven and on earth, Matt. 28:18. Someday He is coming again to judge us by the authoritative words He spoke, John 12:48. And one more thing. We need to be aware that the red words in our red letter editions are the words Jesus spoke on earth - but the black words in our New Testaments are the words He has spoken from heaven. They too will meet us in the judgment. It behooves us to obey His words.

Bethlehem's streets were crowded when Joseph and Mary arrived.

Mary was very great with child. The child would be born that night.

The inn-keep said, "I have no room. The inn is full of guests

But you're welcome to stay in the stable, and there you may take your rest."

No room for Jesus in the inn in Bethlehem that day,

So in the humble manger, the Son of God did stay.

Israel's streets were crowded as Jesus walked along.

He preached to all who'd listen and taught them right from wrong.

But many didn't want His truth. Their lives were full of sin.

Within their crowded, sinful hearts, they had no room for Him.

No room for Jesus in the hearts of even His closest kin,

Yet all He ever wanted was to be their truest Friend.

Some let riches crowd Him out and pleasures took their toll.

Some were self-sufficient. His message left them cold.

Some closed their eyes to Jesus' truth. They already had their views.

And some were power-hungry and afraid of what they'd lose.

But for all who'd let Him in, He came to seek and save.

He blessed those who made room for Him - and He does the same today.

"John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. Then all the land of Judea, and those from Jerusalem, went out to him and were all baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins" (Mark 1:4-5).

How did John get his name? His father said, "His name is John" (Luke 1:63). His name was John, but his work was baptizing. Just as one man was called "Elymas the sorcerer" and another was called "Alexander the coppersmith" (Acts 13:8; 2 Tim. 4:14), this John was identified by his work to distinguish him from others who also bore the name of John. His name was John; his work was baptizing.

Why did John come? He came to prepare the way for Christ, Mark 1:2-6. John said, "He [Christ] must increase, but I must decrease" (John 3:30). John was the forerunner of Jesus. Jesus was the church-builder, Matt. 16:18, thus New Testament congregations are identified with Christ and not with John, Rom. 16:16.

It is said that Jesus' disciples baptized more people than John did, John 4:1, yet they were not called after their work of baptizing as he had been. In the New Testament, John was the only person who was ever called "Baptist." No New Testament congregation ever wore that designation.

Jesus' followers were called "disciples" (John 4:1-2) and "Christians" (Acts 11:26). They believed in the necessity of faith, but they were not called "Faithests." They believed in baptism, but they were not called by that doctrine. God gave them a name by which they were to honor Christ above any other person, and above any doctrine, regardless of how true that doctrine may be. "But if a man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God in this name" (1 Pet. 4:16, ASV).

It should come as no surprise that the Old Testament, both before and after the giving of the Law of Moses, demanded the death penalty for certain crimes, Gen. 9:6; Ex. 21:12, etc. But many do not seem to be aware of the fact that the New Testament also recognizes that certain crimes are of sufficient severity to demand capital punishment.

Both Jesus and Paul taught that government rulers get their power (authority) from God, John 19:11; Rom. 13:1. Paul expressly states that such power is given for the purpose of praising those who do good and executing wrath on those who do evil, Rom. 13:1-4. Simon Peter teaches the same truth in 1 Pet. 2:13-14. John implies as much in Rev. 13:10. So we can see that God has set His seal of approval on capital punishment throughout the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation.

Of course, God has forbidden that individuals take the law into their own hands and seek personal revenge. This is the primary thrust of Jesus' words in Matt. 5:38-48, and of Paul in Rom. 12:17-21. Note especially Rom. 12:19, "Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, 'Vengence is Mine, I will repay,' says the Lord." Take note that he goes on to say in the first five verses of the next chapter what agents God will use to take vengeance: "the governing authorities" (NKJ).

Our nation, and most other nations in the world today, suffer from a crime rate that would have been unimaginable in the early days of our country - largely because rulers are not serving their God-given purpose of being a terror to evil works. It is as the wise man said: "Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil" (Eccl. 8:11).

Jesus in Matt. 4:7 applies a most neglected principle of Bible study, "It is written again…" Seldom if ever is all the truth on any one subject found in one verse or passage. Failure to understand this principle leads some to conclude that salvation is by faith alone. They read a verse that mentions the necessity of faith as if nothing else were written on the subject of salvation. While it is true that "without faith it is impossible to please God" (Heb. 11:6), it is equally true that repentance is essential to salvation, Luke 13:3-5; 2 Peter 3:9. Additional passages tell us that baptism is also a condition of salvation, remission, or cleansing of sins, Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; Acts 22:16.

So we see that justification or salvation does not come by faith only. In fact, there is only one passage of Scripture that mentions the doctrine of salvation by "faith only," - James 2:24-26. "You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only. Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also."

Regarding baptism, some read a passage such as 1 Peter 3:21, "…Even baptism doth also now save us…" and wrongly conclude that someone too young to understand the gospel or repent of sins can somehow be "saved" by baptism alone. This extreme is just as erroneous as the "faith only" error. Both extremes could be avoided by applying the principle of Matt. 4:7, "It is written again…"

We are not saved by faith without works, nor by works without faith. We are saved by "faith which works through love" (Gal. 5:6).

UPCOMING GOSPEL MEETING SCHEDULE
Dates	Congregation	Speaker
December 6-8	Philadelphia, PA	Thomas Thornhill Jr.
Dec. 30 - Jan. 1	Shippensburg, PA	various speakers