Is It God We Desire or Some Other Way?

"Uphold my steps in Your paths, That my footsteps may not slip" (Psa. 17:5).

If We Seek God Sincerely, We'll Be Willing To Get To Heaven By Any Path That He Deems Best For Us. But this willingness is not always easy. When the way home begins to look uncomfortably different from the path that we've pictured in our minds, the result may be resentment, if not outright rebellion. At times like these, we must learn to love God for His Own sake and not insist on any particular set of conditions as we journey toward Him.

The Psalmist prayed: "Direct my steps by Your Word, and let no iniquity have dominion over me" (Psa. 119:133). Such a prayer must be our own. And in our higher moments, we know that this is indeed what we desire: we want God to uphold our steps in His Paths. We want His wisdom to supersede our own plans and preferences so that the greatest possible good is accomplished, not only for ourselves but for the world in which we live.

Certainly we must avoid any sort of demanding attitude toward God. If we have envisioned ourselves living and serving God within a particular set of circumstances, that my be well and good. But if life unfolds according to a different pattern, we must still maintain our reverence. Before we start acting as if our "rights" have been infringed, we need to do a reality check.

Long-term service to God requires flexibility, and most of us need to be more flexible in defining what our possibilities are. The good that God put us here to accomplish can be accomplished in more ways than we might think. We need to accept that there are numerous scenarios through which God could be glorified in our lives, and we must not be so wedded to one or two of these that we can't see the value of others. Is it not obvious from God's created world that He delights in variety? Let us not be so short-sighted or attached to "the way we always thought it would be" that we can't accept something else for the sake of His glory. -- “My goal is God Himself, not joy nor peace. Nor even blessing, but Himself, my God; Tis His to lead me there, not mine, but His -- At any cost, dear Lord, by any road!"

Reading with understanding

When Philip came to the Ethiopian eunuch, he was reading from the writings of Isaiah. Upon hearing him read, Philip asked, "Do you understand what you are reading?" (Acts 8:30). The eunuch honestly replied, "How can I, unless someone guides me?" (v. 31), and asked Philip to come and sit with him. From there, Philip joined the eunuch in his chariot and beginning at that point in the Scripture, "he told him the good news about Jesus" (vv. 31-35). We can read of the positive result of this encounter (vv. 36-39), but we need to stop and consider the fact that understanding was necessary for even that to happen. How often is some sort of misunderstanding a hindrance to obedience and one's salvation today? Far too often, I fear.

It is not enough, you see, to be genuinely and sincerely interested in God's Word for us to be able to be saved. The eunuch was obviously a man who was devoted to God and one who was willing to go to great lengths [literally] to find the truth; he had traveled more than 1300 miles [one way] from Ethiopia to come to Jerusalem to worship (v. 27), and even as he returned home, he was reading Scripture. No one would doubt the spiritual interest of this man, but his desire did not overcome his lack of understanding. It was not until someone came along and explained the Scriptures to him that the eunuch could under-stand, believe, and obey [which he did]. Only when the Scriptures were explained to him could he know their meaning and come to know he needed to be believe in Jesus as the Christ and be baptized (v. 36). Once he had done what God commanded, he went on his way rejoicing (v. 39) for having received salvation and forgiveness of sins through the precious blood of Jesus Christ.

Centuries that have separated us from that time have not eliminated the possibility that men may not understand some of the things revealed within God's Word. In the last 2000 plus years, many men have read God's Word and, not understanding what they read, have failed to understand what God would have them do and, often, traveled the path of error because someone has led them astray. Far too often, those who were seeking truth have been met by those who offered explanations that did not accord with what was revealed and have led souls to destruction instead of salvation. Sometimes, it is the failure of the one doing the explaining and sometimes it is the one who is being taught, but the end result is the same: lost souls.

In the interest of learning the truth, let us consider a few things from God's Word which many do not understood and which will prevent their salvation.

The Need For Baptism. Often, the lack of understanding is due to preconceived ideas about God's plan of salvation, and not because of ambiguous passages. When men enter into Bible study believing that man can do nothing towards their own salvation, they will dismiss even plain Bible passages that seem to teach anything different than what they already believe. If you begin a Bible study with the idea that baptism cannot possibly be a part of God's plan for salvation, then even what the passages plainly say will not convince you. But what is the place of baptism? Is it necessary for salvation? Without any preconceptions, let us consider what the Scriptures do say.

Consider that Jesus said, "Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned" (Mark 16:16). Men may argue until time ends that baptism is not necessary for salvation, but please consider those words; Jesus said when we believe and are baptized, we are saved. What do you think will be the case if we are not? Logic demands that the converse would be true. In other words, we will not be saved!

"But," you may argue, "How does it save us? I thought we were saved by grace? I thought we are saved by the blood of Christ?" And you would be right! You see, Peter reminds us that "Baptism now saves you...through the resurrection of Jesus Christ" (1 Pet. 3:21). It is not in the waters of baptism itself that we are saved; there is no 'magic' or power in the water and it is not some great work we do, but it is the blood of Jesus Christ wherein the power lies. It is by His resurrection - the proof that He was the Son of God as He claimed that we are saved, but it is in baptism that the saving power of His blood is made effective to us. Paul reminds us it is "in baptism...you were also raised with Him through faith in the powerful working of God" (Col. 2:12), and it is then that we are "made alive together with Him" (v. 13). Friends and brethren, if we are not baptized, then we are not raised with Him and God does not make us spiritually alive!

Paul again speaks of this need for baptism when he wrote the Roman brethren, asking, "Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his" (Rom. 6:3-5). Again, let the Scriptures teach us; it is then that we are buried with Him [Christ] that, like Christ, we may be raised up by God, who raised Jesus from the dead. Friends and brethren, if we are not buried with Him [in baptism] God will not raise us up with Him!

But some will still plead, "What about grace? If we say baptism is necessary, then that means we are saved by works and not by grace, and that would contradict Scripture (cf. Eph. 2:8-9)!" Let's consider the context of that passage, shall we? Earlier, Paul said to those who had already been saved [they were already Christians], "God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ by grace you have been saved and raised us up with him" (Eph. 2:4-6). Note that Paul spoke of the time when God had raised them and made them alive together with Christ; do we remember when this occurred (cf. Col. 2:12-13)? It was when they were baptized! So how is it that we are saved by grace? Grace saves us by the fact it is God's plan for salvation, given to us. Without that plan, without God's unmerited favor of giving a means for forgiveness of sins, all we would be doing is getting wet! But because God said we are to be baptized, where the blood of Jesus Christ is made effective, where our sins are forgiven, and the point at which God makes us alive, we may be saved! I depend on God's grace to save me even as I am baptized, for without His plan and without His working, baptism would do me no good spiritually nor any other man. But, yes, in baptism we are saved by grace!

So, when you come to passages that teach about baptism, take another look. Do you understand what you read? Do not let the words of others dissuade you from accepting the plain teachings of God's Word. There have been some mighty twisting of Scriptures to make it say what it does not say, but when we study with an open mind and willing heart, we may understand. We may understand the need for baptism, if we are willing, and we may obey that our sins can be forgiven by the precious blood of Jesus and by the wonderful working and grace of God.

Now, we each must make a serious and honest self-examination. Have we done what the Lord said we must do? "And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name" (Acts 22:16).

The Bench Warmers

Have you ever noticed who does the booing at a ball game? It's not the players on the field. They make their own mistakes and they are not inclined to boo their fellow player when he makes his. They are pulling for one another, encouraging, helpful. They play as a team, win or lose as a team. It is the spectators who boo. So it is in every walk of life: it is the spectators who, as a rule, do the criticizing, not the participants.

Unfortunately, in every congregation, there are the spectators and the participants. The spectators never teach a Bible class, preach a sermon, lead singing, or preside at the Lord's table; they really don't get that much involved in the worship itself. But more often than not, they are the very ones who are found criticizing the preacher or song leader or Bible class teacher. They are the ones who are so embarrassed and incensed when someone inadvertently commits an "error" in his efforts to lead the group. They come wanting to hear something that is interesting and that will make the time fly by. If they hear it, they "cheer': if not, they "boo."

Not so with the true participants, those who are really involved in the Lord's work. They are the one "cheering on" that "rookie" who is preaching his first sermon or leading his first song. When a brother attempts to teach his first Bible class, they are looking for ways to be helpful. They are sympathetic; they rejoice in the success of others; they feel for the one who has failed, make allowances for him, encourage him to try again, and assure him that he will do better next time. They rejoice especially in the development of the young men and women who engage in the Lord's work. They are just as nervous and excited when the young people make their first attempt at presiding at the Lord's table or teaching a Bible class as they would be if it were their own children.

How many preachers have decided to move because of the booing spectators, right at the time when the participants were enjoying their greatest spiritual growth? How many elders have planned the work around the demands of the spectators rather than the needs of the participants?

Spectators need to become participants and find out what it's like out there "on the field." Participants need to keep on doing their best, ignoring the "boos" while looking to their all-seeing and understanding "Manager" for approval. All need to be the "doers of the word," not the critics, who will be saved. "Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous" (1 Pet. 3:8).

Christians, like ball players, make a sad mistake when they listen too closely to the "boo-birds."

Are You Worring?

In writing to the Christians at Philippi, Paul urged them to "Be careful for nothing" (Phil. 4:6, KJV). Other versions render that phrase as follows: "In nothing be anxious" (American Standard Version); "Have no anxiety about anything" (Revised Standard Version). Today's English Version translates it, "Don't worry about anything"; and Phillips Modern Version, "Don't worry about anything whatever." The New International Version says, "Do not be anxious about anything."

The word translated "be careful" (Merimanao) means "to be anxious; to be troubled with cares . . ." (Thayer p. 400). It is also translated "take thought" in Matt. 6:25-34. So Paul is talking about worrying, not forethought, but anxious thought.

The apostle here is not forbidding a thought-out life. Rather, in other passages he emphasized this (Gal. 6:7-9; 2 Cor. 6:2). Neither is Paul urging us to be a happy-go-lucky people. He was far from being one that made a joke of life. The seriousness with which he looked on life is seen in his statement to Timothy, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith" (2 Tim. 4:7). Furthermore, we are not being told to be unconcerned about ourselves and others. Paul told the Ephesians that they would naturally be concerned about themselves (Eph. 5:28-29). Also, Jesus set forth the principle of being concerned for others in the story of the good Samaritan (Luke 10:30-37; cf. Phil. 2:4). And neither are these words of inspiration prohibiting one being upset at times. Christ Himself wept when He beheld the city of Jerusalem (Luke 19:41). Paul also said, "Be ye angry, and sin not . . ." (Eph. 4:26). But what is Paul saying? He is warning Christians against a fretful and feverish attitude toward life. Do not engage in anxious thought; do not worry is simply what the apostle is saying.

Jesus also taught on this important subject in Matt. 6:25-34. Here He emphasized that we ought to "Take no thought for your life." Other versions (which are not always acceptable translations on many other texts) say, "be not anxious for your life" (ASV), and "do not worry about your life" (NIV). One example of the things we should not worry about is food (vs. 25-26). It is pointed out that fowls, which neither sow, or reap, nor gather, are fed by the heavenly Father. So why should we constantly worry about our eatables since we are obviously better than the fowls? Yet another example that Jesus gives is our raiment (vs. 28-30). We are urged to consider the lilies of the field, which neither toil nor spin, yet even Solomon in all of his glory was not arrayed like one of these. So why should we be anxious and worry about our clothing since we are much better than the grass of the field?

The Need For This

An exhortation of this nature is needed by all. Worry is so common to man. The young and old, the rich and poor, the learned and unlearned, the saints and sinners, and the faithful and unfaithful all have worries. And it seems that we worry about everything beneath the shining stars of heaven. We worry about our money, how we are going to get it, keep it, and spend it. We worry about other's troubles as well as our own. The thought of some calamity is constantly plaguing our mind, with 75% to 90% of these calamities never taking place. It makes us wonder if some are not setting up at night to plan out their worries for the next day.

The Folly Of Worrying

(1) It is useless. This is the very point that Jesus was making in Matt. 6:27, "Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?" Jesus is saying that if a man does not like his height, his worrying about it will not help. Worrying is not going to make him grow. Then in the parallel account Jesus said, "If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest?" (Luke 12:26). So if our worrying will not accomplish an increase in our stature, why should we think our worrying will do any good elsewhere? Worrying never lifted a single burden; it never dried a single tear; it never solved a single problem. There are two classes of things we should never worry about: the things we can help, and the things we cannot help.

If there is a problem or situation that we can do something about, let us do what we can and quit worrying. For example, if one were to wake up at night just freezing to death, it would be silly just to lay there and worry about it. The only sensible thing to do would be to do something about it -- get more cover. And so it is with many of life's problems. Worry does not help but action does.

Neither should we worry with the things which we can do nothing about. What good would our worrying do? We cannot do anything about growing older, the weather, death, and many other things which must simply take their course. Our worrying about our age will not make us younger. Neither will worrying change the weather, nor keep us from dying. Therefore, seeing that we cannot do anything to help and that our worrying will not relieve any burden, we ought to forget such matters and not worry about them.

Many times we find ourselves worrying about close friends, relatives or neighbors as they travel from place to place. But again this is silly. Can we do anything to help in the matter to make their travels safer? If so let us do it and quit worrying. However if we cannot assist or do anything to better their safety, what will our worrying do? Obviously nothing, so it is just plain useless whatever the occasion may be.

(2) It is hurtful. Though this is not generally recognized by Christians, anxiety is hurtful in many ways. There is no disease that worry does not aggravate. Dr. Charles Mayo, of the famed Mayo Clinic, once said, "Worry affects the circulation -- the heart, the glands, the whole nervous system. I have never known a man who died from overwork, but many who died from doubt." Worry wears one out mentally and physically. Worry is the grime and grit that once inside the "wheel bearings" of our minds puts our steering out of control and sends us off at the next curve.

It is not only hurtful to ourselves but to others about us. Worry makes one hard to live with because they have always got a worry to share with you. Thinking of only the worst that could happen, the worry-wart will nag one half crazy.

(3) It is faithless. Worry indicates a weakness in our faith. Jesus describes one that worries by saying, "O ye of little faith" (Matt. 6:30). Do we not have faith that God will be with us and those whom we worry about? We need not become of doubtful mind and worry about what may happen, for whatever did happen it may be for our good. The apostle Paul said, "All things work together for good to them that love God" (Rom. 8:28). Could it be, brethren, that we really do not have true faith in God?

The Cure

Anxiety is not cured by laughing it off, drinking away our problems, or finding some ideal situation. However Paul suggested in the same context the answer.

The apostle commanded that we should (1) pray. "But in everything by prayer...let your request be made known unto God" (Phil. 4:6). If we are worried about ourselves or someone else, we should pray for God's help in the situation. Another command given is that we should (2) redirect our thinking. We might illustrate this with a house that has only two windows. One window has an unbelievably beautiful view of a lawn with flowers and trees. The other has the most awful sight of garbage and trash you have ever seen. Now which window would you look out of the most? Obviously, the one with the beautiful view. So it should be in the house of life. We should spend our time thinking on things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely and of good report (Phil. 4:8). We also should (3) put our faith in God. We ought to trust him, that he will be with us. The apostle Peter tells us to put our cares upon God (1 Peter 5:7).

Conclusion

The results of our prayers, redirection of thought, and faith in God will be obvious. The peace of God will keep our hearts (Phil. 4:7). We will be better both mentally and physically, being better able to get along with others. Let us not be a Martha in Luke 10:40-41 who was troubled with cares. But we need to strive to be as Mary who chose Jesus.

Do You Like Bible Classes?

I attend because they help me grow in grace and knowledge. I share in the lessons and thoughts from various ones. There children learn lessons that will help preserve them from the pitfalls of life and prepare them for heaven and eternity. My participation shows to the world my interest in the church and spiritual things - which may influence others for good. My concern for others, for children and my own soul will not let me willfully neglect such activity.

Now, suppose you make a list of reason why you do not attend the classes:

- "I'd rather sleep late." - "It's too much trouble to get up and get the kids ready." - "There's something else I had rather do." - "The teacher doesn't interest me." - "I'm good enough and know enough already." - "I need the extra rest (so I can work more overtime and/or engage in more recreational activities)."

Go ahead, make your list. Then present it to God when you pray! If you think God will accept such excuses, I suggest you read (before you reach judgment day) Matt. 6:33; Matt. 25, and Rev. 3:14-21.

What about my priorites?

The young man who came to the Lord asking what good thing he should do to have eternal life probably would have said that spiritual concerns were his highest priority. But when he was told to sell what he had, give to the poor, and follow Jesus, "he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions" (Matt. 19:22). What he may have said about his values indicated one thing, His actions indicated another.

When anyone asks what is most important to us, the tempting thing is to answer in terms of what we know should be most important. But the Lord does not judge what our priorities are by listening to our theories. He looks at our practice. And if we do not somehow gather our courage and look, as He does, at what means the most to us in actual fact -- and repent accordingly -- eternity holds no hope for us. Before it's too late to make any changes, we need to be asking ourselves some blunt questions about what our priorities really are.

What Would Others Say Our Priorities Are By Viewing Our Actions And Words? -- Others may not know us as well as we know ourselves, but they are often more objective about what they do know. The neighbor who lives next door could probably sum up in a word of two what we are really about. Perhaps more than anybody, our children are able to cut through our preachments and tell what actually matters most to us in the rough and tumble of daily living.

What Do We Think About? -- Our true priorities are the things our minds are drawn to when they are "in neutral." When activities and obligations do not require us to be thinking about anything in particular, our thoughts are attracted, like things to a magnet, to our real enthusiasms. The person who finds that he meditates on God only when he forces himself to do so is lying if he says the spiritual life is his overriding concern.

What Do We Talk About Most? -- Is it God? The conversations we engage in arise quite naturally out of the things that are on our minds. If we have to admit that we rarely talk about the Lord except in connection with the services of the church, that ought to tell us something. And even if we do sometimes talk about spiritual matters, if our acquaintances would have to say that our conversation gravitates more naturally and enthusiastically toward other things, then there is serious doubt whether our ultimate priorities are really spiritual.

How Do We Spend Our Time? -- Hardly anybody has as much "spare" time as he would like. But all of us have some, and the way we spend it displays our priorities. I have known families, for example, who "vacationed" by traveling to gospel meetings or Bible lectureships at congregations in distant states. Judging from their use of time that was theirs to do with as they pleased, one would tend to believe such folks if they said they loved the Lord more than anything else. On the other hand, I have known folks who all their working lives complained that they didn't have as much time as they wanted to do the Lord's work -- and then spent virtually all of their retirement years in personal leisure, with perhaps less time devoted to the Lord than before! The fact is, the way we spend our time speaks loudly regarding our values.

How Do We Spend Our Money? -- Suppose a Bible class teacher recommended a $50 reference book that would help us in our study of the Scriptures, but we said we couldn't afford it. Suppose a preacher recommended a $30 a year periodical that would help us grow spiritually, but we said it cost too much. If it was known that we sometimes spent that much on sporting events and recreational activities, that it wasn't unusual for us to spend that much in a single evening at a restaurant, that we couldn't object to spending that much on decorative home furnishings, etc., could anyone take seriously our claim that the Lord is our uppermost concern?

What "Gives" When We Face A Conflict Of Priorities? -- Of the many conflicts involving priorities, perhaps none are more annoying than "scheduling" conflicts. Unable to be two places at the same time, we very often have to sacrifice one activity for another. When that happens, if we subordinate the things of the Lord to worldly activities, we give the lie to our professed priorities. In the matter of sports, to take a familiar example, if we can manage it such that our softball league and the services of the church hardly every conflict, that is all well and good, but it says relatively little about our priorities. When the occasional conflict does arise, that is when we make a statement about our priorities.

The same is true of work. If, on business trips, we've been willing to violate our commitment to assemble with brethren at our travel destination, we may try to make it look as if we chose between one thing that was "optional" and another that was not. But, in truth, we've simply demonstrated which of our various priorities we are willing to make the bigger sacrifice for. Indeed, it's when priorities collide that we learn the most about ourselves, our values, and whether the Lord reigns within us or not.

How then do I know -- in all honesty -- what my priorities are? By looking at what I am, in fact, doing with my life. Paul wrote: "To whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one's slaves whom you obey, whether of sin to death, or of obedience to righteousness" (Rom. 6:16). Jesus said: "No one can serve two masters...You cannot serve God and mammon" (Matt. 6:24).

Where my priorities are, there will my energy and enthusiasm be also!

Is Satan destroying your life?

Imagine Something With Me: -- Imagine a war room where Satan and his forces are gathered. On the table around which they gather is a folder. It is a folder with your picture on the cover. The talk is about you as Satan and his angels devise a fine-tuned scheme for ruining your life.

It may be a modern day war picture but the Bible is clear that Satan does scheme to destroy our lives. Paul warns us to "Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil" (Eph. 6:11). He has a unique plan for destroying your relationship with God, your family and your influence on other people.

Fortunately, God has briefed us on our enemy. He tells us how he works and how to beat his schemes (2 Cor. 2:11). Consider three common ways he will come at you:

He Discourages You: -- Satan will work to discourage you from worshiping God. Wasn't this what he did with Job? Job was going about his business serving God while oblivious to Satan's schemes. God had expressed pleasure in Job yet Satan accuses the Patriarch of serving God only because of his blessings. Satan says, "Touch all that he has and he will surely curse you to your face" (Job 1:11). A battle begins and Job is the battleground. The cross hairs are on him and the issue to be settled is this: will a man serve God when God is all He has? God says he will. Satan says he will not.

Satan's cruelty is seen in what he does to Job. The day starts off like an ordinary day and then everything breaks loose. With one wave of devastation upon another, Job loses all of his possessions. And when you think it can get no worse, a great wind collapses the house and he loses all ten of his children! Satan then gets more personal. Skin for skin! Job is tormented with boils form the crown of his head to the sole of his feet.

What is Satan's purpose? His intent was to beat Job down until he was so discouraged he would curse God and never worship Him again. And he will do it still. You ask, "To me?" Yes, to you. He may not do it in the same way as he did with Job but he can and does heap on discouragement in vicious ways today.

Let me ask some challenging questions: Is there any amount of financial pressure that could turn you away from your devotion to God? Could there be enough family conflict to make you give up? Could health issues bring you to throw in the towel? What about the sudden loss of a child or all of your children?

Job's answer? "Though He slay me, yet I will trust Him" (13:15). What amazing commitment to God! Job served God when God was all he had. Will you?

He Distracts You: -- Satan will work to distract you from serving God. As soldiers we are warned against distraction – "No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier" ( 2 Tim. 2:4).

Satan has weapons of mass distraction. He would love nothing more than to distract us from spending time with God or working for Him. Some things are not of themselves sinful but they do weigh us down (Heb. 12:1). In the parable of the sower, Jesus warned about getting choked with cares, riches and pleasures of life (Lk. 8:14). Satan wants to turn your everyday cares into fears. He loves to make you worry about things that never happen. He wants sports, leisure activities, entertainment and television to consume excessive amounts of the time you might otherwise use for God. True soldiers don't let it happen. They don't get entangled.

He Deceives You: -- Satan will work to deceive you into disobeying God. His greatest thrill is to wreck your life and cause others watching you to become disillusioned about the worth of Christianity. It happens. Have you ever known a Christian to abandon their mate for someone more appealing? Or a Christian who lets the allure of money trap him into an illegal business scheme? Have you ever wept with a Christian enslaved to pornography or sexual immorality? They didn't intend to end up there. They were picked off. They were deceived.

Isn't that what he did with Eve? Satan skillfully worked to convince Eve that she was missing out because God was holding her back from real fulfillment (Gen. 3:1-6). How deceived she was (3:13). Sin doesn't satisfy your cravings. It only intensifies your cravings until you are consumed by your own desires. James says, "Each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is fullgrown brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren" (1:14,15).

Robert Jeffress expounds on this passage saying: "Corrupt Desire + Right Bait + Wrong Choice = Sin. (The Divine Defense, pg. 46).

Satan caught Eve in a vulnerable moment, corrupted her desires and then dangled the right bait at the right time.

Satan will do the same with us. He will watch us to know where he can deceive. He knows what bait to dangle and when to dangle it. He knew Judas' weak spot! He will know yours.

Brethren, be on the alert! Satan is scheming to ruin your life. Study the enemy. Be sober. Put on the armor of God. God has given you all you need to defeat Satan. Press on to victory!

Is Baptized Not?

Mark 16:16 says, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved...." This verse shows plainly the purpose of both "belief" and "baptism." However, some point out that since the last part of verse 16 says, "...but he that believeth not shall be damned," and does not say, "he that believeth not and is baptized not," that baptism is not essential to salvation.

The objection stated above is not valid. Immediate suspicion is raised because the first part of the verse says that a person who believes AND is baptized shall be saved. Would Christ contradict Himself in the second part of the verse?

Secondly, when two conditions are stated as being necessary to receive a certain promise, and it only takes the neglect of one of the conditions to not receive the promise, it is not necessary to state the failure of both. In the case of Mark 16:16, if a person does not believe, he normally would not be baptized. Also, all that it takes for a person to be lost is a lack of faith. So it is not necessary to say, "He that believeth not and is baptized not"

Consider the following statement. He that eateth and digesteth shall live, but he that eateth not shall die. Two conditions are stated for life. It is only necessary to state one condition for death. The person who does not eat will obviously not digest, and the mere lack of eating will cause a person to die. Therefore, it is not necessary to say, "He that eateth not and digesteth not shall die." The same is true of Mark 16:16. He did not need to say, "He that believeth not and is baptized not shall be lost."

It would be difficult to misunderstand Mark 16:16. It teaches that the person who believes AND is baptized shall be saved!

Fostering Faithfulness

To The Smyrna Saints The Lord Said: -- "...be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life" (Rev. 2:10). Here are five spiritual words to encourage us to greater faithfulness in the Lord's service.

Abide: -- As disciples of Christ, our relationship with the Lord is like that of a branch and vine (Jn. 15:1-8). Jesus is the Vine. We are the branches. The appeal is for us to abide -- some form of the word "abide" occurs 7 times in these 8 verses of Scripture. Abiding in Christ enables us to be faithful (vss. 4,5) results in answered prayers (vs. 7), causes God to be glorified (vs. 8), and proves our discipleship (vs. 8). Those who fail to abide become lifeless (vs. 5), are cast out (vs. 6). "And now, little children, abide in Him: that, when He shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before Him at His coming" (1 Jn. 2:28).

Cleave: -- When Barnabas arrived in Antioch, he "exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord" (Acts 11:23). To cleave is to cling or adhere to. In the Old Testament, those who did not cleave to the Lord were destroyed by the Lord (Deut. 10:20).

Continue: -- The ardent appeal of the Lord and His apostles was for Christians to continue. "If ye continue in My Word, then are ye My disciples indeed" (Jn. 8:31). "As the Father has loved Me, so I have loved you; continue ye in My love" (Jn. 15:9). "Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God" (Acts 13:43). "...continue in His goodness..." (Rom. 11:22). "...continue in the faith..." (Col. 1:23). "But continue thou..." (2 Tim. 3:14).

Endure: -- Where lawlessness abounds, love grows cold. "But he who endures to the end shall be saved" (Matt. 24:12,13). In the Parable of the Sower, the stony ground represented those who "endure but for a time; afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the Word's sake, immediately they are offended" (Mk. 4:17). It's not enough for us to endure for a time -- we must endure unto the end!

Hold: -- The Hebrew writer penned, "Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)" (Heb. 10:23). Imagine yourself in the midst of a large sea. A ship has come by and you're thrown a rope to safety. You are holding firmly to the rope, lest you perish. We must hold to the Lord with everything we have, never letting go!

The crown of life is promised to the faithful. May we show ourselves faithful in the execution of the Lord's commands!