I've struggled with this in the past and I know many brethren do as well. At what point does a child of God have the ability to say that another human being has either failed to reach or has fallen from the salvation in Christ because of his religious beliefs or actions?

     Many believe that any person having some inkling of a belief in Jesus and some rendition of the faith in Him is to be called a Christian and is to be inside the scope of fellowship of fellow Christians, but is this correct?

     We've all heard the normal tests of fellowship - worship, church organization, authority in the Scriptures alone, etc. but are these the only things one must believe and obey in order to be unified in the Spirit? 

     However, being a person who is always yearning to test all things (cf. 1 Thessalonians 5:21) we must ask the question, WHY? - I believe the reason is very simple, because the other things are not visible! 

     Take conviction, for instance. There is an aspect in which conviction in Christ (personal belief/faith) is able to be seen outwardly like when Paul wrote that the faith of the Colossian brethren was able to be seen in that he knew that they were "faithful" (Colossians 1:2) and that they had learned of their faith (Colossians 1:4). But, in a very real sense of the word, my faith and conviction is deep within my heart which no man can know save me (1 Corinthians 2:11). 

     My love for the lost and for my brethren is the same. While my teaching the lost shows my love for them and my fellowship with the brethren shows the entire world that I am a follower of Jesus (John 13:35), no one can definitively know whether or not these things are done out of true love or a pretentious love which is bent on getting society's accolades except me. 

     So, why do we use things like whether or not a person worships in spirit and in truth (cf. John 4:24) forsaking man-made traditions and worship practices like mechanical-instrumental music or flawed roles in worship as a test of fellowship? I can assure you, it isn't because we just want to feel superior to him (although a minority might have this in mind and it is really impossible to tell definitively). No, the reason is because we can openly see that. 

     That doesn't mean, however, that a person seeking to be a part of the restored church of Jesus Christ can simply stop at the outward signs of faith and be done in his restoration process! Just as it is important to restore the authority of Jesus and the knowledge that the Bible and it alone give the words for eternal life (John 12:48, John 6:68), it is likewise important to have the inner man restored in order to be in fellowship with Christ and walk in His light (1 John 1:7-9) whereby the fellowship between mankind can be defined as "Christian" as well. 

     There is one thing that boggles my mind when it comes to the Christians that make up true, God given, God inspired, trustworthy Christianity as found within the pages of your New Testament, the idea that it is impossible to know if I am saved. While sitting in a recent evangelism class being held in my area I heard the instructor say something that made tremendous sense to me, he said, "I believe that the plague of Christianity in the last few generations is the idea that we cannot know and have confidence in our salvation." 

     That's absolutely right! Want to know why the church hasn't seen major, visible, growth in the last 50 years? It's not because we haven't been preaching the Gospel, it's not because the society has taken on the mindset of postmodernism or Calvinism or any other false doctrine, it's not even because "my generation" is a bunch of good-for-nuthin' kids with their faces in their iPhones and their Social Security checks in their back pockets (as some have suggested). The reason the church hasn't been able to get a foot forward in this sinful world is because for some strange reason we have taken it upon ourselves to step out of the teachings of the Gospel and start promoting this pipe-dream-Christianity that says the only confidence in one's salvation is how he feels or if he just happens to die right after praying for forgiveness for every sin that he has committed, and he knows every one because of his little red book he keeps in his back pocket to write down when he strays. 

     The Bible clearly teaches that knowledge of one's own salvation is not only available, it is absolutely necessary for a Christian to walk in Christ (1 John 5:13). Sure, we know that we sin and we should know when we sin (hindsight is 20/20, you know) but that doesn't mean that I am in a constant cycle of saved and unsaved based upon whether or not I have been able to stop and prayer fervently to my Father for forgiveness. Take, for instance, 1 John 1:5-10, if one can read that passage and not have confidence that God is not some spiritual troll waiting for a sinful status update to scroll across His Savedbook so He can relegate us to eternal damnation but is rather looking at our lives knowing the difficulty of living for Him on this earth (cf. Hebres 4:15) and always forgiving us at the moment of our sin if we are His children striving to live faithful lives in Christ (cf. 1 John 1:7).

     Don't get me wrong, I believe that there absolutely is a way in which we might be bragging about our salvation to the point that we commit sin. But, let me say this very clearly.

Being saved and knowing it isn't about how I feel or what I think, it's what God's word says and whether or not my life lines up with that word. - That's it!

     When we take the wonderful word of our Lord and read, study, understand and apply it to our lives here on this wretched rock we can know assuredly that we have the saving blood of Jesus Christ washing our sins when we fall short. Then and only then will we be able to make headway in our evangelism (especially in America, mind you)!

     People today, while a post-modernistic mindset prevails, aren't looking for wishy washy Christians. People want to know that when they listen to us and study with us about Jesus Christ that we are sure of what we are saying and that we actually have accessed that salvation for ourselves. They don't want someone to come to them and say, "I'm not sure if I'm saved and I'm not sure that you will be saved but won't you come and be unsure with me?"

     That's why the Lord's body hasn't been able to grow as some other groups have. It's not because we haven't been working! We have! It's because we haven't allowed ourselves to get out of Christianity everything that God has put in it, namely the confidence in our salvation, and people have seen that. So, let's get that confidence through honest evaluation of our lives in light of the Scriptures and then go tell everyone else how they can have that confidence as well!

     In culmination of our study of ways in which the Scriptures tell us that we can show God our love, we come to the last 4 acts. However, remember, that just because 8 things are mentioned here doesn't mean that there aren't other ways in which we show our Father our love nor does that fact mean that whatever we decide will adequately and righteously show our love. Our praise and adoration to Him must first be found in the Bible which He gave to us to instruct us in our worship and lives toward Him. (Click here to read the first 4 points in this 2-part article)

5. Reject the World - 1 John 2:15
     No study of our expression of our love to God would be complete without a mention of this very important point. There are so many things in the world vying for our attention and love, and yet we ought to have the wherewithal to reject those things if they lead us away from loving our God. Notice, this passage cannot be speaking of the Father's ceasing to love someone if they are entangled in the ways of the world, after all, He loved us while we were sinners (Romans 5:8) and the world as a whole long before the saving grace and blood of Jesus Christ was available to us (John 3:16). No, the direction of the love mentioned by the apostle John is upward. 

     It is absolutely impossible for us to love God if we allow ourselves to be taken into a lustful relationship with the world. That's what it is isn't it? We often teach our young people about the difference between love and lust. Well, loving the world is nothing more than a relationship bent on fulfilling lusts, void of the true love which is only found in a relationship with God Almighty. The only way to have that relationship? Just as the only way to have true love in a physical relationship, specifically speaking of a marriage, is to reject all other means by which lusts can be fulfilled outside of that bond. 

     How fitting it is to say that we are married to God!

6. Be Bold - 1 John 4:17
     As is the case with any study of the topic of love, many great and insightful points can be gleaned from the pen of John. This is no exception. 
 
     While the context at hand is specifically speaking of the love that the child of God has from the Father through the salvation offered in Jesus Christ (1 John 4:12-16), I believe that the opposite direction may also be applied. If God has provided a way in which we can "have boldness in the day of judgment" because of His love for us, wouldn't it be the case that our exercising that boldness in the day of judgment would show our love back to Him. 

     How can one be bold in the Day? It's very simple. - Know that he will receive eternal life on that Day. 

     That isn't a statement that is often taken without any sort of weariness on the part of the individual, but it is true. Many people do not want to emphatically say the words, "I know that I am saved" but without that boldness, based upon the actions in one's life and whether or not they are in accordance with the Gospel of Christ (1 John 5:13, 1 John 1:7-9), then we have failed to see what God has given us. We have failed to get everything out of Christianity that God has placed in it. And, we have failed to show our love to God. 

7. Love the Brethren - 1 John 4:21
     This point is obviously well understood by the majority, but it still needs to be discussed. Anything that is done to the brethren is, by extension, done to Jesus Christ (Matthew 25:40). Because of that, any hatred which is expressed to the body of Christ (the church of Christ) or the members thereof is to be understood as being directed straight at the face of God Himself. 

     What better way to show God we love Him than to love those that are in Him (Ephesians 1:7, Galatians 3:27, Acts 2:47). 

8. Have Faith - 1 Pet. 1:6-9
     I fail to be able to look at the Bible and see any greater point than this when speaking of the love we show to God. The Hebrews writer once said that "faith.... [is] the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 1:1)." While I have yet to have the amazing blessing of being able to see my Savior, I know that He exists. While that knowledge is based upon a correct application of the physical evidence proving the existence of the God of the Bible and the Bible's accuracy and trustworthiness, that knowledge is also based upon what the Scriptures tell me. 

     Yet, having not seen Him, sometimes I feel as though my faith is missing something. How much more faith would I have if I had been able to be at the dinner when the two sisters got in an argument over which was more important, or if I had been there when He fed the 5,000? While it may have been stronger if I had lived back then (although I hope that my knowledge that these things and many more happened leads me to have as strong a faith as possible), Peter wanted those brethren that were in the same position of not seeing Him as me to know that the genuineness of our faith can be perfect, by loving Him. 

     Our faith, the trust in God lead by the evidence and bringing us to obey His commands, is the best way that we can show our Father that we truly, whole-heartedly, undeniably, reverently love Him!

     It's the greatest command found in all of the Bible, as per Jesus' words in Mark 12:29-31 - "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength." But, how do we do this? Is this love of which Jesus spoke to be rendered down into nothing more than an emotional feeling like that of any sane person to his freshly baked pizza sitting in front of him? I'm not the first to tell you, the answer is a resounding "NO!" The love of man for his Lord is much, much, much more than this sort of feeling.
     
     The love that is commanded and deserved by God is something which, while very difficult at times, is an action word. It is something which transcends the mere mental appreciation or even adoration that some would ascribe to it and is actually shown forth in a person's life by the actions which he does.

     Here are 5 ways in which the Scriptures tell us that our love for God is shown to Him. 

2. Give...Abundantly - 2 Corinthians 8:8
     It might be somewhat of a shock to you (as it was to myself), but it is scientifically proven that giving more (specifically regarding financial giving) increases one's own outlook on his life and his happiness. (1) However, God's commands to give have less to do with our own feelings, as our feelings do not dictate how or what we should do to obey Him, and more to do with the help of His children and those who are in need. 
     
     That isn't to say that we can gather no personal benefit from our giving of our means to the work of the Lord (cf. 1 Corinthians 16:2), but rather to say that our giving directly effects our faithfulness to Him and, according to Paul's explanation of his "testing the sincerity of...love by the diligence of others (2 Corinthians 8:8). Our giving shows whether or not we are being sincere in our love to God! I mean, what other part of worship is as secret as the giving? The only people that might know what you gave is the person cashing the checks and the elders (depending on the congregation). 

     Therefore, if we are going to love God, we are going give Him what He deserves... all of it! That means giving Him ourselves first (2 Corinthians 8:5) and then following that up with giving out of our wallets to help His cause. He doesn't need the money to save, but His church needs the money to preach that salvation!

3. Respect His Workers - 1 Thessalonians 5:13
     In a section of Scripture often read quickly and studied briefly, Paul makes mention of something which might or might not be done within our lives very often. While I am a preacher of the Gospel and therefore get somewhat uneasy when writing or speaking on such things, Paul emphatically commands that the workers in the Kingdom of Christ (i.e. the "ministers" or preachers) ought to be "esteemed" very highly for their work's sake. Not that preachers are somehow better or more important that the "average member" (I hate saying that, but for lack of a better term...) but the work of the preacher is something which should be respected. 

     Notice, that esteem given to the preacher because of the work which he has taken upon himself (i.e. the education and edification of the body of Christ) is to be done in love, showing this command to be, by extension, a love to God. Since God has set the way by which He instructs mankind to be through the Word which is preached by men today (Romans 10:14-17), the words spoken by those men are to be understood as the very words of the Almighty (provided the man is preaching the Bible and not his opinions or man's doctrines). 
 
     That goes the same for those who Paul describes as "over" the brethren - the elders. While I believe that sometimes, preachers are shown the esteem that they deserve for their position in the church, I'm also convinced that many times elders are not given the same. If you don't believe the need for good, qualified, strong elders, attend a congregation who is not afforded the ability to have such because of a lack of men or some other circumstance and you will quickly see that the only way that a congregation can truly thrive is under the oversight of faithful men of God - elders. 

4. Endure Temptations - James 1:12
     Yet another way that we can readily show our Father that we love Him, aside from respecting His workers, giving back to Him and obeying all of His commands, is to endure the temptations of this world. James connects those who endure to those who love the Almighty in James 1:12. Why, you might ask? Because James 1 is all about trusting in Him for everything that we need. Whether the need is help through some outward trial which leads us to be tempted to sin or whether it is in our every day lives understanding that we much follow His word in order to have the full and abundant life of which the Christ spoke (James 1:21-27, John 10:10). 

     What better way to show God that we love Him then to, by our works and less by our prayers even those are vitally important as well, trust Him through our difficult times? How many Christians have in essence told God that He wasn't what they needed by deserting Him in their low points in life, turning to their own ways to "make it through"? God created us to worship Him (Ecclesiastes 12:13) but at the same time, He created us to need Him and if we give up and into our temptations, we've rejected all the help that He has promised and is poised to give at the moments notice (1 Corinthians 10:11-13). 

     The Preacher's Favorite Passage, in an effort to branch out and provide more helpful tools for Christians and non-Christians in their studies of the Word of God, is beginning to release personal Bible studies to be used with the Keynote app on any iPhone, iPad or Macbook. To purchase this app, if you don't already have it, click here. 

     These Bible studies are intended to help Christians fortify their faith and give them a portable and accessible way to sit down and study God's word with those who they contact. With these studies being available on the iPhone and iPad smartphones and tablets, they will always be available at a moment's notice. 

     Thank you so much and we sincerely hope these tools will benefit yourself and the Kingdom of God!

      To download the file, please click the button below. 

     Pastor David Martin, preacher for the Solid Rock Baptist Church in Bartlett, TN, wrote and posted an article in which he attempts to speak against the churches of Christ and the doctrine thereof. In the article, Mr. Martin uses inflammatory statements in a number of his statements about the church which will be addressed when the comments are addressed in the text of the article. Below is the entirety of the article (red text) with the answers to the questions and comments about the questions and statements made (black text). An introduction to Mr. Martin was given at the beginning of the article which is not needed in theological discussion but is available at the Solid Rock Baptist Church’s website.

     The religious sect known as the "Church of Christ" has many peculiar and aberrant doctrines that are contrary to the word of God. It is a most deceptive and dangerous cult (Since no evidence is given to prove the reasoning of this statement of the church being a “cult” then it may be an attempt to discredit the church of Christ using buzz words which incite adverse emotions. This may not be, but it is an interesting word to use without proof.). Their teaching of baptismal regeneration is an age-old heresy that has damned millions to hell, and is still doing so today. The idea that they are the one, true and restored church of Jesus Christ puts them in the same league with the Mormon and Roman Catholic churches (The Roman Catholic Church claims to be the apostolic church which can be traced directly to the apostle Peter, not the restored church. In this statement, the writer therefore claims the Baptist Church of which he is a part to not be the true church. Otherwise it is to be put in the same “league” as the aforementioned churches.).

     If you are a member of this "church (The writer has already stated it to be a church, therefore the question must be made, “Why the need for quotations, thereby possibly inciting emotions again?”)" or have been influenced by its teachings, we challenge you to ask your preacher the questions that follow, then get your King James Bible out, open it up, and ask the Holy Spirit to show you the TRUTH (John 16:13) (Since this was asked, all answers will be given from the KJV unless going to the original languages and the words’ meanings.). If you have never been saved in the Bible sense, for heaven's sake, do not mistake being "washed in the baptistery of the church" for being washed in the blood of Christ (Baptism may be done in a body of water which is large enough to fully submerge the individual submitting to baptism – Acts 8:38).

     If you ask one of these "preachers (With the speakers of the churches of Christ already being addressed as preachers in the previous paragraph, the question made previously with reference to the quotations used with regard to the church must be made yet again.)" any of the questions in this tract, you won't get a straight answer due to their "screwball (Again possibly inciting emotions against the church of Christ and its teachings)" theology. You'll have them in "hot water," "swimming in circles," trying to explain their heretical positions. They'll be "hopping all over the pond" because they can't stay too long in one spot without sinking in the mire of their false doctrines.


     Don't YOU wind up being baptized in the "Lake of Fire" by accepting a "waterworks" based plan of salvation and rejecting salvation by grace through faith in the finished work of Christ. (Matt. 3:11; Rev. 20:15; Eph. 2:8,9; Rom. 5:9; Rom. 11:6) (The citation of Eph. 2:8-9 is very interesting in this context. If one can go to the entirety of the Word of God for the answer to a question (John 17:17), and the context of the passage given speaks of one being “created in Christ Jesus (Eph. 2:10),” and being “in Christ (Eph. 2:13)” which is the source of reconciliation between the Jew and Gentile by bringing them into one body (Eph. 2:16) which also is called the “household of God (Eph. 2:19)” and the church (Eph. 1:22-23), then one must go to the Bible to see how to become “in Christ.” This is clearly explained by Paul, the same writer as the book of Ephesians (Eph. 1:1), in the book of Galatians as being “baptized into Christ (Gal. 3:27, cf. Gal. 1:1).” In order to see what is the “baptism” spoken of in Gal. 3:27, one can look to what Paul did in the account of his being saved. Paul is said to have been “baptized (Acts 9:18),” and even practiced baptizing people only in water (Acts 16:15 – Paul is not stated to do the baptizing but he was present, 18:8 – cf. 1 Cor. 1:14, 19:4-5 – Paul was present, if not the officiator, at the baptism of the Ephesians) as the disciples were commanded to baptize in the Great Commission (Mat. 28:19-20))

     Here are Questions for Campbellites (Mr. Martin’s use of this term, “Cambellites,” will be discussed later in this apology of the church.)

1. According to the history of the "Church of Christ," God used certain men to "restore" the New Testament Church in the early 1800's. Where was the true New Testament church before then? Jesus said that the gates of hell would not prevail against His church (Matthew
16:18). What happened to the church and where was the truth it was responsible for preaching before God restored it?

     Again, quotations are used very suspiciously.

     The Baptist Church has not been established since the day of Pentecost, yet Mr. Martin obviously believes it to be the true church. Therefore, the question can be asked about the Baptist Church, but it is not needed. Since the Word of God is likened to a seed (Mat. 13, Luke 8:5ff), one can use what has been called the “Seed Principle.” This is in reference to the parable spoken by the Christ while on earth which is often called the “Parable of the Soils,” in which the Christ says a man went to sow his seed in his field and the seed sprouts in one of the soils and continues to grow (Luke 8:5-11). Jesus explains the seed to be the Word and since the Word of God is what gives us the plans of the church (Mat. 16:19, cf. 2 Tim. 3:16-17), then the seed could be dormant for an extended amount of time, but when planted would still produce the fruit, one of which being the church.

     The Word of God is the authority in all spiritual aspects (2 Tim. 3:16-17, 2 Pet. 1:3), so the question must be made, “Where does the Bible say the church must be present at all times in history in order for the gates of Hell to not “prevail,” overpower, against it?” We understand that only members of the church which was built by Christ would be accepted into Heaven (Rev. 21:8). Also, it may be understood the passage cited (Mat. 16:18) to be speaking of the fact that the time Jesus spent in the “Hadean world” described in the passage (Hell – “It is the place to which all who depart this life descend, without reference to their moral character (Vincent’s Word Studies).”) would not stop, overpower, His establishing the church.

2. If a "Church of Christ" elder refuses to baptize me, will I be lost until I can find one who will? Do I need Jesus AND a Campebllite "preacher" in order to be saved? If I do, then Jesus Christ is not the only Mediator (1 Tim. 2:5) and the Holy Spirit is not the only Administrator (1 Cor. 12:13) of salvation - the "Church of Christ" preacher is necessary to salvation for he is performing a saving act on me when he baptizes me! Is this not blasphemy against Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost?

     Nowhere in the Bible does it refer to the spiritual state of the individual doing the baptizing. Therefore, this question is a “straw-man” argument, an argument based on misrepresentation of opponent's position by twisting his words or by means of [false] assumptions and therefore needs not to be answered. If Mr. Martin rephrases the question to one which is not in accordance with this logical fallacy, then it can be answered and will be posted at a later date.

3. If the water pipes broke and the baptistery was bone dry, would my salvation have to wait until the plumber showed up? If I were to die before then, would I go to hell? If obedience to water baptism is the means of forgiveness of sins, then I would.

     This is again a “straw-man” in assuming that baptism must take place in a baptistery located in a church building.

4. If my past sins are forgiven when I am baptized in water, and it is possible for me to "lose my salvation" and go to hell after being baptized, then wouldn't my best chance of going to heaven be to drown in the baptistery?!! - before I had a chance to sin so as to be lost again? If I wanted to be absolutely sure of heaven, isn't that my best opportunity?

     No, it is the case that baptism in water does result in the salvation of an individual by the act of God in answer to the submitting to the act with a clear conscience and repentance of sins (1 Pet. 3:21, Eph. 2:8, Col. 2:12, Acts 2:38), and one may “fall,” go from one place to another, from their salvation (Gal. 5:4), but the question cannot be answered affirmative because in baptism one is taking part in the representation of Christ and therefore one must be raised from the grave, of water, like Christ because Hell did not prevail against Him (Rom. 6:1-3, Mat. 16:18).

5. If as a Christian I can sin so as to "lose my salvation," just what sin or sins will place me in such danger? Is it possible to know at what point one has committed such a sin, and become lost again? Please be specific and give clear Bible references.

     It is the case that a person can fall, which has already been discussed. One cannot fall from a place in which he has not been at one point, and the Galatians were Christians but had “fallen” from the grace of God in their holding the Law of Moses as in effect after the institution of the new law (Gal. 5:4, 3:15-29). The point at which a person “loses” their salvation, in as much as they have become sinners again by erring from the Truth (Gal. 5:4, Jas. 5:19-20), at the point of their no longer walking in the Light (1 John 1:7), which is the extended practice of sin (1 John 1:6). The responder believes this to be specific and clear Bible references; if this isn’t the case more can be provided.

6. If as a Christian I can fall and "lose my salvation," is it possible to regain it? If so, how? If God "takes away" my salvation, doesn't that make Him an "Indian giver"? How could I ever know for sure that I was saved or lost?

     Absolutely! Any Christian who has left the way of the Lord can come back (Acts 8:21-24). One can clearly see how a person who has become a Christian could come back to the Lord, that way being repentance from his sins. This can also be seen in light of the passage written by John which states that a man who is walking in the light of the Lord has forgiveness from his sins as long as he is willing to repent of those sins (1 John 1:7-10). If the Lord has promised that those who follow His ways will be saved and those who do not will not receive salvation, then it is not the Lord’s fault that a man leaves His fold but the guilt is placed upon the man.

7. After becoming a Christian, are there any sins that will put me beyond the "point of no return" so that I cannot regain salvation? What sin or sins will put me in such jeopardy, so that, after becoming a Christian, I would be doomed to hell without any recourse? Please be specific and give me clear Bible references.

     There are numerous passages that say that a man can reach the point in which he cannot return to the Lord (1 John 5:16 being only one). In light of that fact, there must be a specific understanding as to how a man cannot be returned to the Lord’s way if he commits this sin even though the Lord is a loving God and wishes all to be saved and will forgive those who have sinned (1 John 1:7-10, Acts 17:30, 2 Pet. 3:9). The fact is, there is a “point of no return” at which a man will not be saved from his sins. 1 John 5:16 speaks of a sin which is “unto” death. The original word for the word translated “unto” literally means forward to, or toward. This gives much meaning and understanding to the passage which shows there to be a sin which will not be forgiven or and for which is not to be prayed by the brethren. The person who is sinning without repentance or the will to ever change from his ways is committing sin which is lasting unto death. It is only the case that a man will not be forgiven of his sins if he is not willing to change and come back to the Lord. 2 Pet. 2:10-15 speaks of a man that cannot cease his sinful ways because he has allowed the sin to take control and has no mind to attempt to regain control of his life.

8. If I committed some sin -whether in thought, word, or deed, one minute before a fatal car crash - would I go to hell if I did not have time to repent of it? And, please, don't just say that it's up to God without giving me a specific Bible reference.

     It is very illogical to say that the answer, “That is up to the Lord” is not a valid answer to this question, but Biblical evidence can give a more precise answer nonetheless. 1 John 1:6-10 speaks to this question as well. The Lord continuously cleanses a man who is attempting to live in His ways (this can be seen in the verb which is in the perfect tense and is translated, “cleanseth”). The Lord knows the hearts of every man who has or will ever live. In order to answer this question beyond the answer which is forbidden requires some opinion based on faith, an understanding based on evidence. Since it is the case that the Lord knows man’s heart, He wishes all to be saved and if a man commits a sin just before his death but the Lord knows that, if given the opportunity, the man would repent, then it is reasonable to understand the man was walking in the light and therefore would be forgiven of the sin. Nonetheless, the forbidden answer is sufficient.

9. Why does the "Church of Christ" insist that their name is scriptural when it cannot be found anywhere in the Bible? The church is referred to as the "church of God" eight (8) times in the Bible, but never is it called the "church of Christ." The verse they use is Romans 16:16, but it doesn't say "church of Christ." Where does the Bible call the church the "church of Christ"?

     This answer can be clearly understood when one uses the transitive property. The church which was bought by the blood of Christ (Acts 2:38) is also called the body of Christ (Eph. 1:22-23). Paul says that the Christians at Corinth, and therefore all Christians, are members of the “body” of Christ and therefore it can be seen that Christians are members of the church of Christ. The name, “church of God” would be another name for the church; however it is not used by many Christians due to the false teaching and connotation of the denomination holding the same name.

10. If the "Church of Christ" claims to worship God only as "authorized" by scripture because they sing only (and do not use instrumental music), then where do they get the "authority" to use hymnals, pitchpipes, pews, and indoor baptistries in their worship services? If the answer is that they are "aids to worship," where does the Bible allow for that? Where is your required authorization? If a pitchpipe can be an "aid to worship" for the song service in the "Church of Christ," then why can't a piano be an "aid to worship" for Baptists who may need more help in singing?

     This question can be addressed with exception of the last bit of the first question (indoor baptisteries, because baptism is not part of a worship service). Hymnals are authorized in the fact that Paul stated Christians are to sing “psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.” Where are the psalms? (In the Bible) If we are to sing psalms, and there is a great number of psalms located in the Bible, then it would be acceptable to have a Bible out of which to sing them. If it is acceptable to hold a Bible in order to sing the psalms, then the same must be acceptable with regard to hymns. Therefore, having a hymnal is just a way of having a written way in which we can have the words of the hymns so we can carry out the command of Paul. Pitch pipes are used to set the first pitch of the hymn/psalm/spiritual song. It must be admitted that a pitch pipe is an instrument which is not authorized in worship. The distinction must then be made of whether or not that pitch pipe is being used in the worship. The time designated for the congregation to worship is not entirely made of worship (there can be breaks in the worship for expedient purposes). For example; a congregation may stop the acts of worship at some point in order to address the announcements which need to be made that day, but that does not mean the announcements are part of the worship they are simply done during the appointed worship time when the congregation is together (expedient). Likewise, pitch pipes are not used during the worship of the church (during the actual singing) but are used before the worship begins in order to expedite the singing which is about to take place. In regards to pews, this may be something thrown in arbitrarily to distract the reader and attempt to make the stance of the church of Christ of none effect by mentioning something absurd. Nonetheless, pews are authorized during the worship services of the church because numerous times in the NT it is mentioned that the Christians sat during worship (especially Jesus sitting to teach before the Sermon on the Mount. Mat. 5:1). These things are all expedient to the worship of the church, but the only valid point like instrumental music is the pitch pipe, which is easily understood to not taking place during the worship activity. Therefore, a piano can be an aid to worship as long as it is not taking place during the commanded worship (that being the singing of psalms, hymns and spiritual songs).

11. The "Church of Christ" teaches that a sinner is forgiven of sin when he is baptized in water by a Campbellite elder. (That has already been addressed and is clearly seen to be an assumption which has no logical reasoning in this article other than to pose a straw man argument) Where does the Bible teach that water baptism is required in order to have one's sins forgiven? Every time the phrase "for the remission of sins" occurs it is speaking of the fact that sins have been forgiven previously! The Bible plainly teaches that the forgiveness of sins is conditioned upon repentance of sin and faith in Christ- never upon water baptism! (Matthew 3:11; Luke 24:47; Acts 3:19; Acts 5:31; Acts 10:43; Acts 20:21; Romans 1:16; Romans 4:5; et. al.) Where does the Bible teach that forgiveness of sin is linked with water baptism? When Christ made the statement in Matthew 26:28, "for the remission of sins," it had to be because they had been forgiven all through the Old Testament! Christ shed His blood because God forgave repentant and believing sinners for thousands of years before the Son of God came to "take away" sins and to redeem us and pay the sin-debt with His own precious blood. How can one say that "for the remission of sins" means 'in order to obtain' in light of the fact that God never uses the phrase in that sense?

     It is needed, in the case that the writer has said, “every time the phrase ‘for the remission of sins’ occurs it is speaking of the fact that sins have been forgiven previously,” that the phrase “for the remission of sins” is studied. The major point of this statement is to bring out the word “for” in the phrase. Ray Summers, a Greek grammarian, wrote that the word which is found in every one of the passages in which the phrase is used (eis) is to be translated “into, to, in (Summers, Essentials of New Testament Greek Revised, p. 176).” If that is the case, and many other Greek grammarians substantiate it, then the question is, “Where does it say that those sins have been previously forgiven if baptism is eis (into, to, in) the forgiveness of sins.” Mr. Martin states that Matthew 26:28 shows that mankind, or at least the men present at the last supper, were forgiven under, through, the Old Testament. No man was ever forgiven under the Old Testament Law of Moses. In order to prove that statement one may only look to Galatians 3:21, where Paul wrote that mankind was not forgiven under the Old Law. The question then arises, “Did all the people under the Old Law go to torment then?” No, because they were forgiven in prospect of the coming of Christ, but not without the blood of Christ. Therefore, the blood of Christ was shed eis (into, to, in) the remission of all mankind’s sins if only they will obey. Mr. Martin follows this fallacious statement with a statement that gives up his previous statement, in that he stated, “Christ shed His blood... to ‘take away’ sins and redeem us and pay the sin-debt with His own precious blood.” If Christ’s blood is what paid the debt for man’s sins, then how were people forgiven under the Old Testament without the blood of Christ? The fact is, the Greek word eis means into, to or in (which can easily be seen as “unto”) and therefore Peter’s statement on the day of Pentecost that the people were to repent and be baptized unto the remission of sins answers this entire question very easily (Acts 2:38).

     In the Old Testament God forgave sin on the basis of a blood sacrifice (Heb. 9:22) - the Old Testament saints had their sins remitted (i.e., forgiven) but they were not redeemed until Christ came and shed His blood at Calvary (Heb. 10:3-10 says this statement is absolutely false in that the blood of the sacrifices did not take away the sins but rolled them back). Their sins were covered (Romans 4:7; Psalm 32:1), but the sinner was not cleared of his guilt (Exodus 34:7) until the Cross (Heb.10:4) (How can a person’s sins be covered by the blood of bulls and goats, which did not have the ability to do so, and forgiven of those sins if their guilt of those sins were not cleared. If this is true, a person can be forgiven of their sins and not be allowed into Heaven because they still held the guilt of those sins.). Before Calvary, the sins of believers
were pardoned, but they were not paid for (i.e., redeemed) until the crucifixion (see Romans 3:25 and Heb. 9:12-15) (This is absolutely true, and has already been addressed). When Jesus said, "It is finished," (John 19:30), all sin - past, present and future - was paid for, and the plan of salvation was completed, so that 'whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins' (Acts 10:43) (If the first part of this sentence is true, what was the purpose of the death, burial and resurrection of Christ? I believe that both Mr. Martin and I can agree that without the death, burial and resurrection of Christ, man could not be saved from their sins, even though Mr. Martin would say that they were forgiven but not really forgiven without the blood of Christ). In Acts 2:38, the people were baptized because their sins were forgiven (at Calvary when Jesus said, "Father, forgive them,") and they received the blessing of forgiveness when they repented of their sin of rejecting Christ and accepted Him as their Saviour and Lord. Friend, heaven or hell depends on what you believe about this (See the statements regarding of the word eis, above).

12. If salvation is not by works of righteousness which we have done, and baptism is a work of "righteousness," then how can water baptism be a part of salvation? (Titus 3:5; Matt. 3:16) In the Bible, we are SAVED BY GRACE, and grace does not involve human effort or merit - grace is grace andwork is work! (Just read Ephesians 2:8,9 and Romans 11:6.)

     The writer of these questions, Mr. Martin, does not even believe that absolutely no work is to be done in the obedience to the will of God which leads to Him forgiving the person from their sins. He openly admits that one becomes a Christian by, “inviting the Lord into your heart after believing the Truth (Taken from an email message between myself and Mr. Martin).” The fact is, a person is not saved by works of righteousness which we have done, that is correct, but what is not being said in the statement above are the words “lest any man should boast (Eph. 2:8-9).” No person seeking to gain salvation through works of merit, so as to say, “You owe me this Lord,” will ever be saved! But, when the Lord says to do something, and a person does it, then it is not a work of self-righteousness from which one can receive merit. Human beings are saved by grace, the unmerited favor of the Lord, through obedient faith in Him (Eph. 2:8-9). How ridiculous would it be for a person to say to the Creator of all that is, “Since I have done this (either baptism, which is what Mr. Martin is trying to degrade, or belief and “invitation” of the Lord into his heart), you better give me this salvation, God, because I have EARNED it?” Obedience to the Lord’s commandments is a work of righteousness, but no one doing so has the right and ability to boast of what he has done. Peter says something to this in his statement about baptism being, “not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God (1 Pet. 3:21).” If it were a work of righteousness which done in order to merit salvation, it would be the putting away of the filth of the flesh, because what man on this earth can wash the sins of a person, or himself, by submerging him/himself in water? The work of merit is done by God, the obedience is done by the man wishing to receive salvation!

13. The "Church of Christ" teaches that "obeying the Gospel" includes being baptized in water in order to be saved. If this is true, then how is it that the converts of Acts 10 were saved by faith before and without water baptism? The Bible says in Acts 5:32 that only those who obey God may receive the Holy Ghost - so what did those in Acts 10 do to obey and receive the Holy Ghost and be saved? In the light of Acts 10:34-48, Acts 11:14-18, and Acts 15:7-11, how can anyone honestly believe that water baptism is necessary to salvation? Simon Peter said their hearts were "purified by faith" (Acts 15:9) and that we are saved by the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ like they were (Acts 15:11); that is, before and without water baptism!

     This question, and the mention of Acts 5:32, contradicts the implication of the belief of Mr. Martin given in the previous question, just as his statement about inviting the Lord into one’s heart. However, this question is a viable nonetheless. The speaking of tongues, and the other gifts of the Holy Spirit, were given in order to be signs to those who did not believe the word of God (1 Cor. 14:22). Because of this, we can see Acts 10 in its actually context. Peter obviously had a problem with going and preaching to the Gentiles, and so God gave him a vision in order to show him that all men were to be preached to (Acts 10:9-16). Peter did not understand the visions at the time they were given, but it is obvious that the meaning would soon come to his understanding. Cornelius’ men came to him, to bring him to Cornelius (Acts 10:17-21). Peter most likely understood the meaning of the visions at this point (Acts 10:34), but there were those who went with him to Cornelius that did not see the visions, and therefore did not know what was going on (Acts 10:47), so Peter asked whether or not any man could forbid them to be baptized for the forgiveness of their sins (Acts 2:38, 10:47).

     Now, “How is it that the converts of Acts 10 were saved by faith before and without water baptism?” There was a need for the Gentiles of Acts 10 to have the gifts to show those who were with Peter that they were to be accepted. Mr. Martin even cites the verses which say this same thing (Acts 15:7-11). They were purified by faith, which is not simply a mental ascension by an individual but a mental ascension accompanied by obedience. The Gentiles in Acts 10 were indeed baptized out of obedience after having faith. It is not logical to say a person will be saved from their sins if they believe in God but do not follow any of His commandments, the difference is Mr. Martin would say he must obey all but one of the commandments (baptism, Mark 16:16), and the churches of Christ believe he must obey all of the commandments (John 14:15).

     As for “obeying the Gospel,” the Bible teaches the Gospel to be the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 15:1-4), and one must be baptized to symbolically reenact that Gospel (Rom. 6:3-4), and that we are to obey God by being baptized (Mark 16:16, Acts 2:38, John 14:15).

     We know that unsaved people do not receive or have the Holy Spirit (John 14:17; Romans 8:9).

     John 14:17 is an account of the Christ speaking to His disciples and speaking of the time in which they would be given the entirety of the truth of God’s word, not spiritual gifts. There is a difference in being completely inspired by the Lord and having the ability from the Lord to speak in tongues, which is the context of Acts 10 and the above question. Romans 8:9 is speaking of the indwelling of the Spirit in the believer, not miraculous gifts. Therefore, this statement is using the Scriptures out of context in order to push the false point.

     We know that the Holy Spirit is given only to those who have believed on Christ (John 7:39).

     Did Cornelius not have an obedient faith in Christ? Absolutely not! He believed and Peter was there to show him how to obey in order to receive salvation.

     We know that the Holy Spirit seals the believing sinner the moment he puts his faith and trust in Christ as Savior, before he is ever baptized in water (Ephesians 1:12,13). That has already been addressed and shown to be a false statement. How does the warped theology of Campbellism explain away these clear passages of Scripture without "muddying the waters" of truth and drowning its members in eternal damnation? Campbellism is not the belief of the churches of Christ. Campbell was not the starter of the church of Christ because he did not believe what they believe nor did he teach what they teach, he simply started the movement in America to attempt to get people to go back to the Bible. This statement is nothing more than hateful and an attempt to muddy the waters for those honestly seeking the Truth. 

    Heart, the word conjures within us a number of different feelings and connotations doesn't it. Is he speaking of our courage, our loves, our thoughts and intents, what makes us who we are or is he talking about mass of tissue comprising the organ which supplies our entire body with life giving oxygen? The heart is the basis for our everyday character, how we relate to and treat others and even the source of our love for our spouses, family or friends. It is an amazing word holding so many different ideas that we could spend hours studying the psychology or physiology of it! But, we won't! 

    Let me answer your question, I'm not talking about the organ inside all of us that supports our lives but sometimes backfires on us and is in need of repair of various types. I AM talking about the other one, the center of what makes us, us. I'm talking about the one that is the source of everything we think and believe (Proverbs 23:7). Even though the heart is the source of our beliefs, we can't trust it to MAKE those beliefs from scratch, can we?

    So, no! We can't trust our hearts to make those beliefs but we can trust it to keep those beliefs strong within our lives (Luke 10:27). If our religion is our actions based upon our beliefs, and it is (James 1:22-27), then our hearts must be the guiding factor in every aspect of our religion and spirituality. But, again, we can't just trust our hearts to decide what to believe in some, "Trust your heart and you will follow God" sort of way. 

    I used to be that way! I used to think a number of different things that were contrary to God's word and yet they were all wrong, but you would never have known if you were able to read my heart! 

    So, if we can't trust our hearts, what can we trust? That's pretty easy... GOD (Proverbs 64:10, 3:5)! But that's easier said than done, right? After all, God doesn't speak to mankind today the way He used to (Jude 3) so how in the world can we trust what He says if He doesn't speak to us? That question is terrifying to those that don't understand the concept, not because they do not have the mental capability of knowing the truth but because they have trusted their hearts for far too long. The answer is surprisingly comforting, especially in a world where people believe God is revealing things to them which are contrary to things God allegedly revealed to their neighbors. The answer? - God's word! The Bible, that ought to be our guide in turning our hearts toward God (Acts 3:19) and establishing a belief and religion based upon that belief that is pleasing to God!

    Trust is something that I, as well as a majority of people today, have some problems with. My mindset has ALWAYS been, "If you want something done, do it yourself." And while that phrase is useful in some things it's not useful in everything, especially when it comes to salvation and spirituality. It's difficult to trust God to tell us what to do. Sometimes, many times, what He says contradicts with what we want but does t hat really matter? Remember, our hearts have to be used to follow God, not be gods.

    Let me challenge our readers this Tuesday morning, forget EVERYTHING you've ever thought about God and let Him fill you back up with what He wants you to know about Him. That's the only way we are going to use our hearts, something He gave us in the first place, to glorify Him and be accepted of Him. 

     There’s one objection to the truth of the essentiality of baptism that has any credence at all and that is the vast numbers of verses in the New Testament that say something to the effect of “you are saved by faith” (cf. Acts 15:9, 20:21, 26:18 just to name the ones in the book of Acts alone). And while the verses DO say that one is saved by faith, the entire problem with the argument rests in the very first thing that you learn in any logic or debate instruction, definition of terms. You see, if two people are going to have a discussion about what makes a cheesecake good they are going to have to define what a cheesecake is! (That is the problem in my house, my wife and my mothers both made different types of cheesecake. My mother made the kind you bake and my wife’s mother primarily made the kind you cool in the refrigerator. So, it is almost impossible for us to decide which kind to buy when having friends over for dinner)

     There is one verse that pops into my head every time this discussion comes up, the one about faith and salvation not cheesecakes, and that is Romans 1:17. I believe that through a valid understanding of Romans 1:17 any person can see what the multiplied verses in the Gospel of Christ refer to when they mention faith or belief resulting in one’s salvation. Let’s read the verse,

     “For in it (the Gospel) the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, ‘The just shall live by faith.’”

     In order to understand the meaning of Paul’s statement we have to back up and get the context of the passage at hand. Romans 1:15-16 set the state for what is most likely the best statement in all the Bible! Paul starts with stating that he is ready, mentally, to preach the Gospel to those who were in Rome in addition to those to whom he had already preached (Romans 1:15). He then states the verse that has been proclaimed from many a pulpit throughout the ages, “I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek (Romans 1:16).” There are so many wonderful things we can glean from this singular verse, but time does not allow such since we are attempting to understand something that comes on its heels.

     Now we have the context! So let’s look at the verse in question. Just a simple reading of it now may make for some ease of understanding. “For in the Gospel the righteousness (justification) of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written…” Did you catch it? The Gospel is the justification which cannot be found in any other source other than these “faiths” that are mentioned. But the question is still there, “What faiths is he talking about?”

     The last part of the verse, I believe, sets everything in order. Paul quotes from Habakkuk 2:4 and therefore links the Old Testament to the Gospel (or the New Testament) in the verse. What Paul is attempting to say is that the Gospel (good news of Jesus Christ) has always been the justifying thing for mankind. The Old Testament looking unto the New Testament and Jesus’ crucifixion, then was the good news as well as the New Testament and all of it’s truth and doctrines.

     So, at any time throughout history man has been justified in the eyes of God through faith in whatever law God had in place at that particular time (Old Testament being the Patriarchal and Mosaic and the New Testament being the Law of Christ).

     Now, in order to see whether this faith is a mental acknowledgement or something else we are going to have to go through the Old Testament and see how someone was saved back then. This can be done in one single chapter, and it isn’t even in the Old Testament – Hebrews 11. Sixteen (16) times in the chapter the Hebrews writer states, “By faith so-and-so…” and every time it is followed by an action! If we are going to be saved through faith in the same manner (not same system) as those in the Old Testament (Romans 1:15-17) we are going to have the actions and the faith together!

     Are we saved by faith? ABSOLUTELY! What is faith? The mental acknowledgment that God is right and the actions based upon that acknowledgment! James said it like this, “Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? (cf. Heb. 11:17) Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made complete (James 2:21-22)?” There it is, we are saved in the same manner as those under the Old Testament Law, by faith. Our actions have changed, because the Laws changed (cf. Gal. 3:22-25), but it’s still all wrapped up into one word – “faith.”

     It’s so simple to understand the New Testament when we stop letting man speak and just let God speak. When we realize that God has defined His terms and we seek to find the definition everything falls right into place. I’m so glad that I am saved by my faith, my acknowledgment of the Truth and my actions based upon it, because that means that I have the same things coming to me as all those that have ever lived faithfully to God Almighty!

     Throughout the daily life of any individual living on earth, there will be times in which he faces circumstances that may be characterized by the statement, “stuck between a rock and a hard place.” The psalmist David had many days like this. Throughout his life he faced a king that wanted nothing more than to kill him, the sinful actions in which he took part, the sins of others, the rebellion of his son, the death of a child born to him out of wedlock, and many other difficult times which may have lead a worldly person away from the Lord. However, king David was a man searching to live in accordance with the will of the creator (Acts 13:22). Because of this, David wrote a psalm which should be the prayer of any Christian who is experiencing adversities in his walk with the Lord. Let he who is faced with these times put his trust in the Lord (v. 1). 

     Because of his trust in the Lord, David asked the most powerful God to never allow his circumstances to make him ashamed. Paul, likewise, stated that in God would he put his trust and that would cause him to continue to preach the Gospel of Christ (Rom. 1:16). Imagine, if you will, you were the apostle Paul and were writing a letter to the Christians at Rome in order to prove the statement that justification only comes in Christ. That was a large undertaking in a time when some of the Jews within the church were attempting to state that justification comes from the New Testament of Jesus Christ and from the Law of Moses (Gal. 1:6-10) and the government of the time would have Christians to forsake the Lord and worship in their pagan ways. Now, look at the world in which we live today. People attempt to convince Christians to forsake the truth of the Bible and believe in false truths like evolution, homosexuality, adultery, fornication, and many other things. The person putting his trust in the Lord may pray this to the Lord and never be ashamed of the truth of God’s word. 

     Isn’t it the thought of those downtrodden that someone would come and help them come out of their situation? David obviously felt this and expressed it in his cry to the Lord for Him to bring him out with the righteousness of the almighty. If the Lord has the power to create all that is, then He hasthe power to deliver his creation from the trials of this life. Not only does He have the power to do so, but He possesses the knowledge and willingness to as well. Peter wrote that the Lord will always know the way by which He can deliver the godly out of the temptations, or trials (2 Pet. 2:9). Jesus Christ, the second member of the Godhead (John 1:1-3,14), stated that the Lord loves His creation so much that He was willing to allow His son to die in order to give mankind the opportunity to be saved from their sins if only they have an obedient faith. If the Lord has the opportunity, ability, and willingness to bring mankind out of his biggest problem, sin, then He has the opportunity, ability, and willingness to bring him out of the trials of life. 

     One of the greatest blessings of being a child of God (Eph. 1:3) is the ability to pray to the Lord in petition of things with which we need His help. John wrote that the Christian has the confidence in knowing that if he prays to God, He hears him and He will answer that prayer (1 John 5:14-15). If one were to put themselves in the mindset of David, he would understand the plea to the Lord that the Almighty listen and “bow down” His ear to him. Isn’t it the case that during the times of trials in life, a person’s prayer life becomes drastically more important to him? James, the writer of a book addressed to brethren who had been scattered throughout the known world because of the persecution of the righteous (Jas. 1:1), recorded that the continuous and needful prayer of a child of God will always work for the better of that Christian and the situation in which he finds himself (Jas. 5:16b). 

     David pleaded to the Lord that He would be a “strong rock” that would become a house of defense to protect him. The Lord is the strong foundation of a Christian’s faith (Mat. 7:24-27), and He will allow him to not worry about the rains of life because the foundation is secure. There are many places in this world in which there are a great number of earthquakes. Those living in those areas are always mindful that the earth may begin to shake, but if their houses are built with adequate foundations then the likelihood of the structure making it through the shake are drastically increased. When our faith is built upon the Lord, there is absolutely no reason to believe that it will faith when our lives are shaken, and that is exactly what David wanted. 

      Much like the plea of David for the Lord to be his strong rock on which his defense is founded, he proclaims that the Lord was his rock and his fortress. Many times in the Scripture, the Lord is asked to do something and said to be already doing it. The question arises, “Why did David ask the Lord to be this, and then say He already was?” The reason is because David wanted that to always be the case! A man might have a house which is built upon a rock, but he has the ability to move that house if he so wishes. David understood the Lord’s protection was upon him but that may not always be the case if David did not continue to be a child of God. The church of Jesus Christ was founded upon such a rock (Mat. 16:18) and Jesus stated that the church would never be defeated, but what if a specific congregation moves away from the Lord? Will that church continue to be founded upon that rock? The answer to this is obviously, no. And David understood that the Lord was protecting him in all he did, but it was still needful that he pray to the Lord to continue to be that fortress of protection. Christians, likewise, must always remember to allow the Lord to be their fortress during times of distress through faithful obedience to Him. 

     The psalmist knew the Lord was the source of his direction. Many in the world today believe that the Lord will speak directly to them and tell them what is to be done, and the psalmist would have experienced this because at that point the Lord was speaking to the people. Today, we understand that to no longer take place because the written word is available (1 Cor. 13:8-10), but the Lord still leads and guides His people today. He has given those living today the inspired word of God, the same word that is said to be able to make a man complete and give him everything which is to be used in life and godly living (2 Tim. 3:16-17, Phi. 1:3). If a man allows the Lord to lead him through His divine word, there can be nothing which stands in his way (Phi. 4:13). And, much like David, he will know how to escape the problems of life and will have the Lord with him. 

     Not only will the child of God be able to escape tribulations, the Lord will pull him out of situations laid by others meant to trip him in his walk. If there is one person in the Bible who had these nets laid for him, it is David. It has been mentioned that he experienced his son rebelling, the king of the nation attempting to kill him, and many other situations which were begun by other people for the sole purpose of stopping David. It may be the case that a Christian experiences situations which he has been put into by the unrighteous of this world. The society of America is quickly becoming more and more hostile for the godly, and many are seeking to stop New Testament Christianity altogether. The words of the psalmist give light to the feeling of many righteous people no matter what dispensation under which they are living. David followed this statement with acknowledging that the Lord was the source of all his strength. 

     David’s statement that he gave his spirit to the Lord is the basis of this psalm. It is because he gave everything to the Lord that he wants Him to help him, deliver him, listen to him, protect him, lead him and deliver him. When a person recognizes that the Lord is the only one to be followed in this life, he will understand that a prayer like this will be answered by the Lord. This statement shows without a doubt that the psalmist had the utmost confidence in the creator during all dangers and troubles. It is interesting that the Christ said these words while on the cross of Calvary (Luke 23:46). Some state this to mean that the psalm under consideration was actually a prophecy of the Christ, but it is entirely possible that the statements of David and Jesus were directed to the Lord to denote the great trust given to the Lord by both men in their times of need. It should be the case that the Christian has given his entire being to the Lord, it is this which will give the most assurance in times of need. 

     No matter what the circumstance of life, the Christian finds hope, peace and satisfaction in the fact that the Lord has forgiven all the sins which at one point separated him from the Lord. David thought this to be the most important thing in his situation. He understood that no matter what happened in this life, what others did to him for his faith, or what he put himself through by way of his iniquity the Lord is merciful and forgiving. Christians have that hope as well. Though it may be the case that a Christian stumbles in his walk, whether it be because of the traps laid by others or his own actions, the Lord will always be there to help him back up and continue to be his rock and his fortress in life’s horrible situations (1 John 1:7-9, Rev. 1:5).