1400 Troy Road
Collinsville, Illinois 62234
618-667-6708
secretary@ctcofc.net
Worship Service 9:30 AM
Bible Classes 11:00 AM
Special Activities 11:50 AM
Bible Class (Adult) 1:30 PM
Bible Classes (All Ages) 7:00 PM
We give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, 4. since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love which you have for all the saints; 5. because of the hope laid up for you in heaven, of which you previously heard in the word of truth, the gospel 6. which has come to you, just as in all the world also it is constantly bearing fruit and increasing, even as it has been doing in you also since the day you heard of it and understood the grace of God in truth. Colossians 1:3-6
Renn Ferguson
Throughout scripture we see various characteristics of God. Some of these seem to be opposing forces like mercy and justice (Exodus 34:6-7, Romans 11:22). Typically, we think of mercy as not receiving the punishment that is due and justice as receiving said punishment. However, God's justice is shown even in His mercy and forgiveness.
In the epistle of 1 John, we read in 1:9, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (ESV) It is interesting here that John says that God is just, or righteous, to forgive us. On the face of it, we may think God's righteousness would condemn rather than forgive. How does this work?
One of the amazing characteristics of God is that He cannot lie. If God promises something we can rest assured that He will keep that promise. The Hebrews writer states, “So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath, so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us.” (Hebrews 6:17-18). We are assured that God promises to forgive when we repent. He would be unjust to withhold forgiveness. Therefore, John can say that if we confess our sins God is faithful and just (righteous) to forgive us of our sins.
Sometimes we think that when God offers pardon His mercy is simply holding back His justice. That even when we have been forgiven, in God's “heart of hearts” He still wants to punish us. God's justice is satisfied through the blood of Christ (Romans 3:26). If we are covered in that blood God is just and right to forgive. We can have confidence in our pardon not because of who we are, or what we have done but because of who He is.
Dan C. Bailey
There are about seven billion souls in the world today. Most do not read the Bible, study the Bible, or obey the Bible. The Book is of little or of no significance to them. However, the Christian loves the Bible, believes that the Bible is the revelation of God's Word, and believes that the Bible is true. Since the Christian believes that the Bible is the inspired Word of God, the Christian is interested in understanding the Bible. How could one be a Christian and not love the Word of God? How could one be a Christian, and not have a great desire to understand the only inspired Book that we have from our heavenly Father? No doubt, there are those who become children of God and who for a while live as Christians live, and then they abandon God and His Word for the world.
We read in II Timothy 4:10, "For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia." We read about others who did the same thing, that is, they forsook God and the Christian life. "For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, and have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, if they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame" (Hebrews 6:4-6).
However, the true Christian who lives like Christ wants him to live, is interested in understanding the Bible. Our classes on Sunday, or the first day of the week, are designed to instruct us, exhort us, warn us, correct us, and edify us in the Word of the living God. Why wouldn't a Christian be interested in attending the Bible studies on Sunday morning and Wednesday evening, as well as our worship on Sunday evening? Do we study the Bible so much during the week that it is not profitable to engage in it at these times?
The truth is, we all need to study the Word of God more carefully. The sermons and the classes help us to walk by faith, please God, and thereby live the Christian life. If you are able to attend our Bible studies, why not come and grow spiritually. We are commanded, "But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever. Amen" (II Peter 3:18).
- Dan C. Bailey serves as a minister with the State Street Church of Christ in Bristol, VA.
- Article obtained from www.bulletingold.com
