Know Your Bible
June 2002

Do You Believe In God?

Do you really believe in God as the ever-living Creator, the all-wise, almighty life-giving Spirit? Do you really believe that God is aware of everything you do and that He is deeply concerned with what you do with your life? Do you really believe that God loved humanity enough to send His Son to die for transgressors of His will? Do you really believe that God is going to judge the world by Jesus Christ and that every person must give account of himself to God in the judgment? Do you really believe that God has revealed His will in the Bible?

If you really believe these things, does your life demonstrate that conviction? Surely one who believes, with full conviction of faith, the things mentioned above will approach God with the deepest reverence in worship. Surely he will seek to please God above all else in life. Surely he will approach God with fear and trembling. How do you worship God - the way He wants or the way you want? How often do you worship God? Is your life disciplined to do God's will daily, uncompromisingly, or do you tend to forget about God in making daily choices and decisions of life?

I challenge you to examine your heart honestly and answer the questions asked. Far too many professed believers in God do not demonstrate faith by holy, consecrated lives of diligent obedience to God. How about you? Do you really believe in God?

---Gilbert Alexander

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Can We Really Stand The Test?
2 Corinthians 13:5

Here are some important questions. Before answering them, please read the passages of scripture cited. Then answer the questions, not to justify what you do or don't do, but accurately, based on the scriptures. Then examine yourself honestly and carefully. Can you stand the test?

1. Is faith in Christ essential to salvation? (John 8:24; Mark 16:16). Yes No

2. Is repentance of sins essential to salvation? (Luke 24:46,47; Acts 17:30,31; Luke 13:3). Yes No

3. Is confession of faith in Christ essential to salvation? (Acts 8:36,37; Romans 10:10; Matt. 10:32). Yes No

4. Is baptism in water essential to salvation? (Matt. 28:19,20; Acts 21:38; 1 Peter 3:20,21; Acts 10:47,48; Mark16:16). Yes No

5. Is membership in the Lord's church connected with salvation? (Acts 2:41,47; 1 Cor. 12:13; Eph.5:23). Yes No

6. Must you grow spiritually in order to please God? (1 Pet.2:1,2; 2 Pet. 3:18; Heb.5:12-14; Eph.4:13-16). Yes No

7. Can you fulfill your obligation to the church by purposely missing the services of the church? (Eph.4:13-16; 1 Cor.12:13-27; Heb.3:13;10:22-25). Yes No

8. Are you answerable to other Christians for what you do? (Ga1.6:1,2; James 5:19,20; 1 Tim.4:12-16; Phi1.2:4). Yes No

9. Does your example affect what others in your family do? (1 Tim.4:12-16; 1 Pet.3:1-7; Eph. 6:1-4; 1 Kings 15:3). Yes No

l0. Do elders of the church have an obligation or concern with your faithfulness or unfaithfulness? (Acts 20:17, 26-31; Heb.13:17). Yes No

11. Do you have an obligation to tell a preacher if he preaches or teaches error? (James 5:19,20; Acts 18:24-28; 1 Tim.1:3,4; 2 Tim.3:16,17). Yes No

12. Is singing an essential part of New Testament worship? (Eph.5:19; Col. 3:16). Yes No

13. If a Christian loves his brother or sister in Christ, will he endeavor to assist in time of need, physical and spiritual--including exhorting and correcting the erring? (1 John 4:7-11,20,21; 3:16-18; Ga1.6:1,2; 1 Thess. 5:8-11). Yes No

14. Should a Christian find it a joyful thing to participate in the Lord's work, including attending every spiritual service if possible? (Acts 8:39; 1 Thess.5:16; Acts 16:25; 2 Cor.6:4-10; 12:9,10; Phil.3:l; 4:1,4-7; 1 Pet. l:3-9). Yes No

Did you mark all of the answers yes except for the seventh question? If you didn't, can you give scriptural proof for negative answers and for a positive answer to that seventh question? Think on these things.

---Gilbert Alexander

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IF YOU HAVE NOT OBEYED THE GOSPEL,
STOP AND THINK ABOUT THE FOLLOWING

Nineteen out of every twenty who become Christians do so before they are twenty-five.

After twenty-five only one in 10,000
After thirty-five only one in 50,000
After forty-five only one in 200,000
After fifty-five only one in 300,000
After sixty-five only one in 500,000
After seventy-five only one in 700,000

This shows how one tends to become hardened as time goes on. There is danger in delay. We hope you will arrange to be baptized as soon as possible.

---via, Reminders

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What Is Your Religion Built Upon?

True fidelity to God rests in love and awe, both of which are developed through an understanding of God's character and provisions for man as revealed in His word. It needs no carnal crutches. It endures because its foundation endures.

A religion built upon carnal pleasures and attractions must bear the character of its foundation. It is necessarily weak and transient. True religion cannot be built upon the wrong foundation. Wisdom directs that we use the proper foundation - the appeal of the gospel of Christ, not the appeal of parties, fun and games, food and drink - none of which endure or save souls.

---Gilbert Alexander

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