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by: Gary L. Hutchens Many churches teach that once a person is saved he/she can never be lost, no matter what. If that is true, why did God guide the writers of scripture to include so many exhortations to saved Christians to remain faithful? Why Jesus, in His letter to the church at Smyrna, instruct those Christians to “Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.” (Rev. 2:10)? He said He would give them “the crown of life” (eternal life, synonymous with salvation) after, as a result of, their having remained faithful unto (up until and even including dying for their faith) death. Why “faithful unto death” if, having already been saved, they could not be lost?
by: Gary L. Hutchens The New Testament scriptures, either directly or indirectly, continually emphasize the importance of unity within the Lord’s church. Why? Many people mistake union for unity. There can be no unity without union, but there can be union without unity. People who are united are also naturally in union with each other. But many people find themselves in some kind of union with other people with whom they are definitely not united. A classic example is a married couple who can’t stand to be around each other. There’s a union- marriage- but there’s no unity.
by: Gary L. Hutchens “Have It Your Way!” That was the advertising line for a popular hamburger chain some years back. But the principle is not unique to that particular chain. Every chain of hamburger restaurants will let you have it your way. Just tell ‘em how you want your hamburger- with cheese or without, with pickles or without, with ketchup and mustard or without, with mustard but no ketchup or ketchup but no mustard- and they’ll fix it however you want it. If you don’t like the hamburgers sold in one chain, you have a whole lot of other chains to choose from. You can have your hamburger, however you want it, your way!
by: Gary L. Hutchens We are faced with choices everyday. After the Israelites had crossed the Jordan river, had fought the battles and taken possession of the promised land, Joshua called the people together and told them to make a decision of commitment: “And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” (Josh. 24:15). They needed to choose, one way or the other.
by: Gary L. Hutchens When Solomon became king of Israel, God granted him a request: “Ask! What shall I give you?” (1 Kgs. 3:5). Solomon responded by humbly describing himself as “a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in” (vs. 7). He then asked God for “an understanding heart to judge your people, that I may discern between good and evil” (vs. 9). Solomon’s request was for wisdom that he might lead God’s people effectively. God bestowed upon him a degree of wisdom that made him the wisest man who had ever lived (vs. 12). And, because Solomon’s request was so selfless, God bestowed upon him great wealth (vs. 13).
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September 2022
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