The Reporter   
 Volume 48 # 27,  --  July 4, 2008

 

“We Preach Christ Crucified”

 

   The Bible gives great emphasis to the death of Jesus as a substitute for sinners. Paul wrote, “but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness,” (I Corinthians 1:23.) Christians should continually remember the pain of crucified love. People who love Jesus will have no trouble remembering the sacrifice He made for them. This great sacrifice was motivated by love. Paul wrote, “For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” (I Corinthians 2:2.)

 

   Jesus was truly a man without equal! His sacrificial death for our sins fills us with hope and amazement. How could anyone love so much? Why did Jesus die?

 

   The need that prompted Jesus’ death. In Romans chapter three Paul, by inspiration of God, described man’s problem. In doing so he quoted from Psalm 14:1-3. He said, “As it is written: There is none righteous, no, not one; There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one.” (Romans 3:10-12.) Later in the chapter he said, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23.) As we observe Paul’s inspired use  of  the  terms “all” and “none”  we  quickly recognize that there are no moral and respectable people without Jesus. There are only sinners. The result of sin is horrifying. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23.) Except for the death of Jesus we would be forever lost; but through His blood, thank God I’m saved!

 

   The love that was proved by Jesus’ death. Through an astonishing love Christ took my sins so I could have His righteousness. “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” (II Corinthians 5:21.) His love caused Him to “become sin for us.” Romans 5:6-8 describes the love of Jesus for mankind. “For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” John 3:16 also describes the “love of God.”

 

   Of the love of God F.M. Leham wrote, “Could we with ink the ocean fill, and were the skies of parchment made; were every stalk on earth a quill and every man a scribe by trade; to write the love of God above would drain the ocean dry; nor could the scroll contain the whole tho stretched from sky to sky. O love of God how rich and pure! How measureless and strong! It shall forever more endure the saints and angels song.” The love of God is more amazing than words can ever describe.

 

   The church that was purchased by Jesus’ death. The church of Christ is not a denomination. The church of Christ is the blood-bought body of our Lord. Acts 20:28 says, “therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.” Denominations are man-made, but the church of Christ is divine, consisting of only the saved and of all of the saved. The church of Christ is a divine institution because it belongs to Christ. Matthew wrote, “When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am? So they said, Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets. He said to them, But who do you say that I am? Simon Peter answered and said, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. Jesus answered and said to him, Blessed are you, Simon BarJonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” (Matthew 16:13-19.)

 

   Men have built many churches but Christ has built only one. It was purchased by His blood. Each and every saved person is added to His church. (Acts 2:38-47.) Man has no right to set or change the entrance qualifications for the church: God adds everyone who is saved. You cannot be saved without being a part of the church.  

 

   The destiny that is prevented by Jesus’ death. The blood of Jesus provides our only escape from eternal hell. No other religion or “savior” has any hope to offer. Without Jesus we will perish and our “whole body” will be cast into hell. Jesus said, “If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.” (Matthew 5:29-30.) It is the death of Jesus that keeps the obedient from perishing. “And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.” (John 10:28.) Hell is a place of eternal punishment. Our Lord said, “And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” (Matthew 25:46.) Were it not for the blood of Jesus we would all go there. Only the blood of Jesus can keep you from that place of horrible pain and outer darkness.

 

   The hope that is provided by Jesus’ death. At the very heart of our heavenly hope stands the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ The cross provides the answer to man’s sin problem and frees him for heaven. The blood of Christ provides us with the hope of heaven. Paul spoke of "the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel." (Colossians 1:5.) Hope is provided “by way of the cross.” With Paul, all should say, “But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” (Galatians 6:14.) The cross shows both God’s love for mankind and His hatred for sin. It also shows God’s desire to bring sons to glory. (Hebrews 2:9-10.) Everything done on the cross assures us of God’s love for, and His desire to save sinners. Salvation, peace, contentment and real joy come through the cross of Calvary.

 

   God has done His part. He has provided salvation through Jesus. Man’s part, through small, is also necessary to reach heaven. Man must hear the gospel (Romans 10:17), believe in Jesus (Hebrews 11:16), repent of past sins (Acts 17:30), confess Jesus as Lord (Acts 8:36-37), be baptized for remission of sins (Acts 2:38) and live a Christian life (I Peter 2:9). Christ gave His blood to make your salvation possible. Be saved Now!

 

- - - - Charles Box

News & Notes

 

1. Prayer List: In Need Of Prayers: Emily Cain, Wayne & Viola Corley, Bobby Fullington, Danny Gandy, Roy Goodwin, Mary Goodwin (Sister of Charles Box) Christopher Hart, Richard Hodgkinson, Dianne Hoffman, Donna Hoffman, Linda Johnson, Mary Lawrence, Abbigail Matthews, Robert McCann, Jo Ann Moorer, James Nelson, Curtis Newton, Pat Newton, Candy Parker, Mary Powell, Austin Shows, Sarah Stidham, Mary Ann Thompson, Richard Watts, and Mary Williams. Crowne Health Care: Mary Alexander, James Alford, Gladys Childs, Kathy Johnson, Wallace Murry, and Myrtle Perdue. Pine Needle: Mary Lou Phelps. Georgiana Nursing Facility: Helen Autrey, Mae Beverly, and Doris Pierce. Shut-Ins: Emma Lee Gafford, Jean Hayes, and Doris Taylor.

 

2. Baptized Into Christ: Michael Ray was baptized into Christ. Please welcome him to Walnut Street. His address is Post Office Box 150, 6024 Stinson Road, Georgiana, Alabama 36033 – Phone 376-2437 – Birthday July 19th.

 

3. Sympathy Expressed: Our love and sympathy is expressed to Tyler Ray and his family in the death of his grandmother, Mae Beverly.

 

4. Please Pray For: Pray for Paul Findley, Ben Newton and Jason Godwin as they serve in Iraq. Also now pray for Dennis Phillips Jr. as he will be going to Iraq soon.

 

5. Backwoods Christian Camp: Charles, Darrell and several of our people are at Backwoods Christian Camp. Pray for safety and success. Ed Smith will preach on Sunday, July 6th.

 

6.  Fellowship Meal: Everyone is invited to stay after morning worship (July 6th) and enjoy a meal and good fellowship. (The vegetable committee will clean-up following the meal.)

 

7. Birthday: Celebrating birthdays this week are: July 6th Dennis Phillips, July 8th Cheryl Pierce and Kinley Woodard, July 9th Jerry Barr, July 10th Don Reynolds, and July 12th Katie Harrell.

 

8. Elders Express Appreciation: The elders are thankful and grateful to serve the church here at Walnut Street. Thank you so much for all the hard work that went into VBS. It was a great week. To all the teachers, workers and visitors from other congregations thanks for all the hard work and for attending every night to make this good work possible. Especially thanks to Darrell and Jamie for their efforts. Let’s continue to pray for each other. Praise God. Jerry, Bobby & Walter

 

9. Thank You: (a) B.J. and I want to thank you all for your phone calls, cards and prayers. We especially want to thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to bring us food. The meals were great and well appreciated. Also, thank everyone who brought diapers & wipes for Branson. As most of you know you can never have too many & what an expense they can be! It is so wonderful to have a loving and caring church family and friends. Thank you so much, again! Love Missy, B.J., Ethan & Branson. (b) Thank you! Words cannot express how much we appreciate your decision to support us while we are at the Memphis School of Preaching. We will keep you updated on our progress. Please keep us in your prayers. God Bless. In Him, Jesse & Kim Claunch.

 

10. Diaper and Wipe Shower For Missy Alford: There is a box in the foyer to put diapers and wipes in for her baby, Branson Ford.

 

11. Web-Site:  Check out our website: http:\\www.walnutstreetchurchofchrist.org. New material is added each week and you can also access many teaching articles and past issues of The Reporter.

 

12. Put These Dates On Your Calendar: (a) September 13th – Ladies Day – Walnut Street Church of Christ – Speaker Sheila Butt – Theme Seeking Spiritual Beauty. (b) October 6th-9th – Gospel Meeting – Walnut Street Church of Christ – Speaker Ron Bryant – Sunday 6:00 p.m. and weeknights at 7:00.

 

13. Pray For Permission To Build: Pray that we can obtain permission to build a building in Annai. A congregation is needed there.

 

Can God Make His Home With You?

 

   Jesus said, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.  He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father's who sent Me” (John 14:23-24).  Most religious people would hope that God would make His home with them.  But here, Jesus makes it very clear with whom He and the Father will abide. 

 

   We must love God in order for Him to make his home with us.  Jesus tells us that the greatest command is to “love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:37).  We must love Him more than anyone or anything else including our families, our dearest loved ones, and even our own lives (Luke 14:26).  It makes sense that God would make His home only with those who Love Him and want Him to be with them.

 

   Jesus also said that if we love Him, we will keep His word (John 14:23).  Our love for Him is manifested by our obedience to His will.  So many people claim to have faith in and love for God, yet their lives paint a different picture.  Those who refuse to follow the word of God are fooling no one with their pseudo-love for Him.  On the Day of Judgment, the Bible will be opened, and each of our lives will be measured by its contents (Revelation 20:12). It will be a sad day for those who follow not after the will of the Father.  No doubt some of them will say, “Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?” (Matthew 7:22). But Jesus will reply, “I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness” (Matthew 7:23).

           

   Do you truly love God? Does it show in your actions? Make your heart a suitable home for the Lord by becoming His loving and obedient servant.

 

-         - - - Darrell Powell

-          

Blessings come as you do the next

right thing.

 

Don’t just own a Bible; read it!

 

Walnut Street Church of Christ

P.O. Box 551

Greenville, Alabama 36037-0551

(334-382-3001)