“Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.” After having been imprisoned and threatened by the Sanhedrin for preaching the gospel of Christ, the apostles’ response was that they would obey God rather than men. What bravery and what boldness! What attitude do we have when facing those who do not want to hear the truth? How will we act when friends, family, and others want us to “tone it down” and not be so “judgmental” in their way of thinking? Regardless of what others say, we need to obey God rather than men. When the day comes that being a Christian is illegal, we must still obey God rather than men, just as the apostles did in the first century! Where is our allegiance?

- Jarrod Jacobs

Calling On The Name Of The Lord

Jarrod Jacobs

I am sure that our readers have heard people say words to the effect, “If you are not a Christian, all you need to do is call upon the name of the Lord, and you can be saved.” Some will teach that in order to be saved, you must say, “Lord, be merciful to me a sinner,” or similar things. Such teaching is a misapplication of what is said in Romans 10:13. There, the apostle Paul wrote, “For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” What does it mean to call on the name of the Lord? Let us read the context of Romans 10 and find out.

 “For ‘everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!’ But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, ‘Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?’ So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ” (Rom. 10:13-17).

Please notice that after the apostle Paul says we must call upon the name of the Lord to be saved, he asks a series of questions that point out what it means to call upon the name of the Lord. In order to call upon the name of the Lord, we must: 1) hear the gospel, 2) believe the gospel, and 3) obey the gospel! Therefore, calling upon the name of the Lord is a comprehensive thing, not simply saying the name, “Lord.” In Acts 2:21 we read the same phrase. Here, Peter quotes Joel 2:28-32. Peter shows that the events happening at this time on the day of Pentecost were a fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy (v. 16). At this time, he said, “And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Acts 2:21).

What did he mean? Were they commanded to simply say, “Lord”? No! They were told to “hear these words” (Acts 2:22). Peter then proves that Jesus truly is the Son of God (v. 23-35), and said, “Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified” (Acts 2:36). To “know for certain” is to believe. When the people asked what they needed to do to be forgiven of murdering the Son of God, Peter said, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins .... Then they that gladly received his word were baptized...” (Acts 2:38-41).

Therefore, when one calls upon the name of the Lord, he is simply obeying God’s plan of salvation to hear God’s word, believe that Jesus is the Son of God, repent and be baptized! Is this not simple? Of course, it is! Let this article be an encouragement to people to call upon the name of the Lord as the Bible directs before it is too late (II Pet. 3:9)!

Spotlight On A Bible Verse: Matthew 17:5

"While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.” The context of this verse records the event when Christ was transfigured. At this time, He was joined by Elijah and Moses, as Peter, James, and John stood by. When Peter suggested that three tabernacles or tents be made for Jesus, Moses, and Elijah, God’s voice thundered from the cloud (v. 4-5).

Peter learned a lesson we need to learn. He needed to listen to Jesus Christ the Son of God. We need to do this as well! It is His voice that is authoritative (Matt. 28:18). It is His words that have life (Jn. 6:63). It is His words that will judge us one day (Jn. 12:48). Therefore, let us “hear Him” in everything and be blessed (Heb. 1:1-2, 2:1-3, 5:9, 12:25-26).

- Jarrod Jacobs

Reasons For Worship

Jarrod Jacobs 

                   Are we worshipping God in the way He wants? What does acceptable worship look like? I hope our series of studies these last few weeks have been helpful to you.

                   As we conclude this study concerning the reasons for our worship to God, I hope we can see why worship is so important to God. When we assemble together to worship, we are not assembling to please men, for free baby-sitting, to meet a date, or for “social hour” (Jn. 4:24; Acts 2:42)! Our worship needs to be taken seriously and reverently because we are assembling to offer our spiritual sacrifices to God Almighty (Heb. 13:15; I Pet. 2:5)!

                   After studying the reasons for worship, may we be humbled and embarrassed by the times we have asked, “Do I have to go?” or, when we offer a multitude of excuses for not assembling to worship the God of Heaven. We need to remember that God is holy and deserving of our worship. Let us examine ourselves and make sure we offer our worship to God in a way that is pleasing to Him (Jn. 4:24). We do this by offering our spiritual sacrifices cheerfully, lovingly, and whole-heartedly; recognizing that we are here to worship the God of the Universe, our Creator, and our Sustainer! (Acts 17:28)

Reasons For Worship

Jarrod Jacobs 

                   We have been studying about God’s reasons for worshipping Him. As we study this, we understand that God wants us to worship Him in a certain manner. Are we worshipping God in the manner He wants? What does acceptable worship look like? Let us study from John 4 and answer this question.

                   John 4 records the occasion when a Samaritan woman met Jesus at the well where He was resting. When Jesus spoke to the Samaritan woman, He told her, “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth” (Jn. 4:24). Christ made it clear that those who are going to worship God, “must” do it in a certain way. Our worship “must” be “in spirit and in truth”, without exception!

                   To worship God “in spirit” means to worship God with the right attitude. To worship God “in truth” means that we worship according to what God has revealed. Notice that God has commanded both in worship to Him! Specifically, every aspect of our worship must be done “in spirit and in truth”, therefore, our singing, our prayers, our preaching, our giving, and our partaking the Lord’s Supper must be done “in spirit and in truth” (Acts 2:42, 20:7; Eph. 5:19; I Cor. 16:1-2). When we understand this, then perhaps we can see why it is so repulsive to God when folks turn aside from His commands to do something that God says is, “vain worship” (Matt. 15:8-9)! Let us learn this lesson well!