“And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.” God’s angel spoke to Joseph and promised him that his betrothed wife Mary, now pregnant, was carrying the Son of God. After millennia of waiting, the Promised Messiah was ready to enter the world. His name Jesus means “Savior” because this was His promised work. He would save mankind from sin and make it possible for us to escape Satan’s kingdom (Matt. 1:22-23). As we assemble today to worship, let us remember the Messiah who came into this world to save us from sin. Let us also remember the man and woman who were chosen by God to serve as parents for the Son of God during those crucial years.

- Jarrod Jacobs

What Is The Sermon For?

Jarrod Jacobs

            “How did you like the sermon?” is a question often asked after a worship service. In fact, this is a habitual question that is often asked of visitors and members alike. The “likes” of individual listeners vary amazingly. It is fine to “like” the sermon, but is that really the important thing? Is this really the only standard of judgment after hearing a sermon?

            Actually, sermons are preached, not to be liked, but to be lived! That is a fact. Take time and look into the Scriptures and read the sermons of Jesus, or the apostles, or of Old Testament prophets. Their sermons were preached so those listening (and us reading) would know how to live.

            Let’s suppose that on a given Sunday you do not like the sermon preached. What of it? Suppose that the hypocrite sitting there in services went away in a rage. The fact is that when the arrow of truth pierces the heart, curses often come out! John the Baptist, Jesus, Peter, and John were not anxious that their sermons should be liked. They wanted the folks to live them!

            The crucial question is not, “Did you like it?”, but “Did it help you?” “Did it give you new encouragement to obey God?” “Did it show you how to draw nearer to the Lord?” I encourage you to read the sermons preached in the book of Acts and see the response of the people. The concern was not whether folks “liked” it, but would these people lived what they had learned!

            The sermon may be measured, not by the pleasure of the people, but by their response in action and practice.

“What Is Involved In Salvation?”

Jarrod Jacobs 

                   Since Christ gave His life as “a ransom for many” and shed His blood “for the remission of sins” (Matt. 20:28, 26:28), He brought salvation to everyone (Titus 2:11). His sacrifice provided the way for us to be saved from sin.

                   Is Christ’s death on the cross all that was necessary to save man? If it was, then all people would be saved from sin because Christ died for all (Jn. 1:29; I Jn. 2:2). Yet, we know this is not the case because the Bible says some will be lost (Matt. 25:41). There must be something we must do to receive salvation.

                   In the New Testament, we see that not only did Christ die, was buried, and rise the third day for our salvation; we in turn must follow Christ’s plan for salvation if we wish to be saved (Mk. 16:16). We need to believe that Jesus is the Son of God, “for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins” (Jn. 8:24). Faith is so necessary that, “without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (Heb. 11:6). Is this all one needs to do to be saved? No! Faith is the beginning step leading to salvation. One must also obey the Lord’s will (Acts 2:38). Christ did His part, will you do yours?

“Defiling The Body”

Jarrod Jacobs 

            In the Bible, we read about how one may defile his body. Let us look at some things that defile us. We may be surprised at the ways that one may become defiled.

            First, my thoughts can defile me (Matt. 15:18-20)! If I think on sinful, evil things, they will defile me! This is because if I begin thinking about some sin, it is usually not long before I do that very thing! Evil, filthy thoughts can lead to me being lost in a devil’s Hell!

            Next, if we say things we shouldn’t, we can defile our bodies. James said, “the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell” (Jas. 3:6). The small tongue can defile a man if he does not have control of it! “Filthy communication” must be put away from us (Col. 3:8). Lying has no place in our lives, either (Eph. 4:25; Col. 3:9; Rev. 21:8). Let us never forget that we what we say can condemn us to Hell just like our actions!

            Last, our actions can defile us! God has spoken plainly and given clear warning that defiling the body results in an eternity in Hell. Let us do all we can to keep ourselves pure in God’s sight (I Tim. 5:22; I Cor. 6:19).

                   “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.” These words are the Lord’s plan for saving man in a “nutshell.” If one wishes to be forgiven of sins, he needs to believe on Christ and be baptized. In a world that teaches that salvation is by “faith only,” or by praying a prayer, etc., let us be satisfied with the words of our Lord on this subject. These words are often called “The Great Commission” because Christ sent His apostles to preach this message to the world (Mk. 16:15). In like manner, we who are Christ’s disciples need to continue spreading the word (II Tim. 2:2). We need to let folks know that in order to be saved, we need to believe on Christ (Jn. 8:24) and be baptized (I Pet. 3:21). Be warned that if we reject Christ’s words, there is no other way to be saved from sin.

- Jarrod Jacobs