Some Things God Will Not Do

Jarrod Jacobs

            Did you know that there are some things that an all-powerful God refuses to do today? It is true. What are some things God will not do today?

            1) God will not flood the earth. After the flood of Genesis 7, God promised never to destroy the earth by water again (Gen. 9:8-16). He has kept that promise since then.

            2) God will not accept just any worship! The things we do must be according to His will (Col. 3:17). We must do it God’s way, or God will not accept it (Matt. 15:9). God expects worship to Him to consist of: singing (Eph. 5:19); prayer (Acts 2:42); preaching (Acts 20:7); taking the Lord’s Supper (Acts 20:7); and giving (I Cor.16:1-2) on the first day of the week.

            3) God will not lie to us. In fact, it is impossible for God to lie to man (Heb. 6:18; Titus 1:2). We can trust what the Lord says in the Bible. God’s word is truth (Jn. 17:17).

            4) God will not save us if we have not been baptized. This is not the only step, but this is the step that has been debated for centuries. We know God will not lie. Therefore, let us accept what the Lord has said about baptism being necessary for salvation (Matt. 28:19; Mk. 16:16; Acts 2:38, 22:16; Rom. 6:17-18; Col. 2:12; I Pet. 3:21) God will not save you if you have not obeyed His plan!

Which Church Do I Choose?

Jarrod Jacobs

            Have you noticed the “church listings” in newspapers? It is pretty confusing, isn’t it? The groups listed claim that what they are doing is approved of God. In considering the listings, one might ask such questions as, “Are all these churches right?” or, “Are all these churches wrong?” or, “Can anyone ever know the truth?”

            Since these groups wear different names and teach conflicting doctrines many times, we know they all cannot be right. All of them cannot be right any more than 2+2 can equal anything other than 4! 2+2 = 4 and can only equal 4. If we took a poll and asked people their “feelings” about what 2+2 equals, it would not change the fact that it equals 4! Therefore, which church is right? This is not determined by what I like. Nor is it determined by which church is “popular” or “big”. It is not determined by which church has been in the area the longest. The way we can know which church is right is revealed in the Bible.

            The church approved of God is the one that adheres to Bible doctrine, not merely in word, but in practice (I Pet. 4:11; I Thess. 1:3). It is the one that wears Christ’s name (Rom. 16:16) and worships God “in spirit and in truth” (Jn. 4:24; Acts 2:42, 20:7; I Cor. 16:1-2). It is the one that promotes Christ and His word above everything (Rom. 1:16; Gal. 1:6-9; II Tim. 4:2; Col. 3:17). It preaches the Bible plan for salvation (Acts 2:36-38). With these things in mind, let me encourage our dear readers to put down the “church listings” and pick up a Bible and choose the church of God’s choice (Acts 20:28; Matt. 16:18)!

Convenience-Store Religion

Jarrod Jacobs

            In far too many cases, we find religious groups willing to cater to the whims and wishes of men. How many times have we heard people say, “Choose the church of your choice”? The end result is a nation of people who think they can just “drop in” to any church they please, “get what they want” and hurry on back to their life with no fuss, no obligations, no guilt, no exhorting to do right, and no expectations. Is this the way God pictured His people? By no means!

            The Bible says, “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth” (Jn. 4:24). There is no stronger word in the English language than the word “must”. What God expects of men is not an option! We “must” worship Him “in spirit and in truth.” How is this accomplished? Not by doing things to my satisfaction, but in worshipping God the way He directs (Acts 2:42, 20:7; Eph. 5:19; I Cor. 16:1-2; etc.). God has told us what He expects. We do not “pick and choose” what we like, but wholeheartedly obey all His word (Rev. 22:14; I Cor. 15:58).

            Cornelius told Peter, “Now therefore we are all here in the presence of God, to hear all that you have been commanded by God” (Acts 10:33). Do we have this attitude, or do we go “hither and yon” until we find a preacher and a church who teaches what we want to hear? (II Tim. 4:3-4) Friends, the religion of Christ is not a religion of convenience, but of conviction! Have you been convicted of your sins (Acts 2:37)? Are willing to change, and stand strong for the Lord in all things (Acts 2:38; I Cor. 15:58)? Few do this (Matt. 7:13-14). What will you do?