“What Is Hindering Me From Being Baptized?”

Jarrod Jacobs 

Acts 8:26-39 records the teaching and conversion of the Ethiopian treasurer. A man named Philip was told by God to catch up to the Ethiopian’s chariot and teach him the gospel. When Philip the evangelist caught up to him, he did just that (Acts 8:35). As they traveled, they came upon some water, “And the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?” (Acts 8:36). Friend, have you ever had someone ask you what is stopping you from being baptized? We want to look at some reasons why people are “hindered” today and then try to remove those hindrances. What reason(s) might one have for not being baptized for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38)?

Some respond by saying they think they are already saved without baptism. This response comes from those who have not been taught the truth concerning Mark 16:16, Acts 2:38 and other similar verses. My question to those who honestly and sincerely believe they are saved without being baptized is, what did you to be saved? I read in the Bible that one is saved by hearing God’s word (Rom. 10:17), by believing that Jesus Christ is the Son of God (Jn. 8:24), by repenting of past sins (Acts 17:30), by confessing one’s faith in Christ (Rom. 10:10), and by being baptized (Mk. 16:16). Have you done this? If not, you are not saved. What is hindering you from being baptized?

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.

“The Early Leaders Of Our Country Knew God …”

Jarrod Jacobs 

                   With 2016 being an election year, and having a new President, and voting on many other local offices, I thought it would be good to remind our readers of the fact that the early leaders of our country knew God. For example …

Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) is quoted as saying:

• “He who shall introduce into public affairs the principles of primitive Christianity will change the face of the world.”

• “God governs in the affairs of men; and if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, neither can a kingdom rise without his aid.” (Please read: Daniel 4:32, 5:21; Matt. 10:29, JJ)

• “If your riches are yours, why don’t you take them with you to the other world?” (Please read: Matt. 6:19-21, JJ)

George Washington (1732-1799) is noted with the following:

• “Associate yourself with men of good quality if you esteem your own reputation, for it is better to be alone than in bad company.” (Please read: I Cor. 15:33, JJ)

• “It is impossible to govern the world without God and the Bible.”

Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826) reminds us:

• “Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just.”

Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) remembered God and the Bible:

• “All things desirable to men are contained in the Bible.”

• “I am not concerned whether God is on my side or not, but I am concerned whether I am on God’s side.”

Just as our country’s early leaders knew God, so also, the current and future leaders need to know Him! God bless and have a Happy New Year!!

“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?

“We Are What We Repeatedly Do”

Jarrod Jacobs 

                   The above is from Aristotle (384-322 B.C.). Truly, our habits have a great impact upon our lives. It should not surprise us then to note that God wants His people to repeatedly do what He says.

• “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord …” (I Cor. 15:58).

• “And let us not be weary in well doing …” (Gal. 6:9).

• “But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed” (Jas. 1:25).

• “… be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life” (Rev. 2:10).

                   From this, we see that God wants us to continue in a certain manner of life. This is because, “We are what we repeatedly do.” The man who dies in sin does so because he lived in sin (Jn. 8:24; Col. 3:7). In contrast, the man who dies in the Lord (Rev. 14:13) does so because he lived in the Lord!

                   Thus, we ask: “What do we repeatedly do?”  If we do not like what we are becoming, then it is time to stop what we are doing and start doing something else until the habit is formed!

                   Aristotle’s complete statement is: “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” May we resolve to make excellence a habit by making the decision to become a Christian (Acts 2:38) and live faithfully to the God of Heaven. A life spent in repeatedly doing what God says will not be a wasted life (I Cor. 15:58).