THE URGENCY FOR SPIRITUAL GROWTH

Newsletter 269  November 13, 2011

Hebrews 6:1-8 King James Version

JESUS COMMANDED TEACHING DOCTRINE

In the great commission of our Lord Jesus said, “Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things, whatsoever I have commanded you always, even unto the end of the world.” (Matthew 28:19-20, Mark 16:15-16) The instruction and emphasis is “whatsoever I have commanded you.” The basic facts spoken of in these two references are basic to faithful Christianity.

In (Hebrews 6:1,) Paul calls them “the principles of the doctrine of Christ.” This is the reason that I edited a booklet of the scriptures presenting these and other basic doctrines, and titled it Christian Doctrines. With brief introductions, I put it together almost totally of scripture, as a workbook requiring the student to look each text up and complete the words I wanted to emphasize, in the spaces left for them. The final page had ten places for the addresses of friends. This worked beautifully in that requests simply rolled in, especially after I made it available in all the official languages of the country, and more from other countries. South Africa alone has eleven official languages and dialects.

These are basic doctrines, which explains why I was really shocked when a minister and customer in our book store made the statement, “Oh I never teach doctrines.” If that is so, what does he preach? These are the foundation. On the other hand there was the street evangelist, who taught his listeners the scriptures on baptism, and then brought 25 of them for me to baptize, with his assistance in the baptistery of our chapel.

1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, (Philippians 3:13, Hebrews 5:12, Hebrews 5:14, Hebrews 9:14)

BASIC DOCTRINES

From these basic doctrinal scriptures, one can go on to study more deeply. At one time while our fellow missionary was still living, he made this booklet a requirement for new students in the minister’s training school he headed. This was particularly true if they came from another background. Some of the best ministers came with this introduction.


2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. (John 3:25, Acts 19:3, Acts 6:6, Acts 17:31)

3 And this will we do, if God permit. (Acts 18:21)

SECURITY IN THE FAITH

Scripture, correctly understood and taught, brings light into darkness. Once, one has learned of the scriptures, and received the Holy Spirit in baptism, (Acts 2:38) his life is enlightened, filled with light, and the promise of Heaven is his. Christ Jesus brings light, and shows the way to His Father God.

4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, (2 Corinthians 4:4, 2 Corinthians 4:6, Hebrews 10:32, John 4:10, Ephesians 2:6, Galatians 3:2, Hebrews 2:4)

Regretfully, there will be those who let their light go out, they have “tasted the word of God,” but have not appreciated what they have been given nor of the “world to come.”

5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, (1 Peter 2:3, Ephesians 6:17, Hebrews 2:5)

Not realizing what they have been given, they fall away back into sin, and forfeit Heaven. They make the sacrifice of our Lord forfeit for the sake of the world.

6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. (Matthew 19:26, Hebrews 10:26, 2 Peter 2:21, 1 John 5:16, Hebrews 10:29)

7 For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God: (2 Timothy 2:6)

8 But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned. (Genesis 3:17, Deuteronomy 29:22)

That one’s life can be either a blessing, or a curse, is illustrated here. The same portion of land can bear crops or thorns and briars. As a child, we lived on a small farm of small fields. Much good land was lost by those fences. One can till only so close to a fence or either side, and that is where we went to pick wild blackberries from the briars that grew there. Now, most of those are now gone and that space is farmed as well.

The doctrines of the Bible unite, but the doctrines of men divide. Don’t be like the minister who never taught doctrine, be like the one without benefit of a building, who taught truth, and reaped abundantly.


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READ THE BIBLE THROUGH AGAIN IN 2011
NOVEMBER

13th. Sunday – Ezekiel 21, 22, Hebrews 11:1-22, Psalm 124
14th. Monday - Ezekiel 23, Hebrews 11:23-40, Psalm 125
15th. Tuesday – Ezekiel 24, 25, 26, Hebrews 12:1-11, Psalm 126
16th. Wednesday - Ezekiel 27, 28, Hebrews 12:12-29, Proverbs 27:21-27
17th. Thursday - Ezekiel 29, 30, Hebrews 13, Psalm 127
18th. Friday – Ezekiel 31, 32, James 1, Psalm 128
19th. Saturday - Ezekiel 33, 34, James 2, Psalm 129

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THIS WEEK'S SCRIPTURE

“ And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is: but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as we see the day approaching,” Hebrews 10:24-25
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http://www.amazon.com/P-J-Mills/e/B004KAS792/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0
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I Wonder...

Why do we press harder on a remote control when we know the batteries are going dead?

Why do banks charge a fee on 'insufficient funds' when they know there is not enough money?

Why does someone believe you when you say there are four billion stars, but check when you say the paint is wet?

Why do they use sterilized needles for death by lethal injection?

Why doesn't Tarzan have a beard?

Why does Superman stop bullets with his chest, but ducks when you throw a revolver at him?

Why do Kamikaze pilots wear helmets?

If people evolved from apes, why are there still apes?

Why is it that no matter what color bubble bath you use the bubbles are always white?

Is there ever a day that mattresses are not on sale?

Why do people constantly return to the refrigerator with hopes that something new to eat will have materialized?