By What Authority Do We Obey The New Testament by David
Brown
(http://web.dbtech.net/~ttt/author08.htm)
A large number of people are confused as the role of the Old and New Testaments in determining religious authority today. Some religions are based upon certain parts of the Old Testament, and many others use parts of the Old Testament to justify their practices today.
The New Testament is very adamant and clear in this regard (Heb. 1-10). While every word in the Old Testament is true (being inspired of God -- Mt. 5:18), we are not under it today. This statement can be clearly justified by a review of the scriptures which respond to the questions on the previous page (Heb. 8: 6-8; Col. 2: 14; Eph. 2: 15-16; Rom. 7: 6-7; 1 Cor. 9: 20-21; Gal. 3: 23-25 and Jn. 12: 48).
That God has given people different commands at different times is well understood. We understand that Adam and Eve had the command to abstain from the forbidden fruit, Noah was to build an ark, and Abraham was commanded at one point to leave his homeland. The fact that we are not under these commands does not mean that they were any less of God. It is prejudicial and dishonest to accuse Christians of not believing in the inspiration of the Old Testament because we teach that we are not under the Old Testament law.
Taking this one step further, it is clear from Gal. 5:2-12 that not only are we not under the old testament, but the binding of old testament doctrines after Christ died on the cross is sinful. Paul stated to Christians: "I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace."
Clearer words could not be written. It should be noted that circumcision was just the detail which represented the regression to the Old Testament. Circumcision in and of itself (i.e., not as a religious rite) was never condemned (see Acts 16:3). In addition, the Jews were free to practice any of the Old Testament traditions provided they did not bind them on the church. However, attempts to bind them were met with consistent opposition from the Apostles (See Acts 15).
The argumentation of Paul, that if we bind one part of the law we are bound to bind it all, is devastating. Not even orthodox Jews practice the entire Old Testament law. We are not free to pick and choose those parts of God's law which we wish to practice. Such is simultaneously adding to and taking away from God's written word, which is condemned (Rev. 22:18-19).
How We Take Up Our Cross by Dale Smelser
From "Wildercroft Announcements" bulletin, September
13, 1998:
(http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Forum/6330/articles.html)
This is to put in writing a thought that has been presented from the pulpit. It is presented here for more methodical contemplation. It has to do with Jesus' requirement to take up our cross (Matt. 16:24), and what that means. The thought has been made difficult because of a popular and general interpretation. A prevailing concept seems to be that Jesus was telling us we all have burdens and problems in life that we must endure. They are our crosses to bear. I believe there is something much more profound here.
In the first place Jesus requires that we actively "take up" something, not that we just endure or put up with something. In the next place it is accompanied by denying ourselves, and losing our lives. In every passage but one, that mentions taking up our cross, it says, "Whosoever would save his life shall lose it, and whosoever shall lose his life for my sake shall find it" (Matt. 16:24-25; 10:38-39; Mk. 8:343-35; Lk. 9:23-24). The one that does not say that, requires one to hate his own life (Lk. 14:26-27). Denying one's self and forfeiting life accompanies and explains taking up one's cross.
The idea is this. Jesus said this before he had died upon the cross. But that does not mean a reference to the cross meant nothing to his listeners. The Romans had employed crucifixion when they wanted to send a powerful message to discourage rebellion. And one of the features of dying on a cross, was the humiliating requirement of having to carry that upon which you were going to die. In requiring that his listeners take up their cross, he was requiring them to voluntarily die. But in doing that, he promised they would actually gain their lives.
There are other passages to help us. Paul said he gloried in the cross of Christ through which "the world hath been crucified unto me, and I unto the world" (Gal. 6:14). Paul was alive and speaking, but he had been crucified. He had taken up his cross. In one of the Luke passages, Jesus said we must take up the cross daily. Similarly, Paul said, "I die daily" (I Cor. 15:31). If Paul laid down his life, and did so daily, according to Christ's promise he should have gained a life. He did. He said, "It is no longer I that live, but Christ liveth in me," thus the life he lived in the flesh he now lived in faith (Gal. 2:20).
Putting all this together, in requiring that we take up our cross, Jesus requires that we take up that which will put us to death. We will deny self and live for something greater. We will put to death the exercise of passions which otherwise would kill us spiritually, and become new people (Col 3:5-10), new creatures in Christ (II Cor. 5:17). We take up our cross and die on it. "He that hath died is justified from sin...Even so reckon yourselves to be dead unto sin, but alive unto God in Christ Jesus" (Rom 6:7, 11). And thus we remain, taking up that cross daily. Jesus said, "Take up your cross daily." Paul said, "I die daily."
The cross is not simply some problem we bear, it is a whole way of life and commitment to another, Christ, instead of the selfish indulgences of this life. We die upon the cross we take up, and are given a new life by Christ. Jesus required us to put the old self to death.
Selected Bible Readings
East Hill Church of Christ (Pensacola, FL)
(http://ykc.com/cofc/pgeninfo.htm)
· When in sorrow, read John 14.
· When men fail you, read Psalm 27.
· When you have sinned, read Psalm 51.
· When you worry, read Matthew 6:19-34.
· Before church service, read Psalm 84
· When in danger, read Psalm 91.
· When you have the blues, read Psalm 34.
· When God seems far away, read Psalm 139.
· When you are discouraged, read Isaiah 40.
· If you want to be fruitful, read John 15.
· When doubts come upon you, read John 7:17.
· When you are lonely or fearful, read Psalm 23.
· When you forget your blessings, read Psalm 103.
· When your faith needs stirring, read Hebrews 11.
· When you feel down and out, read Romans 8:31-39.
· When you want courage for your task, read Joshua 1.
· When the world seems bigger than God, read Psalm 90.
· When you want rest and peace, read Matthew 11:28-30.
· When you want Christian assurance, Romans 8:1-30.
· For Paul's secret of happiness, read Colossians 3:12-17.
· When you leave home for a labor or travel, read Psalm
121.
· When your prayers grow narrow and selfish, read Psalm
67.
· When you grow bitter or critical read, 1 Corinthians
13.
· For Jesus' idea of a Christian, read Matthew 5.
· For James' idea of religion, read James 1:19-27.
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DID YOU NOTICE our new name and logo? BIBLE inSITE is now BIBLE INSIGHT. We have dropped our subtitle: "Scriptural lessons from the Internet" in lieu of a quotation of 2 Tim. 2:15. Additionally, we have redesigned our template, with new graphics and a new font.
Why these changes, you might ask? We are beginning to receive good articles for the bulletin from sources other than just the internet, thus the decision to drop the subtitle. Since inSITE was a play on the word website, the removal of the subtitle also necessitated the re-spelling of the title.
The title BIBLE INSIGHT implies that we are looking closely into the scriptures, so what better passage to emphasize that idea than 2 Tim. 2:15. We hope and pray that this publication is indeed an insightful look into the scriptures.