WORDS OF FAITH
“… nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine …”
1 Tim. 4:6
Central Church of Christ Naples, FL
April 03, 2011
Number 31
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Inner Light
With many the Word of God is not the power of God unto
salvation; it is only a witness to God’s Word. They tell us that as
they read the Bible the Holy Spirit gives them special light on the
passage read. If this is true, then the reader becomes a divine
speaker for God. That is all the pope of Rome claims. He speaks
for God. I had just as soon have the pope as some teenager who
claims he or she has a special leading in their “call meetings” or
“soul talks.” This is called by some a “personal encounter.” The
Bible is set aside as a true guide and is made only a means of
bringing a person into a “personal encounter.” The doctrine of “inner
light” gave us every major denomination among us. Let us remember
that the “Bible is right” and that “it is not within man that
walketh to direct his steps” (Jer. 10:23). God’s means of converting
and leading man is the Word of God (Rom. 1:16). The advocates of
emotional religion talk much about the Holy Spirit and, at the same
time, ignore what the Holy Spirit says in His Holy Word. The spirit
that leads a man outside of the Word of God is not holy.
– G.K. Wallace (deceased)
Old Folks
In the vigor of youth, we despised danger. Now our caution
increases year by year. With many, life if a problem preventing being
idle. We are anxious about a continual existence. Winter is on
our heads but spring is in our hearts. Roses and violets smell just as
they did forty years ago. Our minds cannot be perplexed or
frightened but go in a quiet peace like a clock in a thunderstorm.
The events of life flow on as usual. It has been well said that the
“fuller the current, the more noiseless it flows.” Time passes
swiftly – months and years are so much alike that we hardly notice.
Victor Hugo said, “Forty is the old age of youth: fifty is the youth
of old age.” It may be better to be seventy or eighty years young
and not forty years old. If we would stay young in heart we must
keep the mind active. Read, read, and read. The man who is mentally
active does not grow old like the one who never thinks. The
mind, like muscles, needs exercise. Chapirl said, “An aged Christian,
with snow on his head, may remind us that those points of earth
are whitest which are nearest heaven.” David said, “The days of
our years are threescore and ten; and if by reason of strength
fourscore years… for it is soon cut off and we fly away…So teach
us to number our days that we may apply our hearts to wisdom” (Psa. 90:10, 12).
– G.K. Wallace (deceased)
Confessing Faults
“Confess your faults [sins] one to another, and pray one for
another that ye might be healed” (Jas. 5:16). Private wrongs should
be corrected privately (Mt. 18:15). A Christian is doing himself an
incalculated [sic] injury to try to hide a public sin. When a sin is
known, one does not confess the sin but his repentance of that sin.
The wrongdoer needs to make known his or her repentance of that
sin. When a sin is well-known, the sinner should publicly make
known his or her purpose to quit the wrong. To fail to do so may
cause others to do the same sin. He who tried to hide his sin is
adding the sin of hypocrisy to the wrong committed. The prodigal
son said, “I will arise and go to my father, and I will say unto him,
Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight” (Lk. 15:18).
Today, we not only have “backsliders,” we have “insliders.” Backsliders
are those who have publicly sinned so as to bring reproach
upon the church, but, instead of making a public confession and
asking the forgiveness of the church, they just “slide into the congregation”
and feel forgiven. A Christian who has done a public wrong is
never humble enough to be forgiven until he is humble enough to
take away the reproach he has publicly brought on the church.
– G.K. Wallace (deceased)
Passages to Ponder
“As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is
tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him. For who is God
save the LORD? or who is a rock save our God? It is God that girdeth
me with strength, and maketh my way perfect” (Psa. 18:30-32).