"O how I love Your law!"

The psalmist wrote, "O how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day." (Ps. 119:97) He goes on to say the law of God had given him wisdom, insight, and understanding. He abstained from evil and practiced the ordinances of God. He concluded this section by saying, "From your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way." (Ps. 119:104)

Notice the contrast. He loved God's law and hated every false way. Because he understood God's precepts, he hated everything opposed to and out of harmony with them. Why? For the same reason we might. Sin separates man from God and ends in eternal death (Is. 59:2; Rom. 6:23; James 1:15). Teaching something other than God's truth causes one to be accursed (Gal. 1:8-9). Understanding these things should cause us to "hate every false way" as well.

Do we love God's truth and hate every false way? We might all say we love the truth. But would we use language as strong as David, that we hate that which is false?

Are we set for the defense of the gospel, rising up when it comes under attack (Phil. 1:16,17)? Will we stand up for the truth, even when we have to stand alone (2 Tim. 4:16)? Will we confront the preacher who is influencing others toward sin (Gal. 2:11-14)? Will we resist the lead of the elders who are leading us away from Christ (Acts 20:29-30)? Are we willing to forsake family and friends in order to remain true to the Lord (Mt. 10:34-37)?

If not, can we say we hate every false way like David did? If we don't have that attitude that David expressed, perhaps we don't love God's law as much as we think we do.

Let's each examine ourselves in light of God's word.

New Study Material Added

I added a new study section containing the material from a booklet I wrote on the recent marriage, divorce and remarriage controversy. You may click on the link below to go directly to the material. I hope you find this to be a profitable study.

Understanding the Putting Away Controversy

Merger

The Christian Chronicle recently reported that the Highland Oaks Church of Christ has recently merged with the nearby Pitman Creek Church of Christ. [You can read the story here.] Yet what is unique about this merger is that each congregation is going to remain where they currently are. They will now be "one congregation meeting in two locations", sharing "a common staff, eldership, budget and vision."

The obvious error in this is the disregard of local church autonomy and the over-extension of the rule of elders. But I want to notice something else right now that the article mentioned.

The Highland Oaks church has 2000 members. The Pitman Creek church, which has just been taken over, has 200 members. The Pitman Creek church was described as "struggling" and "small". It is difficult for me to see how a 200-member congregation can be described as small and struggling. What does this say about much smaller groups?

The Bible teaches that the church is fully sufficient to do the work God has given it to do. 1 Timothy 3:15 says the church is "the pillar and support of the truth." The context indicates that this is the local church. The local church has the responsibility of upholding and proclaiming the truth.

Each congregation, whether it has 10, 200, or 2000 members, is fully capable and equipped to do what God intends for the local church to do. Let us not be discouraged by those who want to improve God's plan by leading us to believe that we cannot do what God wants us to do without doing it their way. Let us do things God's way. His way is, and always will be, the best way to accomplish His goals.

Victory in Jesus

The book of Revelation is one of the more difficult books in the Bible to understand. Because of the prevalent use of symbolic language and Old Testament references, it requires much study on our part to get a firm grasp on the book. But if we simplify the message of Revelation, we see described a struggle between good and evil; those who are for God and those who are against God.

Revelation 17:14 contains what I believe is the main point of the book. “These will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are with Him are the called and chosen and faithful.”

Satan and his forces are waging war against Christ and His kingdom. This is not talking about some future Armageddon. The war is being waged now. Numerous New Testament passages remind us of this fact (2 Cor. 10:3-4; Eph. 6:11-13; 1 Tim. 6:12; 2 Tim. 2:3; 4:7; 1 Pet. 2:11).

The interesting thing about this war is that the outcome is sure: “the Lamb will overcome them”. Christ’s army will be victorious in the end, no matter how strong the forces of evil may seem. We must decide whether we will fight for the Lord, or against Him.

BOTC - April 2007

The new issue of Banner of the Cross is now online and contains the following articles:

Calling on the Name of the Lord by Andy Sochor
"A Good Work" - Really? by Tim Haile

Banner of the Cross

PBT - April 2007

The April issue of Plain Bible Teaching is now online with the following articles:

Testing the Spirits by Andy Sochor
What is the Church of Christ? by Andy Sochor
Where Did Jesus Go When He Died? by Andy Sochor
Personal Responsibility in the Work of Evangelism by Andy Sochor

You can read these articles by clicking on the link below. I hope you find this material helpful.

Plain Bible Teaching