Family News and Notes
Singles Luncheon today following morning services for all the single ladies. The teens have worked hard to get things ready, so come to the luncheon.
Next Sunday begins a new month Building Fund Sunday.
NOTE OF APPRECIATION
"We are extremely proud of the men who participated in the Wednesday night devotional service. Those who spoke on the theme of Godly Living - Godliness were: Wade Miller, Brandon Marshall, Tim Jones, Bronson Roper and Bob Hedges. We really appreciate the preparation these men made and their willingness to be a participant. We appreciate Bob Hedges selecting and preparing the lesson outline and securing the speakers. Our congregation is truly blessed to have those who are willing to develop their skills and share their talents with us." The Elders.
TSUNAMI RELIEF CONTRIBUTION
"Our special contribution for relief of our brethren affected by the recent Tsunami amounted to $ 2633.41. Including funds from the Church treasure, a total of $ 4,000.00 is being sent from the North Jefferson congregation to assist our brethren who suffered such tremendous loss of homes, clothing and other physical possessions as well as loss of family members and friends. We deeply appreciate the generosity of all of you who care for and are willing to share with those who are less fortunate. Contributions continue to come in. May the Lord bless you for such a loving heart." The Elders
Osa Colley (son-in-law of Lurline Johnson) remains in Room 517 Rehab at Titus Regional Medical Center recuperating from a stroke.
Donald Newman (father of Marty Newman who is son-in-law of Rhodney & Judy Freeman) remains in the VA Hospital in Dallas. He has been there a couple of weeks awaiting the time when he can receive a pacemaker.
At last report Albert Miller is in room 401 in Titus Regional Medical Center. He is grandfather of Courtney Marshall.
Louis Bell is out of the hospital and has gone to the home of his daughter (Gloria Wilkins) in Tyler for a few days so he can be close to the hospital if the need arises.
Howard Horton is making progress and may get out of the Nursing Center soon to return home.
Hazel Phillips is still in East Texas Medical Center in Tyler now over 5 weeks. She still cannot stand. She is in room 4419 and her direct telephone number is: 903-531-8029.. We need to keep her in our prayers and offer words of encouragement. Also, remember Ralph.
Bobby Joe Phillips (son of Josephine and Perry Cooper) passed away on January 26, 2005 at Murfreesboro, TN. His funeral was conducted in Murfreesboro on Friday afternoon with burial in that area. The family requested that in lieu of flowers contributions be made to the Building Fund.
THANK YOU ... "Dear Christian Family: My family and I would like to extend our deepest gratitude to you all for your prayers, flowers, cards and kind words in our time of need. My mother's passing was and still is sad. We are all still trying to adjust to the loss. Once again, thank you. In Christian Love, Tracy McCrackin and family."
THANK YOU "It is so wonderful being a part of the Church's Christian family, especially in times of trouble. You are such a blessing to both Ann and me with your cards, visits, calls, most of all, your prayers. I miss being with you so very much. A very special thanks to our young people for remembering me with your sweet thoughtful cards." Billy Carter
THANK YOU "I want to express my deepest appreciation for the phone calls, cards, and prayers. Your prayers gave me the assurance that I needed and the strength to place my health problems in God's hands. I am fortunate to be part of the family at North Jefferson Church of Christ. May God bless you and yours, Jan Hargrove"
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PRAYER LIST
Justin Barker, Rachel Barker, Louis Bell, Annah Brown, Sue Browning,
Billy Carter, Josephine Cooper, Perry Cooper, Zenith Hargrove, Howard Horton, Ruby Lawhon, Hollis Lee, Winnie Patton, Hazel Phillips, Dorothy Sargent,
Alva Mae Sheets
ALSO: Ercell Fetters, Marie Holloway, Kelsey Meyers, Donald Newman,
Jennifer Tolson
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Are You Sure Of Your Salvation?
"Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling" (Philippians 2:12). "Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:" (II Peter 1:10).
From time to time during the 26 years I have served as a preacher, I have had people come to me with questions and doubts about their salvation. Some folks, who "grew up in the church," were baptized at a very young age and later came to question whether they really understood enough about what they were doing for their baptism to be valid and effective in washing away their past sins (Acts 22:16). Others have had questions and doubts about their "conversion experiences," in which they participated in earlier years at different denominational churches that clearly do not teach the Gospel plan of salvation. In both cases, these individuals show an earnest desire to make sure they are right with God, and to comply with all of His terms of pardon. Their concern is commendable, for all of us are commanded to "make our calling and election sure," and to "work out our own salvation with fear and trembling," as noted in the Scriptures above. We would to God that everyone would be so serious about this most important of matters.
The question always emerges in such cases, "Can a person be taught wrong, or believe wrong, and yet be baptized right?" Certainly forgiveness of sins takes place in the mind of God. Only God and the individual know what that individual was thinking when they were "baptized," concerning why they were being baptized and what was achieved in that act. I am certainly not going to presume to take God's place in judging what is in a person's heart at the time they are baptized, but I do know God will judge that action based upon what the Scriptures teach (John 12:48-50). I also must conclude from Acts 19:1-7, that there is such a thing as an "invalid baptism," if a person has been improperly instructed, or has a faulty understanding of baptism "in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ."
That being the case, the Bible makes it clear that any individual who was "sprinkled" or "poured" has not been Scripturally baptized, because baptism, by definition, is an "immersion" or "burial" in water (Rms. 6:4, & Col. 2:12). Also, no one who was baptized as an infant has been Scripturally baptized, because the Bible teaches only hearing, believing, penitent, individuals, who willingly confess Jesus Christ as Lord (Romans 10:17, John 8:24, Luke 13:3, Matthew 10:32) are proper candidates for baptism. Since no infant can hear, believe, repent, or confess Christ, it follows that "infant baptism" is not Scriptural.
It also follows that any adult who was immersed in water, even if it was "for the remission of sins," has not been Scripturally baptized if they did not properly believe, repent, or confess before they were baptized. For instance, someone might be immersed in the watery grave of baptism to get their spouse, who is a member of Christ's body, to quit "nagging" them about obeying the Gospel. If they did it for that reason alone, and not because they really believed in Christ as the Son of God, then they just "got wet," and thus were not "saved" when they were "baptized."
Similarly, a person who knowingly and willfully does not repent of the sins of which he is cognizant at the time of his baptism, has not been Scripturally baptized. That said, however, let me hasten to add that after more teaching and study, many converts come to learn later on of some sin in their lives, of which they were not aware at the time of their conversion. It doesn't appear that this invalidates their baptism, rather it seems the Scriptures teach that at that point of conviction of sin, the Christian must be willing to repent of that sin, meaning to change one's will (or mind) leading to a change of action, as they seek God's forgiveness through confession and prayer (see the account of Simon the Sorcerer, Acts 8:9-24, also I John 1:5 - 2:2).
Finally, let us consider the question of what one must understand in order for their "baptism into Christ" (Gal. 3:26-27) to be valid and effective in providing them the remission of all of their past sins (Acts 2:38). How much do you have to know for your immersion in water as a penitent, confessing, believer to be efficacious (effective, legal, adequate, productive) in claiming your salvation in Jesus Christ? If you were baptized in a denominational church, is that baptism valid in gaining your initial salvation in Christ? Let's think about the matter as logically and unemotionally as we can. The truth is, the vast majority of denominational churches neither believe nor teach that baptism is a necessary part of the plan of salvation. I don't say that unkindly, it is just the truth of the matter. Read their literature and their creeds, or talk with their informed leaders about the matter and you will quickly learn that I have not misrepresented them.
Though most denominations practice some sort of "baptism" as a ceremonial part of becoming affiliated with that denomination, they do not believe that baptism is a necessary part of salvation. If they do not believe that baptism is a required element in availing the forgiveness of man's sins, then it logically follows that they do not teach their converts to be baptized "for the remission of sins" (Acts 2:38), to "wash away sins" (Acts 22:16), to "get into Christ" (Rms. 6:1-4, Gal. 3:27), or to "be saved" (I Pet. 3:21). If you were baptized as an "outward sign of an inward grace" as the largest Protestant denomination in America teaches (and often verbally states at their baptismal ceremonies, the implication being that the grace of Christ has already been extended prior to baptism), then did you really understand that the saving grace of Christ's blood was not applied until you were baptized into His death (Rms. 6:3-4)? If you made the confession prior to your baptism, which the largest Protestant denomination in America teaches its baptismal candidates to make, you said, "I believe that God for Christ's sake has forgiven me of my sins." Did you really mean that statement, and if so, were you not then baptized for some other reason than the remission of sins?
Remember the Bible teaches that baptism is "for the remission of sins," to "wash away sins," to "save us," to "get into Christ," and to "get into His death," all of which convey the idea that our salvation occurs only after we are baptized. That being the case, it is necessarily evident that a person must understand in his/her mind that he/she is being baptized for the purpose of acquiring or receiving salvation, in order for that person's baptism to result in salvation.
Again, it is not my place to judge what was in your mind when you were baptized, and I will not do so. Only you and God know that! If you tell me you were Scripturally baptized, I am going to take that statement at face value and accept you as a brother or sister in Christ. I have neither the time nor the inclination to be a detective and investigate everyone's baptism to insure its validity. No preacher is charged to do that, nor would any of us be capable of that since we cannot read another's mind. However, if there is any "reasonable doubt" in your mind about the validity of your salvation, why not clear away that doubt and make sure of your salvation by being baptized into Christ for the remission of your sins, as a penitent, confessing, believer..
With eternity in view, and heaven or hell hanging in the balance, why would anyone not want to make his/her calling and election sure? Surely such a critical matter as our obedience to the Gospel plan of salvation deserves our very best effort at doing exactly what the Scriptures say we must do, in the way the Scriptures say we must do it, and for the right Scriptural reasons. If Christ was willing to give His life for our salvation, and He was (Hebrews 9:12), dare we treat this matter casually, without making an informed, logical, and earnest response to all that He says we must do to comply with His terms of pardon? Indeed, we should work out our own salvation with fear and trembling, for the Lord is patiently waiting to save all who will obey Him (Hebrews 5:9)! ---David McCain
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