BEACON A PUBLICATION OF BELLVIEW CHURCH OF CHRIST 4850 Saufley Field Road; Pensacola, FL 32526 (850) 455-7595 Internet Web Page: http://www.bellviewcoc.com E-mail: bellviewcoc@gmail.com January April July October February May August November March June September December
first Pentecost following our Lord s resurrection that the church had its beginning. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it (Mat. 16:18). And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power (Mark 9:1). And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high (Luke 24:49). But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth (Acts 1:8). And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place (Acts 2:1). If the religious group of which you are a member claims an earlier or later date for the church, you need to go back to Jerusalem for Jesus answer. It is in the city of Jerusalem that we see how one becomes a member of the church. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved (Acts 2:21). Yes, one must call on the name of the Lord. But people need to return to Jerusalem to learn what that really means. Peter says that people need to hear the gospel (Acts 2:22). They had to believe that the Jesus they crucified was Lord and Christ (Acts 2:36). In this city, they repented in order to be saved (Acts 2:38). They were also commanded to be baptized for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38). Now how did you call on Lord? Was it like those in Jerusalem? In Jerusalem we find the Lord s plan fo the church s organizaiton. And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them (Acts 15:4). Here are mentioned elders. Elders (1 Pet. 5:1) are called bishops (Tit. 1:7), overseers (Acts 20:28), and presbytery (1 Tim. 4:14). Their place in the church was and is to rule, lead, guide, and feed the flock. There is always to be more than one elder in each congregation (Acts 14:23; Tit. 1:5). They must meet the qualifications found in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9. No exceptions. Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business (Acts 6:3). Deacons find their work in serving the congregation. Their qualifications are listed in 1 Timothy 3:8-13. Paul gives the organization of the church in Philippi and it was the same as in Jerusalem and elsewhere (Phi. 1:1). On our journey to Jerusalem we have heard Jesus answer about the church s beginning, how one calls on the name of the Lord, and the church s organization. Make time to visit the other cities in the New Testament and learn the truth about God s Word.
Is the Christian Obligated to Forgive the Sinner Who Will Not Repent? Curtis A. Gates The above question has often been asked this scribe. Every accountable being at times sins against others; some sin publicly even against the church. Clearly, those who repent and ask for forgiveness are to be fully forgiven. But, not everyone repents and asks for forgiveness. Does God require us to forgive the impenitent? What saith the Scriptures? One s opinion and sentiment often differs from Holy Writ. Does one s own forgiveness depend upon his forgiving the impenitent? But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses (Mat. 6:14-15). Does this include forgiving one who refuses to repent? God cannot forgive one who does not repent. He refuses to hear one who refuses to forsake and confess his sin (Psa. 66:18; Eze. 33:11); if the sinner will confess and turn from his sin, God will hear (1 Kin. 8:35-36; Luke 15:17-24; Acts 2:38). When was Ananias forgiven (Acts 8:22-24)? the Ephesians (Rev. 2:5)? Can the Christian do what God cannot do? In individual, personal matters between you and another (in which you strive to resolve the difference), if the brother will not repent, let him be unto thee as the Gentile and the publican (Mat. 18:15-17). Without possible dispute are Christ s words, Take heed to yourselves: if thy brother sin, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. And if he sin against thee seven times in the day, and seven times turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him (Luke 17:3-4). When were the Corinthians commanded to forgive and comfort the man in adultery? The necessary implication is that the man had repented between the command to withdraw from him and the time when they were to forgive him (1 Cor. 5; 2 Cor. 2:5-11). But, some may object thus: Does this not demonstrate a lack of love for our brother, or is it not to carry a grudge? Our Father loves the impenitent supremely, certainly not carrying a grudge; yet, He refuses to forgive the rebellious one, who will not repent. Did not Jesus pray (as did Stephen) for His murderers to be forgiven? For them to have been forgiven while still impenitent would mean that man universally can be saved, while refusing to repent. The penitent, obedient ones on Pentecost of Acts 2:37-41 received answer to Christ s prayer; only then were they forgiven. Does this mean that one can have a mean, unforgiving spirit? Absolutely not! The faithful child of God has the spirit of forgiveness, anxious for one who has offended him to repent (Mat. 18:15; Luke 17:3-4). Contrast the self-righteous elder brother (Luke 15:25ff). What is real forgiveness? And their sins and their
Bellview Church of Christ 4850 Sauf1 ey Road Pensacola, Florida 32526 Second C1 ass Postage PAID Pensacola, Florida 32526 Published Weekly By Bellview CIJIrch Of Christ Pensacola, Fla. 32526 2nd Class Postage Paid iniquities will I remember no more" (Heb. 10: 17) ; " love covereth a multitude of sins" (I Peter 4:8). How sad to appear in judgment not having forgiven a penitent child of God who injures us! How can God show is mercy (Matt. 6:14,15)? And, how sad, on the other hand, for the erring child of God to sin publicly, hurting the name of the Lord and His body, and never to acknowledge the sin, refusing to repent of and confess it (James 5: 16)!How sad for an individual to sin against a brother and to expect to go to heaven, his never having corrected the sin (Matt, 18:15-17; Luke 17:3,4). 1990 BELLVIEV LKC'nJRES May 9-13, 1990 "What Does God Authorize In Worship?" "And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?" Mark 4:40 HAPPy REi YFAR! "If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them" (John 13:17), "Hast thou faith? have {it} to thyself before God, Happy {is} he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth" (Romans 14:22), "Behold, we count them happy which endure, Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful. and of tender mercy" (JaDles 5: 11 ), "But and if ye suffer for righteousness t sake, happy {are ye}: and be not afraid of their terror. neither be troubled" (1 Peter 3:14), "If ye be reproached for the DaDle of Christ, happy {are ye}; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part be is evil spoken of. but on your part he is glorified" ( 1 Peter 4:14),