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Did You Know This About Baptism?

10/22/2020

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A Little-Known Fact About Baptism
   
Many people that attend various religious groups are taught erroneous ideas about baptism. One of the most common errors is that baptism is wholly unconnected with salvation. But what does the Bible say?  
   
Galatians 3:27 states, "For as many of you as were BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST have put on Christ." (See also Romans 6:3) The preposition “into” indicates a change of position or relationship. In other words, we get "into Christ" by the act of baptism. (You likely won’t hear THAT stressed in some churches.) Moreover, search your Bible for any other action that will get you or me into Christ.  
   
Is it really that important to get "into Christ"? Ephesians 1:3 says, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with EVERY SPIRITUAL BLESSING in heavenly places IN CHRIST."  Did you catch that? Paul declared us that every spiritual blessing is found IN CHRIST. (Just try searching the New Testament for spiritual blessings found OUTSIDE of Jesus Christ.)  
   
Furthermore, 2 Corinthians 5:17 states, "Therefore if anyone is IN CHRIST, he is a NEW CREATION: old things have passed away; behold, all things have BECOME NEW."  Not only does describe the new life we experience IN CHRIST, what sincere believer would want to pass up the new life and retain the old one?  
   
Paul also declares in 2 Timothy 2:10, "Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the SALVATION which is IN CHRIST JESUS..."  Paul could not make it any plainer - salvation is found in Jesus Christ. Which means that we must be IN CHRIST in order to be saved.  
   
And in 1 John 5:11 we read, "And this is the testimony, that God has given us ETERNAL LIFE, and this life is IN HIS SON."  
   
Based on these inspired scriptures, I want to be IN CHRIST! Don’t you? And if we believe God's word, we get into Christ by being baptized. (I find nothing optional about that.)  
   
It is tragic that millions of sincere people are misled concerning the act of baptism. Sincere as they may be, they need to believe the words of Jesus, “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:16).  
   
Jesus, always Jesus!  
   
Dennis
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Will The Church Still Be Here.....

10/22/2020

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WILL THERE BE A CHURCH OF CHRIST IN MILAN 60 YEARS FROM NOW?  
"Train up a child in the way he should go..." (Pro. 22:6)  
   
A few years ago, we celebrated 60 years of the church’s presence in Milan. One cannot help but wonder if the church will be here 60 years hence. Although numerous factors will influence the answer, one is clear – Will our children & grandchildren become AND remain committed Christians?  
   
To a great degree the answer depends on what we as parents & grandparents are currently teaching them. And that is determined as much by our EXAMPLE as by our words. Therefore…  
   
We can only convince our children that God and Jesus come first when WE make the Father and Son the priority of our lives - more important than sports, recreation, TVs, smart phones and computers.  
   
We can only convince our children that worshipping God is crucial when WE make certain to attend services ever week.  
   
We can only convince our children that studying the Bible is important when WE take the time to read God’s word and attend Bible class.  
   
We can only convince our children that daily prayer if vital when WE spend time daily praying to our Father in heaven.  
   
We can only convince our children that swearing or taking God’s name in vain are sinful when WE make certain that our language is totally free of profanity.  
   
We can only convince our children that modesty in appearance is important when WE avoid wearing revealing attire.  
   
We can only convince our children that pornography is sinful when WE eliminate TV shows, movies or videos that depict partially (or completely) nude persons or couples engaged in sex.  
   
We can only convince our children that lying is wrong when WE avoid telling “white lies” or embellishing the truth.  
   
We can only convince our children that the most important thing in this life is to prepare for the next when WE are making preparations ourselves.  
   
***************************************************************************************  
   
A man remarked to a friend, “Our children will determine the future of the world!”  To which the friend retorted, “No, it is what we TEACH OUR CHILDREN that will determine the future of the world.”  
   
Jesus, always Jesus,  
   
Dennis
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Wise Advice

10/8/2020

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WISE WORDS FROM AN UNDERTAKER     
“…if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.” Matt. 5:23-24  
   
A funeral director in Michigan that was involved in over five thousand funerals was interviewed by a reporter. During the interview, the funeral director was asked if he had learned any notable lessons from his interactions with people dealing with the deaths of loved ones. Among his answers was this, “(I have learned) to resolve conflicts… quicker, because I’ve seen people go off to work who didn’t come home.”  
   
Wise advice. How many times have you or I huffed out of the house in the morning or went to bed with unresolved anger smoldering inside? How often have we put off resolving a conflict by thinking, “I'll take care of it later” or “Let the other person stew awhile.”  
   
But what if we never have the opportunity to make things right? Every day in the U.S. alone hundreds of people leave home, never to return. Hundreds of others go to bed but never awaken. If we truly realized how uncertain this life is, we might never allow anger to fester or a conflict to go unresolved.  
   
The apostle Paul warned, “Do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil…” (Eph. 4:26-27). He then added, “And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you” (Eph. 4:32).  
   
The best time to apologize or resolve a conflict is TODAY, not “When I get around to it”. Restoring a relationship NOW will not only add to our happiness, it may even save us years of regret.  
   
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God” (Mt. 5:9).  
   
Jesus, always Jesus!  
   
Dennis
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Life is SHORT

10/8/2020

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LIFE IS SHORT
 
The above title is 100% true. Job said, "Man who is born of woman is of few days and full of trouble.  He comes forth like a flower and fades away; he flees like a shadow and does not continue" (Job 14:1-2). No matter how we might try, we are powerless to slow time down or delay the inevitable.
 
In view of this, it is incumbent on us to believe in God and submit to Jesus Christ as Lord while we still can. God warns, "Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit’; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow.  For what is your life?  It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away." (Jam. 4:13-14).
 
Many people procrastinate about turning to God and Christ because they are “too busy”. Yet every minute of every day countless hearts stop, cars collide, fires erupt, murderers kill and people drown. Thousands of people die without warning. "And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment" (Heb. 9:27).
 
Yet countless people live as though tomorrow is guaranteed. So, instead of preparing for eternity, they focus exclusively on this life. Remember the parable of the rich farmer in Luke 12:16ff? He believed that he had many years to enjoy his possessions and wealth. But God said, “Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?” (vs 20)


He was not alone. The majority of people on earth, especially in America, believe that they have plenty of time left. No wonder so many of them assume that "God can wait". And so, they gamble with thier souls. Sadly, many will lose in the end.
 
Life is short. The end is coming. God sent His Son to this world in order to save you and me from our sins and grant us eternal life. The Bible says that today is the day of salvation - 2 Cor. 6:2. Won't you accept God's offer and obey the gospel of Jesus Christ today? You have nothing to lose, and everything to gain.





Jesus, always Jesus!
 
Dennis
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