Protecting His Body

The Apostle John was exiled to an island called Patmos. His crime was preaching the word of God. While on this island, though, John saw Christ in all His glory. John describes what he saw in Revelation 1.

Among other things, John said that out of Christ’s mouth came a sharp two-edged sword. The sword described here is a large broad sword used by warriors in battle. In Revelation 2 we see Christ using this sword to fight against sin in the church.

The church is Christ’s body and He will remove sin from His body as if it were a life threatening malignancy. Jesus removes sin from His body because He cares about it.

This is a warning for you and me. Either we deal with sin through repentance and faith, or Christ will deal with it. He wants His church healthy and strong. He will protect His church from sin.

Join us this Sunday as we worship our awesome Savior and go online to believers-fellowship.org.

The Power of His Word

The apostle John encountered the glorified Christ and in Revelation 1 he recorded this experience. Among other things, John said that Christ’s voice was like “the sound of many waters.”

This is no ordinary voice. That is a voice with power. Christ speaks with a voice like the mighty ocean crashing against a rocky coastline. His voice is like the deafening roar of the water going over Niagra Falls.

When Christ speaks, He drowns out all other voices and all of man’s feeble opinions. In fact, so powerful is Jesus’ voice that according to John 5:28-29, one day Jesus will speak and every grave will give up its body.

Jesus speaks powerfully today through the pages of Scripture. His word cannot be debated or refuted. His verdicts cannot be overthrown. Nor can His promises be broken.

Praise God for the gift of His powerful word.

Join us Sunday as we open the powerful word of Christ and go online to believers-fellowship.org.

Christ Cleanses His Church

When the apostle John saw the glorified Christ, He recorded in Revelation 1 that Christ’s feet were “like burnished bronze, when it has been made to glow in a furnace.”

In ancient times metals were refined in massive furnaces that were glowing red-hot. The metal was so hot you couldn’t look upon it with the naked eye. So what John saw was blinding, terrifying, intimidating.

Also, bronze in the Bible always symbolizes judgment. The fires that burned on the bronze altar represented the burning anger of God against sin.

What this tells us is that Jesus will judge sin wherever He finds it even if it means purging His church. In Revelation 2 you read of Christ cleansing His church of sin.

Christ wants a pure church. Pray for the purity of the church and pursue purity in your own life. Purity pleases our holy and pure Savior.

Join us this Sunday and go online to believers-fellowship.org.

Piercing Eyes

In Revelation 1 we’re told that the apostle John saw the glorified Christ and he said that Christ’s eyes “were like a flame of fire.”

That means that Christ’s eyes are like flaming searchlights. He sees with a penetrating, piercing gaze. He sees into the depths and secret places of every heart. And He sees it all accurately. There are no secrets from Jesus. Nothing is hidden from Him.

Christ is inescapable. There is nowhere to hide from Him. Nothing obscures His vision. He knows your thoughts before you can even express them. He reads your mail without even opening the envelope.

One man wrote, “God not only sees men, He sees through them.”

Christ’s eyes are piercing. What does He want to see? He wants to see hearts that are wholly committed to Him. What does He see in your heart?

Join us Sunday as we worship our awesome Savior and go online to believers-fellowship.org.

Perfectly Pure

The Apostle John saw Christ in all His glory and he recorded what he saw in Revelation 1. Among other things, John said, “[Christ’s] head and His hair were white like white wool, like snow.”

The white that John describes is like that of fresh snow on a brilliantly sunny day. That dazzling white is a symbol of Christ’s sinless purity. And holiness is the most prominent of all Christ’s attributes.

Holiness means separateness. Christ is separated from all mankind by His purity. He is lofty, exalted, majestic, and transcendent. He is infinite in His purity.

Jesus doesn’t conform to any standard. He is the standard. His words are pure. His judgments are pure. His decrees are pure. Christ is perfectly pure.

You and I are not pure, but whoever repents and believes in Christ has His purity credited to their account. Praise the Lord!

Join us this Sunday and go online to believers-fellowship.org.

Christ Today: Our High Priest

Last week Christians remembered the historical events of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

But what if you could see Christ today? What would you see? We find an answer in Revelation 1: 12-16. In this passage the apostle John records what he saw when he had an encounter with Christ on the island of Patmos.

John tells us that he saw Jesus “clothed in a robe reaching to the feet, and girded across His chest with a golden sash.”

The long robe is a sign of authority and dignity. It was standard dress for kings, princes, judges, and prophets. When you add the golden sash you describe the clothing of an Old Testament High Priest.

That’s what Christ is for His church. He is our High Priest always making intercession on our behalf before the throne of God.

Christ is the only mediator between God and man. He is our High Priest.

Join us this Sunday or go online to believers-fellowship.org

That's Why It's GOOD Friday

This is Good Friday and this week we’ve been looking at the seven last sayings of Jesus as He was on the cross that day.

Today we will look at the last three. In John 19:28 we read that Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” Jesus spoke these words in order to fulfill the prophecy of Psalm 69:21. Jesus knew that this was the only prophecy yet to be fulfilled before He died.

In John 19:30 Jesus says, “It is finished” and in Luke 23:46 it is recorded that He said, “Father, into Your hands, I commit My spirit.”

Christ finished the work of salvation on the cross and then voluntarily gave up His life. There isn’t anything that needs to be added to what Christ has done. His work on the cross accomplished a completed salvation for all who would ever place their faith in Him.

That’s why we call today Good Friday.

Join us this weekend and go to believers-fellowship.org.

Note: Many of you prayed last night as Roberta had an emergency appendectomy. The surgery went well and she is doing fine. We are thankful for your love and prayers. Because of what Christ accomplished on the cross, Roberta is smiling at the future despite any physical set backs.

Hallelujah, What a Savior!

This is Passion Week and we’re looking at the seven last sayings of Christ spoken while He was on the cross.

Today we come to saying number four recorded in Matthew 27:46. Jesus cried out with a loud voice and said, “Eli, Eli, Lama Sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”

These chilling words express Christ’s experience as the wrath of God was unleashed on Him. At that moment Christ was standing in the place of everyone who would ever believe in Him and taking upon Himself the wrath that their sin deserved.

The good news for believers is that Christ’s death satisfied God’s justice so that all our sins are forgiven forever. But we must humbly realize that it took Christ’s infinite life to pay the infinite debt of our sin.

All we can say is, “Hallelujah, what a Savior!”

Join us this weekend at Believers Fellowship and go online to believers-fellowship.org.

Selfless Love

During this Passion Week we are looking at the seven last sayings of Christ as He was on the cross. Today, we will look at one that is very interesting.

Jesus’ mother, Mary, was there watching as Jesus was crucified. The Apostle John was also there. In John 19:26 it is recorded that Jesus said to Mary, “Woman, behold your son!” In verse 27 we’re told that Jesus said to John, “Behold, your mother!”

That is amazing. As He is enduring the pain of crucifixion, Jesus makes arrangements for the care of His mother. Apparently Joseph was dead by this time and Jesus’ brothers were not yet believers. Therefore, Jesus entrusted the care of His mother to the beloved apostle, John.
Scripture tells us that John took her into his home and history affirms that he cared for Mary until she died.

What amazing and selfless love was demonstrated by our Lord.

Join us this weekend or go online to believers-fellowship.org

Paradise

This week, commonly known as Passion Week, we are looking at the seven last sayings of Christ which He spoke while He was on the cross.

Today we look at Luke 23:43 where Jesus said, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.”

These words were spoken to a thief who was being crucified on a cross next to Jesus. The Bible tells us that two thieves were crucified that day, one on either side of Jesus.

Initially they were both mocking Christ along with the rest of the crowd. But somewhere along the way, one of them had a change of heart. As He observed Christ and how He responded that day, this man came to realize that he was a sinner and that Jesus was indeed the Savior. He expressed faith in Christ and Jesus assured this man of his salvation.

Join us this weekend as we celebrate the saving work of Christ or go online to believers-fellowship.org.

Forgiveness

This week is often referred to as Passion Week. It is the week leading up to and including the crucifixion of Christ.

Often, during this week, Christians will reflect upon the seven last sayings of Christ. These seven statements are recorded in the gospels as having been said by Christ while He was on the cross.
The first one is found in Luke 23:34. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.”

Here Jesus prays for the forgiveness of the very ones who are crucifying and mocking Him. This is a powerful illustration of the amazing grace of our Savior. Christ demonstrated incredible compassion for spiritually blind men.

Luke 23:47 records that this prayer was answered in part by the conversion of the Roman centurion, who was there and witnessed Christ’s death.

Have you responded to Christ’s grace by believing in Him?

Join us this weekend or go online to believers-fellowship.org.

Who's Church Is It?

In Colossians 1:18 we read, “(Christ) is the head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything.”

Jesus Christ is the head of the church. We must always remember this. We often speak of our church, or my church, or we ask, “Do you go to his church?” And that is okay as long as we understand what we mean.

But the reality is that it is not my church, or your church, or our church. It is the Lord’s church. Christ purchased the church with His own blood and it belongs to Him.

Christ is the sovereign ruler in the church. Therefore we shouldn’t ask what do we want in the church, but always we should ask what does Christ want in the church?

That’s the question we’re asking at Believers Fellowship. Please join us this Sunday and go online to believers-fellowship.org.

To God Be The Glory

To God Alone be the glory.

The Reformers laid out five foundational doctrines. If you are committed to the first four – Scripture Alone, Christ Alone, Grace Alone, and Faith Alone, then you will be committed to the last one, To God Alone be the Glory.

Salvation is of the Lord and He receives all the glory. We must maintain this high and exalted view of God in our lives and in our churches.

I’m afraid that today we often see a low view of God and an exalted view of man. It seems that even in the church everything revolves around man’s needs, man’s desires, and man’s wisdom.

We must direct people’s attention away from men and away from themselves, and toward God and His infinite majesty, power and glory. Salvation, eternal life, grace, mercy and wisdom, it all comes from Him.

At Believers Fellowship we want to glorify God. Join us this Sunday and go online to believers-fellowship.org.

Faith Alone

At Believers Fellowship we follow the path established by the Protestant Reformers in our commitment to certain foundational doctrinal commitments. There are five – Scripture Alone, Christ Alone, Grace Alone, Faith Alone, and To God Alone be the Glory.

Today let’s consider Faith Alone. The Reformers called this the material principle because it teaches us the very heart of what you must understand to be saved. And that is that justification is by faith alone.

Justification means to stand before God in righteousness. This is not attained through a series of works, it is received by faith and faith alone.

By faith in Christ I am united with Him and His righteousness is imputed to me. Christ is the only mediator between God and man. For me to be justified I must place my faith in Christ and Christ alone. I must totally commit myself to Him.

We proclaim justification by faith alone. Visit us this Sunday and go online to believers-fellowship.org.

Grace Alone

There are certain non-negotiable truths that we must build our Christian lives upon. The great Protestant reformers boiled it down to five foundational doctrines.

We’ve already looked at Scripture Alone and Christ Alone. Today let’s consider a third, Grace Alone.

Salvation is by grace alone not the result of anything in us. There is nothing we do to merit, earn, or deserve our salvation. Salvation is simply and only by God’s grace.

Grace is God’s unmerited, unearned, and undeserved favor. Our salvation is by grace alone. That is good news. But, it does require humility. You see, we want to take some of the credit. We want to think that there was something in us, or something we did or at least that we were smarter than others and that is why we should be saved.

The Bible says we are saved by grace and grace alone.

At Believers Fellowship we rejoice in God’s grace. Visit us Sunday and go online to believers-fellowship.org.

Christ Alone

In the 1500s the world was shook by the Protestant Reformation. During that time five foundational doctrinal statements were crystallized. Last Friday we looked at the first one, Scripture Alone.

Today we’ll consider the second one – Christ Alone. What we mean by Christ Alone is that Christ has done all the necessary work of salvation utterly and completely.Therefore, no merit on the part of man, no merit of the saints, no works of ours can add to His completed work.

On the cross Jesus said, “It is finished.” It is important to note that He did not say, “I’ve done my part, now you do yours.” No, Christ finished the work.

Salvation is not based upon anything I have done, anything I am doing, or anything I ever will do. It is based completely on Christ and what He did.

At Believers Fellowship we joyfully proclaim that salvation is in Christ Alone. Visit us Sunday or online at believers-fellowship.org.

Scripture Alone

The Protestant Reformation really began on October 31, 1517 when Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses to the door of the church in Wittenbug, Germany.

One of the foundations of the Reformation was Sola Scriptura – which means Scripture Alone. This was known as the Formal Principle because it stands at the beginning and gives direction to all that Christians affirm. All that we know and believe as Christians come from the Bible – the Bible alone.

The Bible alone is our ultimate authority – not the pope, the church, church traditions, church councils, personal intimations, or subjective feelings. It is Scripture alone. That’s where we take our stand.

This was the issue in the 1500s and it is the issue today in the 21st century. Martin Luther said, “The Word of God is the greatest, most necessary, and most important thing in Christendom.”

At Believers Fellowship we too take our stand on Scripture Alone.

Join us this Sunday and go online to believers-fellowship.org.

All Sufficient

The Bible is a revelation from God. It was given through the means of inspiration and therefore it is inerrant. When we pick up the Bible, we can be confident that we are reading God’s Word.

Because that is true, we also believe that the Bible is sufficient. The Bible is all we need to know God and walk with Him. 2 Peter 1:3 says, “His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to live and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him.”

Notice that it says everything related to life and godliness. That speaks of the sufficiency of Scripture. And this comes to us through the true knowledge of the Lord. How do we get that true knowledge? Through His inspired, inerrant revelation – the Bible.

We don’t need the Bible plus human wisdom, or human experience, or religious tradition. All we need is the Bible.

Join us at Believers Fellowship as we open God’s sufficient word and go online to believers-fellowship.org.

Without Error

The last two days we talked about the Bible as being an inspired revelation from God. Since that is true then we also know that the Bible is inerrant. That means that it is totally free from any kind of error.

The Bible does not contain any kind of historical, geographical, or spiritual error.
Psalm 12:6 says, “The words of the Lord are pure words.” How refreshing that is. The Bible is the only book you can read with the assurance that there are no errors contained in it. How good it is to be able to turn aside from the things of this world and turn to something that is absolutely true.

The Bible tells me the truth about God, man, heaven, hell, sin, and salvation. These are the things I most need to know and I have an inerrant, inspired, revelation to turn to.

Join us at Believers Fellowship as we open up God’s Word and go online to believers-fellowship.org.

Inspired By God

The Bible is a revelation given by God. But how did God insure that what He wanted to be revealed would be accurately written down?

We call the means that God used to secure an accurate revelation inspiration. The Bible says that all Scripture was given by inspiration of God. God literally breathed out His word and He used men to record it. 2 Peter 1:21 tells us that these men were moved by the Holy Spirit. God so moved in the lives of these men that when they wrote Scripture they were actually writing the very words of God. So through the means of inspiration God secured an accurate revelation.

If we are going to cut it straight, we must approach Scripture with this understanding. We must be convinced that we are handling the word of truth and we must be committed to handling it accurately.

Come visit us as we work to cut it straight and go online to believers-fellowship.org.

Revelation from God

If you are going to cut it straight when you study the Scripture, there are a few foundational understandings that you must have.You must see the Bible as a revelation from God.

God has chosen to reveal Himself to man through the pages of Scripture.Yes, God has also revealed Himself to us through creation and our conscience so that everyone knows that there is a God. But if we really want to understand God we must turn to the revelation given to us in His Word.

So when you pick up the Bible to read it and study it, you must approach it not as a collection of human ideas or wisdom, but for what it really is. It is a revelation given to us by God Himself.

At Believers Fellowship we receive the Bible as God’s revelation to us. We have a high view of Scripture and we eagerly study it.

Join us any Sunday and go online to believers-fellowship.org.