Loss and Gain

“Furthermore, I count everything as loss compared to that priceless privilege (that overwhelming advantage) of knowing Christ Jesus, my Lord. For His sake I lost everything in order that I may have Christ, the Redeemer”(Philippians 3:7-9).

1.) He renounced not only the Jewish ceremonies but worldly honor, reputation, substance, comforts, and advantages.

2.) He lost self-righteousness and gained Christ’s righteousness.

3.) He lost ceremonial bondage and gained his freedom.

4.) He lost false peace and gained true peace with God.

5.) He lost pretended glory and gained eternal glory (I Cor. 1:30-31).

Pastor Henry T. Mahan (bulletin 1989)

THE FAMILY OF GOD

“For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,” (Ephesians 3:14-15).

I want to be a member of the family of God, don’t you? How can a person be made to be a member of God’s family in heaven? Well, how can a person be made to be a member of any family here on this earth? There are three ways that I can think of, and none of those ways include making a decision to be a member or working your way into being a member. When it comes to earthly families, we can either be born into them, adopted into them, or married into them; and all three of those ways apply to every member of God’s family. Every soul in glory will say: “I was born of the Spirit of God (John 3:5). I was adopted by the purchase price of the blood of the Son of God (Ephesians 1:5-6). And I was hand selected to be the bride of Christ by the Father of God (Revelation 21:2,9).” All three of those forms of union were accomplished in the will and purpose of God before the world began. And in time, all three of those forms of union will be revealed to every soul who is called into the knowledge of their eternal home. In every way possible, God has secured His chosen people into His family. For this cause, we bow our knees to Him! Pastor Gabe Stalnaker

Family Member Concerns

All those adopted into God’s family should cultivate a continual care and concern for each family member. How can we do this? Look at what the scriptures say:

“Care one for another.” 1 Corinthians 12:25

“Love one another.” John 13:34

“Pray for one another.” James 5:16

“Comfort one another.” 1 Thessalonians 4:18

“Admonish one another.” Romans 5:14

“Edify one another.” 1 Thessalonians 5:11

“Be at peace with one another.” Mark 9:50

“Forgive one another.” Ephesians 4:32

A COMMON SALVATION

Jude said, “He gave all diligence and that it was needful to write unto you (that is you and I who read it), to remind us of the common salvation” (Jude 1:3). Why? There were men that came in and tried to turn brethren from The Lord Jesus Christ to something or someone else.

What is this common salvation? To start, it is called “THE” common salvation. “The” is a definite article. That means we put it in front of a noun when we understand the reader knows exactly what we are referring to.

Jude told us about the common salvation, that every Saint knows exactly of, and The Lord that did it; “I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not.” (Jude 1:5).

The Lord saved His people from their sins. This was necessary because He is Holy, and the wages of sin is death. Sin must be punished! We are saved because the Lord Jesus Christ laid down His life for His people – all of them, the same, throughout time and location.

I have spent this week talking with the Lord’s Saints on another continent, from another culture. What do we have in common? They are sinners, saved from themselves, saved from the wrath they rightfully and willfully earned, they were saved by a Great God that preformed all the planning and doing, and they view this God Man, Redeemer, Savior to be none other than their Lord and their God. Now, you who are recipients of the Lord’s Grace in Christ, is there anything different with you? With the Saints of old? With the apostles? With any sinners brought by the Blood out of Egypt? It is The common salvation by THE Lord!