THE GLORIOUS SON OF MAN

By

Shelby G. Floyd

“The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants—things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John” (Revelation 1:1 NKJV). This “Revelation of Jesus Christ” came to us through several steps. 

1. God gave the Revelation to Jesus Christ;
2. Jesus sent and signified it by his angel;
3. The angel gave it to his servant John; and,
4. John gave it to the servants of Christ. Continue reading “THE GLORIOUS SON OF MAN”

The Preeminence of Christ Over The Church

By

Shelby G. Floyd

In Colossians 1:18, the apostle Paul expressed the preeminence that Christ should have over His church when he said,

“And He is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead: that in all things He might have the preeminence.”

We must give Christ preeminence in all things and especially we must give Him first place of importance in the church.

Christ Is The Head Of The Church

When Paul said He is the head of the church, the word “head” means originator, source, leader and ruler. Christ is the head of the church in the sense that He brought the church into being. He is the originator of the church. Christ is the head of the church in the sense that He is the source of the life of the church.

Christ Is The Ruler Of The Church

Christ is the head of the church in the sense that He is the ruler of the church. He has all authority in heaven and on earth (Matthew 28:18). He has executive authority: He proposes. He has legislative authority: He disposes. He has judicial authority: He judges. So we must give preeminence to Christ as the head of the church, the originator of the church, and the source of all life in the church, the legislator, the executor and the judge of the church.

Christ Is The Preexisting Beginning

Concerning Christ Paul says, “Who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead.” The word “beginning” there does not mean that Christ had a beginning. He preexisted before the creation,

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him not even one thing came into being that has come into being. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the Light of mankind (John 1:1-4 NASB).

Christ Is The Firstborn From The Dead

Christ is the firstborn from the dead: “and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood” (Revelation 1:5). He was not the first to rise from the dead, but this means he holds the preeminence or highest rank over the church. God’s children should always give Jesus Christ first place in our lives, the church, and our worship.

Copyright © 2023 Shelby G. Floyd, All Rights Reserved

 

Shelby G. Floyd, Minister, Heartland Church of Christ, 1693 West Main Street, Greenwood, Indiana 46142

shelby@thefloyds.net

LET YOUR GENTLENESS BE VISIBLE

By

Shelby G. Floyd

The keynote of Philippians 4:5 is “Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.”

To the faithful child of God “the God of peace” gives “the peace of God” that transcends all understanding:”

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you (Philippians 4:7-9 NIV).

In this setting Paul gives the requirements to keep and maintain this peace:

(1) Stand firm in the Lord (Philippians 4:1).

(2) Agree with your brother and sister in the Lord (Philippians 4:2).

(3) Be a peacemaker by helping to promote peace (Philippians 4:3).

(4) Have a rejoicing spirit on all occasions and under all circumstances (Philippians 4:4); and,

(5) Let your gentleness be evident to all (Philippians 4:5).

There has been and still is, much harshness in the relationships that Christian people sustain with each other and all men. Jesus said that by our love for each other all people would know that we are his disciples. Jesus set the example of a reasonable, gentle, moderate, patient, fair and gracious spirit in his dealings with all people. These are just some of the synonyms of the word used in Philippians 4:5.

Paul taught Timothy that an elder should be patient and moderate (1 Timothy 3:3). To Titus he commanded that God’s people should be gentle to all men (Titus 3:17). If we are practicing the wisdom from above, we will be of a gentle disposition. Friends, brothers and sisters, I appeal to you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:1). Let your gentleness be evident to all!

Copyright © 2022 Shelby G. Floyd, All Rights Reserved

Shelby G. Floyd, Minister, Heartland Church of Christ, 1693 West Main Street, Greenwood, Indiana 46142

The Highway to Heaven

By

Shelby G. Floyd

road

One of the favorite figures of speech applied to the church is that of a way, a path, and a road that leads from one place to another.

Do All Religious Roads Lead to Heaven?

Christianity is the definite way over which the redeemed pass from earth to heaven. In a day when highways and roads are so familiar, it is easy for some people to get the idea that there are many ways for one to reach heaven. It is a popular doctrine that we are all going to heaven in different ways. While this is popular, is it the truth?

The Highway of Holiness

 About 700 years before Christ made his advent into the world, the prophet Isaiah, looking through the tele­scope of prophecy, pointed out the way over which every child of God must pass in entering the city that has foundations whose builder and maker is God:

A highway shall be there, and a road,
And it shall be called the Highway of Holiness.
The unclean shall not pass over it,
But it shall be for others.
Whoever walks the road, although a fool,
Shall not go astray (Isaiah 35: 8 NKJV).

The prophecy of Isaiah found its consummation in Jesus Christ. 

Jesus Is the Only Way

OIP

Jesus, in his sermons during his earthly ministry pointed the people to the only true and living way. He said that he was the way, the truth, and the life, and that no man could come unto the Father ex­cept by him (John 14:4, 6).          

Copyright © 2022 Shelby G. Floyd, All Rights Reserved

Shelby--Pulpit 2017

Shelby G. Floyd
Heartland Church of Christ
1693 West Main Street
Greenwood, Indiana 46142