Tag: Repentance

REPENT AND TURN

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Shelby G. Floyd

Preaching repentance was a prominent topic of Jesus and the apostles: Peter declared:

“Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, 20 that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, 21 whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago” (Acts 3: 19-21 ESV).

This statement was made by the apostle Peter, in a sermon delivered before the Jews, in Solomon’s porch, a part of the temple of God at Jerusalem. This passage emphasizes the prominent place that repentance held in the preaching of the apostles. The preaching of repentance was also a prominent topic in the preaching of John the Baptist (Matthew 3: 1-2); of Jesus Christ (Matthew 4: 17; 11: 20-22); of the twelve who were sent out to the lost sheep of the house of Israel (Mark. 6: 12.); and likewise to the seventy who were sent out to preach to the people (Luke 10: 1-16). Continue reading “REPENT AND TURN” →

“NOT BY FAITH ALONE”

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Shelby G. Floyd

“The benefits of the gospel come to the person who has faith alone in Christ. The blood of Christ is applied to the sinner upon faith alone in Christ and not at baptism.” –Faith Alone Adherent and Critic

In previous essays we have amply demonstrated that the subject “faith alone” is not a biblical subject and therefore a subject not to be discussed. It has only been discussed so far because certain religious advocates vehemently insist that salvation is predicated on “faith alone!” It has been pointed out that the scriptures teach just the exact opposite. James explicitly states that salvation or justification from sin is “by works” and “not by faith alone.” James teaches the truth: “You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only” (James 2:24 NKJV). Continue reading ““NOT BY FAITH ALONE”” →

THE BAPTISM OF JESUS

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Shelby G. Floyd

Matthew 3:16-17
When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
NKJV

As I come before you today I recognize that there is a spirit among us of support, loyalty and joy for the hometown team. And I also believe that it is the case that we have that same loyalty and support and joy for the hometown congregation—the Heartland church of Christ. And that is why you are present today.

A few years ago, I presented the lesson that I am presenting today. And I was surprised that afterward a young man came to me and said, “I need to be baptized—I want to be immersed for the forgiveness of sins.” And I thought that this person was a member of the church already. And I learned a great lesson from this, that in almost every service that we will have like this, there are probably one or more people who need to be baptized into Christ for the forgiveness of sins. And so we preach on a lot of different subjects, but sometimes we assume that everybody sitting in one of the chairs has been baptized and become Christians. But that is not always the case, and therefore today I want to talk to you about the baptism of Jesus Christ. And I hope that I can make this lesson so simple that even a little child can understand it. That is my goal and that is my purpose in delivering this message. Our comments will cover the entire third chapter of the Gospel according to Matthew. Therefore you are encouraged to open up your Bibles and follow along to make sure that we faithfully present the record of the baptism of Jesus Christ. Continue reading “THE BAPTISM OF JESUS” →

THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE CHURCH

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Shelby G. Floyd

This subject ought to be brought before young people and others continually. It is a topic that must be stamped indelibly upon the hearts of all who would please our heavenly Father and who would know the truth. It is a simple subject, and yet one that is not known or understood by many people. The subject is, “The Establishment of the Church.” Continue reading “THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE CHURCH” →

THE IDENTITY OF A BACKSLIDER

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Shelby G. Floyd

In the Old Testament book of Hosea, Israel was likened unto a backsliding heifer, because they had left the Lord and his word and had gone after idolatry, and the worldliness of the nations round about them. Hosea said,

“For Israel slideth back as a backsliding heifer: now the LORD will feed them as a lamb in a large place” (Hosea 4:16).

Continue reading “THE IDENTITY OF A BACKSLIDER” →

BORN OF WATER AND THE SPIRIT

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Shelby G. Floyd

Everyone is born into the kingdom of nature by a natural birth—of and from the womb. Those who become Christians are born into the kingdom of God by a spiritual birth—of and from water and the Spirit: Jesus answered,

“Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit” (John 3:5).

Continue reading “BORN OF WATER AND THE SPIRIT” →

HAVE SELF-CONTROL

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Shelby G. Floyd

 

In his second letter the apostle Peter wrote, “Add to your faith… self-control” (2 Peter 1:6). Every Christian therefore is to learn self-control. Self-control or temperance is “to control the mind and body with all of the lusts.” Continue reading “HAVE SELF-CONTROL” →

CHRIST, THE ETERNAL WORD

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Shelby G. Floyd

The book of 1 John was written about 85-90 A. D., at a time when false teachers were denying that Christ was divine and also that he had a fleshly body. John refutes both of these false ideas. There are some today who are still teaching these same false doctrines. Continue reading “CHRIST, THE ETERNAL WORD” →

CONCERNING CHRIST AND THE CHURCH

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Shelby G. Floyd

In Ephesians 5:22-33, the apostle Paul sets forth the nature of the church and its relationship to Christ. He says in one place,

“This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church” (Ephesians 5:32).

What did Paul mean when he said, “I speak concerning Christ and the church”? Continue reading “CONCERNING CHRIST AND THE CHURCH” →

TEST THE SPIRITS

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Shelby G. Floyd

The author of the letter to the church at Ephesus is Jesus Christ (Revelation 2:1-3). This letter is a part of the Revelation which God gave to Jesus Christ, Jesus Christ gave to an Angel, and the Angel signified it to John, John wrote it down in a book and sent it to the churches (Revelation 1:1-2). A great blessing is pronounced upon those who read (aloud), hear and keep those things which are written in the last book of the Bible (Revelation 1:3). John received this wonderful disclosure while he was on the Isle of Patmos. He heard a great voice behind him as the voice of a trumpet, loud, distinct and clear. When he turned to see who was speaking, he saw seven Golden candlesticks; and in the midst of those Golden candlesticks he saw the glorified Christ, like unto the Son of Man, and he had in his right hand seven stars (Revelation 1:9-19). Continue reading “TEST THE SPIRITS” →