Falling Away & Repentance

Here is a topic we discussed at Bible Study Sunday night ...
Can an immersed believer (baptized) who has fallen away (turning their back on God) be brought back to repentance?

Here is a piece of scripture I feel answers that question:
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Hebrews 6: 4-6

It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age, if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace.
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For me, I think the key to the text is where the person is in their walk with the Lord before they "fall away" .... to have been enlightened, have shared in the Holy Spirit and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age ... wouldn't that person have to have reached repentance but for some reason at some point decided to turn against God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit? According to this scripture, it's impossible to be brought back to repentance.

Sure glad I'm not the one to decide & I never want to be that person who has 'fallen away'!

Question for ya

I was asked the follow question yesterday and I'd like to ask it to you. It's a great question.

What is Truth?

The Lord's Grace to Paul --- Is also The Lord's Grace to us!

I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service. Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen. (1 Timothy, Chapter 1: Verse 12-17)

I like this portion of text. It's so simple to understand.

1) Christ came to save us from the our sins. To be an example of how we are to live. And to teach & spread the gospels.

2) All we have to do is accept the grace of the Lord, trust in him, believe in him and turn our lives over to Christ and be baptized in his name. We too are to be an example of how to live. We too are to teach & spread the gospels so the lost can be saved. We are also to show mercy and display unlimited patience.

I am very much trying to do all of the above but find that I come up short on a daily bases. Thank goodness Our Lord and God are so patient!

What's your thoughts on this piece of scripture?

That's My King --- Do You Know Him (Remix Style)

Speech by Dr. S.M. Lockridge will make you Think ... Clips from The Movie 'Passion of the Christ' make you Feel ... and Both help to remind us just what Christ did for us while we were (and still are) sinners!!!

My King ... I wonder --- Do You Know Him? (Original Style)

Speech by DR. S.M Lockridge

Wisdom Call --------- Wise Words

Proverbs 10
(Proverbs of Solomon)
1 A wise son brings joy to his father,
but a foolish son grief to his mother.

2 Ill-gotten treasures are of no value,
but righteousness delivers from death.

3 The LORD does not let the righteous go hungry
but he thwarts the craving of the wicked.

4 Lazy hands make a man poor,
but diligent hands bring wealth.

5 He who gathers crops in summer is a wise son,
but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son.

6 Blessings crown the head of the righteous,
but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked. [a]

7 The memory of the righteous will be a blessing,
but the name of the wicked will rot.

8 The wise in heart accept commands,
but a chattering fool comes to ruin.

9 The man of integrity walks securely,
but he who takes crooked paths will be found out.

10 He who winks maliciously causes grief,
and a chattering fool comes to ruin.

11 The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life,
but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked.

12 Hatred stirs up dissension,
but love covers over all wrongs.

13 Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning,
but a rod is for the back of him who lacks judgment.

14 Wise men store up knowledge,
but the mouth of a fool invites ruin.

15 The wealth of the rich is their fortified city,
but poverty is the ruin of the poor.

16 The wages of the righteous bring them life,
but the income of the wicked brings them punishment.

17 He who heeds discipline shows the way to life,
but whoever ignores correction leads others astray.

18 He who conceals his hatred has lying lips,
and whoever spreads slander is a fool.

19 When words are many, sin is not absent,
but he who holds his tongue is wise.

20 The tongue of the righteous is choice silver,
but the heart of the wicked is of little value.

21 The lips of the righteous nourish many,
but fools die for lack of judgment.

22 The blessing of the LORD brings wealth,
and he adds no trouble to it.

23 A fool finds pleasure in evil conduct,
but a man of understanding delights in wisdom.

24 What the wicked dreads will overtake him;
what the righteous desire will be granted.

25 When the storm has swept by, the wicked are gone,
but the righteous stand firm forever.

26 As vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes,
so is a sluggard to those who send him.

27 The fear of the LORD adds length to life,
but the years of the wicked are cut short.

28 The prospect of the righteous is joy,
but the hopes of the wicked come to nothing.

29 The way of the LORD is a refuge for the righteous,
but it is the ruin of those who do evil.

30 The righteous will never be uprooted,
but the wicked will not remain in the land.

31 The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom,
but a perverse tongue will be cut out.

32 The lips of the righteous know what is fitting,
but the mouth of the wicked only what is perverse.

Sweetly Broken - Jeremy Riddle

Sherwood Church of Christ

Please click on the link below to hear last Sunday's sermon by my good friend Matt McGonnell, Senior Minister at Sherwood ... I know you'll enjoy it and I hope to see you next week at Sherwood so you can enjoy the sermon and friendly fellowship in person!!!

The Best Meal In Town

Love'em Like Jesus

"The Ten Commandments" song: I Am Willing

Please Read Steve McMillan's Blog Entries Below

These are blog entries by Steve McMillan (Maritime Christian College 2007 Lectureship Speaker).

Why bother attending Church? Part 1

Why bother attending Church? Part 2

Why bother attending Church? Part 3


Wow! Awesome Stuff!!!

I have a Dream!!!

I have a dream and it's one that I like to think is realistic. As I find myself becoming more and more committed in my walk with Christ, I continually find I'm asking myself ... "Am I doing all I can do to serve God, to serve Christ, to serve the leadership in my church ... to serve my fellow congregational members ... to serve those who have not yet excepted Christ as their personal savior???"And the answer is usually the same ... "Harley, no you're not ... but don't be to hard on yourself because you are getting better at it. You are doing more. You just need to continue to grow. Grow both in your faith and in your service to God."

You see. I never would have asked myself that question before. I would have asked myself ... "What is my church doing for me? What is God doing for me? Am I getting anything out of this?" but that's not how it works. God has a plan for us. All of us. The difference is, if we do for God, in his name, God will do for us... but if we continue to focus on what's in it for us? ... Well ... If we're having to ask that question than chances are we are not doing ... and if we're not doing ... than we are missing out.

My Dream is this, as we walk with Christ and hold the hand of God ... that we stop asking what's in it for us ... because we already know ... Salvation is our reward ... forgiveness for our sins is what in it for us ... I dream that we start asking "Am I doing enough Lord? ... what more can I do to serve in your name? ... to serve you? ... to serve the family of God!"

What can an ordinary person really do?

This is pretty good!!!

Life Long Resolution to Christ --- To God!!!

It's New Years Eve and it's that time of the year again. Tonight we will make resolutions for 2008. This got me thinking about the life long resolution I made to God ... Where I proclaimed before God that Jesus Christ is my savior and that he was sacrificed because of my sins ... and through him, my sins are forgiven. Through him I am saved. I then entered the waters of Baptism where my sin covered body was buried, my sins washed away and as I came up out of the water ... I re-entered the world with my new body in Christ. A follower of Christ. As I was reading my bible the other night I came across a passage of scripture that helped put things into perspective ... I don't need to be focusing on giving up more things ... I need to get refocused on living for Christ ... on living a life that is pleasing to God. That's my New Year's/New Life Resolution!!! ... What about you???

Colossians, Chapter #3
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.

Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Run To The One Who Loves Us

I find myself thinking about my four year old daughter and how she reacts when she gets caught doing something she is not supposed to be doing. It's usually very cute but of course you can't tell her that. She get this look of "Oh No ... " on her face ... then there is a pause to think ... then she pretends to either be doing something else or that what she's doing is no big deal ... but when she gets to the point that she knows she's in trouble and not going to get out of it ... she then walks over to me with her head down and lip quivering. I pick her up and she puts her face into my neck/shoulder region and just starts howling.

Funny when you think about it. She has just gotten caught. She's scared that she is going to be in trouble. First thought is to pretend it's no big deal ... and then when that doesn't work, instead of running for her life, she actual goes to the one who is about to punish her to find comfort!

Do we do the same thing when it comes to our relationship with God, or with his son Jesus. How often do we find ourselves doing something that we know to be wrong, and after we have done it our guilt factor starts kicking in. It's at this point we know that God has walked into the room, ready to punish us. Now it's decision time. Do we turn to God, to Jesus, and confess our sin and ask for forgiveness we know we don't deserve ... or ... do we pretend our sin is no big deal and move on. Do we find ourselves placing a level or degree on our sin ... justifying it by saying to ourselves .... "Well it's not like I did This or That"... Whatever way you look at it ... Sin is Sin. We can't pick and choose which parts of our sin is big enough to ask for forgiveness and which ones really aren't that big a deal.

We are human and we are going to sin. But can you imagine how much better life would be if we truly started acting like children of God. The Bible clearly points out what is right and wrong in the eyes of God our Father. If we worked harder at listening and studying the word of God, wouldn't our lives be that much better? Wouldn't we have much more clarity in regards to our actions or habits? In regards to which ones are right and which are wrong. Imagine if our relationship with God was strong enough that when we do have our weak moments in life, we are strong enough to lower our heads, turn to God, with our lower lip quivering and ask Jesus to forgive us. Imagine if we could get ourselves to the point that we are continually trying to remove all the sin from our lives ... that the next time we are faced with an opportunity to put someone down, we don't, instead we build them up. The next time we find ourselves wanting another drink when we have already had enough, we don't take that drink. The next time we're at the store and the clerk gives us back to much change by accident, we go back and return the difference rather then putting it in our pocket. This is where it starts. If we make the right decisions on the little things, it's only going to help us make the right decisions on the big things.

Well ... just a thought!