A NEWSLETTER FOR THE MEMBERS OF THE GREENWOOD CHURCH OF CHRIST

VOLUME 1 NO. 42                                         DECEMBER 5, 2004

“DENYING SELF”

PART X
BY STEVE NIEMEIER

“Then Jesus said to His disciples, If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.” (Matthew 16:24).  This statement also applies to us today.  The question that we must answer is this, “Am I willing to deny myself and take up my cross and follow after Jesus?”  Last week we looked at the thought of us denying self and coming to the realization of who will be in heaven.  We concluded that one must be in the body (church) of Christ to be saved (Ephesians 1:22-23, 5:23).  This week let those of us that are in the body (church) of Christ look at denying self as it comes to thinking that we will automatically be saved in heaven just because we are a member of His body (church).

Hebrews 10:26-27 states, “For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries.”  Galatians 1:6-8 relates, “I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ.  But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed.”  These two passages of scripture paint a very vivid picture of one who has accepted the knowledge of the truth, obeyed the gospel of Christ and then turned from it or left it as in disregarding what they had learned.  In fact, Paul's statement in Galatians is so pointed that he even warns about a angel from heaven that might preach another gospel is to be accursed.  Wow!  For years now we have men calling themselves brethren trying to uphold just ordinary men that teach another gospel than that which the apostle's taught.  Think about it!  We have spent numerous hours in discussions!  Countless pages of print!  Hours upon hours of emails!  What for?  To try and justify whether one is a false teacher or not even though many that are defending the character of one teaching a different doctrine do not believe the “different gospel” that has been taught.  Am I missing something here?  Didn't we just quote Paul saying that even an angel from heaven was to be accursed if he taught another gospel?

What has happened to us?  We want to put those outside of the body (church) of Christ into heaven and we want to put those that are in the body (church) but who teach another doctrine than Christ into heaven.  ”Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.”  (James 5:19-20).  Paul stated in Galatians 1:10, “For do I now persuade men, or God?  Or do I seek to please men?  For if I still please men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.”  We need to strive to please God and if we do we will be in a position to receive His mercy and be saved --- it is just that simple!  Obeying the gospel of Christ, turning from the way of the world and staying steadfast to the teachings of Jesus will be the keys to obtaining heaven.  Brethren in the words of Paul in II Corinthians 4:16 “Therefore we do not lose heart.”  We must find comfort knowing that if we would just deny self and take up our cross and follow after Him not losing our focus (heart) then heaven could be obtained BY THOSE WHO HAVE DONE HIS WILL!!!