PROPER ATTITUDES TOWARD THE WORD OF GOD

     "They then that gladly received His word were baptized." So
states the writer Luke in Acts 2:41. It is essential to every one in
our listening audience that we "gladly receive his word." These two
words "gladly received," indicate a disposition on the part of those
who heard the preaching of the gospel message on that occasion. It is
this thought that we wish to discuss in our study with you this
morning.
     Your speaker is Jack Thompson, the regular preacher for the
White Park Church of Christ, meeting just south of Interstate 10 at
the Hankamer exit; that is Highway 61, between Hankamer and Anahuac.
May I express my thanks for your tuning us in this morning and remind
you that we will be on this time slot each Sunday morning. Get your
Bible, your pencil and paper; and study with us.
     What should be our attitude toward the Bible, God's Word? What
is YOUR disposition toward it?? When you hear the Word of God read,
what feelings do you have with reference to it??? I emphasize once
again a point made last week---THE BIBLE IS THE WORD OF GOD. It, and
it alone, is the only place where we can seek information which will
lead to the salvation of the souls of mankind. We refered to 2
Timothy 3:14-16, where Paul states that the scriptures are inspired
of God and able to furnish us completely unto every good work. When
man fully accepts the Bible as inspired of God (and we will have more
to say about this in future lessons) and that is perfect, then a
lesson on man's attitude toward it becomes relatively simple.
     Perhaps the first or basic attitude needed is that of SUBMISSION
TO GOD'S WILL.  Unless we are willing to submit to every principle
found in God's Word, we approach it with the wrong attitude. We MUST
have the disposition of Cornelius as found in Acts 10:33, "Forthwith
therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast done well that thou art come.
Now therefore we are all here present in the sight of God to hear all
things that have been commanded thee of the Lord."  You will notice,
this man, Cornelius, was not interested in hearing part of what God
commanded; nor just what he wanted to hear; BUT he was desirous of
hearing ALL THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN COMMANDED THEE OF THE LORD. Tell us
what God wants us to do. Tell us everything God wants us to do. So
often today, mankind is ready to accept that part of God's Word which
he approves, but willing to overlook the things that he does not
like. No so, with one who has the proper attitude toward God's Word.
As we scan the Word of God and call to our attention various examples
of men of faith as found therein, we find this attitude prevalent.
Look at Noah, who, "by faith, being warned of God concerning things
not seen as yet, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark to the saving
of his house; through which he condemned the world, and became heir
of the righteousness which is according to faith" (Hebrews 11:7).
Look at Abraham, who, "by faith when he was called, obeyed to go out
unto a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went
out, not knowing whither he went" (Hebrews 11:8). View the example of
Moses, who, "by faith refused to be called the son of Pharoah's
daughter; choosing rather to share ill treatment with the people of
God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season" (Hebrews 11:24,
25). One cannot imagine any of these men of faith arguing with God
and what He asked of them, but wholly accepting His word, without
quibbling, did what Jehovah asked of them. So often today we hear
people speak of their great faith in God---and then they turn right
around and refuse to DO WHAT GOD COMMANDS OF THEM.
     And while we are on this point just here, may we point out that
faith moves people to DO SOMETHING. Faith has never saved a single
person until that faith motivated the person to arise and DO what is
commanded. Sometimes people today leave the impression that all that
is needed is just be religious, just call on the name of the Lord.
But listen to the words of Christ, "Not every one that saith unto me,
Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth
the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me in that
day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy by thy name, and by thy name
cast out demons, and by thy name do many mighty works? And then will
I profess unto them, I never knew you; depart from me, ye that work
iniquity" (Matthew 7:21-23). He then follows these words with the
examples of the two builders, one who heard, but did not do,
he likened unto the man who built on the sand and great was the fall;
but the one who built on the rock stood victorious when the test
came. This man had heard, but he likewise did what was commanded.
     Must man accomplish any works to be saved? Listen to Christ in
John 9:4: "We must work the works of him that sent me, while it is
day: the night cometh, when no man can work." And again in John 6:28-
29, "They said therefore unto him, What must we do, that we may work
the works of God" Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work
of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent." Even FAITH IS A
WORK, for it is something that each person MUST DO. Truly, man cannot
of his own good morality, nor of his own devised schemes, work his
way into salvation; but to say that man has nothing to do in his own
salvation is a flagrant transgression of the words of Christ and His
apostles. Yes, man has something to do -- he must DO ALL THAT GOD
COMMANDS OF HIM. And unless he does, he simply does not have the
faith that will save him.
     Jesus showed us this principle by the very life He lived. The
Hebrew writer in Hebrews 5:8-9 states, "though he was a son (the
context shows clearly the writer is talking about Christ Jesus), yet
learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; and having been
made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation to all those
who obey him." Salvation is offered to whom?? TO ALL THOSE WHO OBEY
HIM!!!  The only way one can truly obey Christ is be doing the things
which He commands, nothing more, nor nothing less. consequently, if
man is to be saved, he cannot add to, nor subtract from a single
thing that Christ Jesus commands for us to do.
     Where God has spoken, then, man must respond in obedience. Where
God has not spoken; where He has remained silent; man has no right to
infringe. Man cannot presume to speak for God. Man needs to speak
where the Bible speaks and remain silent where the Bible is silent;
doing what our expects of us. Christ in John 4:34 states, "My meat
(my food, my sustenance, my desire, my enjoyment, my very life
itself) ...My meat is to do the will of Him that sent me, and to
accomplish his work.  Surely, this must be our attitude toward God
and His Word.  What is your attitude toward the Bible?  Do you have
the attitude of submission and obedience to all that is found
therein?? Is it your feelings -- Show me what God requires of men and
I am ready to respond. Anything short of this is not the proper
attitude toward the Word of God.
     We began this study today with the passage, "They that gladly
received his word were baptized." What is the contrasting results?
What about those who refuse to gladly receive the word, those who
refuse to obey it ? In 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9, we read of the coming
of "Christ from heaven with the angels of his power in flaming fire,
rendering vengeance to them that know not God, and to them that obey
not the gospel of our Lord Jesus: who shall suffer punishment, even
eternal destruction for the face of the Lord and the glory of his
might. Thus, from this passage we learn that those who do not have
the proper attitude to lead them to obey Christ will suffer
punishment, be cast from the presence of the Lord. What a terrible
conclusion -- to have so live while in this the flesh, without regard
for Jehovah or his revealed word -- and to hear the awesome words,
"Depart from me, ye that work iniquity."
     We urge you, our listening audience, to develop a proper
attitude toward the word of God. Study it!!!! Respect it!!! Obey
it!!!  Gladly receive it!!!  Do what it commands!!!  God's Word
demands faith in Christ Jesus as the Son of God, Hebrews 11:6:
"Without faith it is impossible to be well-pleasing unto him; for he
that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder
of them that seek after him."  God's word commands repentance upon
the part of sinful man, Acts 17:30: "The times of ignorance therefore
God overlooked; but now he commandeth men that they should all
everywhere repent..." God's word teaches the need to confess Christ
before men, Romans 10:10: "and with the mouth confession is made unto
salvation."  God's word requires that one be baptized for the
remission of sins, Acts 2:38: "And Peter said unto them, Repent ye,
and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the
remission of your sins...."
     The congregation bringing you this broadcast meets each Sunday
morning at 9:00 a.m. for Bible study; at 10:00 a.m. for morning
worship; and again Sunday evenings at 7:00 p.m. for worship. You have
a cordial invitation to attend any or all of the services. We also
meet at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday evenings for Bible study. We are
located one mile south of Interstate 10 off Highway 61, between
Hankamer and Anahuac.
     If you have a question or a comment, or if you would like a copy
of the message, either in manuscript or cassette, please contact us
at Route 1, Box 502, Anahuac, TX 77514.
     Thank you for being in our audience. Listen in again next Sunday
morning at this same time. We bid you a most pleasant good morning.

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