Old Testament, (continued from page 4)

to be saved today, he must do “according to all that God commanded him.” Just as Noah could not have been saved unless he “moved” and “prepared,” we cannot be saved unless we are activated to obedience.

Saved By Water

Peter declared that eight souls (Noah and his family) were “saved by water” (1 Peter 3:20). It was not the water alone which saved them, for everyone in the world came in contact with that water, but it was Noah’s faith and acts of obedience in regard to the water that saved him. The element that God had chosen to separate the righteous from the wicked was water. By the waters of obedience (the flood) Noah was lifted above and saved from the destruction of humanity.

The like figure whereunto, baptism (immersion in water) doth also now save us (1 Peter 3:21). Once again, water is the element by which God has chosen to separate the righteous from the wicked. And, just as it was in the days of Noah, it is not just coming in contact with the water that saves us, but by faith and obedience to God’s Word in regard to that water we are saved. By the waters of obedience (baptism) we are lifted above and saved from the destruction of humanity. Noah found a new life after the water and we are raised from the waters of baptism to “walk in newness of life” (Rom. 6:4).

Paul said in Romans 8:28, “all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” If any single element is missing, none of it will work out our salvation.                                                                       TP

Vengeance, (continued from page 2)

God will finally execute vengeance or wrath upon the incorrigibly wicked at the Second Coming of Christ: "Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you: And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power" (2 Thess. 1:6-9). "...Let us serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: For our God is a consuming fire" (Heb. 12:28-29).

Max R. Crumley, Sr.
San Jose, Ca.

How Can I Tell..., (continued from page 5)

the weak, support the spiritually feeble. Of course, if the first three points in this article are lacking, then no doubt, this one will be, too. If we do not care enough about our own souls to make sure they are fed and nourished, then we certainly are not going to care if others learn God's will.

5. This world means less and less to me each passing year. Our citizenship is in heaven (Phil. 3:20); that is where our treasures are (Mt. 6:20). Year by year, for the increasingly fervent Christian, this life holds fewer and fewer attractions, is less glamorous and glittering, becomes more repulsive and abhorrent. "Heaven holds all to me" is the theme of the strong Christian, and if we find that our lives are not getting less and less interested in the affairs of this passing age, then perhaps we are not drawing closer and closer to God as we ought. God is in heaven, not on this earth; moving nearer to Him means moving nearer to the eternal home. Is it happening in your life?

6. I care. Strong Christians care! They care about the church, they care about Bible class and worship attendance, they care about what is taught in the Bible classes and whether the children (and adults) are coming, they care about what's being taught in the pulpit, they care about lost souls in the community, they care about weak brethren who aren't attending faithfully, they care about the sick, the poor, the downtrodden, they care about the immoral, putrid rot infesting our nation, enticing souls away from truth and righteousness.., in a word, they care about spiritual things more than anything else. It's not a matter of indifference to them, they care! And they care enough to do something, to make that phone call, to support all the works of the church, to visit that needy soul, invite, urge, plead with others to come to the Lord. Strong Christians care. Do you? If the answer is ‘no’, then you certainly have no right to claim to be a strong Christian. But even more importantly, do you care enough to do anything about it?

Christianity is not a religion for the weak; it demands and will produce courage, boldness, and strength if lived the way God intends.

Mark K. Lewis
Bakersfield, Ca.