Rejoice with Us
Shortly yesterday afternoon, May 24, 2025, HANNAH ROBERTS was immersed into Christ for the remission of her sins! She is the fiancée of our JESSE JENKINS. Jesse had the honor of immersing Hannah into Christ Jesus. They are to be married on May 25 and have asked to be identified with this local church of Christ as members. We rejoice with them and for them, wishing them every happiness as well as husband and wife. There is no greater way to begin a marriage than to be united in the body of Christ!
rrr
Saving to the Cloud
Those of you who are “computer literate” will understand the title of this article and can explain it to me! All I know is that I was advised to do so after being “hacked” a few weeks ago (another term I don’t fully understand but equate it with the subject of “stealing”). Anyway, I’ve learned that this method of retaining data on your computer is a safeguard against losing it to “hackers” or by sheer mistake of deleting necessary materials.
In learning this process, I’ve found it necessary to double-check both my desktop files and the “cloud,” as saving to one does not assure the saving of materials in both files. With materials of greatest importance, I have found saving these to a third “backup” is even more of a guarantee of safety.
This same process is valuable for our spiritual safety as well! Trying to save ourselves from this untoward generation is essential (Acts 2:40) and the “first line of defense” against dying in sin. But let’s make sure of that salvation (2 Peter 1: 1 -11). Adding a third layer of security is righteous as well! Why not commit the keeping of our souls to God? (1 Peter 4:19)
Too many souls, though they have been immersed into Christ for the remission of their sins, seem to display an attitude of “I’m just fine now” without regard to the necessity of faithfulness in all we say and do (Colossians 3:17). Many of these precious souls slide back into the weak and beggarly elements of a sin-cursed world, and their salvation is “deleted” and often never found again. Had they applied their hearts to wisdom (Psalm 90:12) by studying, learning, and obeying God’s word (2 Timothy 2:15), and then further committing to God and His commandments for eternal salvation, their souls would not be in such a dangerous position; one dangerously close to being lost eternally because of sin’s “hacking” abilities!
Factually, Satan desires to recapture every soul that has been obedient to the gospel of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 5:8). Verse nine of this passage informs us that Satan “resists those who are steadfast in the faith.” Please take note that such souls as have NOT “doubly secured their faith” in daily growth (2 Peter 3:18), and given consistent diligence in adding to that faith (2 Peter 1: 1-11), those souls cannot possibly have committed themselves to God! No one can ignore the security of the soul and expect to declare themselves ready for Judgment Day!
Paul the apostle declared this reasoning in these words, “For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.” (2 Timothy 4: 6 – 8) Can you make this same declaration? If not, why not?
rrr
“Have thine affections be nailed to the cross? If thy heart right with God? Dost thou count all things for Jesus but loss? Is thy heart right with God? Hast thou dominion o’er self and o’re sin? Is thy heart right with God? Over all evil without and within? Is thy heart right with God? Are all thy powers under Jesus control? Is thy heart right with God? Does He each moment abide in thy soul? Is thy heart right with God? Well, is it?