Ironworks

        Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me. Hebrews 13:5-6                         There is never a shortage of people who believe that money is the answer to all of life’s ills. Why else would the debate in this world about who should have things and who should pay for it continue? Why is it that families will spend more time working yet very little time working on things of a spiritual nature? What has caused this change in the family? Is it a desire for a standard of living? Perhaps it is, and there is nothing wrong with working hard and pursuing a better station in life, provided you keep your priorities as they should be.                         The Hebrew writer tells us that the danger in striving is that it can lead to covetousness. In place of that, w

“ And while they looked stedfastly* toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;  Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.”  Acts 1:10-11 Jesus had prepared His disciples for His death by telling them repeatedly that it would happen (cf. Lk. 13:33; Mt. 16:21; Mt. 17:22; Mark 8:31). He had prepared them for His resurrection (Mt. 26:32; Jn. 2:19ff). The disciples did not always realize this right away, though. They fled when Christ was arrested. Peter denied him. They went fishing after His death without a full understanding of what would happen. Take account of what has happened and what is about to happen. Jesus has died, been buried, and has arisen from the grave. He walked among them 40 days (Acts 1:3), and now He had ascended to the sky leaving them behind on earth. Second, Jesus had also t

For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.  For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth. Hebrews 9:16-17 The thief on the cross is one of the references the advocates of faith-only salvation will cite when they attempt to deny the necessity of immersion for the forgiveness of sins. In Luke 23:42-43 it is written, “And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.” We do agree that this man was assured by Jesus that this man would be in paradise with Jesus at his death. However, this does not mean that any man who does this will be saved in like manner. Jesus had proven that while He was on this earth, He had the power to speak a man’s sins forgiven (cf. Mk 2:1-12; Lk 7:48). We all well-know that this was the same case as Jesus was still alive o

And said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men. For before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to nought. After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing, and drew away much people after him: he also perished; and all, even as many as obeyed him, were dispersed. And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought: But if it be of God, ye cannot   overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God. Acts 5:35-39                 Gamaliel is certainly a minor character in the New Testament. He is described in this chapter as a Pharisee and doctor of the law, a man with a good and respected reputation (cf. Acts 5:34). He is also noted by Paul as his teache