Someone noted something to the effect that church groups can be classified based on what Scriptures they tend to quote; specifically, in Reformation times the Protestant reformers leaned more toward the epistles of Paul, while the Anabaptists leaned more toward the Gospels. Today, this method of classification has not necessarily become as obsolete as one might think at first glance. Some groups which descended from the Anabaptists still draw much of their doctrine from the Gospels, and much of Protestant doctrine is still drawn from Paul.

There is only one passage in the New Testament (in the King James Version) in which the term imputed is used to contrast righteousness with works. Whenever we see critical portions of an important doctrine—one that is discussed much in Scripture—based on a single brief passage, it may be to our advantage to carefully consider the evidences and rethink the doctrine.

The President today wouldn’t have to ride in a limousine; after all, he can’t fill all the seats at once! Nor would he have to live in a huge mansion. Nor would leaders of other countries have to sit on thrones. While some of the luxury and display that rulers show is perhaps caused by pride and vanity, there could actually be a useful motive behind some of this pomp and show—impressing those who might harm the ruler’s (or his country’s) interests, showing them the ruler’s authority, and perhaps frightening them into controlling their antagonistic impulses.

“And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them, That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.” (Genesis 6:1-2) Thus the Biblical narrative leaves the genealogy of chapter 5 and sets the stage for God’s dramatic judgment of the earth in the next few chapters. “And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.” (Genesis 6:3)

Think for a moment about the state of Christianity in the roughly seventy year period between the Ascension and the close of the first century. Although Christianity experienced rapid growth, most Gentiles were probably still surrounded by paganism. Their employers, their rulers, their acquaintances could have often been pagans, and the world would continually pull at them from that quarter. Some pagans went beyond persuasion and actively persecuted the church.

Paul exhorts us, “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves.” (II Corinthians 13:5) After we’re saved, studying the issue of salvation may not always be the top thing on our minds. But if we don’t think back to it occasionally, and know what the Bible says about salvation, how will we be able to examine ourselves? How will we be able to know whether we are indeed in the faith? How will we be able to bring others to the faith? Thus it is good for us—even if we are saved—to study the Scripture and know what it says about salvation.

In the fourth chapter of Genesis, we see the bloody beginning of a conflict that has continued until this day—the long, drawn out tension between the children of darkness and the children of light.

And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD. And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him. And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him. (Genesis 4:3-8)

“Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.” (Philippians 4:5) Moderation seems to have been quite lost in our society today. We can see it as we drive down the road at the maximum legal speed of 55mph and watch cars fly past us and down the road. A little while ago, we were traveling on a fairly well-filled four-lane highway, when someone who was parked at the end of a driveway on the other side of the road apparently decided that he had to cross at any cost. He successfully crossed two lanes before colliding with the car directly ahead of us.

A story tells of artists who were asked to paint a picture of what they considered “peace.” One painted a picture of a lake in the mountains, while another painted a picture of a raging waterfall, with a bird almost in the spray serenely enjoying its nest. This illustration has been used as an example of Biblical peace. However, while our peace here on earth will be found in the midst of obstacles, there is an even higher form of peace that Christians will find when with Christ, that peace is a restoration of the sinless closeness to God that man enjoyed before the fall.

Forgiveness is essential to the Christian. “But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.” (Mark 11:26) When we forgive someone, we give up our bitterness and our desire to get even. In our heart, we release the person who hurt us. “To forgive is to grant pardon without harboring resentment.” (American Heritage Dictionary) When we consider the entire scope of the Bible, we can realize that when we don’t forgive other people, we are the ones who are being “unfair.” This is because, due to our own sins, we owe a debt to God that all the offenses in the world will not be sufficient punishment for—we deserve every offense that people give to us, and it’s not “fair” at all for us to be upset about something that we truly deserved.