The Anabaptist Voice 09

      May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure. This morning, it was 65 degrees outside! It is the first time this summer. Or, is it getting to be an autumn?
     We had a joyful time with our grandchildren, Titus and Elizabeth, over the phone. They sing for us and they are so special to us. Kelly Hunts Granddaughter Haley Also, we received wonderful letters from them, including Paul. Paul became 1 year old last May. Betty is such a wonderful mother, and Patrick is also a wonderful father. They are living in a Hutterite community, so they are protected and loved. We are anxious to go and see them next week. (Here are photos of our friend Kelly Hunt’s grandchildren.)
     Our friend and sister in the Lord, Kris got into a car accident last Thursday. We pray God will take care of her, heal her and meet her every need. Her shoulder got hurt, but she is OK, she is going to Phoenix for her study as scheduled.
     We had a problem with the air conditioner in our house so we had a hot house, 88 degrees (F) for a couple days. It was hot! So we are getting a new air conditioner. Praise God that He takes good care of us and provides for all our needs. We are learning to be joyful when we have problems.
     Casting all your cares on Him, because He cares for you. (1 Peter 5:7) Don remembers this verse because David, our son, gave us a little wall decoration with this verse on it.
     Michi’s cousin Tomoko called and said that her brother, Dr. Ken Kida, is out of the hospital and is going back to work at the Christian college in Japan where he is the president.
     On the way to the church last Sunday morning, we were talking about reaching out to others more.

God heard us talking because there was a surprise speaker, Dave Barba, for the Sunday school who taught on how to reach out to others! He gave us some examples of how to reach out. We should introduce ourselves, and then ask questions such as: “My name is Dave Barba. What is your name?”   “What do you do for a living?” We are to be smiling, and friendly, showing Kelly Hunts Swine Flu Prevention interest in the person.
      After the service Don went to talk with the preacher and thank him for his teaching. Don said to him, “My name is Don Murphy. What is yours?” The preacher felt strange for being asked that question, but he gave his name. Then Don asked him, “What do you do for a living?” Then both of them laughed, because that is what Dave had just taught in Sunday school, and he recognized what Don was doing. When Don shared this in our daily 5 pm church, Michi and Naomi laughed and laughed.
       May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you. (2 Cor 13:14)

Your brother and sisters in Christ,

Don, Michi & Naomi Murphy
Tucson, AZ, phone 520-297-1639
www.AnabaptistChurch.org

Jesus said, “People will know that you are my disciples by your love for one another.” (John 13:35)

The Plan of Salvation is Conditional
by HSNer
on the Hutterite Social Network
8/03/2009

     The apostle Paul in his letter to the Romans explains carefully that eternal life is a gift of God, through Jesus Christ our Lord. In his epistle to the Ephesians, the same writer states that salvation is by grace through faith, and not of works, lest any man should boast. From these Scriptures we can learn that it is useless and sinful to try to earn salvation by good works. Nothing that we do will gather points for us in the eyes of God. We simply can't win our way into God's favor by such tactics. Our only hope is by God's grace, through the merits of the shed blood of Christ, and not by any merits of our own.
     Nevertheless, if the New Testament teaches anything at all, it teaches that salvation is conditional. There are conditions to be met, or grace is not effective. Among these conditions are the six which follow. It is by minimizing and ignoring these conditions that men seek a streamlined, wide, easy way to heaven.

1. Salvation is conditional on repentance. Christ's first message was, "Repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Repentance always comes before conversion, and if it is lacking, there can be no new birth. (See Acts 2:38; 26:20).

2. Salvation is conditional on conversion or the new birth. Nothing could be stated more clearly than Jesus' words, "Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.” Also in the third chapter of John we read, "Except a man is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."
     Conversion means change, a radical change in a person's life. This is not merely a decision, a spur-of-the-moment accepting of God's great gift. It is a birth. A birth is painful, yet it brings joy, for it is a passing into a new 1ife.

3. Salvation is conditional upon obedience. Jesus said, “Whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister and mother.” If we are not obedient, we are not of God's family.
     John in his epistle wrote, "Hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep His commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” Someone may object and say: "This makes salvation dependent upon good works.” In a sense it does, yes. If we would argue, it is with the Scriptures.
     Certainly a man's faith brings works or it is not true faith. A good tree beareth good fruit, or it is not a good tree. Some things cannot be separated, and among them we find faith and good works. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. (Eph. 2:5) Faith without works is dead! (Read the second chapter of James.)

4. Salvation is conditional upon self-denial and cross bearing. Jesus said, "Whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. So likewise, whosoever he is of you that forsake not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple...” (See Luke 14.) "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me." (Matt. 16:24)
     “If you would be perfect, sell what you have and follow me.” (Matt. 19:21, Luke 12:33, 14:33)

5. Salvation is of course conditional upon faith. In John 6 we read, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.” And in Hebrews it is written, "But without faith it is impossible to please Him; for him that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."

6. Salvation is conditional upon remaining true in the faith until death. To believe at one time, then depart from the faith, is of no value in eternity. The promise is only to those who are faithful. "But he that shall endure to the end shall be saved." (Matt. 24:13).

To Add or Subtract

     In the last chapter of the Revelation of the Apostle John, a two-fold warning is given. First, if any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book. Second, if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life. None of us would like to be found guilty of either adding to or subtracting from the Word of God. The plan of salvation is not complicated or difficult to understand for those who are led by the Spirit of God. God's plan is perfect and complete, a plan of redemption for fallen mankind.
     To attach man-made conditions and red tape to God's plan, or to teach that by good works or by hardships and sufferings we can earn salvation— that would be adding to God's Word. Let us beware of this, for there is a great danger. But let us not forget the equally great danger of taking away from the requirements as they are taught in the Word of God. To gloss over and cancel out commandments of the Bible in order to make the Gospel acceptable to worldly and carnal people— this would surely be taking away from the Word of God.
     What is God's plan then? Is it not to take fallen men and to make of them children of God? To call unto Himself a company of redeemed, a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a peculiar people, a glorious church not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing, but that it should be holy and without blemish.
     The children of God are as salt of the earth, and as shining lights in the midst of a perverse generation. Between them and the world there is a constant tension. Suffering and persecution are never far away. To live for Christ comes first of all, ahead of business or worldly fame, ahead of friend or family.
     What a contrast all this is to the streamlined, simplified, easy-payment, pick and choose gospel that is preached in many churches today! Using choice verses of scriptures to avoid involvement in such activities is not being honest with us or others. The tradition of plucking versus out of context and then interpreting the rest of the Bible to suit has a proud record traceable all the way back to John Calvin (1509-64) in the Reformation.

Are All Believers Saved?

     John 8:31-59 is just one of a number of passages in the New Testament that tells us that not all believers will go to heaven. “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” (Matt. 7:13-14)
     "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven." (Matt. 7:21)

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