The Encourager
A Plea for "Plain Talk"
Sunday, March 22, 2020A Plea For "Plain Talk"
Robert F. Turner
Once Jesus told his disciples, "I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world and go to the Father." And his disciples said, "Lo, now speakest thou plainly, and speakest no proverb." (Jn. 16:28-29)
Again (in 2 Cor. 3:12) Paul, having contrasted the Old and New Testament, and having shown the greater glory of the later, wrote: "Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech."
The days of "hidden wisdom" and the "mystery of the gospel" are past. (1 Cor. 2:7, 10, Eph. 3:3-7) The "Mystic Knights of the Sea" may keep their pagan rites and child-like secrets but God's children love the light, and rejoice unashamedly in the truth. It is with such a spirit as this that Plain Talk is introduced.
POLITICS AND RELIGION
These subjects are "taboo" in social circles, we are told. Why is it so? Is it better to repeat the latest gossip, or feed the ego with stories of yesterday's deeds? Or do we simply admit we know so little about these vital life subjects we can not carry on an intelligent discussion without becoming obnoxious?
"A Weaving Way"
Some preachers, and politicians, can not discuss their subjects calmly and factually. They must build up steam so that the stale cliches, flag waving, and stomping can take the place of substantiated truth. Maybe some reluctance to discuss religion results from such displays. You say, "If this is religion, deliver me."
And so-- Plain Talk
Let's not throw out the baby with the wash water. Our subject needs discussion, and we feel Plain Talk is one answer. Not abusive -- we write with malice toward none; nor with careless abandon -- our subject demands the best in us. Rather, we hope to "get to the point" with the plainness and directness warranted by the urgency of our message. "Plain Talk" seeks conscientious readers. And you?
Sin and Salvation
Sunday, March 22, 2020Sin and Salvation
by Jeff Curtis
Like Cain, and like Adam and Eve, all people have sinned; but forgiveness and redemption are available in Christ Jesus (Romans 3:23,24). Jesus “appeared in order to away sins; and in Him there is no sin” (1John.3:5). Those who want to be “in Christ” and have eternal life must believe in Him as the divine Son of God (1John. 5:13) who came into the world to be the propitiation, or make atonement, for our sins (1John.2:2;4:10). “Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures” (1Corinthians 15:3), and we are asked to “die to sin and live to righteousness” (1Peter2:24). This requires repentance (Acts 2:38; 17:30).
The only way to be rid of past sins is to have them washed away in the act of baptism (Acts 22:16). Hebrews 9:22 says that “without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness,” but the text goes on to explain that Jesus “offered one sacrifice for sins for all time (Hebrews 10:12). Since “all…who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death” (Romans 6:3), “we have redemption through His blood” (Ephesians 1:7). Christians ---- those who have been baptized into Christ --- are “dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus” (Romans 6:11) and have the opportunity to “walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4).