Will the real Christian please stand up?

 I was talking to a man the other day about going to heaven. He said that he had a good CHANCE of going to HEAVEN but said he has never read the BIBLE and does not go to church. What if a person said I am a DOCTOR, but I have never gone to medical school and never read a medical text book? Would you consider him a doctor? Likewise, can a person be a CHRISTIAN without any BIBLE knowledge and never been to worship in CHURCH? Do we need the BIBLE today? What is the purpose of the BIBLE?

II Timothy 3:12-17 Yea, and ALL that will LIVE GODLY IN CHRIST JESUS shall suffer persecution. But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. Man must be in CHRIST TO BE GODLY.

GALATIANS 3:27 says for as many as have BEEN BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST have PUT ON CHRIST. Does man realize what he receives when he repents of his sins  and is baptized?

Listen closely to what Acts 2:38 says, repent and be baptized EVERY ONE OF YOU  in the name of JESUS CHRIST for (so that) the REMISSION OF ALL YOUR SINS, and ye SHALL RECEIVE THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. This is what JESUS sent back to earth to GUIDE ALL CHRISTIANS TO HEAVEN. He will guide you into ALL TRUTH. GOD`S WORD IS TRUTH. YE shall know the truth and the truth shall SET YOU FREE. TO be set free from the slavery of sin and become a servant of GOD in holiness.

I Peter 2:9,10 says ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, A HOLY NATION, a peculiar people CHRISTIANS, that ye should SHOW FORTH THE PRAISES of him who hath called you out of darkness (sin) into his marvelous LIGHT (GOD`S WORD): Which in time past were not a people (you were less then nothing) EXCEEDING SINFUL: but are now the people of GOD (SAVED) (BORN AGAIN OF THE WATER AND SPIRIT) (SANCTIFIED – MADE HOLY) which had NOT obtained mercy (headed for HELL), but now have obtained mercy. BEFORE any man can repent, he must know the sins he is to repent of doing. THEREFORE, knowledge of the word of God is necessary.

II Timothy 2: 15-19 says study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings for they will increase unto more ungodliness. And their word will eat as doth a canker, of whom is Hymene us and Philetus, who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already, and overthrow the faith of some. Nevertheless, the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, let everyone that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. If the BIBLE says it is wrong then man must say it is wrong and repent or he will not go to heaven. Why read and study the BIBLE if we are not going to obey it?

II Timothy 3: tells what is happening to a lot of people, just listen. This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, high-minded, lover of pleasures more than lovers of God, having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers’ lusts,  ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Until a knowledge of truth is obtained from God`s word man can not go to heaven.

COLOSSIANS 1:8,9 says who also declared unto us YOUR LOVE in the spirit. FOR this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do NOT CEASE TO PRAY for you and to desire that ye might be FILLED WITH THE KNOWLEDGE OF HIS WILL IN ALL WISDOM AND SPIRITUAL UNDERSTANDING; THAT ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing.

II Peter 1:5-11 says giving all diligence ADD to your FAITH, VIRTUE, KNOWLEDGE, TEMPERANCE, PATIENCE, GODLINESS, BROTHERLY KINDNESS, AND CHARITY. For if these things be in you, and abound they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things are blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure, for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall. For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Please Join us Piney Church of Christ, Rhinehart Parkway, in Spencer. Sunday morning worship is 10:30 a.m., and Wednesday night Bible study is at 6:30 p.m.