Is the title of this article true? Is it the case that nobody gets to heaven without a fight? Some would possibly say “don’t you know that the Bible says we are to love everybody?” Some might even claim that such a statement is “mean spirited and not the attitude or character a Christian should have.” While it is true that children of God are to love all people (John 13:34; Mark 12:30-31; Luke 6:27) and have proper attitudes (Ephesians 4:15), this in no way negates the truthfulness that nobody gets to heaven without a fight.

Before we get to far in the article, I wish to clarify that I am not talking about evangelism at the point of a sword. As brother Foy E. Wallace said, “We cannot shoot the Gospel into a man nor machine-gun Christianity into a community. The Gospel is not coercive; it is persuasive.” The apostle Paul said in 2 Corinthians 10:4, “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds”. Did you notice that? Paul referred to our warfare. New Testament Christians we are at war. Not a physical war, but in a spiritual war, a spiritual battle. Ephesians 6:12 says, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” That is the reason Paul would tell Timothy, and by extension all Christians in 2 Timothy 2:3, “Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.” Those who have obeyed the Gospel of Jesus Christ are in the Army of The Lord.

As soldiers of The Lord we must ever be ready for duty, prepared for conflict (spiritual), and never retreat in the face of the enemy. When trials and tribulations come upon us in this life, we wade into battle wearing the armor of God, Ephesians 6:13-17, and “war a good warfare”, 1 Timothy 1:18. New Testament Christians cannot “turn tail and run” away from the battle. 1 Corinthians 15:58 is the “stand your ground” law of the kingdom when it says “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” We are to be stedfast (seated, fixed, standing one’s ground) and unmoveable (unshaken, stable) in the work which Jesus Christ requires His children to do.

This leads us to ask, “What if we don’t stay in the fight? What if we do surrender. In Revelation 21:8 we read “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” Those who are “fearful” are included with those who will not enter heaven. The basic meaning of this word is cowardly, fearful, timid, fainthearted. This word is used only two other times in the New Testament in Matthew 8:26 and Mark 4:40. This word translated fearful is never used in a good sense in the New Testament. These are those who shrink back and are unwilling to pay the costs of discipleship. In these God is not pleased: “Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul” (Hebrews 10:38-39). There is no room in the Lord’s army for cowards and one must not maintain such an ongoing attitude. We are to stay in the fight, regardless of circumstances, whether in times of pandemic or riots or whatever storm of life that comes upon us. If we do not, nobody gets to heaven without a fight.

-Jerry D. Sturgill

In Acts II: Scene 2 of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Polonius asks, “What do you read, my lord?” to which Hamlet replies, “Words, words, words.” Are words of any value? Back when telegraph companies charged per number of words, people had to be succinct and selective in their words. Today, we come across so many words from so many people, we can wonder if they do any good. Unlike ages past, the overwhelming majority of individuals can publish their own words across the world instantly. It is tempting to release whatever words feel good to us out into the universe without much discernment; however we must be reminded that, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue,” (Prov. 18:21).

Jesus said, “For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned” (Mt. 12:37). Jesus charges us to consider our words carefully for they will factor into whether we are saved or lost. Words can heavily influence others; thus, the words we speak can also be a factor in the eternal destinies of others. Paul charged his preacher student, Timothy, saying, “Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you” (1 Tim. 4:16). The words of Jesus are spirit and life (Jn. 6:63). Those who continue in His word are set free from sin by the truth and are truly His disciples (Jn. 8:31-32).

            However, words can also lead individuals astray. If the Gospel contains words by which men are saved (Acts 11:14), then to vary from the words of eternal life spells condemnation. The curse of God is on anyone who teaches a different, perverted message from the true Gospel (Gal. 1:8-9). Those who love lies and practice falsehood are headed to hell (Rev. 21:8; 22:15). That we stay with the true words of God is of supreme importance, for, “Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son” (2 Jn. 9).

            Public teachers of God’s word shall receive a stricter judgment because of the amplified sway they exercise over others through their teaching (Jas. 3:1). Some false teachers teach out of mercenary interests, being more interested in fleecing the sheep than leading them to eternal life; however, God’s judgment is awaiting them for their deceptive words (2 Pet. 2:3). False teaching hinders people from obeying the truth (Gal. 5:7). Those led astray into false doctrine can fall from God’s grace (Gal. 5:4).

            Let us examine our words to discern whether they come from a heart thoroughly led by the Word of God. Our words should echo God’s words, as Peter says, “If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God” (1 Pet. 4:11). What one says, whether in preaching, teaching, or in a personal conversation regarding the proper course to follow should be as God says it. Too often men are prone to push God’s word into the background in order to give their take on things. How dangerous! Are we so eager for the opinions of men that God cannot get a word in edgewise? Our determination should rather be, “To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them” (Isa. 8:20).

– Mark Day

What should be the basis of unity? Will just any unity suffice? Jesus prayed to God for unity of His followers by saying “that they all might be one” (John 17:21). How are we to be one? In His same prayer Jesus gives the basis for unity by saying “Sanctify them by your truth, your word is truth” (John 17:17). Unity can only be based on God’s word of truth as found only in the Bible. The problem in today’s denominational world is men have added to and taken away from God’s word with their many differing creeds. Human opinion is made equal and superior to the word of God. We are warned in Revelation 22:18-19 if we add to or take away from God’s word, we will lose our souls. The denominational world with all of its disunity is exactly what Satan wants. The word denomination comes from a root word which means division. Denominationalism is a betrayal of Christ.

Paul tells us how to have Biblical unity. “Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and same judgment” (1 Corinthians 1:10). In order to have the same mind and same judgment we must have only the same beliefs and practices as found only in the New Testament. We must limit what we do to be saved and what we do in worship to only what God has authorized in scripture. This is the only way to have the unity for which Christ prayed and for which Paul pleaded. Throughout the Bible man’s worship and service to God was either accepted or rejected depending on man’s obedience to God’s commands (Genesis 4:4-5, Leviticus 10:1-2).

There can be no unity between those who follow human opinion and those who follow only the word of God as found in the Bible. We are commanded, “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?…Therefore come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord” (2 Corinthians 6:14, 17). Here we are forbidden to have unity with those who follow the false doctrines of men.

How can the denominational world defend their many differing doctrines when they cannot justify them scripturally? They can’t. In trying to justify what one does he asks, “Is it a salvation issue?” In other words, “Does it really matter?” If one can shift the focus then there is no necessity in proving or defending one’s unscriptural practice. Anything that differs from God’s word is sin and sin is a salvation issue, “For the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). In speaking of the doctrine of Christ, “If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds” (2 John 10-11). Let’s not share in the evil deeds of the denominational world in joining with them or giving them any encouragement in their evil deeds. If we do, we will be spending eternity with them.

-Ron Boatwright

Article from http://www.netbiblestudy.net/bulletin/ which has links to many other resources for personal Bible study.

– Jerry D. Sturgill