Deacun's Doctrine

Body Wearing Out?

2004-10-17T06:45:00.000-04:00

No More Death or Decay!
1 Corinthians 15:53,54 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
Philippians 3:20, 21 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious body, according to the working whereby He is able even to subdue all things unto Himself.
John 6:40 And this is the will of Him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on Him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

Death and Decay Because We Have all Sinned
Romans 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man (Adam) sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Genesis 3:17a, 19 And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

We All Want Our Own Way
Isaiah 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.

The Guarantee & Assurance
John 6:37, 40 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. And this is the will of Him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on Him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
Cor. 15:3,4 “...Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, .... He was buried, .... He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures;”
1 John 5:11-13 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
Will you believe in Him as your Savior?

Compiled by Dean Cunningham ~ Oct 2004 ~ No. 9
Available in tract form.

No More!

2004-09-25T10:30:00.000-04:00

Pain - Tears - Death - Misery - Sickness - Unhappiness
ALL DONE AWAY WITH!

Revelation 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
Psalms 16:11 Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
1 Corinthians 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him.
Revelation 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.

MISERY THE RESULT OF SIN
Genesis 2:16, 17 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. 3:17-19 And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
Romans 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man (Adam) sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

WHAT IS THE PATH OF LIFE?
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Cor. 15:3,4 “....Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, .... He was buried, .... He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures;”
John 3:15-17 “That whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

Will you believe in Him right now as your Savior? Enjoy eternity without misery!

Compiled by Dean Cunningham ~ October 2004 ~ No. 8
Available in tract form

Weather

2004-09-25T10:01:00.000-04:00

Hundred Pound Hailstones!
Revelation 16:21 And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: [96 lb.] and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great.

The Worst Forest Fires!
Revelation 8:7 The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.

The Worst Earthquake!
Revelation 16:18 And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great.

The Worst Insects!
Revelation 9:10 And they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and their power was to hurt men five months.

The Worst Sickness and Disease!
Revelation 16:10, 11 And the fifth poured out his bowl upon the throne of the beast; and his kingdom was darkened; and they gnawed their tongues for pain, and they blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores; and they repented not of their works.

The Worst Sunburn
Revelation 16:8,9 And the fourth angel poured out his bowl upon the sun; and it was given unto it to scorch men with fire. And men were scorched with great heat, and they blasphemed the name of God Who hath the power over these plagues; and they repented not to give Him glory.

Men Will Want to Die....
Revelation 9:6 And in those days men shall seek death, and shall in no wise find it; and they shall desire to die, and death fleeth from them.
....But Won’t Be Able to!

Only The Lord Jesus Can Save You From This Trouble!
In order to be saved, you must receive the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior. You do this by believing the Gospel, or Good News, that the Lord Jesus Christ paid the penalty for your sins when He died and shed His blood on the Cross for you:

1 Cor. 15:3,4 “...Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, .... He was buried, .... He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures;”
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

Will you believe in Him right now as your Savior? He’s waiting for you!

Compiled by Dean Cunningham ~ October 2004 ~ No. 7

Jesus Christ is Lord

2004-09-25T09:36:00.000-04:00

Jesus Christ is Lord

Jesus Christ is Creator
John 1:3 "All things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made that was made."

John 1:10 "He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not."

Col. 1:16 "For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him."

Heb. 1:10 "And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands."

This is not in contradiction with Genesis 1:1 which says "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth." because Jesus Christ Himself is Deity. If He creates, He is God; if He is God, He existed as God eternally.

Phil. 2:11 “...every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God, the Father.

Jesus Christ is Judge

John 5:22,23 “For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son; That all men should honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He that honoreth not the Son honoreth not the Father, who hath sent Him.”

Rom. 14:10b-12 “For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written, As I live, sayeth the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So, then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.”

Rev. 20:12 “And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God, and the books were opened, and another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

Jesus Christ is Savior

Acts 4:12 “Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is no other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

Acts 16:31 “....Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved...”

1 Cor. 15:3,4 “...Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, And that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures;”

John 3:15-17 “That whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

Read the Bible for yourself!

Compiled by Dean Cunningham ~ July 2004 ~ No. 1

Available in tract form.

Fear of Death?

2004-09-24T09:00:00.000-04:00

Fear of Death is Natural

The Bible says that all of our lifetime, we are in bondage to the fear of death. The Lord Jesus Christ came to deliver us from this fear and to give us immortality through the gospel. Consider these few verses from the Bible:

2 Timothy 1:10 ....the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, Who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel

Hebrews 2:9 But we see Jesus, Who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that He by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

Hebrews 2:14,15 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took part of the same; that through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

Death the Result of Sin

Romans 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man [Adam] sin entered into the world, and death by sin, and so death passed upon all men, for all have sinned.

Romans 6:23a For the wages of sin is death.

Death Destroyed

1 Corinthians 15:26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.

15:54,55 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

2 Corinthians 1:9,10 But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead: Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in Whom we trust that He will yet deliver us.

Only Jesus Christ Can Take Away the Fear of Death

Romans 6:23 The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear; because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

1 Cor. 15:3,4 “...Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, And that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures;”

2 Corinthians 5:8b ....absent from the body, and ....present with the Lord.

Acts 16:31 ....believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved....

Compiled by Dean Cunningham ~ July 2004 ~ No. 2

Available in tract form.

Born Once? Die Twice

2004-09-23T10:00:00.000-04:00

The Second Death

Revelation 21:8 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.

Revelation 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

Revelation 2:11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

Revelation 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

The Second Death is eternal separation from God and eternal punishment in the Lake of Fire for the sin of rejection of the Lord Jesus Christ as one’s Savior.

The Second Birth

John 1:13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

John 3:3, 5b Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. .... Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

John 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.1

Peter 1:23, 25 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.

The Second Birth is a Spiritual rebirth which happens the moment a person trusts and believes in the Lord Jesus Christ as one’s Savior.

Only Jesus Christ Can Save You From the Second Death

In order to be saved from the Second Death, you must receive the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior. You do this by believing the gospel, or Good News, that the Lord Jesus Christ paid the penalty for your sins when He died on the cross:

1 Cor. 15:3,4 “...Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, .... He was buried, .... He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures;”

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Romans 6:23 The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Acts 16:31 ....believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved....

Compiled by Dean Cunningham ~ July 2004 ~ No. 3

Available in tract form

Jesus Christ The Only Savior

2004-09-23T08:33:00.000-04:00

Jesus Christ the Only Way

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.

Jesus Christ the only Name

Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

Jesus Christ the only Mediator

1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus;

Jesus Christ the only Saviour

1 John 4:14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.

Lord of Lords; King of Kings

Revelation 17:14 These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for He is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with Him are called, and chosen, and faithful.

The Only Begotten Son of God

John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 1:18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared Him.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

John 3:18 He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

John 5:18 Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill Him, because He not only had broken the Sabbath, but said also that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God.

The Gospel (Good News)

1Corinthians 15:1-8 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.

Will you trust Christ as your Saviour?

Compiled by Dean Cunningham ~ July 2004 ~ No. 4

Available in tract form

How Much Are You Worth?

2004-09-23T08:00:00.000-04:00

You are worth more than the whole world to God!
Mark 8:36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

He knows the number of hairs on your head!
Luke 12:7 But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.

He loves you so much He gave His Son to die for you!
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
Romans 5:6 ....Christ died for the ungodly..
Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

He shed His blood for you!
Rom 5:9 Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.
Eph 1:7 In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace;
Heb 9:22b ....and without shedding of blood is no remission.

It is a finished work!
John 19:30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, He said, It is finished: and He bowed His head, and gave up the ghost.
Heb 7:27 Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for His own sins, and then for the people's: for this He did once, when He offered up Himself.
Heb 9:25 Nor yet that He should offer Himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others;

Only the Blood of Jesus Christ Can Pay for Your Sins
In order to be saved, you must receive the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior. You do this by believing the Gospel, or Good News, that the Lord Jesus Christ paid the penalty for your sins when He died and shed His blood on the Cross for you:
1 Cor. 15:3,4 “...Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, .... He was buried, .... He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures;” (His death, burial and resurrection is the Gospel.)
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Romans 6:23 The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Acts 16:31 ....believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved....

Compiled by Dean Cunningham ~ August 2004 ~ No. 5

Available in tract form

The Wrath of God

2004-09-20T06:30:00.000-04:00

Will You Escape?

The Wrath of God Is Coming!
Isaiah 13:9 Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and He shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it.
Revelation 19:15 And out of His mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it He should smite the nations: and He shall rule them with a rod of iron: and He treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.

Because they would not hear
Zechariah 7:12 Yea, they made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which the LORD of hosts hath sent in His spirit by the former prophets: therefore came a great wrath from the LORD of hosts.

Because of Unrighteousness
Romans 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
Romans 2:5,6 But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; Who will render to every man according to his deeds:
Romans 3:10-12 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

Because All Have Sinned
Romans 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
Ephesians 5:6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.

Only The Lord Jesus Can Save You From the Coming Wrath
In order to be saved, you must receive the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior. You do this by believing the Gospel, or Good News, that the Lord Jesus Christ paid the penalty for your sins when He died and shed His blood on the Cross for you:
1 Cor. 15:3,4 “...Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, .... He was buried, .... He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures;”
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

Will you trust Him right now and ask Him to save you? He’s waiting for you!

Compiled by Dean Cunningham ~ August 2004 ~ No. 6
Available in tract form

Other Stuff

2003-06-15T11:00:00.000-04:00

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The Gospel

2003-06-14T16:52:00.000-04:00

1 Corinthians 15:1-6
Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.

Mother's Simple Faith

2003-06-13T06:14:00.000-04:00

At mother's funeral on September 29, 1996 I was privileged to share with those present a little about what mother believed. At many funerals, we don't know much about the religious beliefs of the deceased. I'm writing this now to share with others who could not attend the funeral.

While recently sorting through my desk, I came across this letter which mother wrote to us dated April 23, 1983. I'd like to read a couple of sentences for you: "Yes, our Saviour is always with us. He knows our every thought and action. I don't know what I would do without my faith and prayers." And in another place she mentions my wife Kay who at that time was playing the piano in church: "It is nice you can play for the Lord and can enjoy playing the church music."

Please note that in this letter mother has referred to Jesus Christ as her Saviour and as Lord, recognizing His deity, God in the flesh.

During a phone conversation with a family friend who had known mother for many years, he said: "Your mother was a good woman. A clean‑living woman. She has certainly gone to heaven.” Later, after thinking about this for a while, I remembered what mother had said once when we were talking about the Scriptures. She said: "Yes, we are all sinners." We know that the Bible teaches clearly that sinners need a Saviour and we've already seen that mother referred to her Saviour. I never heard her speak of her goodness and clean‑living or any other self‑righteousness as a reason for her hope of entering heaven.

Some of you may not know that we called my parents affectionately Gramma and Grampa. I remember Grampa telling me once: "You know, your mother has read her Bible all the way though many times." I brought mother's Bible with me today and would like to share with you some of those verses that she read so many times.

As concerning self‑righteousness, we read in Luke 18:9‑14 “And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted."

And in Romans 3:10‑11 she would have read: “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God." Verse 23 says: “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” Again, mother agreed with the fact that all have sinned.

Mother always said that she had a very simple faith. She spoke of a friend who told her that this was not enough, that more was required other than simple faith. Yet the Lord Jesus Christ Himself said, again in Luke 18, verses 15‑17: “And they brought unto him also infants, that he would touch them: but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them. But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.”

Mother would have read about the simplicity of the gospel, or good news, in many Scripture verses, such as Acts 16:30‑32, where the Philippian jailer asked Paul and Silas: "Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. And they spake unto him the word of the Lord and to all that were in his house.”

The word believe as used here means to have faith in Christ for one's salvation, to trust, or rely upon Christ for one's spiritual well‑being.

In John 1:11-13 we read: “He came unto his own, and his own received Him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power (or right) to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of man, but of God.”

In I Corinthians 15:1‑4 Paul wrote what is sometimes referred to as the ‘gospel in a nut‑shell': "Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the scriptures" and continuing from here to say how He was seen by many after His resurrection.

Mother would have read many times those Scriptures which show clearly that salvation is a gift, not to be earned by works or goodness; we'll quote just a few as in Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. " Ephesians 2:8‑9 says: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."

So we see that God will not allow goodness or clean‑living to earn our salvation ‑‑ He will not have any person to boast before Him ‑‑ it is God who justifies the ungodly through faith in the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ who paid the penalty for our sins. Abraham is one of the greatest men of faith mentioned in the Bible. He understood that his own goodness could not save him, as we read in Romans 4:1‑3 'What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory, but not before God. For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.”

Somebody defined faith as the 'hand of the heart that reaches out to receive the gift of salvation.' So many would add other requirements to saving faith as to make the simple gospel unrecognizable today, even as they did in Paul's time.

Will we miss Gramma? Of course, but in John 11:25‑26 we read: “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?”

Because of this, Paul could write in I Corinthians 15:55 “0 death, where is thy sting? 0 grave, where is thy victory?”

Will we sorrow? Yes, but: Paul wrote in I Thessalonians 4:13,14 "But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep (or have died), that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep (or die) in Jesus will God bring with him.” Because of mother's words and the testimony of the written Word of God, we do have a certain hope and expectation of seeing her again, along with all others who have died trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ as their Saviour.

So much more could be said from the Bible to show that salvation is a free gift from God, that it is to be received by simple child‑like faith and that those who believe in this way have the forgiveness of their sins as well as the promise of eternal life with God in contrast to those who die without this hope, who will experience eternal separation from God in conscious torment.

Mother once asked: "How can I tell others about Christ?" It is my prayer that she can tell others by means of this the testimony of her own words. I'm sure it would be her desire that others might know the simple way of salvation also.

Heavenly Father I thank you for those who heard this at mother's funeral as well as for those who will read it. Perhaps someone will read this who is uneasy, uncertain, or just wondering about their own eternal destiny, maybe never having quite understood what is required. I pray that they will at this time reach out with the hand of their heart in simple child‑like faith believing the pure gospel of grace: that Christ died for their sins according to the Scriptures, and He was buried, and He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.

“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." ‑‑John 3:14‑18

"Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy;" ‑‑Psalms 107:2

she “...being dead yet speaketh" ‑‑Hebrews 11:4

“Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith;"‑ ‑2 Corinthians 13:5

In loving memory of Addie A. Cornwell, 1903 ‑ 1996

‑‑ by her son, Dean Cunningham

The Romans Road

2002-06-15T06:03:00.000-04:00

The Romans Road -

God's Path to Heaven

The title comes from the similarity of following a path and reading a sequence of verses in the Bible book of Romans. By understanding and believing these verses a person may know that they are saved from the penalty of their sin and may have the assurance that they will some day go to heaven.

Everybody has sinned against God and failed to live up to His standard of perfection:

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; --Romans 3:23

Sin brings consequences, likened to wages:

For the wages of sin is death; --Romans 6:23a

The Lord Jesus Christ, God's Son, has paid the price for our sins so that we may be forgiven:

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. --Romans 5:8

God offers this salvation to us as a free gift, which is received by believing what He has said:

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. -- Romans 6:23

He promises to save you if you believe:

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. --Romans 10:13

To call upon His name means the same as to believe in Him.

The Gospel
1 Corinthians 15:3-4

For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the scriptures.

John 3:16-18
For God so loved the world, that he gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved. He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Photo of Appian Way in Rome courtesy of FreeStockPhotos.com

Compiled by Dean Cunningham ~ April 2005

Available as a tract

Global Warming

2002-05-15T05:47:00.000-04:00

Today there is a great controversy as to whether we really have Global Warming and the Greenhouse effect. Almost every day, one can read or hear dire warnings of impending doom and disaster. Some predict that the melting of the Polar ice because of these effects will cause a rise in the sea level that will in turn cause massive flooding and destruction of low-lying real estate and properties. An international agreement called the Kyoto Protocol has been established and signed by many countries in an effort to reduce the production of “Greenhouse Gases” which some believe to be the cause of the alleged Global Warming effect.

Of even greater concern to mankind should be the warnings and predictions of the Bible. God reminds us that He once destroyed the world by flood:
Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: —2 Peter 3:6

God warns of impending judgment upon the world, this time by fire:
But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? —2Pe 3:10-12

Before this final judgment, other terrible things are going to happen in an attempt to cause mankind to turn to God from their rebellion and unbelief:
And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun; and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire. And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory. —Revelation 16:8,9

--who thought things were going to continue as always:
Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of His coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.
—2Peter 3:3,4

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved. He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
—John 3:16-18

Compiled by Dean Cunningham ~ June 2005 ~ No. 11

Available in Tract Form

Cost of Living

2002-05-14T10:00:00.000-04:00

Prices Rising Everywhere!

Groceries – gasoline – heating – medical expenses – you name it – it costs more every day! Perhaps you are one of the fortunate people who does not have to be concerned! Most of us are not that rich!
Where will it all end? We should all be concerned because the worst is yet to come! The Bible predicts trouble ahead! The cost of living is going to go sky-high!

Famine!

"And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny;" -Revelation 6:6a

This verse of Scripture is generally understood to mean ‘a day’s food for a day’s wages’. The cost of food will be so high that it will take an entire day’s pay just to buy food for one person for one day, with nothing left for a man’s family! The most fearful days of famine this world has ever seen! Can’t happen in our day? Don’t laugh! Things can change rapidly! Many things happen that haven’t before!

Why Will This Happen

"But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away." —Isaiah 64:6

"And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil."

—John 3:19

"Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!" — Isaiah 5:20

Are there not many today who are calling that good which God says is abomination?

Only The Lord Jesus Can Save You From Coming Judgment!

In order to be saved, you must receive the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior. You do this by believing the Gospel, or Good News, that the Lord Jesus Christ paid the penalty for your sins when He died and shed His blood on the Cross for you:

1 Cor. 15:3,4 “...Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, .... He was buried, .... He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures;”

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

John 3:36 "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him."

Will you believe in Him right now as your Savior? He’s waiting for you!

Compiled by Dean Cunningham ~ June 2005 ~ No. 12
Available in tract form

Which Came First?

2002-05-13T10:00:00.000-04:00

The Old Question

Which came first: The chicken or the egg? Many have attempted to answer this question in various ways. Some say you can’t have a chicken unless you first have an egg. Some say you can’t have an egg unless you first have a chicken. The evolutionist says that chickens evolved from non-chickens through innumerable DNA mutations over a long period of time until just the right combination was arrived at to produce the chicken. Kind of like an inept burglar fiddling with the combination dial trying to find the right numbers to produce the desired result. Who’s right? Fortunately, we have a more reliable source of information than the speculations of men. Let’s examine what the Bible has to say on the matter:

Chickens Created, Not Evolved

“And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven. And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good. And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth. And the evening and the morning were the fifth day.” —Gen 1:20-23

Everything Created in Mature State

God created everything in its mature state, with its own seed of reproduction within itself: “And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so. And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good. And the evening and the morning were the third day.” —Gen. 1:11-13

Male & Female Taken in the Ark

“Of fowls also of the air by sevens, the male and the female; to keep seed alive upon the face of all the earth.” — Genesis 7:3 —again with seed within itself for reproduction, and so with man also, and every other living thing that was created, animal, vegetable and mankind, everything created in a mature state, containing its own seed, after its own kind. There were no intermediate species, ever! “All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds.” —1 Corinthians 15:39.

No intermediate flesh! Therefore we conclude based on the Word of God, which is our only reliable source and record of those things that happened during the Creation Week, that the chicken was one of those “winged fowl” that was created in a mature state, with its seeds of reproduction within itself, the female containing the egg-seed and the male containing the sperm-seed that they might together as a couple have the means to carry on their own kind.

The Mature State of the Universe

Do not be deceived by so-called geological ages of millions and billions of years! The earth was created in its mature state with the crust already cooled and ready for mankind. The stars and all heavenly bodies were created in their mature state with the appearance of age and their light already reaching the earth with the appearance of having traveled all those millions of light-years that we know are normally required for the light from distant stars to reach the earth. In the same way, all living things were created with the appearance of age as mature animal, vegetable and human life.

Sin, Death and the Fossil Record

Again, do not be deceived! The Bible clearly teaches that there was no death until Adam sinned! “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned” —Romans 5:12 Therefore, fossils, being formed from dead plant and animal life, did not exist prior to the sin of Adam! Contrary to present day “scientific opinion” the earth and the universe are not millions and billions of years old, but only several thousands of years.

Investigate for Yourself!

Again we say: Do not be deceived! Read the Bible for yourself. If you sincerely desire to know the truth about these matters, God will be very happy to show you the truth. Highly educated eminent scientists have attempted to prove the Bible wrong about these matters only to come away convinced in their own minds that the Bible is true. Look for and read the writings of these Creation Scientists. Ask yourself why, if the Theory of Evolution is cut and dried truth, why so many of these great men, and more and more, are questioning and rejecting Darwinism, evolutionary theory and cosmology, which attempts to measure the age of the universe in millions and billions of years rather than understanding its creation in mature form.

Radiometric Dating

This method of determining the age of the earth is supposed to be a “...proven scientific technique ... has shown us that the earth is billions of years old, a fact that cannot be argued.” Do not be deceived! There are many eminent scientists who will gladly argue against the reliability of this “scientific technique”!

The Bottom Line

Because men do not want to believe in God or the Bible, they will believe any kind of lies that Satan tells them. We do not want to be accountable to God because we have all sinned and want to have our own way. Therefore if the Bible can be proven wrong then perhaps God does not exist after all and we are O.K. on our own. Do not be deceived! This thinking is only Delusion! Do not fall for the lies of Satan!

Your Eternal Destiny

If you sincerely want to know the truth, God will be pleased to reveal it to you.

In order to be saved, you must receive the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior. You do this by believing the Gospel, or Good News, that the Lord Jesus Christ paid the penalty for your sins when He died and shed His blood on the Cross for you:

“...Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, .... He was buried, .... He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures;” —1 Cor. 15:3,4

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” — John 3:16

“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” — John 3:36

Will you believe in Him right now as your Savior? He’s waiting for you!

Compiled by Dean Cunningham ~ July 2005 ~ No. 13a
Available in tract form.