The Apostle Paul wrote by inspiration to Timothy these words: (I Timothy 1:15) “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.”  So many times it seems that brethren forget this basic principle.  Christ came to save the lost (Luke 19:10).  We too should set our goals as our savior has done.  While we cannot give our lives to save others as Christ did (Romans 5:6-9 and Hebrews 9:22-28), we can tell them how to obtain the benefits of our Lord’s death.  This principle is made clear in the “Great Commission”.  We are to go and preach Christ and how to obtain the remission of sins to the world (Matthew 28:19, Mark 16:15-16, Luke 24:47, Acts 8:12, and Acts 28:30-31).  Sadly, may are looking to other resources for a way to Heaven.

    It is by the death of Christ that we can be saved.  It is His blood that remits sins (Matthew 26:28 and Revelation 1:5).  The price for sin is death, but we have the grace of God through Jesus Christ that takes away our sins (Romans 6:23), if we will obey the Lord (Matthew 7:21).  Jesus came to this earth not to live, but to die (Matthew 16:21).  It is by this showing of love that we have our sins taken away.  It is also by this showing of love for mankind that Christ purchased His church (Acts 20:28 and Ephesians 5:25).

    Many people believe that religion is a choice and your plan is as good as another persons plan.  The two above scriptures affirm otherwise.  There is no plan outside of the Lord’s plan.  There is no church outside of the Lord’s church (Ephesians 4:4, Ephesians 1:22-23, and Romans 16:16).  Just as in the days of Noah there was only one vessel of salvation, which was the ark, today the only vessel of salvation is the church of Christ (Ephesians 5:23).  May brethren today are keeping these most important details from being spread.  To some the Gospel has become a secret, something they cannot share.

    To many brethren the Gospel must be a secret, because they do not tell anyone about it.  What many brethren fail to realize is that without the saved preaching to the lost many will loose their souls who may have not otherwise (Romans 10:14-17).  We will loose our souls for failing to tell them of the Gospel and the truth of salvation that is in Christ Jesus.  We will fail to tell them of the salvation that was promised before the world began, because it is by preaching that this promise is made known (Titus 1:2-3).  Christ commanded us to love our neighbors as ourselves (Matthew 19:19).  Christ taught that our neighbors are more than those who live beside us, they are all men (Luke 10:27-37).  What kind of neighborly love is it to hide the Gospel from them?  What kind of concern is it to let those whom we come in contact with die in their sins without hearing the Gospel and having the chance to repent?  It is not the love we see in the New Testament by Christians, because they truly cared for souls and preached the word everywhere (Acts 8:4).

 Jesus Christ came to save sinners.  All who have broken the law of God have sinned (Romans 3:23 and I John 3:4).  Christ died for the world (John 3:16).  Christ died for you and me.  We should rejoice in that we have salvation through the blood of the lamb, Jesus Christ.  We should rejoice that we have opportunity to show others the Gospel and explain to them the great joy they too can share.  Most importantly we can rejoice when we are obedient, because we can look forward to an eternal home in the Heavens (I Corinthians 5:1-2), for Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners!

Those Needing Our Prayers
Keep in your prayers: Lester Fleeger (is improving), Ann Holt (she will need a ride to services because of her health problems), Betty Brown (the Yeager's will pick up Betty this week), Joan Croyle, Bill Croyle, Gracie Cook (Desiree’ is friends with the family of this infant who has pneumonia, and is suffering with underdeveloped lungs) and John & Olive Anderson.

Ladies Class
The ladies will be meeting a Julie Nannie’s house today at 2:00.

Sing Night
Come this Wednesday evening with your voices ready to praise the Lord in song.

Door Knocking
Every Saturday unless otherwise noted, plan on meeting here at noon.  If you are fearful of talking with folks still come and be a “silent partner” to someone who is more comfortable speaking to others about the Gospel of Christ.

Bible Study at the Yeager's
Everyone is invited to the Yeager’s Sunday the 26th for fellowship and bible study.  If the weather permits plan on being outside part or most of the time.  The children will have a secure place to play while the adults study God’s word and have fellowship with each other.  We will be studying the subject: “How Can I Let the World See that I’m a Christian?”