Romance Newsletter Volume 9 March 2021 Edition 3

Just Outside The Gate The story of Abner is sad because he died The verb that is translated fled for refuge is the unnecessarily just outside the gate of safety. (II Samuel exact word used in the Septuagint (The Greek 3:1-39) translation of the Old Testament) to describe these six During a battle between Saul’s army and David’s ancient cities of refuge. (Numbers 35:11) So, Christ soldiers, Abner killed Asahel, the brother of Joab, and and His church are to us what the cities of refuge were although David declared Abner’s actions an act of war, to those people back then. When we come to Christ, Joab’s heart became angry. He was determined to get we are forgiven of our sins and added to His church our even with Abner. place of safety. We come into His body which is a God had chosen six cities as cities of refuge in place of salvation through Christ, and the Bible states Palestine. They were sanctuary cities, where one who that we are baptized into Christ (Galatians 3:26) and took another’s life in cases like Abner’s could find that we are to remain faithful. (Revelation 2:10) protection from an avenger such as Joab. The enemy The Scriptures describe two types of people could not harm that person if they escaped to one of outside the safety of Christ: these six cities of refuge for as long as they remained The first is Simon the Magician in Acts chapter inside its gates; so, Abner fled to Hebron, a city of eight. Simon believed in Jesus Christ as a result of refuge where he was safe. Philip’s preaching and was baptized into Christ. (Acts Nonetheless, under the disguise of wanting to make 8:12-13 & Galatians 3:27) Later, he took a step outside things right between them, Joab sent word for Abner to the safe zone in Christ, and Peter said to him: “Your come outside the gate to discuss the matter privately. heart is not right in the sight of God. Therefore repent As soon as Abner was outside the gate of safety, Joab of this wickedness of yours, and pray God if perhaps “struck him there in the belly, and he died, for the the thought of your heart may be forgiven you.” (Acts blood of Asahel his brother.” 8:21-22) Although Abner did not realize the danger of going The second example of one on the outside of Christ a little way outside the safe border, his fate proved to is the Ethiopia to whom Philip preached Christ. When be just as deadly as if he had gone a great distance away that man saw the need to confess his faith in Jesus from the safe city. Christ and be baptized, he did that as soon as possible. This story of Joab and Abner is an example of how (Acts 8:36-38) Satan entices people today. Joab is a picture of the If you are outside of Christ, whether as an erring Devil, and, like Abner, there are many people today child of God or one who has never been baptized into who are in danger spiritually but do not realize it Christ, why not do that, which is necessary to enjoy the because they are just barely off the safe road. However, safety of being in Christ. that one step can make a huge difference. Just one step -RICHARD RODGERS inside the city, and Abner would have been saved from Joab, the evil one. The cities of refuge in Israel were shadows of Jesus Christ and His church, our city of refuge. (Romans 6:23) The Hebrew Christians were told, “so that by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us…” (Hebrews 6:18)

AFRAID The Importance of Public Worship As long as we are in the flesh, there will always be After Joseph died, God selected Moses and Aaron some degree of uneasiness. The great and brave to lead the Israelites out of Egypt and away from the Apostle Paul wrote, “And I was with you in weakness, bondage of slavery; however, the Pharaoh refused to and in fear, and in much trembling.” (I Corinthians allow them to leave, which prompted the LORD to 2:3) Yet, the preaching of God’s Word nor the lives of visit ten devastating plagues upon the Egyptian nation. Christians should be characterized by a spirit of fear. Perhaps, all of us have studied the physical effects “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and of those plagues; nonetheless, we sometimes overlook love and self-control.” (II Timothy 1:7) the spiritual lessons contained therein. For example, Evangelist Ted Knight explains a Scriptural God demonstrated His attitude regarding idols in the remedy for fear in the following article. ten plagues. God hates idolatry, and He warns us to flee from it; FEAR however, the Egyptians claimed hundreds of gods, and by Ted Knight the plagues which came at the command of Moses and “When My Lady and I were young and working in Aaron were not natural disasters. They came from the fields picking cotton it was not uncommon to hear God, and He designed them to destroy faith in the false her screaming and sometimes she would even faint gods. because she saw a spider on a cotton bowl or a leaf. For example, the gods that were associated with the There have been many other occasions when she Nile River were put to shame when the water became would cry out because she saw a spider or what she blood, and the fifth plague, which affected the cattle, thought was one and fear overwhelmed her. the horses, the asses, the camels, the oxen, and the Sometimes in her sleep she will scream and scare me sheep, was a very grievous slam on the bull god, Apis. half to death and most of the time it is because she has Then, “Jehovah said to Moses, stretch out your dreamed about something that filled her with fear. I hand toward the heavens, that there may be darkness suppose that most of us have experienced similar over the land of Egypt, so that one may even feel the situations in our own life, not because it was a spider darkness.” Upon the miraculous darkening of the sun, but something that for a moment so engulfed us with the Egyptian sun god, Ra, the king of the gods, and the fear that it was hard to function. Pharaoh’s personal assistant, could not provide light The bible has a lot to say about fear and how to for three days. handle it. There is Psalm 56:3 where we read, The Passover lamb represented the Lord Jesus “Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in God.” When we Christ and his atoning death. Years later, John the read about fear in the word of God we are always Baptist said of Jesus “the lamb of God.” (John. 1:29) reminded that there is an antidote to fear and that is to And Paul wrote that Christ is our Passover lamb. (1 trust in God. Our fear may be the result of losing a job, Corinthians 5:7) a serious illness of a loved one or the loss of a loved The tenth plague involved first-born Egyptians’ one, our friends may disappoint us and leave us filled death (men and cattle), including Pharaoh’s son, an with fear, or many other things may affect us and leave acclaimed “full-blooded” god by birth. us with fear. However, when fear comes we need to do These serious acts of God provide us with two things. First, we need to pray that God will help us sufficient evidence that Christians must avoid all idols to overcome our fear. Second, we need to study His in their lives; however, in our world, that is not easy word and learn how the Holy Spirit teaches us to deal because some of the most innocent things can become with fear. idols. “For where your treasure is, there will your Christians are certainly not immune to fear. It isn’t heart be also.” (Matthew 6:21) a sign of weakness or a lack of faith when we fear. It is Then Jesus said, “But seek first the kingdom of God a reminder that we are human and fear is one of the and His righteousness.” (Matthew 6:21 & 33) things that robs us of many things that are good for us. Public worship is a powerful thing. It changes our But, when fear comes we need to pray, study, seek help lives and keeps us charged, but in the absence of that from our Christian friends, and apply the things which “spirit charge,” we will die spiritually as surely as a we learn in God’s word to overcome fear.” cellphone becomes dead without an electrical charge. REPRINTED BY PERMISSION RICHARD RODGERS -RICHARD RODGERS

What Is Different, Makes The Difference More Significant Than COVID-19 Those who count talk about declining numbers in Our parents and grandparents told us about the church attendance and blame it on modernization. “Great Depression” and what a change it brought upon Perhaps, eighty years is short of the days when their lives, but for the most part, we still don’t folks walked, rode on horses, and in buggies to reach understand the hardships, the suffering, and the deadly gatherings of the church, but I do recollect things that effects that they encountered. made the difference. There were wise voices that And, if this world stands, later generations will taught the Bible in everyday language. Christian liken our explanation of the COVID-19 pandemic to an women taught children to recite the Bible’s books and almost forgotten “Trail of Tears.” Should future meaningful verses, and preachers taught the Scripture epidemics sweep down upon this world, they will clearly, and entirely without apology. likely stand in unprepared amazement, watching in Yes, in most congregations, the expediencies are terror the vanishing of prized possessions and those different. The old woodburning stoves, Funeral Home whom they hold dear. fans, and slat pews gave way to modern buildings with Nonetheless, whether our world will again amenities. experience the likeness of COVID-19, there is coming Sadly, in some churches, doctrinal issues are at a far greater event with worldwide catastrophic effects, stake. That is, Scriptural practices being set aside and striking as a “thief in the night,” and in the blink of an adding non-Scriptural acts of worship. eye. (I Thessalonians 5:2; I Corinthians 15:51-52) The In the Lord’s letters to the seven churches most sobering thought that has ever made its way into (Revelation 2 & 3), He dealt with each one according humanity’s heart is the thought that we will one day to its faithfulness, and right here is where Divine leave this old world and stand before the Lord in wisdom concerning the establishment of the church judgment. shines through. God has a place prepared for those who love Him. Although the church began in Jerusalem, it grew, (I Corinthians 2:9) Loving God means keeping His one church at a time, throughout the known world commandments. (John 14:15) And, only those who without a hierarchy. As the Apostles and Evangelists prepare themselves will “inherit the kingdom…” carried out the Great Commission, organizing (Matthew 25:34). Jesus said, “You shall love the Lord churches on the same foundation and appointing your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and Elders in every autonomous [self-governed] church with all your mind.” (Deuteronomy 6:5; Matthew (Acts 14:23; Titus 1:5), Paul told the Elders at 22:37) The Apostle John wrote, “For this is the love of Ephesus: “Pay careful attention to yourselves and to God, that we keep His commandments.” (I John 5:3) all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you Therefore, we prepare to meet God by loving Him and overseers, to care for the church of God, which he keeping His commandments in this life. After death, purchased with his own blood.” (Acts 20:28) there is eternity, and that journey is as sure as death. It Over the years, “fierce wolves” entered the flock matters not who a person is or what he may be; as Paul warned, and some went astray under Satan’s absolutely nothing in this world will exempt him from influence. Nonetheless, since each church is taking the trip into eternity. Jesus described eternity as autonomous, the actions of one church are not bound having two divisions. He said, “And these will go away upon another. into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into The hierarchy or headquarter system passes their eternal life.” (Matthew 25:46) requirements (scriptural or non-scriptural) down to all When a person dies and goes to eternity, he never churches under their rule. Therefore, a corrupt comes back to this earth to live. Along with every other headquarters can influence many churches. person who has ever lived, you and I must go to Remember, The Lord dealt with each church eternity. But we can go as Christians prepared in heart individually. To some, He said, “I have a few things and life through the gospel. against you.” “I have this against you, that you have Jesus said, “Come to Me, all you who labor and abandoned the love you had at first.” are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke His words to other churches include, “I know your upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly tribulation.” “I know your works. Behold, I have set in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” before you an open door, which no one is able to shut.” (Matthew 11:28, 29) -RICHARD RODGERS -RICHARD RODGERS Romance church of Christ P. O. Box 5 Romance, AR 72136-0005

Bible Quiz March 2021 -JIMMY BUCHANAN 1. When Jonah boarded the ship in Joppa, to which city was it going? (Jonah 1) ______2. Which land did Cain settle in after fleeing from the LORD? (Genesis 4) ______3. Which Apostle was a prisoner on the Isle of Patmos? (Revelation 1) ______4. When Joseph went in search of his brothers, where did he find them? (Genesis 37) ______5. When the Israelites left Kadesh-barnea, how many years passed before they crossed the brook Zered? _____ (Deuteronomy 2) ______6. Which city did Joshua and his army march around, causing it to fall? (Joshua 6) ______7. When Demas deserted Paul, where did he go? (2Timothy 4) ______8. Whose army marched against Jerusalem during the reign of Jehoiachin? (2Kings 24) ______9. Who did Ruth go with from Moab to Bethlehem? (Ruth 1) ______10. In which town did Samson fall in love with a young Philistine woman? (Judges 14) ______

Answers to February Quiz: 1) the kingdom of heaven; 2) five, they took no oil; 3) there would not be enough for all of them; 4) I do not know you; 5) watch, for you know neither the day nor the hour; 6) the final judgment; 7) all nations; everyone; 8) the sheep on the right; the righteous; 9) the goats on the left; the wicked.