Righteousness that Exceeds the Scribes and Pharisees

Posted on April 4, 2022 by admin

by Keith Sharp

Matthew chapters five through seven record “The Sermon on the Mount,” the Master’s explanation of the righteousness of the kingdom of heaven. The theme of the sermon is stated in Matthew 5:17-20. Verse twenty introduces the rest of chapter five, which contrasts the righteousness taught by the scribes and Pharisees to that which the Lord demands of kingdom citizens (Christians). “For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:20).

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The Authority of the Scriptures

Posted on December 20, 2020 by admin

by Keith Sharp

Through the years Bible believers have tended to treat the Bible as a book of curiosities. One “scholar” wrote a series of books on “All the … in the Bible” – all the trees, all the animals, all the birds, etc. Some have committed many of the genealogies of the Bible to memory. I’m with the apostle Paul – “But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless” (Titus 3:9; cf. 1 Timothy 1:4). The key here is “useless.” The Bible is preeminently useful, its practical guidance shows us the way to heaven. What should the Bible mean to us?

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Should I Be A Christian?

Posted on November 20, 2020 by admin

by Keith Sharp

Introduction

By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward (Hebrews 11:24-26).

Moses was faced with the alternatives of suffering “affliction with the people of God” or enjoying “the passing pleasures of sin” (Hebrews 11:25) When he made his choice, he was a mature man, forty years old, having attained the utmost in formal education possible in his age (Hebrews 11:24).

And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and deeds. Now when he was forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren, the children of Israel (Acts 7:22-23).

He accounted “the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward” (Hebrews 11:26).

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The Church Jesus Built

Posted on October 20, 2020 by admin

by Keith Sharp

Introduction

When people ask me what I am religiously, I usually reply, “I’m just a Christian; I’m not a member of any denomination.” Some think I mean I am not a member of any church. But I am a member of the church Jesus built.

When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, ‘Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?’ So they said, ‘Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’ He said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Simon Peter answered and said, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’ Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it’ (Matthew 16:13-18).

Well, isn’t that the denomination I belong to? What is the church Jesus built?

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Is Conscience A Safe Guide?

Posted on September 20, 2020 by admin

by Keith Sharp

“Then Paul, looking earnestly at the council, said, “Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day” (Acts 23:1).

The popular admonition is, “Let your conscience be your guide.” This is used to justify all the religious division around us, whereas the Lord prayed for believers in Him to be united (John 14:6). Is conscience a safe guide?

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Why Is There So Much Immorality?

Posted on September 20, 2020 by admin

by Keith Sharp

According to evolution, people are just apes who grew bigger brains, stood upright, and lost most of their body hair (I’ve lost more than most). One anthropologist wrote a book about mankind entitled The Naked Ape. According to Scripture, God made both the man and the woman “in His own image” (Genesis 1:27). The difference between evolution and creation is the difference between a naked ape and a child of God.

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ZOOM

Posted on August 20, 2020 by admin

by Keith Sharp

Before March of 2020, I don’t think I had ever heard of ZOOM. Now this web program has become an important part of my life. For about six weeks I worshiped on the first day of the week exclusively by what I could receive over the internet from William Stewart and the Limestone Church of Christ in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. During this time Michelle Sharp figured out how to use ZOOM to teach children’s classes online, and she and Sandy now conduct three classes a week for children here and in Conway, New York City, and Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Manny Ebong in Lagos, Nigeria is preaching to congregations in London, England and Melbourne, Australia, and he and I are having classes with a young man in London.1 Wow! A year ago who could have imagined it!

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Question from Chile About Who Can Baptize

Posted on August 20, 2020 by admin

Question

Some Spanish-speaking brothers have had a controversy over this question. Some are teaching and arguing that baptism to be valid, or biblical, must only be done by a Christian? The main argument is that the N.T. never mentions non-Christians baptizing, but only Christians baptizing others. And even in the case when some person is in some well separated place, as in a desert, reference is made to the example of Philip and the Eunuch, saying that God in His providence, when a person seeks the truth, he will always help him to get in touch with a Christian.

I myself would like to try to understand this question as well as possible. Could you help? What do you think that based on some biblical principle we can understand about this question?

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Outbursts of Wrath

Posted on July 20, 2020 by admin

by Keith Sharp

Atomic energy, the most powerful, earthly energy source used by man, is capable of amazing good or incalculable harm. Estimates are that at least 225,000 Japanese died as the result of the atom bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. But in 2016 almost 20% of electricity in America was generated by nuclear power plants.

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Questions from Nigeria about Daniel Two and Luke Three

Posted on June 19, 2020 by admin

Question

Can you please help in this question asked to me after my lessons at preachers Training Programs COC Iheorji. I want to know if my answers are in accordance with yours. The question is in agreement. If Dan. 2:44 and LK. 3:1-3 are in agreement I need comprehensive explanation or answers

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