[Biblemat] Walking in the Light (1/28/07)

Sun Jan 28 15:18:16 CST 2007

Walking in the Light

"For with You is the fountain of life; In Your light we see light."
"The entrance of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the
simple." 

"But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with
one another...."
(Psalm 36:9; 119:130; 1 John 1:7a)

January 28, 2007

www.thetfordcountry.com <http://www.thetfordcountry.com/> 

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INFORMATION: My WEB Site  <http://www.thetfordcountry.com/>
www.thetfordcountry.com has just been updated to include the articles and
sermons listed below. All the sermons posted each week to my web site are in
.pdf format.  The PowerPoint charts are also included with ALL the sermons
that are posted to the web site. To access the sermons page, visit the site
and click on "Richard's Page" and then click on "sermons." Please visit the
"Reference Works" links page for updated links to various Bible study
resources. If you are a newcomer to the area or wanting information
concerning the Valley church of Christ here in Grand Junction, Colorado,
then click on the Valley church of Christ Web Site,
<http://www.valleychurchofchrist.net/> www.valleychurchofchrist.net. Thank
you for visiting my web site and as always, your comments are welcome. 

If you know of someone that would like to receive the "Walking in the Light"
electronic bulletin each week, please send an e-mail message to
<mailto:Richard at Thetfordcountry.com> Richard at Thetfordcountry.com  with their
name and e-mail address and I will add them to the list.

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CONTENTS:

"The Children of God" (Richard Thetford)

"Are You Prepared?" (Richard Thetford)

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THE CHILDREN OF GOD

Richard Thetford

Isn't it great to be able to say that "I am a child of God?" Everyone should
long to be recognized as a faithful child of His. God made it possible for
us to become His children by His deep love for us. John writes: "Behold what
manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called
children of God!" (1 John 3:1). God cares so much for those that He has
created in His image, that He wants all to be saved. "who desires all men to
be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth" (1 Tim 2:4).
Unfortunately, not everyone will be saved because not everyone is God's
child. Only the children of God will have the opportunity to have eternal
salvation.

Who Are God's Children?

Since only the children of God will be saved, it is very important to know
who the children of God are. Only those that receive Jesus Christ will be
His. In John 1:12 it says: "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the
right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:" One only
has the "right" to become God's child when one believes on Jesus Christ.
When one believes on Christ then one will repent of their sins (Acts 2:38;
17:30), confess Jesus as being the Son of God (Acts 8:37; Matt 10:32; Rom
10:10), and then be baptized into Jesus Christ for the remission of sins
(Acts 2:38; Gal 3:27; 1 Pet 3:21; Mark 16:16). When one follows these steps
then one is born into the family of God and one becomes His child. Yes, one
must be "born again" into the family of God, the "kingdom of God" in order
to be a child of God. Jesus said: "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one
is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God" (John
3:5). How precious it is to be a child of God!

Why Be A Child of God?

The apostle Paul writes: "and if children, then heirs--heirs of God and
joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be
glorified together" (Rom 8:17). We learn from this verse that it is God's
children that are heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ. Only the heirs
of God will be allowed entrance into heaven. Luke writes:"But those who are
counted worthy to attain that age, and the resurrection from the dead,
neither marry nor are given in marriage; nor can they die anymore, for they
are equal to the angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection"
(Luke 20:35-36). In order for us to enjoy the glories of heaven we must be a
child of God. Only His children will gain an inheritance to heaven which is
achieved by being led by the Spirit here on earth. Paul clearly writes that
"For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God" (Rom
8:14). Every child of God and a true disciple of Christ understands that
they must keep themselves pure and holy in His sight as they labor and toil
upon this earth, knowing that one day they will be with the Lord if they
remain faithful until death (Rev 2:10).

What is the Duty of the Child of God?

Every individual that puts on Christ in baptism understands that they have
certain duties that they must now fulfil in their life and service for God.
Every Christian strives to imitate God. The apostle Paul writes: "Therefore
be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has
loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a
sweet-smelling aroma" (Eph5:1). The way one learns to imitate God is to
learn about God, which can only come through the reading and studying of His
word, the Bible. The child of God learns that God means more to them than
anyone or anything (Matt 10:32-39). Children of God should be so thankful
that Jesus came and gave His life for them that they would want nothing more
than to live for Him, letting their lights shine brightly for Him each and
every day. Jesus Himself said: "Let your light so shine before men, that
they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven" (Matt 5:16).
May every Christian strive to always let their lights shine brightly in the
world around them as they live FOR Jesus and God the Father each and every
day of their life.

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ARE YOU PREPARED?

Richard Thetford

Salvation has been prepared for us by God Himself. Zacharias prophesied long
ago that Christ would come to prepare a way so that we may have eternal
salvation (Luke 1:76). Jesus prepared His kingdom for us (Matt 25:34)
because it is God's desire that all of us will live our lives here on earth
in such a way that when we die we will be with Him eternally. But are we
prepared RIGHT NOW to be with Christ eternally when our day of death comes?
One may say "just give me time". Well, God is giving us time and we don't
know when that time will stop for us, therefore we MUST be prepared now (2
Cor 6:2). We prepare for heaven by reading the gospel and obeying the truths
contained therein. "If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be
a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and
prepared unto every good work" (2 Tim 2:21). One must purge himself of
worldliness and obey God's Word or there will be no hope of eternal life
with Jesus! We must be watching (Matt 25:1-11) because we do not know when
he will return (Matt 24:44). Are you prepared to meet God?

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SERMONS

Have You Not Read? (with PowerPoint Charts)

Christian Characteristics - Virtue (with PowerPoint Charts)

Sermons can viewed at my web site:  <http://www.thetfordcountry.com/>
www.thetfordcountry.com

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Valley

CHURCH OF CHRIST

Meets at:
491 Sparn Street
Grand Junction, CO   81504
(970) 245-5112

 <http://www.valleychurchofchrist.net/> www.valleychurchofchrist.net

ASSEMBLY SCHEDULE

SUNDAY
Bible Study..................9:45 A.M.
Morning Worship.......10:45 A.M.
Evening Worship.........5:00 P.M.

WEDNESDAY
Bible Study..................7:00 P.M.

Evangelist
Richard Thetford

Building: (970) 245-5112
Home:     (970) 314-7261

E-Mail:  <mailto:Richard at Thetfordcountry.com> Richard at Thetfordcountry.com

Web Site:  <http://www.thetfordcountry.com/> www.thetfordcountry.com

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Richard Thetford

E-Mail:  <mailto:Richard at Thetfordcountry.com> Richard at Thetfordcountry.com

1918 Barberry Court, Grand Junction, CO  81506

Home: (970) 314-7261

Please visit my web site:  <http://www.thetfordcountry.com>
www.thetfordcountry.com

Evangelist, Valley church of Christ

 <http://www.valleychurchofchrist.net> www.valleychurchofchrist.net

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