The Truth in Print Vol.
31, Issue 5, June 2025
A Publication of the
Valley church of Christ,
2375 W. 8th Street,
Yuma, AZ 85364 (928-782-5058)
Website Address ~ http://yumavalleychurchofchrist.com
God’s Peace, Love, Grace, & Mercy Teach Belief &
Obedience
God’s
Peace Comes by Obeying Christ
Jesus sent out the twelve to preach repent
for the kingdom of heaven was at hand (Matt 10:7; Mark 6:12). They were told
households would reject this message and for them there would be no peace (Matt
10:11-14). If they rejected the message and did not repent, they were worthy of
eternal fire (Matt 10:15). To prepare them for
the time of the kingdom they were told His Word would be a sword that divides
families with some members who are enemies of the truth (Matt 10:34-37). His
peace is not the peace the world gives! (Jo 14:27). In the world they would
have tribulation (Jo 16:33). Peace in Christ often means you will be hated and excluded
(Lk 6:22). The Christian who would be a friend of the world is an enemy of God
and has no peace (Ja 4:4). Christ is our peace because He is the author of
eternal salvation for all who obey Him (Heb 5:9). Obedience to His word is
essential! After His resurrection and before He ascended, He gave them the
commission: Mar 16:15 And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach
the gospel to every creature.” Mar 16:16 “He who believes and is baptized
will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.” One is not saved
just because they say or feel like they are at peace with God at the time of
death. They must have obeyed the Gospel and be “in Christ” where salvation and
God’s peace is found. God’s peace in Christ comes by obeying the gospel of
peace by being baptized into Christ (Gal 3:26-27; Acts 2:38).
God’s Love Understood
in the Context of Jo 3:16
The context is not teaching “belief only”
that Jesus is the Son of God who came into the world to save the lost. In the
context of Jo 3:16-21 God’s great love in sending Christ, and Christ’s love in
coming to die for man’s sins, requires man’s love of the light that practices
the truth with deeds (works of righteousness) showing themselves approved of by
God to be saved. Eternal death is being taught— “perish” in Jo 3:16 belongs
with those condemned who loved darkness rather than the light in Jo 3:19, and those
who practice evil hating the light of Christ’s word and not coming to the light
because it exposes their evil deeds in Jo 3:20. This teaches belief
in Christ’s Word the New Testament!
1.
Those who believed were to abide in His word to be true disciples and would
know the truth (Jo 8:31-32).
2.
They believed His word would judge in the last day (Jo 12.48).
3.
They believed the commission He gave the apostles states the truth about who
will be saved (Mk 16:15-16).
4.
They believed His inspired word preached by Peter (having received the Spirit
as He promised, Jo 16:13, Acts 1:4, 2:33) stating they must repent and be
baptized for remission of their sins (Acts 2:36-42).
5.
They believed being baptized they were added to His church, the one body (Eph
4:4) He alone is the head of (Matt 16:18; Eph 5:23; Jo 14:6).
6.
They believed being in His church they had been translated out of the power of
darkness and into the Kingdom where forgiveness of sins is found (Col 1:13-14).
God’s Grace
The Father giving His Son is understood in
grace (Jo 3:16). Jesus came to seek and save the lost (Lk
19:10). The
New Testament is “the word of His grace” (Act 20:32). Grace teaches obedience
to His word (Titus 2:11-14). Grace is not live in ungodliness, and you’ll still
be saved because Jesus died for man’s sins! Jesus
is the author of eternal salvations unto all who obey His Word (Heb 5:9; Mat 7:21-23; Lk 6:26;
Jo 8:31-32; Jo 17:17).
The whole of the New Testament scriptures
(epistles and letters) are the grace of God we are to stand firm in (I Pet
5:12; 2 Tim 3:16-17; Jude 3).The New Testament distinguishes between Jesus as
the propitiation for “all” (I Jo 2:2-3; I Jo 4:10), and Christ being the author
of eternal salvation for all those who obey him (Heb 5:9). Salvation through
Christ by grace is found in Christ’s church that was purchased with his
blood—He is the savior of the body, His church (Matt 16:18; Acts 20:28; Eph
5:23,1:22-23). There is just one church (Eph 4:4),
with one savior as the head (Eph 4:5). The word of grace demand’s belief in the
deity of Christ upon hearing the Gospel preached (Mk 16:15-16). The word of
God’s grace demand’s obeying the commands to repent and be baptized for the
remission of sins (Acts 2:38, 22:16). The word of God’s grace states one is to
confess Christ is the Son of God (Acts 8:37; Rom 10:9-10). The word of God’s
grace makes it clear all are baptized into Christ (Gal 3:26-27) and into the
one body His church (I Cor 12:13).
God’s Mercy Saves by His Eternal Plan through
Christ
God’s plan
through Christ was formed in eternity before the world existed, and comes with
obedience to good works necessary for pleasing Him (Eph 1:4, 2:10). We are
saved by God’s planned in eternity mercy given as a result of Christ’s
obedience to the Father’s will in dying for our sins. Jesus’ sacrifice is the
propitiation (the appeasement of God’s wrath) for the sins of the whole world
(I Jo 2:2-3; 4:10), and He is the author of eternal salvation for all those who
obey him (Heb 5:9). The propitiation comes with the necessity of obeying Him (I
Jo 2:1-6; 4:9-11, 5:2-3). Christ has all authority and His New Testament, not
the Old Testament given through Moses, offers mercy and forgiveness of sins
(Matt 28:18-20; Heb 8:8-13). Man can’t make up his own rules for mercy at the Judgment. Those who do not know God or obey the Gospel of Christ will have no
mercy, but God’s vengeance and everlasting punishment when Christ comes (2 Th
1:7-10). Salvation
by God’s planned in eternity mercy comes by obedience in baptism for the
remission of our sins (Titus 3:5). Before He ascended, He gave the apostles the
commission: Mar 16:15 And He said to them, "Go into all the world and
preach the gospel to every creature.” Mar 16:16 “He who believes and is
baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.” We are
baptized “into Christ” where salvation and God’s mercy is found (Gal. 3:26-27).
Mercy needed for forgiveness comes by repenting and being baptized for the
remission of our sins as commanded (Acts 2:37-42).
The Valley Church of
Christ
2375 W. 8th Street,
Yuma, AZ 85364
(928) 782-5058 ~ http://yumavalleychurchofchrist.com
Sunday Services –
Classes ~10:00; Assembly 10:50 am; Evening: 6:00 pm.
Wednesday evening –
7:00 pm
To learn more call,
visit or visit our website at:
http://yumavalleychurchofchrist.com