Darrel Black – Southside Church of Christ

CONFESSION

Darrel Black — Sun, 15 Sep 2024 18:24:24 +0000

Romans 14:11 is the quotation of Isaiah 45:23 ‘As surely as I live, says the Lord, every knee will bow before me; every tongue will confess to God.’ About the only thing that most Americans will confess is that we cheated on our taxes or broke the speed limit. But God has promised that all will confess his glory and power, justice and judgment. Satan will confess the justice of God when he is thrown into the lake of fire, and we will confess the grace of God if we miss that punishment. Our confession will be based upon our response to Jesus as the Son of God who offered his forgiveness to erase our sin. The rebellious soul will confess that they misjudged the seriousness of sin, and the Christian will confess that only Jesus was important enough to be our sacrifice. The wonder of Jesus is that God loved us sufficiently to send Jesus to give his life as he died from our guilt. The wonder of God is that is that he turned away so as not to see the death of his only begotten son. I confess that a loving God is just beyond comprehension. I know that you will also confess that Jesus is just too good to be true. We must confess to others that: “God so loved people, that he sent Jesus to die on the cross (in our place), that we can have hope of being with God forever”. I confess that I cannot save myself for I have no righteousness. I also confess that Jesus loved me more than I love myself. I confess that Jesus is the Son of the Living God for NO human could do the wonders that Jesus did with words. I also confess that those who choose to ignore and reject Jesus will suffer consequences. So what will you confess?

Repentance

Darrel Black — Sun, 15 Sep 2024 18:24:11 +0000

God’s definition of repentance is Ezekiel 18:30 ‘Repent! Turn away from all your offenses: then sin will not be your downfall. Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit.’ The New Testament version is found at Acts 2:38 ‘Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit’. Repentance is to end my life-style, and to begin Jesus’s life-style. The evil life is buried in baptism and the new life is born with the gift of the Holy Spirit who helps us live God’s way. God does the hard part; he forgives (if He sees that our heart is broken by sorrow) our rebellion against his words. It is our choice to reject the world; and turn to life in God’s kingdom. We read II Corinthians 7:10: ‘Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.’ There are seven things we must reject as noted in Proverbs 6:16-19: ‘haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers’. When we hurt others and ourselves, we must cease from these practices; turn to God and embrace life. I am truly sorry when I seize my throne back from Jesus and do things my way. Giving-up the rule of my life is the most difficult thing I have ever tried to do. I succeed one minute and fail the next hour. The help of God’s Spirit helps me to keep trying to get me out of God/s WAY. I know much about God, but too often fail at being like God. I pray for forgiveness every day, and some days I ask a dozen times. Asking forgiveness for sin is slightly easier in my old age; but asking for forgiveness for hurting someone today is more difficult. What is the thing most difficult for you to repent of ?

By Whose Authority Do We Speak?

Darrel Black — Sat, 15 Jun 2024 22:02:33 +0000

In Genesis 1 God made the claim that He created the heavens and the earth. At Gen. 14:19 the King of Salem stated the fact for humans. Jesus then issued His claim at Matthew 28:18. Because of this, the religion of Science has started every argument about existence by stating that ‘since there is no god or creator’, we humans claim to speak for the universe that we can see and the earth that we live on. What the religion of Science is guilty of is public theft of ownership of our earth and the entire universe. God could have called court in the heavens to determine the reality, but God has postponed the day of judgment until the end of time. Jesus pictured this judgment scene at Matthew 25:31-46. Jehovah actually put humans in charge of the earth at Gen. 1:26&28 with the task to ‘subdue this earth’ and make it user friendly. We humans have failed in our responsibility, so we respond by stating that the universe is just and accident. Human judges have agreed with the religion of Science, but the universe knows its master and responds to God’s voice. One day the end will come, and God will allow the earth to be destroyed by fire; and humanity will not have a clue until it is too late. Humans (that in our arrogance) divide-up the land and seas for private ownership will all be destroyed. Jehovah intended for humans to work together to make this earth a better place for life. God stated at Gen 11:1-9 that arrogance and greed will divide and conquer us but working together will make the earth better. The sad part of this ‘deed of ownership’ is that the earth could have been ours.

Who Will Answer?

Darrel Black — Wed, 01 May 2024 00:58:33 +0000

Many years Ed Ames sang this song to the world, and few heard the answer in the last two words of the song: ‘Hallelujah’. It should have been written in response to the song ‘Blowing in the Wind’. The song recalls the violence of this evil world ruled by Satan and asks repeatedly: ‘Who Will Answer’. It then suggests answers that the world recognizes: temple bells, cloistered halls or in the stars or in ourselves. The world is still seeking answers to Democracy or destruction, Truth or words. Attacks on the ‘Words of God’ / the Bible are relentless. The world today does not even use truth for Science or Inclusion. So: ‘Who Will Answer’? We know that we have truth, and we must shout the ‘Words of Jesus’ from the tops of skyscrapers. Sounds like communication towers on top of tall buildings. Few in this world will see the unseen and come to believe the words of Jesus. Please remember that Jesus said ‘I am the way the truth and the life’. John 14:6 Verse 11 suggests that we ‘at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves.’ The works are healings, raising the dead and removing demons. But since we don’t see these works today, we must tell how Jesus heals us, raises us from doubt and removes the demons of selfish desires. In Romans 7:21-25 we find that even Paul struggled with our sinful nature. We are truly slaves to our sinful nature, but Jesus raises us from baptism to a new nature. The new being can choose to walk with Jesus and obey his words. Jesus is the Answer! We get to deliver the message with love and grace.

Being Unreal

Darrel Black — Sat, 20 Apr 2024 00:50:30 +0000

People today wrestle with fake news and reality. The Newspaper that bragged that Trump resigned was just false. The auto seller that boasts it will be biggest in the U.S. is presumption. The hockey team that brags they are best on earth is still bravado. When God stated that He created all matter there was no human to question his work. The definition of God is the One who speaks and no-one can mess with what he creates. The scientists who claim that the cosmos began with a big-bang are so divided and confused that one should suspect their idea was supported by extraterrestrial theorist. Their smoke hurts our eyes and the mirrors reflect the consequences of their claim that we are all just animals. The News Industry regularly speaks false news so they can be first with the most drama. America will soon hear little but the buzz that News Companies broadcast to inform a new World Culture. Remember, the Bible is the collected words of God as recorded by eyewitnesses and simple men sent to speak truth to humanity. Do you know what is real and what is fake? How then will we know in ten years when we have forgotten how to read God’s Truth?

Obedience Comes by Faith

Darrel Black — Sat, 13 Apr 2024 22:58:00 +0000

We obey the law of gravity because when we jump, we do NOT fly-off into space. God put this into words at Romans 1:5 ‘Through him and for his name’s sake, we received grace and apostleship to call people from among all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith’. So how does this work? After playing many years with feet on the floor or ground, one calls that power > gravity. One gains more faith in gravity as we gain weight. Faith is a word which we use to note what we believe is true. When your child develops faith that you will catch them, then they can jump out of trees into your arms. A child that is abused by a parent will become an adult that fears people. When we gain faith that God loves and provides for us, then be can learn to obey His Words. Then as we walk with God, loves drives out fear and doubt. I John 4:18-21ff: Edited “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. We love Him because He first loved us. If someone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? We have this command from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also. By this we know that we love the children of God: when we love God and keep his commandments. And this is the victory that has overcome the world – our faith. There are three that bear witness on earth – the Spirit, the water, and the blood, and these three agree as one. For this is the witness of God which He has testified of His Son. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God. Darrel wrote about gravity, but God wrote about obedience coming from our faith.

Being Real

Darrel Black — Thu, 11 Apr 2024 22:32:40 +0000

Today it is important to Millennials to be ‘real’. I asked Google what this meant and learned it is to live what one believes. This means that if I claim to be a Christian, I must act and think like a Christian. The question becomes: who gets to decide what is a ‘real Christian’? I know that business & science would buy a survey to answer our question and a teacher might consult a dictionary; a Catholic would consult the Pope. I know that in religion there is no agreement on what is real. My response would be to ask Jesus what he really wants of his followers. Jesus ‘Sermon on the Mount’ at Matt. 5,6 & 7 would be a good beginning. At Matt. 11:25-30 we read that Jesus commanded his followers to be yoked to him like oxen pulling a cart; sounds to me like slavery. At Matt. 18:1-9 Jesus commanded his people to be humble; sounds like mind control. At Matt. 19: 1-12 Jesus told his followers who to marry; sounds like tyranny to me. Since we are images of God I Cor. 11:1-16; sounds like dictatorship. We know we are to be like Jesus and Matt. 27 commands we must be crucified. But Matt. 28 sounds like we will be raised from death to live with God in heaven. The price sounds too cheap and we Christians are just not real. Perhaps we should review if we want to claim Jesus as our Judge Acts 10:42.

Circumstances

Darrel Black — Sun, 31 Mar 2024 23:56:32 +0000

Our circumstances of life are varied and change often. Some circumstances come from birth – nobility; and some come from parents – disabilities. Some circumstances are the nest we have feathered, and some are just ‘out of the wind’. Most humans live in our circumstances, but most desire to escape. Some are warm, some are wimpy – and some are = Wow! Some are fancy and some need fixing. The one thing that most believe = is that better circumstances are just ahead > tomorrow my ship will come-in, but who wants to live on a ship.

The one thing that most humans want to change is our circumstances. We must work too hard for too little pay. We save every dime we get, but never have a dollar to spend. We work hard to have a better situation. We dream of our prince-charming. Most people also believe in heaven, at least we want to go there; just don’t ask us to buy a ticket – too expensive

Paul wrote the secret as to how to survive our circumstances. At Philippians 4: 12, Paul wrote,

‘I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who give me strength.’ We must trust Jesus for better circumstances. Jesus said at John 14: 2, ‘Do not let your hearts be troubled, trust in God and trust also in me. In my father’s house are many rooms: I am going there to prepare a place for you, and I will come back and take you to be with me.’ Our circumstance is a gift from God, our circumstances will change, and the best is yet to come for Christians.

Darrel

BAPTISM

Darrel Black — Sat, 30 Mar 2024 21:55:25 +0000

Baptism is the birth-day of a new Christian, so it has been the center-piece of Christ’s people since our beginning. John led the way to Jesus by preaching a baptism of repentance; but Jesus was baptized to ‘fulfill all righteousness’. God the Father used Jesus baptism to declare at Matthew 3:13-17 His love and approval of Jesus.

At Romans 6:3-14 we find that baptism is a burial in which our ‘old self is crucified and our body of sin is disposed of’. This first part must be emphasized for it is our release from the power of sin; we ‘are no longer slaves to sin, for we have died to sin’. Death is no longer our master; now we hope to be raised to live with our Savior – Jesus the Christ.

Baptism is also to ‘put-on’ Jesus like putting on a coat for winter. We are called to ‘take-off’ relationships that cause us to sin, and put-on the life-style that identify us as called-out: belonging to Jesus. Galatians 3:26-29 We are raised with Jesus through our faith in the power of God’s Words. Colossians 2:9-12.

At I Peter 3:18-22 we learn that ‘this (water that raised the ark) symbolizes baptism that now saves you – not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God’. The water and words of baptism are not magical; but we must truly confess that Jesus is the Son of God, and we trust Jesus for eternal life.

Darrel