Some teach that a person first repents and then believes in Jesus to be saved. However, this is not what the Bible teaches. The Bible teaches that faith comes before repentance. Without faith, one would not know anything about repentance. How could one or why would one repent if he did not first believe?

Paul said, "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Romans 10:17). It is only by the word of God that one learns and knows about repentance. Faith is what motivates repentance. Those who heard and believed Peter's sermon on the day of Pentecost asked "...what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins..." (Acts 2:37-28). These people heard the Gospel and believed it. Their belief (faith) caused them to be pricked in their heart. They felt remorse and guilt as a result of their sins. Because of their belief in the message preached by Peter, they wanted to know what they must do to have forgiveness of their sins. The reply from Peter was to "repent and be baptized." Repentance and baptism is of no value unless they are both done "by faith." About 3,000 people that day believed, repented and were baptized in order to be saved (Acts 2:41).

In Mark 1:15 Jesus said, "...the time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel." Some look at this verse and say one must first repent before he can believe. However, it must be remembered that those who heard Jesus speak were already believers in God (being Jews). Jesus' purpose was to move his hearers to repentance as a preparation for faith in Jesus and his new kingdom. These believers in God were living lives unbecoming servants of God. Their lives were filled with tradition and ritual. Their hearts needed to be prepared so they would be receptive to a new system, the Gospel system -- the religion of Jesus. Therefore, they were to repent of their sins and believe the words of Jesus regarding His new Gospel teaching.

Repentance toward God is the proof that one truly believes in Jesus and his Gospel. Do you believe? Then why not repent and be baptized for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38; 22:16). You can live faithful to the Lord every day

--Garland M. Robinson

Before Jesus ascended back to heaven, He gave to his disciples the commission to go to every creature in every nation in every generation and preach the Gospel to them (Matt. 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16). It is obvious that the commission given to the apostles on that occasion was to succeeding generations as well. In Matthew 28:20, Jesus said, Teaching them (those who had been taught and baptized) to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you (note that He had just commanded them to go and teach all nations).

The church generally has understood that we must be concerned about evangelizing the world. Generally speaking, most congregations do a fairly good job of supporting men who are willing to go and preach in other lands or even localities in our country where the church is either weak or non-existent. Unfortunately, there are still some congregations who spend only a small portion of their budget on mission work of any kind. Some congregations will actually cut their spending for evangelism in order to finance such things as the building of so-called family life centers or the hiring of a youth minister.

But perhaps the most neglected area in our evangelistic efforts is in our own communities and in our local congregations. It is an established fact, though a sad one, that a great number of our members live next door to someone who is lost but never make any attempt to teach them the truth that will save them from their sins. Many live in the same house with a husband or a wife that is lost, yet make no real attempt to convert them to Christ. Others have siblings or other relatives who are lost, but make no attempt to talk to them about their soul's salvation. Some will actually discourage a preacher or another personal worker from coming to talk to their lost loved one because they are afraid of their reaction.

Couple this with the fact that in every congregation there are those who are already in apostasy or are exhibiting signs that they are headed that way. These souls will be lost unless someone cares enough to restore them. Yet, many congregations have no one except the preacher who will go and talk with these, and sometimes he will not either!

What is the main problem causing this lack of evangelism among God's people? It may be a lack of love. If we really love a person and know they are lost, would we not try to teach them the truth and save their soul? It may be the ignorance of God's Word that causes so many to fear trying to teach a lost person. I once gave an adult bible class a test in which they were to list the five steps of salvation and at least one Scripture where it is taught. Out of about 60 people, less than ten got the five steps right. But that doesn't explain why they will not get someone who has the knowledge to talk to their friends or relatives, or even invite them to Gospel meetings or regular services where the Truth will be preached. Several other things could be factors in our lack of evangelistic efforts, but I want to suggest one more that I am afraid is far too prevalent, but generally goes unnoticed.

Perhaps the chief reason for the lack of evangelistic zeal and effort may be that too many of our people in the church do not really believe that those who have not heard, believed, and obeyed the Gospel are lost! Or, that those who are "good people," or are "very religious," are lost! Or, that those who have left the church and become unfaithful are lost!

I personally have taught a Bible class where one or more of the members expressed that they just could not believe that those who had never heard the Gospel would be lost. If a person is not convinced that such people are lost, how much effort will they make to preach to them? How much money will they be willing to spend to support men to go preach to them?

Add to this the number of people in the church who know that momma or daddy or grandma or grandpa never obeyed the Gospel, but they were such "good old souls" that they cannot believe they are lost. I have had people tell me, "You can't make me believe that my grandmother was lost. There was never a better woman than her."

Then there are those who don't believe that people in denominational churches are lost. They will even refer to relatives and friends who are members of such churches as "Christians." What motivation would compel such people to try to convert their denominational neighbors and family members if they don't believe they are lost. You might be amazed at the number of such people there are in any given congregation.

What has led to the alarming number of people who do not seem to know who the lost really are? I don't know all of the reasons, but I believe that I do know one of the major ones. It is the lack of preaching that boldly teaches who is lost and saved.

In the earlier years of the restoration movement, those preachers preached boldly against denominationalism and Catholicism and made it clear that people must hear, believe, and obey the Gospel to be saved, that there was only one church that stood approved by God, and called for people to come out of such false religions and into Christ. That preaching continued through the middle of the previous century and the church was evangelistic both at home and abroad. Then, in the latter half of the past century, the religious world was caught up in the Ecumenical Movement as the various churches began to work toward peace with one another and acceptance of one another as all being children of God. The church also felt the pressure of such sentiments and as a result many of our preachers quit preaching such sermons that exposed such people as being lost. Many of them digressed to the point that they began to fellowship those denominations. Today, the preachers who will stand in our pulpits and boldly declare who the Bible says will be lost are fewer than ever. No wonder there is little zeal for preaching to the lost, if we don't even recognize who is really lost!

If a congregation has lost its evangelistic zeal, then we must rekindle the fire. The first thing we may need to do is to teach again from our pulpits those fundamental things regarding who is really lost. When our people become thoroughly convinced of the lost condition of souls around them and abroad, then they will give the money and expend the effort needed to seek to save those lost souls.

--Richard Guill

Sun. 9:45 The Christian Graces

Sun. 10:30, How to Make a Strong Church

Sun. 7pm, A Formula for Success

Mon. 7pm, What It Means to Be a Christian

Tues. 7pm, Can I Know I Am Saved?

Wed. 7pm, Is It Possible to Live a Faithful Christian Life?

Thurs. 7pm Why I Cannot Give Up As a Christian

Friday 7pm, Why Christians Stop Being Faithful

SYMPATHY is extended to Terry Cordell and family on the passing of his mother Feb. 18 in Tenn. Sympathy is extended to Dorothy Taylor and family on the death of her brother, John B. Wallace, Feb. 19 in Arkansas. Sympathy is extended to the family of Stephen Fishel who passed away Feb. 18. Brother Fishel was a faithful Gospel preacher who spoke on our lectureship in 1996. Sympathy is extended to Charles Leonard and family on the passing of his mother Feb. 19. Her funeral was in Mayfield, Kentucky last Wednesday.

GOSPEL MEETING: East Corinth, Feb. 25-March 2 with David Paden of Verona, Miss, doing the preaching, 7pm each night. The full schedule of lessons is on the inside.

DISTRIBUTE MEETING FLYERS: Sat., Feb. 24. Young people ages 10-14. 10 a.m.

MEN'S TRAINING CLASS: Sun., 25th, 2:00. All the men are encouraged to attend.

FOOD ITEM: Napkins

r SHUT-INS: Pauline Irvin, Nellie Wallace, Mary Dexter, Annie Nauman, Faye Jackson, Clydie Morrow, Frances Massengill, Doug Kimbrough, Sula Perry, Harry Prater, Lucille Leatherwood, Dorothy Johnson.