By Johnie Edwards
A question in a Winston ad is, “What part of 100% you don’t understand?” I got to thinking about so many plain pas- sages that so many seem not to understand. So, we ask?
1. What Part Of Mark 16:16 You Don’t Understand? Jesus simply said, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned” (Mark 16:16). A lot of people seem to have trouble with this passage. So, I ask, what part of this you don’t understand? Did Jesus say, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved”? Yes or no? Is it a matter of understanding or a matter of just not wanting to obey the command to be baptized?
2. What Part Of Acts 2:38 You Don’t Understand? Peter told believing Jews, who asked, “. . .what shall we do?” (Acts 2:37) to, “. . . Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:38). Does the passage say that repentance and baptism is for the remission of sins? Do you not understand it that way? Just what part of it you don’t understand? Or, could it be you have been listening to some preacher tell you that baptism is not necessary in the first place?
3. What Part Of Ephesians 5:19 You Don’t Understand? Paul wrote the Ephesians to the effect that music is to be vocal. Yet, most think the Bible teaches that the use of a mechanical instrument of music is acceptable. “Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord” (Eph. 5:19). Just what part of this you don’t understand? Did Paul say the music was to be singing? Did he saying anything at all about playing a mechanical instrument? Could it be that most folks understand the passage in light of what most churches practice or what the New Testament really says?
4. What Part Of Acts 20:7 You Don’t Understand? The Bible teaches that early Christians met every week to observe the Lord’s supper. It is written in Acts 20:7, “And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came to together to break bread, Paul preached unto them. . .” (Acts 20:7). What day does the first day of the week come on? Is it not Sunday? Does every week have a first day? It surely does. So, the Lord’s supper is to eaten every first day of the week? What part of this you don’t understand?
5. What Part Of 1 Corinthians 16:2 You Don’t Under- stand? Most churches bind Old Testament tithing and take up collections every time they meet, regardless of the day. Paul ordered the Corinthians, “Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him” (1 Cor. 16:2). Do you understand that the day the laying by in store on is the first day of the week? Is not the giving to be according to one’s prosperity? Do you see, in the passage, any other way for the church to raise its funds to do its work? Just why is it that you don’t understand in this simple passage?
6. What Part Of Ephesians 4:4 You Don’t Understand? Paul says, “. . . there is one body.” He told the Colossians, “. . . for his body’s sake, which is the church” (Col. 1:24). If there is one body and the one body is the church, how many churches do you understand that to be? One or more than one?