by Bill Hall
Living Oracles, 1978
A man never reaches a point in his life when he can relax in his struggle against the evil one. No one was more aware of this fact than was the apostle Paul. While on his third preaching tour, the mature, experienced apostle wrote to the saints in Corinth: “But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway”  (1 Cor. 9:27).
Later, while in prison at Rome, writing to his beloved in Philippi, he acknowledged that he had not already attained, neither was already perfect; that considerable struggle yet lay ahead (Phil. 3:12). Crucial in that struggle was Paul’s ability to forget some things.
Paul had to forget what might have been. This writer once heard a young entertainer make the statement, “I’m going to give it all up; a person just cannot be a Christian and be successful in the entertainment field.” All who heard the statement applauded the faith of the young man and marveled at his strength as he went back home to carry out his …

Old doctrines never die; they always manage to get recirculated. A good many years ago I first heard the teaching that baptism in the New Testament was given as an ordinance for Jews only, symbolizing their transition from the Old Covenant to the New, but that baptism was never intended for Gentiles at all. Cited as evidence was the fact that after the rebaptism of twelve men (presumed to be Jews) in Acts 19:1-7, we don’t read of another case of Gentile baptism in the New Testament. What about it? This teaching has resurfaced and is very popular with many of our neighbors. Frankly, I’ve never understood the baptism of those men in Acts 19 as having any real connection to the question. To say that New Testament teaching excludes Gentiles from the commandment of baptism is to plainly ignore scripture.
Consider…
The Great Commission “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; he who does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:15-16). Note that the gospel is intended for all creatures, the Lord making no distinction in how …