. ____________________________________________________ THE GOSPEL OBSERVER ____________________________________________________ "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations...teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:19,20). ____________________________________________________ May 10,2009 ____________________________________________________ Contents: 1) Time to Panic? (Bryan Gibson) 2) The Significance of the First Day of the Week (Bobby Graham) 3) "Preach Christ and Not a Plan"? (Donald Townsley) ____________________________________________________ -1- Time to Panic? by Bryan Gibson The economy has dominated the news lately, and the news has not been good. No need to rehash the details here -- the media has done a good enough job of that. Like everyone else, I'm not happy about it and it has already had adverse effects on me. But, knowing that "one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses" (Luke 12:15), I don't plan to spend too much time stewing over it. Wall Street may be in a panic, but I'm not, and here are just a few of the reasons why. Let me first say that I don't buy into all the doom and gloom forecasts for the economy. I do believe the economy will rebound, but let's just say for arguments' sake that things get worse, perhaps even far worse. I'm still not going to panic because I know God will provide me with the things I need -- IF I seek first the kingdom and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33). David said, "I have been young, and now am old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his descendants begging bread" (Psa. 37:25). Secondly, if I am reduced to the necessities of life, my attitude must be one of contentment, not panic. "And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content" (1st Tim. 6:8). Hopefully, I will learn, as Paul did to be content "in whatever state I am" (Phil. 4:11). Perhaps I will even learn the lesson so eloquently expressed by the prophet Habakkuk: "Though the fig tree may not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines; though the labor of the olive may fail, and the fields yield no food; though the flock be cut off from the fold, and there be no herd in the stalls -- yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation" (Habakkuk 3:17-18). Thirdly, economic hard times may turn out to be good for me spiritually. If I can't buy as many things, if I can't go as many places, I may just give more attention to the things that matter most. Many of us have seen our stocks decline in value but there are other riches that are not subject to the ebb and flow of the market -- the "exceeding riches of His grace" (Ephesians 2:7), or the "unsearchable riches of Christ" (Ephesians 3:8). In other words, I'm not going to panic if I become poor, because I will still be rich (Proverbs 13:7). I'm very aware of what the Bible says about the uncertainty of material riches (1st Tim. 6:17; Proverbs 23:5), but it's hard to think that way when my investments seem secure. Believe me, I understand now just how insecure they can be, and maybe, just maybe, that will cause me to put more trust in God. "Trust in Him who will not leave you, whatsoever years may bring...build your hopes on things eternal, hold to God's unchanging hand" (Hold to God's Unchanging Hand, Jennie Wilson, EL. Eiland). -- Via The Exhorter, September/October 2008 ____________________________________________________ -2- The Significance of the First Day of the Week by Bobby Graham The first day of the week has a special place in the economy of the new covenant. It took the place of the special day observed under the first covenant -- not in the sense of being like it in all respects, but in its being a day of special observance. Among the factors contributing to the importance of the first day of the week are the following. The Resurrection of Jesus Mark 16:9 shows that Jesus arose from the grave on the first day of the week. Luke 24:1, 13, 21, and 46 all together demand our belief that Jesus arose on the first day, not on the Sabbath or on some other day, as some insist. Verse 1 sets the stage by identifying the day as the first day of the week; verse 13 shows that, on that first day, two disciples walked to the village of Emmaus. In their conversation with Jesus, who was then not disclosed to them, they referred to the first day as the third day since Jesus' crucifixion (v. 21). In the remarks of Jesus himself in verse 46, we learn that his resurrection was an event of the third day. By Jesus' statement of verse 46 and the disciples' identification of this first day of the week as the third day, we have to conclude then that Jesus arose on the first day of the week, not on the seventh day. The first day derives its significance from that momentous event of the resurrection of Jesus, in keeping with Old Testament prophecy. The Acknowledging of Jesus Psalm 2:7 refers to the resurrection of Jesus and to his being thereby begotten that very day, though the rulers had taken counsel against the Father and against his anointed one, the Christ. Acts 13:32,33 confirms that the second Psalm, particularly the word "begotten," refers to the resurrection of Jesus. In that glorious event, God was acknowledging to all men for all time to come that Jesus was his Son with authority (Rom. 1:4). The first day is made even more important by God's acknowledgement concerning Jesus in the event of this day. The Appearances of Jesus Jesus' appearances to Mary Magdalene (Mark 16:9) and to another Mary (Matt. 28:9,10), who worshiped him; to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24: 13-15); to the ten apostles (Luke 24:33-36; John 20:19); and to all of the apostles after eight days (John 20:26) in substantiation of his resurrection make the day all the more significant. The Events of Pentecost According to Leviticus 23:15,16, the day of Pentecost came on the first day of the week -- that is, seven Sabbaths and one day after the Sabbath connected with Passover. On the first Pentecost after the resurrection, the Holy Spirit was given in fulfillment of Joel's prophecy (2:28-32; Acts 2:1-4). Christ's rule as high priest and king was announced as beginning (Zech. 6:13; Acts 2:29-36). The new covenant went into effect (Isa. 2:3; Luke 24:47, 49; Acts 2:38). The church (mountain of the Lord's house, Isa. 2:2,3) was established in the last days (Acts 2:17,41,47). Action of Local Churches From these four considerations, it should be clear why the first day of the week had a place of special significance in the life of the New Testament church. The church having been established on this day, we are not surprised to learn that local congregations of the Lord's people met on this same day to remember Christ in eating the Lord's supper and to contribute of their financial means to support the Lord's work (Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 16:1-2). Paul met with the Christians in Troas, thereby giving apostolic sanction to what there transpired. Does it have that place in your life? People faithful to Christ will meet on the first day of the week as first-century Christians did for the purposes assigned by the apostles of Christ. They will not seek to evade God's will in this matter or to substitute their own way for his way. In doing what the New Testament authorizes, there is fellowship with God, but in altering the plan there is no assurance of such. -- Via The Bulletin of the Church of Christ at New Georgia, January 18, 2009 ____________________________________________________ -3- "Preach Christ and Not a Plan"? by Donald Townsley Down through the years since I have been preaching the gospel there have been (and still are) men who advocated that we should preach Christ and not a plan of salvation. They phrase it this way: "Preach the man and not the plan." They seem to think that one cannot preach a plan of obedience to Christ (Rom. 1:5; Heb. 5:9) and, at the same time, preach Christ. What they need to understand is that Jesus Christ is revealed to us in the word of God, and that He is inseparably connected with every book of the New Testament. Jesus said, "Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my word in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels" (Mark 8:38). You can see from this passage that Christ is inseparably connected with His words. To fully preach Christ one must preach His commands, His promises, His warnings, His church, His supper, His plan of salvation and righteous living (Acts 8:4-5, 12). All of this being true, we cannot ignore any part of what He has said without ignoring that much of Christ (James 2:10). The New Testament is filled with expressions that make it clear that a "plan of salvation" is taught therein. The Romans "obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine" (Rom. 6:17). In their obedience to that "form (or mold) of doctrine," they were "called of Jesus Christ" (Rom. 1:6) and "made free from sin" (Rom. 6:18). Paul also told the Romans, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose" (Rom. 8:28). They were called according to God's purpose, scheme or plan. They were called of Jesus Christ (Rom. 1:6), called by the gospel (2 Thess. 2:14), and called by His (God's) grace (Gal. 1:15). To be called of Jesus Christ (Rom. 1:6), called by the gospel (2 Thess. 2:14), and called by God's grace (Gal. 1:15) is to obey the plan of salvation, or "that form of doctrine" (Rom. 6:17). The Hebrew writer said in chapter 9, verse 8 that while the old covenant was in effect "the way into the holiest of all was not yet manifest" -- in other words, the plan (or scheme) of salvation had not yet been revealed. Then the writer goes on to tell us in chapter 10, verse 20 that now, under the new covenant, there is "a new and living way," which is consecrated by Christ. Christ is "the way" (John 14:6), and there cannot be any separation between Christ and His "way" (or his plan of salvation). To reject His plan is to reject Him (John 12:48; Mark 8:38). The plan of salvation that Christ "consecrated" (or, dedicated) for us (Heb. 10:20) is simple. One must hear the gospel (Rom. 10:17), believe the gospel (Mark 16:16; Acts 8:37), repent of past sins (Acts 2:38; 17:30), confess faith in Christ (Rom. 10:10; Acts 8:37), and be baptized for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38). Friend, have you obeyed the gospel? (2 Thess. 1:8) If not, won't you do so, and "hold the pattern of sound words"? (2 Tim. 1:13 A.S.V.) -- Via Great Plainness of Speech, Vol II, No. 6, August 1995 ____________________________________________________ "...Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life" (Rev. 2:10). "Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised. FOR YET IN A VERY LITTLE WHILE, HE WHO IS COMING WILL COME, AND WILL NOT DELAY. BUT MY RIGHTEOUS ONE SHALL LIVE BY FAITH; AND IF HE SHRINKS BACK, MY SOUL HAS NO PLEASURE IN HIM. But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul" (Heb. 10:35-39). ____________________________________________________ CHURCH OF CHRIST 201 Rushing Road (at the Hampton Inn) Denham Springs, LA 70726 Sunday: 9:15 AM, 10:00 AM, 4:00 PM evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (225) 667-4520 tedwards@onemain.com http://home.onemain.com/~tedwards/go DIRECTIONS: Take the Denham Springs exit (exit 10) off of I-12. At the end of the exit ramp, turn north. Go about a stone's throw to Rushing Road. (You'll see a Starbucks, Circle K, and two other gas stations; with each on each corner.) Turn left on Rushing Road, and go less then 0.3 of a mile. Hampton Inn will be on the right. We assemble in its meeting room, which is very close to the reception counter. ____________________________________________________