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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" (Matt. 28:19,20).
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January 31, 2010
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Contents:
1) Who Are the Sound? (Wilson Adams)
2) Three Benefits of Bible Class (Sam Stinson)
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-1-
Who Are the Sound?
by Wilson Adams
To be sound is to be healthy. In the New Testament there are two Greek
words (an adjective and a verb) translated "sound" and both have to do
with bodily health. W.E. Vine renders the term HUGIAINO as -- "to be
healthy, sound in health." It is used in its literal sense in several
passages including Luke 5:31 -- "They that are in health have no need
of a physician...." But it is also used metaphorically to represent the
condition of a man's character and teaching.
It is not difficult to know when the body is sound. Soundness
occurs when every part is working according to its purpose and in
harmony with every other part. Soundness is the absence of
abnormalities; the absence of disease. However, it is entirely possible
for one to think he is sound (in good health) when, in actuality, he is
suffering from a hidden disease. To boast of soundness doesn't
necessarily make it so. There's more to it than mere verbalization.
If I seek to be sound spiritually then my whole being must be brought
into harmony with God's will and purpose. There must be a certain
symmetry and balance to my spiritual development. At the same time,
there must be an absence of any abnormal growths which threaten my
spiritual health. For example, if I were to strengthen my right arm
through years of weight-lifting and muscular conditioning to the point
that I could crush the skull of a man with one glancing blow, while at
the same time allowing my left arm to grow weak through non-use, it
would not be soundness that I have experienced but abnormal growth.
It is easy to fall into the trap of abnormal growth. It is easy to
develop strength in one area and neglect another. It is easy to gain
the name of being very sound because of toughness along certain lines
while allowing such things as character and personal integrity to
remain undeveloped. Such is not soundness but abnormal growth.
There are some who excel in the arena of courage, boldness and the
ability to defend the truth. Thank God for every one! We would all do
well to keep our swords sharpened. And, yet, is it possible that some
excel in boldness but are deficient in kindness and brotherly
consideration? Can it be that some seek earnestly to contend for the
faith but often fail to forbear?
The person in good spiritual-health knows the need for balanced
development in every area. The "sound" man is brave and firm but also
meek and merciful. He never compromises God's truth, but seeks to yield
in the arena of opinions and preferences for the sake of peace.
If he fails in any of these areas he fails to be sound.
One of my favorite writers is R.L. Whiteside. About this subject, he
said: "More than fifty years ago persistent effort was begun to lead
churches away from the New Testament way of work and worship, and much
harm was done. Those who fell in love with the move --
instrumental music in the worship, the various societies, etc., --
called themselves Progressives. Many brethren opposed them on the
ground that they had departed from sound doctrine; and so we began to
hear such expressions as 'sound brethren,' 'sound preachers,' 'sound
churches.' Too many took it for granted that opposition to innovations
constituted soundness. To be sound you must oppose many things, but you
may oppose all innovations and still be unsound." "...I would like to
impress upon all that the requirement to be sound in the faith and
doctrine is not fulfilled by simply opposing. A man may oppose every
departure from the truth and still be unsound, simply because he fails
to come up to the standard of his duty. The requirement covers
the whole of life" (Doctrinal Discourses, pg. 273-274). Good
point! How often are we guilty of limiting "soundness" to selected
points of doctrine? A church is viewed as "sound" if they oppose
institutionalism and the social gospel, all the while making no effort
towards corrective discipline (1 Cor. 5), loving one another (1 Thess.
4:9-10), and reaching the lost in the local area (Acts 11:19-26). A
preacher is seen as "sound" because of his courage to defend against
outside error while, at the same time, he fails in his duties at home
or in his ability to mirror the attitudes and attributes of Jesus in
his personal character. Could it be that we often (collectively and
individually) boast of our "soundness" when in fact we show signs of
ill-health and sickness?
"The time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine..." (2
Tim. 4:3). Such is a potent warning that needs to remain fresh upon our
minds. That's why Paul said to "retain the standard of sound words
which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ
Jesus" (2 Tim. 1:13).
In his letter to Titus, Paul declared, "But as for you, speak the
things which are fitting for sound doctrine" (Titus 2:1). Read on.
Under the above heading are then listed several personal duties and
responsibilities which cover the whole spectrum of Christian conduct
and behavior. If one is given to gossip, he is not sound but unsound. A
woman who is not in subjection to her husband is not sound but is
unsound. A man who fails to be temperate fails to be sound.
"...realizing the fact that law is not made for a righteous man, but
for those who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners,
for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers and
mothers, for murderers and immoral men and homosexuals and kidnappers
and liars and perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound
teaching" (1 Tim. 1:9-10 -- emphasis mine).
It should be our aim to be "sound." Let us seek to be sound
congregationally as we pattern ourselves after the New Testament order.
To fail to do so renders us unsound. But let us also pursue soundness
in our personal lives and character. Am I really walking close to the
example of Jesus? Do I know how to forbear, love and exclude bitterness
from my life? Am I unusually suspicious and cynical of others and prone
to blow things out of proportion? Do I render to another the benefit of
the doubt or am I prone to harsh and unfair judgmentalism? Do I traffic
in gossip and half-truths in order to prove a point or do I always seek
to be fair and ethical? Strong questions. But the man in pursuit of
soundness is not bothered by such confrontations.
It's so easy to label someone "sound" or "unsound" (and I'm not opposed
at all to that designation!). Let's just realize that soundness
involves spiritual growth and maturity in all areas of a Christian's
responsibility before God. To fail in understanding this point will
result in abnormal growths leading to an unhealthy spiritual condition.
Strive to be sound!
-- Via Searching the Scriptures, October 1988, Volume 29, Number 10
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-2-
Three Benefits of Bible Class
by Sam Stinson
"A wise man will hear and increase in learning, And a man of
understanding will acquire wise counsel" (Prov. 1:5, NASB).
Perhaps you've heard a brother or sister make a comment to the effect
that continuing in Bible classes, attending and participating, is not
helpful. For instance, this particular brother grins and whispers in my
ear, "Sam, I've been a Christian for forty years and I've been in Bible
classes all that time since then. When do I get to graduate?"
While it is true that study of God's word requires investment of
energy, it is an eternally helpful task. I did not have the heart to
say that one thing happens to each of us, we die! When we each graduate
from this mortal coil, it is then that we will truly reap the benefit
from a lifetime of studying God's word. Nevertheless, there are great
benefits to be had in this lifetime by increasing our learning and
continuing in the acquiring of wise counsel from God's word.
1. Bible class assists in continuing
education. Continuing education is essential in any discipline.
Would you trust a doctor who has not recently questioned his long-held
assumptions? Our trade is the very living of a Christian life to draw
all people to our Lord. Becoming a lifelong learner keeps our abilities
fresh and active. Ezra the priest was such a person as he set his heart
to study God's word, to perform it, and to teach it to others (Ezr
7:10).
2. Bible class is a great opportunity
for self-directed education. Becoming a self-teaching
student is a wonderful objective. Paul exhorted Timothy to be a good
priest of God and guard the true knowledge of Christ he had learned (1
Tim. 6:20; cf. Mal. 2:7). How much better do we do of guarding
knowledge as God's people, God's priesthood, when we personally desire
to grow and learn? I want to be such a student as learns on his own
outside of Bible class so that I might better examine and accept the
premises of truth presented in study with others.
3. Bible class provides us an
opportunity to be an example for other Christians. It was
also written of Ezra that he gathered together with all the heads of
the houses of Israel to study God's word (Neh. 8:13). What a great
example of a godly man teaching the other leaders of Israel! I want to
set an example of diligence for others that they might also grow in
this desire. When we show up to Bible Class with answers written in the
blanks of our worksheets, ready to jot down any helpful notes, and
willing to share an insight we might have into the topic, others will
see this example. Lord willing, they will not see me arguing over words
but actively striving to build up my sibling in Christ (2 Tim. 2:14).
-- Via The Bulletin of the Church of Christ at New Georgia, December 6,
2009
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The Steps That Lead to Eternal Salvation
1) Hear the gospel,
for that is how faith comes (Rom. 10:17; John 20:30,31).
2) Believe in the
deity of Christ (John 8:24; John 3:18).
3) Repent of sins
(Luke 13:5; Acts 17:30).
4) Confess faith in Christ
(Rom. 10:9,10; Acts 8:36-38).
5) Be baptized in water
for the remission of sins (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16; Rom. 6:3,4;
Gal. 3:26,27; 1 Pet. 3:21).
6) Continue in the faith;
for,
if
not,
salvation
can
be
lost
(Heb.
10:36-39;
Rev.
2:10;
2
Pet.
2:20-22).
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CHURCH OF CHRIST
201 Rushing Road (at the Hampton Inn), Denham Springs, Louisiana
70726
Sunday services: 9:15 AM (Bible class); 10 AM & 4 PM (worship)
evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (225) 667-4520
tedwards1109@gmail.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.
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