------------------
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).
--------------------
September 22, 2013
--------------------
Contents:
1) The Light of the World (Tom Edwards)
2) Paul's Fellowlabourers...in The Book of Life (Jerry Curry)
3) News & Notes
-------------------
-1-
The Light of the World
by Tom Edwards
When living in Kentucky, I once went with some friends to explore
Carter Caves in Olive Hill. While deep within one of its many
caverns, our tour guide then turned out the lights so that we could
each experience what total darkness really is. Not even the
palm of my hand could be seen when held just a few inches from my
eyes. Definitely, I had never been in any place darker.
Though we often probably take it for granted, how helpful and
amazing light really is.
In the Bible, sin and ignorance are sometimes portrayed as
darkness. Jesus, for instance, speaks of those who will not
come to the light because they "...loved the darkness rather than
the light; for their deeds were evil. For everyone who does
evil hates the light, and does not come to the light, lest his deeds
should be exposed" (Jn. 3:19,20). John shows that those who
claim to "have fellowship" with God, "yet walk in the darkness,"
"...lie and do not practice the truth" (1 Jn. 1:6). Some
Christians, for a while, walk in the light; but then allow the
allurement of sinful things to draw them away from the Lord and
forsake Him. Solomon speaks of those who "leave the paths of
uprightness...to walk in the ways of darkness" (Prov. 2:13).
Though physical light is a great benefit for us, even more important
than that is the light of God's word. For the gospel provides
us with the way out of the entrapment of spiritual ignorance and
sin.
Man, on his own, would never have been able to arrive at that place
of spiritual blessing in Christ. As Paul states, "...the world
though its wisdom did not come to know God" (1 Cor. 1:21).
Even the most intelligent among us would only be groping about
unsuccessfully in trying to do so. For the Bible also shows
that even when man might think that he has the right course for his
life all figured out, he could still be terribly mistaken.
Twice, Solomon points this out in Proverbs, word for word:
"There is a way which seems right to a man, But its end is the way
of death" (Prov. 14:12 and 16:25).
But praise be to God that He saw fit to provide our world with the
light of His truth! And Jesus Himself is the embodiment of
that. In one of His "I am" declarations, He says, "...'I am
the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father,
but through Me" (Jn. 14:6).
In another one of the "I am" passages, Jesus refers to Himself as
being "the light of the world"; and He goes on to declare that "he
who follows Me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the
light of life" (Jn. 8:12).
In one of the Old Testament prophecies that the Lord fulfilled,
Jesus brought not merely a glimmer of hope, but an abundant radiance
of it. Matthew writes, "THE LAND OF ZEBULUN AND THE LAND OF
NAPHTALI, BY THE WAY OF THE SEA, BEYOND THE JORDAN, GALILEE OF THE
GENTILES -- THE PEOPLE WHO WERE SITTING IN DARKNESS SAW A
GREAT LIGHT, AND TO THOSE WHO WERE SITTING IN THE LAND AND SHADOW OF
DEATH, UPON THEM A LIGHT DAWNED" (Matt. 4:15,16).
It is in that light of truth that we are to walk. And in doing
so, we then have "fellowship with one another, and the blood of
Jesus" to cleanse us "from all sin" (1 Jn. 1:7).
In addition, as we walk in the light of God's word, we then will
also be reflecting that light in our own lives and, thus, helping to
make the world a better place. For just think of how a
Christian is to live. Though some non-Christians might find
fault with some of the moral principles the child of God strives to
live by, should not even the atheist be able to see a better way of
living (at least for the most part from the atheist's viewpoint) in
not doing those things the gospel commands against (such as
stealing, murder, etc.) and doing those things that one is
instructed (such as to love your neighbor, to do good unto all men,
etc.).
Reflecting that light of Christ in our own lives is what God wants
us to do -- and so that others can benefit from that, too. For
Jesus commands His follower to "Let your light shine before men in
such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your
Father who is in heaven" (Matt. 5:16). Going along with this
is what Paul instructed the Philippians: "Do all things without
grumbling or disputing; that you may prove yourselves to be
blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst
of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as
lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that in the
day of Christ I may have cause to glory because I did not run in
vain nor toil in vain" (Phil. 2:14-16).
Should not the wonderful transformation that has occurred in the
life of a child of God truly be a motivating factor toward
maintaining one's light for the Lord? "for you were formerly
darkness, but now you are light in the Lord...." So because of
that, "walk as children of light" (Eph. 5:8). And think, too,
of where we who are saints had formerly been, along with where we
now are: "giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share
in the inheritance of the saints in light. For He delivered us
from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of
His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of
sins" (Col 1:12-14).
God's people are special to Him: "But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal
PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God's OWN POSSESSION, that
you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of
darkness into His marvelous light; for you once were NOT A
PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD; you had NOT RECEIVED
MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY" (1 Pet. 2:9,10).
How thankful we can be that the light of the world, Jesus, came to
our realm of darkness and made it possible that we each can be set
free from that darkness, be brought into His marvelous light, and
strive to shine forth that light in our own lives. And if we
continue to do this while on earth, heaven will one day be our
eternal home, a place where there is no need for "the sun or of the
moon to shine upon it, for the glory of God has illumined it, and
its lamp is the Lamb. And the nations shall walk by its
light..." (Rev. 21:23,24).
-------------------
-2-
Paul's Fellowlabourers...in The Book of Life
by Jerry Curry
Paul writes to the church at Philippi and commends his fellow
laborers whose names were in the book of life. "And I intreat thee
also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in
the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers,
whose names are in the book of life" (Philippians 4:3). This
is a great commendation for Clement and others included as coworkers
of Paul. Many of us remember when we were back in school and
would look for our names on the academic honor roll when it was
posted. As was mentioned in our Bible study last Sunday
morning, having one's name on an academic honor roll is nice, but
pales in comparison to having our name enrolled in the Lamb's Book
of Life. Let's notice some other passages that reference this
book of life.
"And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose
face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no
place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before
God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which
is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things
which were written in the books, according to their works. And
the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell
delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every
man according to their works. And death and hell were cast
into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And
whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into
the lake of fire" (Revelation 20:11-15). John was privileged
to see and record for our generation the final judgment of God.
Judgment comes to the small and great alike as they stand before
God. Please note in verse fifteen that John records that
"whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into
the lake of fire." This reflects obvious importance on our
names being written in the book of life.
"Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the
LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written
before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his
name. And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that
day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man
spareth his own son that serveth him" (Malachi 3:16-17). Those
who feared the Lord, in contrast to those rebuked by Malachi for
their profane service and worship, had their names written in a book
of remembrance and God says "And they shall be mine."
The disciples return rejoicing that the demons had been subjected to
them. "And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord,
even the devils [demons, NASB] are subject unto us through thy name"
(Luke 10:17). Jesus responds in verse 20,
"Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject
unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in
heaven." Jesus emphasizes the significance again of one's name
being written in the book of life.
"He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and
I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will
confess his name before my Father, and before his angels"
(Revelation 3:5). After John reproves the church at Sardis as
a dead church, he commends those who had maintained their purity and
faithfulness and assures them that their names would not be removed
from the book of life.
John writes in Revelation 21:27 about those who would and would not
enter into the joys of heaven. "And there shall in no wise
enter into it anything that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh
abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the
Lamb's book of life."
Let us serve God faithfully and keep our garments white as snow; to
assure that our names will continually be written in the book of
life.
-- Via The Bulletin of the Church of Christ at New Georgia, July 28,
2013
-------------------
-3-
News & Notes
Let those of us who are Christians continue praying for Michelle
Fleeman, who is now suffering from the side effects of
medicine, as well as for the others whom we have been mentioning
with health problems (and most of them being long-term): Bill
Barfield, Virginia Fontenot, Jean Calloway, Shirley Young, Peggy
Lefort, Cheryl Crews, and Terry and Pam MacDonald.
--------------------
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).
--------------------
Park Forest
CHURCH OF CHRIST
9923 Sunny Cline Dr., Baton Rouge, LA 70817
Sunday services: 9:00 AM (Bible class); 10 AM & 6 PM (worship)
Tuesday: 7 PM (Bible class)
evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (225) 667-4520
Tom@ThomasTEdwards.com
http://ThomasTEdwards.com/go
(Gospel Observer website)
http://ThomasTEdwards.com/audioser.html
(audio sermons)