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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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May 10, 2015
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Contents:
1) Why Forgive? (Joe R. Price)
2) What If I Am A One Talent Man? (Marc Gibson)
3) News & Notes
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-1-
Why Forgive?
by Joe R. Price
The world is an unforgiving place. Worldly people view compassion as
weakness and vengeance as strength. The opposite is true. On the
cross the great Son of God said, "Father, forgive them, for they do
not know what they do" (Lk. 23:34). Far from being weak, Jesus
showed great strength of faith and character in this extreme moment
of pain. He calls on us to follow His example (1 Pet. 2:18-24).
And, we can. It is not easy to forgive those who sin against us
(Matt. 6:14-15). Yet, faithful Christians follow the example of
Jesus by faith, putting on a heart of forgiveness and "forgiving one
another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ
forgave you, so you also must do" (Col. 3:13).
To forgive (aphiemi, Matt. 18:21; apoluo, Lk. 6:37) means "to send
away, to let go, to keep no longer, to release" (Thayer, Strong's).
Understanding why we must forgive will help strengthen our resolve
to be like Jesus. Why should we forgive?
We forgive because God commands us to forgive. Then Peter came to
Him and said, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and
I forgive him? Up to seven times?" Jesus said to him, "I do not say
to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven" (Matt.
18:21-22). We cannot be faithful disciples of Jesus and yet refuse
to forgive sinners. We are living proof of God's loving forgiveness.
Shall we be so unlike Jesus as to refuse to have forgiveness in our
hearts and actions toward those who sin against us?
The fact that God commands us to forgive does not mean God is
pressuring us to forgive. Far from it. It means forgiveness is an
act of loving faith in Jesus: "If you love Me, keep My commandments"
(Jno. 14:15). And again, "For this is the love of God, that we keep
His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome" (1 Jno.
5:3). We obey the command to forgive because we love Jesus.
We forgive in order to be like God. God is "the faithful God who
keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who
love Him and keep His commandments" (Deut. 7:9). God's loving
kindness (grace) prompts Him to forgive sinners (Eph. 1:7; Titus
3:4-5). (Truly, sinners must repent in order to receive His
forgiveness, Lk. 17:3; Acts 8:22; 1 Jno. 1:9. Here we are discussing
forgiveness from the giver's point of view.) Unless there is grace
in the heart, forgiveness will never be extended to others.
We forgive those who sin against us because we want to be like God.
We intend to forgive in the way He forgives us. The parable of the
unforgiving servant teaches that our heavenly Father forgives us out
of compassion, and we must do the same (Matt. 18:21-35, 27, 33).
Paul wrote, "And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving
one another, even as God in Christ forgave you" (Eph. 4:32). It is
the calloused person who refuses to have compassion and forgive
"from his heart" (Matt. 18:35). This person will not be forgiven. We
are able to forgive by devoting ourselves to being like our Father
in heaven.
We forgive so that we can be forgiven. Jesus was very plain about
this. Unless we forgive others we will not be forgiven:
"Forgive, and you will be forgiven" (Lk. 6:37).
"And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against
anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you
your trespasses. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father
in heaven forgive your trespasses" (Mk. 11:25-26).
When teaching how to pray, Jesus said to ask God "to forgive us our
debts, as we forgive our debtors" (Matt. 6:12). If we do not, then
we will not be forgiven (Matt. 6:14-15). This is a clear and
unambiguous standard by which to assess our own forgiveness as
disciples of Christ.
It is a sin not to forgive! Christians who will not forgive others
like Jesus on the cross can only expect the eternal torment reserved
for sinners (Matt. 18:34-35).
We forgive because it is also good for us. Not only does forgiveness
bless the one being forgiven, practicing it also frees one's heart
from bitterness, malice and anger (Eph. 4:31-32). Forgiving others
rejoices the heart through obeying the Lord (Psa. 19:8). Forgiveness
engenders restoration and renewal, and brings refreshment to the
soul.
God's forgiveness is offered to all in His Son, Jesus Christ (Eph.
1:7; Col. 1:14). Christ calls on us to forgive as we have been
forgiven. "Be imitators of God" and forgive one another when
complaints arise (Eph. 4:31-5:2; Col. 3:12-13).
-- Via The Spirit's Sword, August 31, 2014, Volume 17, Number 14
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-2-
What If I Am A One Talent Man?
by Marc Gibson
Jesus taught the Parable of the Talents to His disciples to teach
them the need to be productive in the kingdom of heaven (Matthew
25:14-30). Talents were measures of money, and a man delivered these
talents to his three servants. To one he gave five talents, to
another two, and to another one. Talents were given to each
"according to his own ability" (v. 15).
Obviously not all the servants had the same ability because they
each received a different number of talents. While one servant could
work with five talents, another could only work with two, and
another only one. It is a fact of life that everyone possesses
different abilities. Some might be a five talent person, or perhaps
a two talent person. I might be just a one talent person. What if I
am a one talent man?
1. If I am a one talent person, I should not feel inferior to
anyone in the work of the Lord. The servant who received one
talent was expected to use his ability to work with what he had been
given just like the two talent and five talent man. Everyone has
work that they can accomplish in the kingdom of God, and no labor is
insignificant in the eyes of the Lord.
The church is pictured as a body with parts that are considered as
weaker and unpresentable (1 Corinthians 12:20-25). On these we
bestow greater honor because they are just as necessary as any other
part. Everyone has a vital place in the kingdom of heaven, even the
one talent man!
2. If I am a one talent person, I should not "bury" my talent.
This was the mistake of the one talent man in the parable of Jesus
(v. 25). He said he was afraid because he knew his master to be a
demanding man. He should have known that doing nothing would be the
worst possible choice he could make. Perhaps he was afraid of losing
his one talent. There is no shame or loss in giving every effort to
do good with what we have.
A buried talent does no one any good. Our Father in heaven provides
blessings and abilities for us to use, not to bury in fear or
self-pity. There are things each of us can do to further the cause
of the kingdom. Let us do it with one or five talents!
3. If I am a one talent person, I should not forget the reward
that awaits the faithful servant. The master told the faithful
servants that had gained more talents, "Well done, good and faithful
servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler
over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord" (vv. 21, 23). No
matter how many talents you start out with, if you strive to be
faithful and fruitful for the Lord, a joyous reward awaits!
No reward awaits those who do nothing. If the five talent man had
done nothing he would have heard the same condemnation of the
unfaithful one talent man: "You wicked and lazy servant...cast the
unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping
and gnashing of teeth" (vv. 26a, 30). The joy of reward is worth
every effort, every hurdle, and every sacrifice.
Conclusion. You and I may be one talent folks. There is no shame in
that. Use that talent to the glory of God. Great good will be done
in His service and an eternal reward will be yours!
--Via The Knollwood Messenger, July 2014
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-3-
News & News
Marie Pennock had spent a couple days in the hospital
recently, due to a fast and erratic heart beat. On May 18, she
will be having an MRI. Her back pain has also continued, and
it often keeps her from being able to sleep.
Jean Beach (Jim Lively's sister) has been suffering from some
gastrointestinal problems, along with possible kidney stones, and is
wanting to see a doctor as soon as she can.
Judy Daugherty (also a sister of Jim) has been making some
improvement, after having spent about 4 days in the hospital, due to
falling backwards and severely hitting her head. For now, it
requires her using a walker while she recovers.
Ronnie Crews has recently been having some heart issues and
not feeling well, for which he is undergoing some testing.
Let us also continue to remember the following in prayer: Myrna
Jordan, Mary Vandevander and Melotine Davis, Danielle Howard,
Deborah and Penny Medlock, Jim Lively, Shirley Davis, Jewell
Wilson, Sunny Nichols, Dexter Roberts, Betty Miles, Steve Vista,
Buddy Gornto, Dolly Downs Moody, Rex and Frankie Hadley, Jesse
Bailey, Sue Wooten, Jewell Wilson, and Colleen Henson.
If you are a female, feel free to come and join the other ladies for
their Ladies' Bible Class that meets every Tuesday at 7 PM
in the church building.
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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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Tebeau Street
CHURCH OF CHRIST
1402 Tebeau Street, Waycross, GA 31501
Sunday services: 9:00 AM (Bible class); 10 AM & 5 PM (worship)
Wednesday: 7 PM (Bible class)
evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (912) 614-8593
Tom@ThomasTEdwards.com
http://ThomasTEdwards.com/go
(Gospel Observer website)
http://ThomasTEdwards.com/audioser.html
(audio sermons)