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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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October 25, 2015
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Contents:
1) Making Shipwreck of One's Faith (Tom Edwards)
2) News & Notes
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-1-
Making Shipwreck of One's Faith
by Tom Edwards
As seen in 1 Timothy 1:18-20, there is a need for the Christian to
maintain faith and a good conscience in order to stay afloat, in a
manner of speaking. For some had rejected that, such as
Hymenaeus and Alexander, and, as a result, made shipwreck of their
faith.
It would seem that these two whom Paul cites by name had been
prominent in leading others into error and away from the Lord, for
Hymenaeus is also mentioned in 2 Timothy 2:17, 18 as not only one
who had gone astray, but also as one who had upset the faith of
others as well.
Making shipwreck of one's faith is not merely dangerous to the soul,
but also a spiritually fatal. Paul, therefore, took serious
measures to try to rescue Hymenaeus and Alexander by delivering them
over to Satan "so that they may be taught not to blaspheme" (1 Tim.
1:20).
What Paul did might sound strange, but this is not the first time
similar language is used with regard to trying to correct a wayward
brother. And it certainly doesn't mean that Satan was intent
and cooperative in helping people become good Christians! For
Satan is "...the god of this world" who has "blinded the minds of
the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel
of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God" (2 Cor. 4:4).
Jesus refers to Satan as being "...a murderer from the beginning,
and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him.
...he is a liar and the father of lies" (Jn. 8:44). So
what good would it do to deliver anyone to him for correction, and
what involvement would he have in that?
First of all, Satan dwells in that domain of darkness that the
Christian had been delivered from when having obeyed the gospel plan
of salvation and is then "transferred ...to the kingdom" of God's
beloved Son (cf. Col. 1:13). So to go back into sin is to go
back into that realm of darkness (cf. 1 Jn. 1:5-7). In that
sense, the backsliding Christian has once again given himself over
to Satan.
Concerning that Corinthian who had been guilty of an incestuous
affair, and of which the brethren had done nothing about, Paul had
"...decided to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of
his flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord
Jesus" (1 Cor. 5:5), which, again, is very serious. This was
done about 7 or 8 years prior to the writing of 1 Timothy.
Though this transgressor had already given himself over to Satan
through an immoral life, it was now to be dealt with by the church
in a public way. This does not mean, of course, that the
offender was to be literally put to death by Satan; but the church
was to withdraw fellowship from the wrongdoer and, in hopes, that
the humiliation that stems from it would lead to this person's
wanting to "put to death" those sinful deeds of the flesh, which is
what the "destruction of the flesh" has reference to. Paul
declares, "for if you are living according to the flesh, you must
die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the
body, you will live" (Rom. 8:13. cf. Gal. 5:19-21,24,25). Paul
is speaking here of sinful deeds that are to be abstained
from. As Christians, we are always in a battle between flesh
and Spirit; and we must, therefore, strive to be victorious by
living according to the Spirit and putting to death our thoughts and
actions that would conflict with the Spirit. "For the mind set on
the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and
peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for
it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even
able to do so" (cf. Rom. 8:6-7).
Consider Paul. He was a righteous man, yet to keep him from
exalting himself above measure, after having been caught up to the
third heaven, Paradise, and hearing "inexpressible words, which a
man is not permitted to speak" (2 Cor. 12:2-4), and "because of the
surpassing greatness of the revelations," Paul says he was given "a
thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to buffet me--to keep me
from exalting myself" (v. 7). So God can even use that which is evil
or calamitous for the good of those who love and obey Him.
James had also pointed that out about "various trials, knowing that
the testing of your faith produces endurance" (Jam.
1:2,3).
In addition, illness was sometimes brought upon others as a means of
chastening. For instance, in 1 Corinthians 11:30, concerning
those Christians who were perverting the Lord's Supper, Paul
declares, "For this reason many among you are weak and sick, and a
number sleep."
During a time of miracles, Jesus had referred to a woman's
infirmity, which caused her body to be bent and prevented her from
straightening up for eighteen years, to have been "caused by a
spirit" (Luke 13:11). And then attributes that to Satan, who
had bound her for all those years (v. 16), before the Lord healed
her.
In 2 Timothy 2:18, Paul specifies the false teaching with which
Hymenaeus had not only destroyed his own faith, but was also
damaging the faith of others. The apostle states in verses
16-18, "But avoid worldly and empty chatter, for it will lead to
further ungodliness, and their talk will spread like gangrene.
Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, men who have gone astray from
the truth saying that the resurrection has already taken place, and
they upset the faith of some."
In 2 Peter 3:16, Peter speaks of those who "distort" the Scriptures
"to their own destruction." He refers to them as being
"untaught" and "unstable." Peter, therefore, warns others, by
saying, "You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your
guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled
men and fall from your own steadfastness, but grow in the grace and
knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ..." (vv. 17,18).
Though we are not told exactly what all was meant in the false
teaching that the resurrection had already occurred, it is thought
that it was Gnosticism that had influenced Hymenaeus toward his
wrong belief. For since the Gnostics had viewed all matter as
being evil, but the spirit good, what glory or benefit would they
see in a physical resurrection of the body? So it is said that
they had taken passages that pertain to being made spiritually alive
with Christ to be referring to the resurrection, such as Romans 6:4,
where Paul declares, "Therefore we have been buried with Him through
baptism into death, in order that as Christ was raised from the dead
through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of
life." And Colossians 2:12: "having been buried with Him in
baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in
the working of God, who raised Him from the dead." And
Ephesians 2:5,6: "even when we were dead in our transgressions, made
us alive together with Christ...and raised us up with Him...."
So, according to this view, it would be just a spiritual
resurrection, rather than a physical one of the body.
But just because the gospel shows of this spiritual "resurrection"
in being "born again" (John 3:3-5), which includes that need of
baptism, does that nullify the fact that there will also be a
physical resurrection?
Jesus speaks of both of these in John 5:
"Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming and now is, when the
dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear
shall live. For just as the Father has life in Himself, even so He
gave to the Son also to have life in Himself" (vv. 25,26).
Here He is referring to those who are spiritually dead, but then
would be made spiritually alive through the word of God. For
the Lord's words are "spirit" and "life" (Jn. 6:63).
He then goes on to contrast this "spiritual resurrection" with the
physical resurrection of the body: "Do not marvel at this; for an
hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs shall hear His
voice, and shall come forth; those who did the good deeds to a
resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a
resurrection of judgment" (Jn. 5:28,29).
As we see in 1 Corinthians 15:12, some of the Corinthians were
teaching that "...there is no [physical] resurrection of the
dead." But if that be the case, then not even Christ was
raised; and if that be so, then preaching and faith is vain (v. 14),
the apostles would have been false witnesses (v. 15), faith would be
worthless, we would still be in our sins (v. 17), those who have
died have perished (v. 18), and we who call ourselves Christians
would be most to be pitied (v. 19).
But Christ did arise from the dead!
Notice also the importance of His resurrection in view of the
following passages:
"And corresponding to that, baptism now saves you-- not the removal
of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good
conscience--through the resurrection of Jesus Christ" (1 Pet. 3:21).
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who
according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a
living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead"
(1 Pet. 1:3).
In that same chapter where Paul shows the futility and hopelessness
for all us if there be no resurrection (1 Cor. 15:13-18), he begins
that chapter by saying, "Now I make known to you, brethren, the
gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which
also you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the
word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. For I
delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that
Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He
was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the
Scriptures" (vv. 1-4). What a major part the resurrection is
to the gospel!
Paul then mentions some of those who witnessed the resurrected
Christ, which includes the apostles and "more than 500 brethren at
one time" (v. 6).
And, lastly, if the resurrection pertains to only a spiritual
resurrection when sins are forgiven, why did Paul say what he does
in Philippians 3:10-12? "that I may know Him, and the power of His
resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed
to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from
the dead. Not that I have already obtained it, or have already
become perfect, but I press on in order that I may lay hold of that
for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus."
And may we all do likewise, so as not to make shipwreck of our
faith.
Whatever the specifics were concerning Hymenaeus' false teaching on
the resurrection, it was bringing harm to the body of Christ, just
as various other false teachings also can.
May we, therefore, acquire a good and complete knowledge of God's
word so that we will not be led astray by any of the religious error
that is being taught and practiced in the world today.
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-2-
News & Notes
On October 21, Misty Thornton's cardiologist gave her the
good news that it is okay to go back to work and travel again.
But her heart muscle is still weak and will eventually need to be
replaced with a heart transplant. In the meanwhile, her doctor
will be monitoring her to better regulate her medications. She
also saw her endocrinologist the same day who ran some tests, such
as pertaining to her energy level, and is to hear the results in
about 2 weeks. She is thankful for everyone's thoughts and
prayers.
Kelsey Bohannon, who had an intestinal operation earlier
this month, was back in the hospital several days later for
additional, abdominal surgery, which has taken care of her problem
and eliminated the pain she was undergoing. She is now back home
regaining her strength.
Sheila Pennock had gall bladder surgery October 19, due to
stones, and is also now back home recuperating.
WordPress version of this week's bulletin:
https://thegospelobserver.wordpress.com/2015/10/27/the-gospel-observer-october-25-2015/
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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)
https://thegospelobserver.wordpress.com/
http://ThomasTEdwards.com/audioser.html
(audio sermons)