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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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December 27, 2015
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Contents:
1) Grand Themes in Scripture: Hope (Stand Cox)
2) Wake-Up Calls: Who Needs Them? (John Thompson)
3) News & Notes
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-1-
Grand Themes in Scripture
Hope
Stan Cox
Hope is listed by the apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 13:13 as one of
three things which "abide." "And now abide faith, hope, love,
these three; but the greatest of these is love."
Because of the great sacrifice of our Lord on the cross at Calvary,
mankind will always have hope. Until the world ends, hope will
continue. But, the concept of the Christians hope is one that
may be unfamiliar to many.
It is important first to define what is meant by the term.
Hope is defined by Webster's in the following way:
to cherish a desire with expectation of
fulfillment.
Or, as a synonym for trust:
To long for with expectation of obtainment.
This definition is an accurate explanation of the Biblical term as
well. The Greek word elpis, is defined by W.E. Vine
as, "favourable and confident expectation," and states that the term
has to do with "the unseen and future" (Vol. 2, pg. 232).
While the term is loosely used in our day, often referring to an
idle dream rather than an actual expectation, it is important to
note its scriptural use, and subsequent impact upon the Christian.
When the scriptures speak of hope, it is not an idle speculation
concerning what might happen in the future. It is not a
"pie-in-the-sky" gamble, with little chance of realization.
Rather, it is founded in the promise of God, and the sacrifice of
Jesus Christ. As we hope in the promises of God, we truly can
expect to achieve the end He has reserved for us.
The reason for the sure and enduring nature of our hope is its
foundation. Note Paul's words, "To them God willed to make
known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the
Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Colossians
1:27).
We use the term in this sense from time to time, in the same way
Luke used it in Acts 16:19, when he wrote about the slave owner's
loss of profitability because of Paul's exorcism of the
spirit-possessed girl. "But when her masters saw that their
hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them
into the marketplace to the authorities." The girl was the
basis of their hope of profit. Without her ability to tell
fortunes, their hope was gone.
In the same way, Jesus Christ is the basis of our hope.
Without his sacrifice on the cross, and his subsequent resurrection
from the dead, we would be without hope. Paul wrote, "And if
Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your
sins! Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have
perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are
of all men the most pitiable" (1 Corinthians 15:17-19).
Fortunately, Christ was resurrected, "But now Christ is risen from
the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen
asleep. For since by man came death, by Man also came the
resurrection of the dead" (1 Corinthians 15:20-21).
Because of what Christ has accomplished for us, as the children of
God we can reasonably expect to obtain a heavenly reward at the
judgment. "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a
living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade
away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God
through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time"
(1 Peter 1:3-5).
The nature of the hope is sure because it is God who reserves it for
us. Because of God's faithfulness, we can know that what He
promised we will receive.
The object we hope for is of inestimable value, "an inheritance
incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved
in heaven" for each of us. It is this hope which
motivates us each day as we live for Jesus. We fix our eyes on
eternity, and we steadfastly strive toward that goal. As Paul
said, "Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one
thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching
forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for
the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus" (Philippians
3:13-14).
-- Via Watchman Magazine, April 2004, Volume VII, Number 2
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The Death, Burial, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ
"And though they found no ground for putting Him to death, they
asked Pilate that He be executed. And when they had carried out all
that was written concerning Him, they took Him down from the cross
and laid Him in a tomb. But God raised Him from the dead; and for
many days He appeared to those who came up with Him from Galilee to
Jerusalem, the very ones who are now His witnesses to the people"
(Acts 13:28-31).
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-2-
Wake-Up Calls: Who Needs Them?
John Thompson
I recently read of an older Christian whose much younger close
relative died suddenly in her sleep. The gentleman had fallen away
many years ago, but he viewed this tragic incident as his "wake-up
call." He heeded that call and was restored to a right relationship
with his Lord. How wonderful that he came to his senses, but how not
so wonderful that it took the untimely loss of a loved one to give
him the prod.
Wake-up calls can be found in all sorts of events and
happenings. All it takes is a split second of time, a blink of
an eye, a turn of the head, a glance away and then back for some
life-altering event to take place. Terrible accidents, natural
disasters, the evil that men do to others, even extraordinary
kindnesses: all have the potential to be wake-up calls. However, all
too frequently, that potential goes unrealized.
The Bible is full of stories of individuals and even various groups,
both small and large, of people who received wake-up calls and how
they responded is highly instructive for us today. We will find out,
I believe, that the people of the Bible responded in the same ways
that people respond today. It really boils down to the fact that
some will respond favorably and the majority will respond
negatively.
Cain's wake-up call came when God asked him, "Why are you angry?"
God reminded Cain that if he did well he, too, would be accepted.
(Genesis 4:6-7) God set the alarm bells ringing but Cain not
only reached out and shut the alarm off, he also became
even angrier and slew his brother, Abel.
Sometime after the church was established, Stephen found himself
disputing in a synagogue regarding Jesus. He was brought
before the council where he proceeded to tell them the truth
regarding their rejection of Jesus; this was their wake-up call,
a golden opportunity for them to accept Jesus as the promised
Messiah, but, instead, they became enraged and stoned Stephen to
death. There have always been those who will react violently when
truth is put before them. They would never think to smash their
alarm clock against a wall when it rang to awaken them, but they
will try to "smash" the one who would awaken them spiritually.
Many others in the Bible reacted less violently, but chose not to be
awakened nonetheless. Some are like the sleeper who, by force of
sheer habit reaches out for the alarm without conscious thought,
turns it off, and within seconds reenters deep sleep. Perhaps the
young man, in Matthew 19, is an example. Jesus told him the one
thing he lacked was proper perspective on his worldly possessions.
He went away sorrowful. So many others depend heavily upon the
snooze button that allows them to keep delaying what they do not
want to do, which is to awaken. Felix, in Acts 24:25, was like that.
"And as he (Paul) reasoned about righteousness, self-control,
and the coming judgment, Felix was alarmed and said, 'Go away for
the present. When I get an opportunity I will summon you.'" Felix
simply hit the snooze button once again.
I could keep on citing additional examples from the Bible, but those
offered will suffice to make the point that if you are not in a
right relationship with God, you need a wake-up call. Throughout
each day God provides multiple wake-up calls, no doubt hoping that
each one will be the one that finally clicks. If an individual needs
to make changes, how severe of a wake-up call is needed? Why does it
so often seem to require some tragedy to bring one to his senses?
The prodigal son of Luke 15 who did not come to his senses until he
had wasted his inheritance and faced starvation comes to mind here.
Peter, who failed to acknowledge his betrayal of Jesus until the
rooster crowed, also fits the pattern.
If you have not yet obeyed the gospel plan of salvation what is the
wake-up call that would move you to do so? And should you experience
such a wake-up call would the alarm bells ring sufficiently loud to
awaken you, or would you, arouse enough to shut off the alarm or
just continue hitting the snooze button? If you are a baptized
believer, how severe of a tragedy would it take to awaken you and
bring you back into the fold? Consider your answer well.
-- Via University Heights Messenger, December 20, 2015
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-3-
News & Notes
We extend our condolences to the family and friends of Lonnie
Drain (Janie Thornton's brother) who passed away December
27. Let those of us who are Christians be remembering
his loved ones in prayer.
Let us also be praying for the following: Danielle Howard
(will soon have surgery to place stents in her arm to eliminate
swelling in that arm), Anita Young (healing from hip surgery
in having a bursa removed), Shirley Davis (hip trouble and
soon to have surgery on her toe), Deborah Medlock (pain
around shoulder area and waiting to hear of recent results of an
MRI, CT Scan, and X-rays), Mary Vandevander and Sue Wooten
(shut-ins), Andra Johnson (having difficulty with her
pregnancy), and Misty Thornton (heart trouble and undergoing
more tests).
WordPress version of this week's bulletin:
https://thegospelobserver.wordpress.com/2015/12/29/the-gospel-observer-december-27-2015/
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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)