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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" (Matthew 28:19-20, NASB).
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July 15, 2018
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Contents:
1) Having a Good Name (Tom Edwards)
2) Acceptance (anonymous)
3) News & Notes
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-1-
Having a Good Name
Tom Edwards
It was Shakespeare who said,
“Good name in man and woman...
Is the immediate jewel of their souls.
Who steals my purse steals trash...
But he that filches from me my good name,
Robs me of that which not enriches him,
And makes me poor indeed… “ (Othello, Act 3, Scene 3).
Shakespeare, apparently, realized the importance of a good name over
even material wealth.
Beginning way before Shakespeare's time, and up to our generation,
the Bible has been expressing this truth for many centuries:
“A good name is to be more desired than great wealth,
Favor is better than silver and gold" (Prov. 22:1, NASB).
Though the word "good" is in italics (because it is not in the
original text), the implication of it is easy to infer by the
context — and even more so by an Israelite of that day. For,
as Albert Barnes points out, "To the Hebrew, 'name' by itself
conveyed the idea of good repute, just as 'men without a name'
(compare Job 30:8 margin) are those sunk in ignominy." Job
30:8 declares,
"Fools, even those without a name,
They were scourged from the land" (emphasis mine).
The Hebrew word for "name" in these passages is "shem" -- and
actually pronounced as "shame." But certainly the opposite of our
English word "shame." For “shem" is defined as "an
appellation, as a mark or memorial of individuality; by implication
honor, authority, character" (James Strong).
In Genesis 6:4, "shem" is rendered as "renown," in speaking of "the
mighty men which were of old, men of renown"
(emphasis mine). These had made quite a name for themselves.
When we think of "name" (from the Hebrew "shem") to mean "honor,
authority, and character," who would better represent all of
that than Jesus Christ Himself? For the Father has bestowed on
Him "the name which is above every name, so that at the name of
Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth
and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus
Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Phil. 2:9-11).
We have seen that the name of Jesus is so great that we are to honor
Him as much as we honor God the Father -- and to do any less would
be a violation of God’s word: "For not even the Father judges
anyone, but He has given all judgment to the Son, so that all
will honor the Son even as they honor the Father.
He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent
Him" (John 5:22-23, emphasis mine). Many people today and
various religions need to realize this. For they fail to give
Jesus the honor He deserves.
In thinking on the meaning of "authority" in the Lord's
name, we know that Christians are to pray by that authority; and we
often indicate that when closing our prayers with the phrase, "In
the name of Jesus. Amen." This also often reminds me of what
Jesus states in John 15, when pointing out the necessity of abiding
in Him. For in verse 5, He declares, "for apart from Me you
can do nothing." But through Jesus Christ, by being redeemed
by His atonement, we have the right and privilege to pray to God as
our Father.
In the early church, miracles were performed "in the name of
Jesus" (Acts 3:6, Acts 16:18) -- by His authority. When
Peter was questioned concerning the healing of the lame man, "By
what power, or in what name, have you done this?” (Acts 4:7), he
answered by saying, "Rulers and elders of the people, if we are on
trial today for a benefit done to a sick man, as to how this man has
been made well, let it be known to all of you and to all the people
of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you
crucified, whom God raised from the dead -- by this name this man
stands here before you in good health. He is the STONE WHICH
WAS REJECTED by you, THE BUILDERS, but WHICH BECAME THE CHIEF CORNER
stone. And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other
name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be
saved" (vv. 8-10).
The account of that miraculous healing is given in the previous
chapter. The beggar, who had been carried to the temple-gate,
had been lame from birth. But Peter said to him, "I do not
possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In the
name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene -- walk" (Acts 3:6)! And it
was so!
That miracle was witnessed by others who were then "filled with
wonder and amazement." So Peter said to them, "Men of Israel,
why are you amazed at this, or why do you gaze at us, as if by our
own power or piety we had made him walk? The God of Abraham, Isaac
and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified His servant Jesus,
the one whom you delivered and disowned in the presence of Pilate,
when he had decided to release Him. But you disowned the Holy
and Righteous One and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, but
put to death the Prince of life, the one whom God raised from the
dead, a fact to which we are witnesses. And on the basis of faith in
His name, it is the name of Jesus which has strengthened this man
whom you see and know; and the faith which comes through Him has
given him this perfect health in the presence of you all" (vv.
12-16).
What great power there is in the name of Jesus! For He is
Deity; and by His power, He created the universe (Jn. 1:1-3) and
performed numerous miracles while on earth -- such as giving
eyesight to the blind; enabling the lame to walk, the deaf to hear,
and the mute to speak. He cast out demons, healed the sick and
the afflicted, and even raised the dead back to life!
We can also be greatly impressed through what He has made, when
seriously thinking about it, from the microscopic world to the
immeasurable vastness of our universe. In easily recognizing
the intelligent design we see in all living things, it gives testimony
toward the great Creator -- and the very heavens indicate His
eternal nature and also, therefore, His power that will never
diminish (cf. Rom. 1:19-20).
With regard to shem's meaning of "character," we again can
look to Jesus whose nature and moral quality was far above
reproach. For, while on earth, He lived a perfect life, having
never sinned, and was always pleasing to His Father in heaven (Jn.
8:29; Heb. 4:15). So not only did Jesus manifest Deity by His
own life, thus revealing what His Father in heaven is like
(cf. John 1:18; John 14:7-9), but also set forth the perfect
example of how we should be as human beings in all our relationships
with one another and our concern for all. For that is the
godly character we are to develop.
In the King James Version and New American Standard, "good name" is
found in only two passages — with the second being Ecclesiastes 7:1:
"A good name is better than a good ointment,
And the day of one's death is better than the day of one's birth."
The need for having a good name is seen or implied in various
passages of the Old and New Testaments. May we each,
therefore, always strive to have that good name by submitting to the
name which is above every name, the name of Jesus Christ! For
then death will truly lead to that which is far better than anything
we have ever, or will have ever, experienced on earth -- and
regardless of how much that was enjoyed! For the bliss of
heaven will always be infinitely and eternally greater!
(All scripture from the New American Standard Bible, unless
otherwise indicated.)
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"Likewise urge the young men to be sensible; in all things show
yourself to be an example of good deeds, with purity in doctrine,
dignified, sound in speech which is beyond reproach, so that
the opponent will be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about
us" (Titus 2:6-8, NASB).
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-2-
Acceptance
From rejected to useful. That describes how much Mark changed in
Paul's eyes between Acts 15 and 2 Timothy 4. Mark didn't let Paul's
earlier opinion of him get in his way of serving Christ, but
persisted through his own conviction and fixed what needed fixing
and improved what needed improving. So should we. Go
with God.
-- Anonymous
In 2 Timothy 4:11, during his second imprisonment in Rome, shortly
before his death, Paul instructs, “...Pick up Mark and bring him
with you, for he is useful to me for service.” And
in writing to the Colossians, during his first Roman
imprisonment, Paul declares about Mark, “...if he comes to you,
welcome him” (Col. 4:10).
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-3-
News & Notes
Let us continue to remember in prayer Danny Hutcheson (Anita
Young’s cousin) whose massive brain bleed, which also put him in a
coma for more than a week, has left him paralyzed except for one
arm.
Rick Cuthbertson will soon find out — if he hasn’t already —
of what type of follow-up treatment he will or will not have,
following the recent removal of cancer from his kidney.
Olivia McCarthy has been sick lately.
Let us also remember in prayer Jordyn Mackey (who had a
series of seizures), Shirley Davis (who has swelling,
cellulitis, and pain in her legs — though improving —and pain in her
shoulder), Bentley O’Berry (who had a seizure), Bennie
Medlock (who has an aortic aneurysm), Charles Crosby
(healing from a knee implant), Michael Crawford (heart
trouble), Ginger Head (spot on lung), and Marie Maymoldi
(expecting).
Others to also pray for: Jim Lively, Deborah Medlock, Pat
& A.J. Joyner, Rex & Frankie Hadley, Tommy Lindsey, Rhyan
Thomas, Hannah Laughlin, Misty Thornton, Belinda Medlock, Michelle
Rittenhouse, and Mary Vandevander.
WordPress Version of this bulletin:
https://thegospelobserver.wordpress.com/2018/07/15/the-gospel-observer-july-15-2018/
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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, living
for the Lord; 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 a.m.
(Bible class); 10 a.m. & 5 p.m. (worship)
Tuesday: 2 p.m.
(Ladies' Bible class)
Wednesday: 7
p.m. (Bible class)
evangelist/editor: Tom
Edwards (912) 614-8593
Tom@ThomasTEdwards.com
http://thegospelobserver.wordpress.com (Gospel
Observer website with pictures in WordPress)
http://thomastedwards.com/go
(Older version of Gospel Observer website without
pictures, but back to March 1990)
http://tebeaustreetchurchofchrist.org/
http://ThomasTEdwards.com/audioser.html
(audio sermons)