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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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March 17, 2019
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Contents:
1) Blaming Others for Our Sins (Mike
Johnson)
2) A Man Called David (Robert F. Turner)
3) News & Notes
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-1-
Blaming
Others for Our Sins
Mike Johnson
It is very common for people to try to blame their mistakes on
others; we have a tendency to want to shift responsibility. People
also blame SIN on other people. Many did this in biblical
times; regrettably, the blaming of sin on others also takes place a
lot today. Commonly blamed for people’s sins today are:
1. Satan — The idea “the Devil made me do it” is very
common. At least people who say this realize Satan is involved
in sin. However, they may not understand that responsibility
for sin cannot be shifted to Satan. Eve, in the beginning, tried to
blame Satan when she sinned. She partook of the forbidden
fruit and said in Genesis 3:13, “ . . . The serpent beguiled
me, and I did eat.” It is true Satan tempts people; he does
influence people to sin (I Cor. 7:5). However, Satan can be
resisted (James 4:7), and the fact that Satan tempts us does not
mean we are not responsible for our sins. It does no good to
try and shift the blame to Satan.
2. God — Some people actually try to blame God for
their sins. Perhaps this is what Aaron was trying to do in
Exodus 32. He tried to explain the golden calf he made for the
people to worship by pointing out (v. 24) that the people gave him
the gold, and he went on to say, “ . . . then I cast it into
the fire, and there came out this calf.” Was he trying to say
that it was some kind of miracle from God?
It is important to understand that God is not responsible for our
sins. James 1:13 says, “Let no man say when he is tempted, I
am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither
tempteth he any man . . . .” Thus, we cannot blame God.
3. Wives — Some husbands try to blame their wives for
many things and some even try to blame them for their sins.
Consider one Old Testament example. Earlier we noted that Eve
tried to blame Satan for her sin. Adam did not try to blame
Satan, but instead, he tried to blame his wife (Eve) for his part in
the eating of the forbidden fruit. She actually did give her
husband the fruit to eat and had an influence on his deed.
Nevertheless, this did not make him less guilty.
Further, when a man feels an inclination to shift responsibility for
his sins to his wife to justify himself, he should consider the Old
Testament example of Job and his wife. Job suffered much
affliction, and his wife told him that he ought to just curse God
and die. Job rebuked her and said in Job 2:10, “. . .
shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive
evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.” He
resisted his wife’s bad advice.
4. Husbands — At times, a woman who is a faithful
Christian will have a husband who is not a Christian.
Sometimes she may be neglectful in her service to God, and when
confronted about her neglect, may blame her spiritual problems on
her husband. Again, the husband may have caused her to become
discouraged. (Generally, it is more difficult for a person to
be faithful to God if his/her spouse is unfaithful.) Yet, the
wife is still responsible for her sins. Many women have
remained faithful to God even though their husbands have discouraged
them spiritually by their words and deeds.
Peter gave some good advice to women, whose husbands were not
believers, in I Peter 3:1 when he said, “Likewise, ye wives be in
subjection to your own husbands; that if any obey not the word, they
also may without the word be won by the conversation of the
wives.” The woman is to win her husband to Christ by her
“conversation,” i.e. manner of life.
5. Preachers — Sometimes people become offended by something
a preacher says in his sermon and refuse to attend any more
services. They sometimes blame their unfaithfulness on the
preacher when they are asked about their neglect. It may have
been that the preacher said something that was correct and was
needful in his sermon. II Timothy 4:2 says that he is to
“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove,
rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine.” It is
also true that a preacher can make a mistake in judgment as
preachers are not perfect. Regardless of mistakes that others
might make, we must remain faithful to God. We can blame the
preacher for our neglect, but we are still responsible and must
answer to God.
6. Other Christians — Sometimes a Christian is mistreated by
another Christian. He then may try to excuse his neglect in
serving God by the fact he was mistreated. Some might say they
will not attend services because there are “so many hypocrites
there.” These are trying to blame their spiritual neglect on
others, but they are still responsible for their sins.
Many people take the easiest course with regard to their sins.
Instead of repenting, they simply blame others. It does no
good for us to shift responsibility.
A person who is not a Christian must believe (Heb. 11:6), repent
(Acts 17:30-31), confess Christ (Rom. 10:10), and be baptized (Acts
2:38). A Christian who sins must repent, pray, and confess his
sins (Acts 8:22, James 5:16, I Jn. 1:8-10). God will not
excuse any of us because of what someone else did or did not
do. We bear responsibility of our own sins.
-- Via The Elon Challenger, Volume 16, Number 2, October
2018
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-2-
A Man Called David
Robert F. Turner
Often it is asked, "How could David be called a man after God's own
heart”? (Acts 13:22) "Like David" usually means the querist
sees only the sinful side of David's life — and it is certainly
there. But someone has answered this question, "Read Psalms!"
"I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies"
(119:59). "My soul waiteth in silence for God only: From Him
cometh my salvation" (62:1). "Blessed is the man that
walketh not in the counsel of the wicked ...but his delight is in
the law of Jehovah..." (1:1-f).
"Preserve me, O God; for in thee do I take refuge" (16:1). "I
love thee, O Jehovah, my strength. Jehovah is my rock, and my
fortress, and my deliverer" (18:1). "Some trust in
chariots, and some in horses; But we will make mention of the name
of Jehovah our God" (20:7).
"Who can discern his errors? Clear thy servant also from
presumptuous sins; Let them not have dominion over me: Then shall I
be upright, and I shall be clear from great transgression. Let the
words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in
thy sight, O Jehovah, my rock, and my redeemer" (19:12-14).
"I said, O Jehovah, have mercy upon me: Heal my soul; for I have
sinned against thee" (41:4). "Have mercy upon me, O God,
according to thy loving-kindness: according to the multitude of thy
tender mercies blot out my transgressions." "Against thee, thee
only, have I sinned, and done that which is evil in thy sight."
"Behold thou desirest truth in the inward parts; and in the hidden
part thou wilt make me to know wisdom." "Hide thy face from my sins,
and blot out all mine iniquities." "The sacrifices of God are a
broken spirit: A broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not
despise" (From Psm. 51).
"The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down
in green pastures; He leadeth me beside still waters He restoreth my
soul..." Many thousands knew the "Shepherd Psalm." But David knew
the Shepherd.
— Via The Auburn Beacon
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"Hear my cry, O God; Give heed to my prayer.
From the end of the earth I call to You when my heart is faint;
Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
For You have been a refuge for me,
A tower of strength against the enemy.
Let me dwell in Your tent forever;
Let me take refuge in the shelter of Your wings. Selah” (Psalm
61:1-4, NASB).
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-3-
News & Notes
Folks to be remembering in prayer:
Last Wednesday, 3-year old Kayleigh Tanner had a tumor
removed from her liver. The doctors were pleased to see that
the tumor had shrunk, as well as the one in her lungs, due to the
chemo. From March 25 to 29, she will be having chemo every day,
which will be followed by chemo every week until September. As
mentioned last week, she also had a kidney removed recently, due to
a tumor.
Amris Bedford was also mentioned last week as being
treated at the St. Jude's Children's Hospital in Memphis because of
a brain tumor, which she first had 7 years ago when just 2 years
old; but it has recently returned. She will be undergoing radiation
treatments, and with chemo as an option.
Pat Joyner had outpatient surgery last week that she is now
healing from, and has been in some pain during that process.
A.J. Joyner will be having an EKG this Monday, which is
required for a checkup on the sinus problem he has long had.
James Medlock was transferred to the Harborview Health
System at 1600 Riverside Avenue, here in Waycross. Due to his
flu, he is being kept in isolation. And will also be undergoing
physical therapy to be able to get back on his feet.
Others to also be praying for: Jim Lively; Anita Young; Doyle
Rittenhouse; Bennie, Deborah, and Penny Medlock; Shirley Davis;
Mary Vandevander; Michelle Rittenhouse; John Stoval;
Everleigh and Hazel Greer; Danny Hutcheson; Roger Montgomery; Mary
Aldrich; Rex & Frankie Hadley; and Tommy Lin
WordPress Version of this week's bulletin:
https://thegospelobserver.wordpress.com/2019/03/17/the-gospel-observer-march-17-2019/
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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)
281-9917
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 sermon)