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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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May 19, 2019
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Contents:
1) The Letter to the Ephesians (Brad Toy)
2) Carnal or Spiritual? (Wayne Goff)
3) News & Notes
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-1-
The Letter to the Ephesians
Brad Toy
The letter the apostle Paul wrote to the church at Ephesus is truly
an amazing letter. It speaks of unity, eternal matters, things that
are now revealed that had been hidden for thousands of years, ways
of marriage, and even spiritual warfare. And this letter is unique
in that Paul does not address any problems or errors that are
occurring there. The message is simply one that speaks of profound
theological truths and then how to apply those truths to our
everyday Christian living (our walk). With all this letter has to
offer, consider just one part of this brilliant text.
Paul erupts with this praise statement, “Praise be the God and
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every
spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ” (1:3). He then
goes on to note at least 15 areas where the Christian is blessed
because of being in Christ! Fifteen areas! Here are the list and
note these incalculable gifts the child of God has by being “in
Christ” (1:4-14):
--just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world,
that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love,
--having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ
to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,
--to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He has
made us accepted in the Beloved,
--In Him we have redemption through His blood, the
forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace, which
He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence,
--having made known to us the mystery of His will, according
to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself,
--that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He
might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are
in heaven and which are on earth, in Him.
--In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being
predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things
according to the counsel of His will, that we who first trusted in
Christ should be to the praise of His glory.
--In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth,
the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you
were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee
of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased
possession, to the praise of His glory.
This letter is amazing, awe-inspiring and at the same time extremely
humbling. Why would God bestow such rich gifts to such unworthy
people? Let us be thankful, grateful and praise Him, as Paul did,
and live each day in honor of such incredible blessings.
-- Via the Fort Logan church of Christ, Stanford, Kentucky, December
14, 2017
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-2-
Carnal or Spiritual?
Wayne Goff
The apostle Paul stresses in Romans 8 that those who are “in Christ
Jesus” should “not walk according to the flesh, but according to the
Spirit” (v. 1). Every Christian would give lip service to the
concept, but perhaps a little self-reflection would be worthwhile
for all of us!
“The Things Of The Flesh”
“For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on things
of the flesh…” (Rom. 8:5). Robertson L. Whiteside had this to say on
the subject:
“To mind the things of the flesh is to give our time and attention
to the things of this life. To do so is to leave God and our eternal
welfare out of consideration. We need to be careful, for it is easy
for us in our struggles to make a living to forget God and look only
to our material interests…” [Commentary on Romans, pp. 171-172].
You see from his comment that one can mind “the things of the flesh”
to the neglect of his spiritual well-being, and that constitutes a
“carnal person”! I’m afraid that we too often think of someone who
is committing those terrible sins of fornication, adultery, drug
addiction, etc. as being the carnal ones. In fact, a person who
seems to be very good in the eyes of the world, and sometimes in our
eyes, could be very carnal!
Remember the parable of a certain rich man in Luke 12:16-21? He was
rich, a successful farmer, with a bountiful crop, who wisely(?)
chose to store his additional crops in bigger barns and then take
his ease and eat, drink and be merry. Do you see anything wrong with
this picture? Jesus did and said as much. God took his life that
very night and his “soul would be required” of him — then whose will
those things be? Jesus’ warning to us: “So is he who lays up
treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God” (v. 21)! This is
the “carnal man” of Romans 8! He is not a bad person in the eyes of
the world, but he is spiritually destitute while he takes care of
the things of this life only. Americans should take note of this
because it is our besetting sin.
“The Things Of The Spirit”
“…But those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the
Spirit” (Rom. 8:5). Whiteside went on to say this:
“…To mind the things of the spirit is to look to the the
things that fit the spirit for acceptable service to God in this
life and that will prepare it for the joys of the next life.”
So those who live according to the spirit mind the things that
pertain to the Spirit’s instructions in God’s Word, 1
Corinthians 2:9-12. Paul explained in 1 Corinthians that no man
knows the things of God except the Spirit of God, Who was given to
the apostles for the revelation of the mind of God!
Those who “live according to the Spirit” read, study, understand,
and follow these things! Paul even warned in 1 Corinthians 2:14 that
“the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God,
for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they
are spiritually discerned.” The “natural man” of this passage is the
same as the “carnal” (worldly) man of Romans 8!
“Spiritually-Discerned”?
Yes, “spiritually-discerned” means a disciple of Christ has taken
the time to develop a taste and ability to understand God’s Word. He
begins as a babe in Christ who drinks spiritual “milk” (1 Pet. 2:2).
As he matures, he eats the meatier things of the Word (Heb.
5:12-14). The Christian who thinks he is “spiritual” should ask
himself exactly how much he studies, understands and practices God’s
Word? I’m afraid there are too many malnourished believers who have
not even considered whether or not they are “spiritual” according to
Romans 8. Let this brief article be an “eye-opener” for you.
-- Via the Roanridge Reader, Volume 34, Issue 19, Page 2,
May 12, 2019
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-3-
News & Notes
Folks to be keeping in prayer:
Due to not sleeping well, Shirley Davis underwent a
sleep-study last Tuesday which revealed sleep apnea that she is now
using a device for and is attributing that with her recent
hoarseness. She was also in the ER on May 5th, due to her first time
with UTI. Also, a second skin graft was done on the heel of
her right foot, which should heal in about 2 weeks. The
medication she is on leaves her feeling weak. Her doctor wants her
to keep weight off her right leg (with its bad knee), so she uses a
walker.
Bud Montero’s checkup last week showed that he still is
without any of the symptoms of the Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia.
Melotine Davis is scheduled for back surgery on June 13.
Due to the amount and its effect, Rick Cuthbertson will be
taking a break from his chemo for a while.
Others to also be praying for: Pat & A.J. Joyner, Jim
Lively, James Medlock, Deborah Medlock, Mary Vandevander, Michelle
Rittenhouse, John Stoval, Kayleigh Tanner, Amris Bedford, Danny
Hutcheson, Roger Montgomery, Rex and Frankie Hadley, and Tommy Lin
WordPress version of this week's bulletin:
https://thegospelobserver.wordpress.com/2019/05/19/the-gospel-observer-may-19-2019/
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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: 7 p.m. (Ladies’ Bible class)
Wednesday: 7 p.m. (Bible class)
evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (912) 614-8593
Tom@ThomasTEdwards.com
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