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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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September 8, 2019
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Contents:
1) Hope Abides (L. A. Stauffer)
2) Logic in the Bible (Terry W. Benton)
3) Selected Sentence Sermons
4) News & Notes
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-1-
Hope Abides
L.A. Stauffer
“For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose
under heaven” (Eccl 3:1). And now, during earth life, it is
man’s season of hope—a time when man looks to but sees not the
reward his Maker has promised. “Hope,” Paul writes,
“that is seen is not hope: for who hopes for that which he sees”
(Rom 8:24). It is “now,” the apostle says, that hope “abides”
(1 Cor 13: 13).
Hope only abides when there is the reality of a reward and there is
a longing expectation of that reward in the heart of a man. Take
away the “mansion” in heaven that Jesus promised or the assurance of
that abiding place in a man’s faith—and you no longer have hope (see
Heb 11:1). Hope is a reality because of man’s expectant trust and
God’s faithful promise. Hope abides because:
God Promised. Hope rests and is founded on God’s promise. He
it is who announced through Jesus, “great is your reward in
heaven” and “in my Father’s house are many mansions”
(Matt 5:12; John 14:1-2). The Hebrews’ writer takes his readers back
to the time of Abraham to assure us that hope abides as an anchor of
the soul—both “sure” and “steadfast” (Heb 6:13-19).
Abraham hoped in God for years that he would receive a seed and
become a great nation. The certainty of that hope was secured by the
promise of God to which He added an oath. By these two immutable
things in which it is impossible for God to lie—His word and His
oath—Abraham waited patiently and the promise was fulfilled.
God Is Faithful. God, it is clear, must be true to both
Himself and His word. Man’s lack of faith does not affect the
faithfulness of God to His promise. Though every man be found a
liar, Paul argues in a text highlighting the sinfulness of man, “let
God be found true” (Rom 3:3-4). In the entirety of the oracles
of God from the promise of a redeemer to the promises to Abraham and
to Israel—God has shown man that He “will in no wise fail” him
and “will in no wise forsake” him (see Heb 13:5). Hope
prevails because Jehovah, the God who promised, is trustworthy.
Man Believes. Yet despite the promises, faithfulness,
and blessings from God, hope abides only in a man who by faith holds
in his heart the “assurance of things hoped for” and the “conviction
of things not seen” (Heb 11:1). Moses when he decided to leave
Pharaoh’s house was by faith convicted “of things not seen”
and “looked unto the recompense of reward” (Heb 11:26). It
was the faith he embraced in his heart that housed the expectation
of a reward from God. It was no different with Abraham who “in
hope believed against hope,” looked “unto the promise of
God,” and “wavered not through unbelief, but waxed strong
in faith” (Rom 4:18-21).
These men of old are examples for God’s believing servants today.
Jesus opened the way into heaven through the veil of His flesh when
He entered the “most holy” place in heaven to appear before
the face of God on behalf of believers in Christ (see Heb 9:23-26;
10:19-20). We, because of God’s promise and His faithfulness, have
confidence in that unseen reward—in that abiding hope that anchors
our souls, binds us to purity, moves us to fruitfulness, and upholds
us in affliction (see Heb 6:18-19, 1 John 3:3; Col 1:5-7; Heb
11:24-27). There is victory in Jesus for men of faith and unmovable
steadfastness (1 Cor 15:50-58).
— Via Articles from the Kirkwood church of Christ (Kirkwood,
Missouri), July 10, 2017
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Logic in the Bible
Terry W. Benton
While some modern brethren have declared that the logic of
"necessary inference" has been made up in recent years by "church of
Christ preachers," the Bible shows that this kind of logic goes back
to communication from God and man from the beginning. If anyone
should be credited with the origin of such logic, it should be God.
The failure to use logic goes to the devil and his followers.
A clear example of reasoning from evidence to "necessary inference"
is seen clearly in Hebrews 7. Paul reasoned that:
1. Melchizedek was greater than Abraham.
2. Levi is not as great as Abraham and
certainly not as great as Melchizedek.
3. If the Levitical priesthood and Law of
Moses had been sufficient, there would have been no need for David
to prophesy about another priest who would be a forever priest after
the order of Melchizedek in Psalm 110, at a time when the Law and
Levitical priesthood was in operation.
Then the writer then argues to the logical conclusion that was "of
necessity" (a necessary inference). He pointed to a great logical
deduction: In order for Jesus to be a legitimate priest, the law
would have to be changed (Hebrews 7:12). That was an inescapable
conclusion since Jesus was not from the tribe of Levi. In order to
change the priesthood there would have to logically be a "change
also of the Law." Statements of prophecy plus the example of Abraham
paying tithes to Melchizedek formed the evidence from which several
necessary inferences were drawn.
Another point of logic was made on the basis that Jesus was from the
tribe of Judah "of which Moses spoke nothing concerning
priesthood." When the Law spoke about priesthood and designated the
tribe of Levi, it did not have to start a list of "thou shalt not
get priests from Judah" and "thou shalt not get priests from Gad,"
etc. Silence about other tribes meant only that permission was not
granted to other tribes to become priests. There is a logical rule
that silence is not authority to act. Jesus was not authorized to be
a priest on earth because silence about priests from Judah is not
authority for priests from Judah.
The authority of Jesus to be a priest after a different order comes
only with a "change of Law" and a verification that Jesus has the
credentials of a "forever" priesthood according to the order of
Melchizedek. The use of example and statements to bring about the
logical necessary inference is what GOD has taught us. It did not
originate with so-called "church of Christ preachers." In fact,
failure to properly employ and use these things is a clear
indication that the critic does not know the scriptures.
— Via Articles from the La Vista church of Christ (Omaha, Nebraska)
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Isaiah 1:18
“Come now, and let us reason together,”
Says the LORD,
“Though your sins are as scarlet,
They will be as white as snow;
Though they are red like crimson,
They will be like wool" (NASB).
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-3-
Selected Sentence Sermons
Guilt is concerned with the past. Worry is concerned about
the future. Contentment enjoys the present.
The right train of thought can take you to a better station in life.
When you meet temptation, turn to the Right.
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News & Notes
Folks to be praying for:
We extend our condolences to the family and friends of John
Ballard Stovall who passed away September 3, following an
extended illness.
On another sad note, we are sorry to hear that Gary and Barbara
Thompson will be moving back to their home state of Kentucky
on September 16, due to Barbara missing all her family and friends
there. Though it has only been a little more than a year, we
have been glad to have them with us during this time.
Let us also continue to remember Barbara Thompson as she
heals from her mini-stroke, which can take up to 6 months for a
complete recovery. We have been glad to see how well she has
already improved.
Though Jan Bartlett was scheduled for her first chemo
treatment on September 13th, it was postponed. She will now be
having that on September 20.
Remember, too, Melotine Davis who will be having surgery on
her herniated disk and is still awaiting to hear on when.
As mentioned last week, Shirley Davis’ heel has not yet
healed from the ulcer. She is also still in need of a right knee
replacement, but doesn’t feel strong enough yet to have that
done. She requests our prayers.
Rick Cuthbertson was looking into a more effective chemo to
take care of the cancer in his lungs, which has increased somewhat
in the last three months.
Let us also continue to remember the following in prayer: Jim
Lively; Pat & A.J. Joyner; James, Bennie, Deborah, and Penny
Medlock; Mary Vandevander; Rex and Frankie Hadley; Eva
Mabry, and Stephanie Fals.
WordPress version of this bulletin:
https://thegospelobserver.wordpress.com/2019/09/08/the-gospel-observer-september-8-2019/
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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)
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)