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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, NASB).
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October 20, 2019
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Contents:
1) Abraham & Melchizedek (Wayne Goff)
2) Prepare to Meet Thy God (Robert F. Turner)
3) News & Notes
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-1-
Abraham & Melchizedek
Wayne Goff
“The LORD has sworn and will not relent, ‘You are a priest
forever according to the order of Melchizedek’” ~ Psalm 110:4
(Hebrews 7:17).
Abraham & Melchizedek
Historically, we read about Melchizedek in Genesis 14 when Abraham
was returning from his defeat of area kings who had carried off his
nephew, Lot. This event can be dated to around 2175 B.C.
Prior to this event, we know nothing of Melchizedek. We do not know
his genealogy, we do not know when he was born nor when he died. So
historically speaking, he had neither beginning of days nor end of
life (Hebrews 7:3). These historical truths would be used by God in
the New Testament symbolically to emphasize the greater
priesthood of Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 7 points out that Melchizedek was both king and priest of
Salem (later known as Jerusalem). He was ordained by the Most High
God, and Abraham paid tithes to him. The nation of Israel was, so to
speak, still in the loins of Abraham when this was done. So the
rightful conclusion is that Melchizedek was a greater high priest
than anyone who might have descended from father Abraham. We know
that the nation of Israel, and Levi in particular, submitted to
Melchizedek and his priesthood through Abraham. Therefore, if anyone
became priest “after the order of Melchizedek,” that high
priest would be superior to anyone of the Jewish nation.
Jesus Christ
God prophesied through King David that One would come and be both
king and priest like Melchizedek, Psalm 110:4. The Hebrew writer
refers to this prophecy in Hebrews repeatedly to emphasize
how much greater Jesus Christ was as King and High Priest than
anyone else, including Abraham, Levi, and any other descendant (Heb.
5:6, 10; 6:20; 7:1, 10-11, 15, 17, 21). The nation of Israel should
naturally believe in and submit to this new King and Priest!
The priesthood of Christ is greater than that of Levi because Jesus
is an eternal high priest, never to be replaced. By the
power of an endless life, He serves the needs of His people, Hebrews
5:6. What was symbolically true of Melchizedek is literally
true of Jesus.
Jesus was called by God, just as Aaron was, Hebrews
5:10. Jesus is our Forerunner into heaven, having preceded us
as the resurrected Lord, King and High Priest! (Heb. 6:20). We will
go to heaven if we will follow Him! Jesus is greater than Abraham
because of His Divine Nature, Divine Calling, and eternal High
Priesthood, Heb. 7:10-11. And His priestly order was established by
an irrevocable Divine oath, Heb. 7:21!
A Needed Change
Because the priesthood was changed by God, there must also of
necessity be a change in the Law, for the Law of Moses only allowed
for a Levitical priesthood, Heb. 7:12-14. Therefore, the Law of
Moses was concluded, and all of its special favors and relationships
between God and Israel. This was a difficult “pill to swallow” by
the Jewish people. They had mistakenly thought that they would forever
be God’s special people above all nations. However, if they had
considered the prophecies concerning Jesus Christ as a New Lawgiver
(Deuteronomy 18), and as a new High Priest (Psalm 110:4), and the
need for a new covenant which they had broken (Jeremiah 31:31-34),
then they would not have been so surprised.
Through Jesus Christ we have eternal forgiveness, a spiritual nation
comprised of those from every nation, a better covenant than the
law, an unchangeable priesthood in Jesus Christ, and a
“perfected” (completed) One as well, Hebrews 7:22-28. All of
this was foreordained by God long before Israel became a
nation, and it was foreshadowed by the man, Melchizedek. The honest
Bible student can come to no other conclusion.
— Via Roanridge Reader, Volume 34, Issue 41, Page 2
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Psalm 32:10-11
“Many are the sorrows of the wicked,
But he who trusts in the LORD, lovingkindness shall surround him.
Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you righteous ones;
And shout for joy, all you who are upright in heart” (NASB).
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Prepare to Meet Thy God
Robert F. Turner
In Matthew 24:42, Jesus tells his disciples to "Watch therefore: for
ye know not on what day your Lord cometh ...therefore be ye also
ready." Paul echoes this thought when he writes, "so then let us not
sleep, as do the rest, but let us watch and be sober" (1 Thes. 5:6).
And John records the words of Christ in Revelation 22:12, "Behold, I
come quickly; and my reward is with me, to render to each man
according as his work is."
These verses, as well as others, remind us of the inevitability of
meeting God in judgment. As the song states, "There's a great day
coming..." and it seems that the vast majority of humanity is
failing to prepare for that day. James warns us that this physical
life is too uncertain to go unprepared to meet our Maker (Jas.
4:14). If we wish to have an eternal home with God, we must begin
our preparation now.
We cannot begin to make significant preparation to meet God in
judgment until we have developed the proper attitude. Solomon points
out that our attitude determines what we do or say. In Proverbs he
writes, "as a man thinketh within himself, so is he" and "Keep thy
heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life"
(Prov. 23:7; 4:23). Christ also emphasizes this truth when he says,
"out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh" (Mt. 12:24).
If our actions are to be pleasing to God, we must set our hearts "to
seek the law of Jehovah and to-do it" (Ezra 7:10). Our attitude
should be "Speak, Lord; for thy servant heareth" (1 Sam. 3:10). If
we develop within ourselves the desire to serve God, our actions
will reflect this desire. We will remain steadfast in our
preparation by continuing to learn all we can concerning God's will.
David's attitude motivated him to meditate on God's law day and
night (Ps. 1:2). Because of his desire to serve God, the Psalmist
exclaimed, "Teach me, 0 Jehovah, the way of thy statutes" (Ps.
119:33). David knew that God's word was the only guide which could
prepare him to meet his Creator. The Bereans, in Acts 17:11, were
aware of this fact, so they "examined the scriptures daily." Also,
Paul instructed Timothy to "give heed to reading, to exhortation, to
doctrine" (1 Tim. 4:13f). All of these men had a desire to serve
God. This attitude motivated them to prepare to meet their God.
When we finally meet God in judgment, our attitude will greatly
influence the outcome. Countless numbers will be lost because their
hearts, or attitudes, are not right. Precious souls will be left
outside the marriage feast crying "Lord, Lord, open to us!" (Matt.
25:1f) — they thought they had a little more time. Many, because of
a selfish attitude, will be asked "and the things which thou hast
prepared, whose shall they be?" (Lu. 12:16f) — they desired to serve
themselves rather than God. You know what your attitude is — you
know whether or not you are striving to serve God to the best of
your ability. If your attitude and service to God is not what it
should be, remember the words of Amos 4:12 — "Prepare to meet thy
God!"
— Via Plain Talk, Vol. XVII, No. 1, pg. 6, March 1980
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Psalm 34:2-3
“My soul will make its boast in the LORD;
The humble will hear it and rejoice.
O magnify the LORD with me,
And let us exalt His name together” (NASB).
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-3-
News & Notes
Mary Vandevander, who had been a member of the Tebeau Street
church of Christ for many years, passed away October 21, after
spending several days at the Hospice Satilla Hospice House in
Waycross. She was 95 and survived by 4 generations of family
members, which extends to her two great, great granddaughters. Our
condolences go out to all of her family and friends. Her funeral
will be at the Miles-Odum Funeral Home in Waycross, Georgia, October
24 at 11 a.m. Visitation will begin at 10 a.m. Though sad when loved
ones pass away, it can be a comfort when knowing that they are
Christians who are safe in God's keeping (cf. 1 Thessalonians
4:13-18).
A.J. Joyner has had diverticulitis for about 10 years.
Since last week, It has become the worst ever in causing pain and a
diet of nothing more solid than mashed potatoes. He will be seeing
his doctor Monday about being examined by a gastroenterologist.
The 2 iron fusions that Pat Joyner had has helped. She is
feeling better now than she had since January, but will not hear
all the results of last week’s testing until next month.
Both she and A.J. will be having a 2nd sleep test October 30.
Joyce Rittenhouse is feeling somewhat better, but does
not know if she still has the kidney stone or not.
Also for our prayer list: Melotine Davis, Jim Lively, Myrna
Jordan, the Medlocks, Shirley Davis, Jan Bartlett, Rick
Cuthbertson, Barbara Thompson, Rex & Frankie Hadley, and
Brandon Mullis.
WordPress version of this week's bulletin:
https://thegospelobserver.wordpress.com/2019/10/20/the-gospel-observer-october-20-2019/
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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)