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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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February 2, 2020
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Contents:
1) "Forgiving One Another" (R.J. Evans)
2) Translating the Bible into Life (Dennis Abernathy)
3) A Faith That Works (David Maxson)
4) Acts 1:1-3 (NASB)
5) News & Notes
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-1-
"Forgiving One Another"
R.J. Evans
Forgiveness of sins is a central theme that runs throughout the
entire Bible. In fact, this is why Jesus came to earth and
shed His blood for the whole world (1 Jn. 2:2). This is why we
read of all the bloody animal sacrifices in the Old Testament—"for
without shedding of blood there is no remission" (Heb. 9:22).
But it was "not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could
take away sins" (Heb. 10:4). Thus, Jesus, the Son of God, the
perfect sacrifice, offered His body on the cross "once for all"
(Heb. 10:10). His ultimate sacrifice provided forgiveness for
all those who lived faithfully before His death, and also for all of
us who now live after the cross, who have obeyed His gospel for the
forgiveness of our sins (Heb. 9:14-18). No one can ignore or
neglect gospel obedience, because "all have sinned and fall short of
the glory of God" (Rom. 3:23). Even after we have been
baptized "for the remission of sins" (Acts 2:38), we still sin and
need forgiveness (1 Jn. 1:8-10). Therefore, if we continue to
"walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with
one another and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from
all sin" (1 Jn. 1:7). And when He forgives us of our sins and
lawless deeds, He assures us they are forgiven and forgotten
forever—"I will remember their sins no more" (Heb. 8:12).
Just as God, through His Son, has forgiven us, we must be willing to
forgive those who sin against us. Jesus taught that if we fail
to forgive others, "neither will your Father forgive your
trespasses" (Matt. 6:14-15). Jesus went so far as to teach us
that if someone sins against us "seven times in a day, and seven
times in a day returns to you, saying, 'I repent,' you shall forgive
him" (Lk. 17:4).
Indeed, forgiving others is often difficult. How do we handle
forgiving those who come to us in repentance? Unfortunately,
some Christians, unlike God, never forget. They will
continually dwell on it and make reference to what happened by
making disparaging remarks about the offender. Much like the
old illustration: “They bury the hatchet, but leave the handle
sticking out of the ground so they can go get it at any time and
beat us over the head with it.” Let us observe some practical
suggestions that will help us after we have forgiven someone.
1. Pray for them (Matt. 5:44). Ask God to help you love
and pray for the offender.
2. Love and do good to the offender (Rom. 12:9). Express
love sincerely and genuinely, always seeking their welfare.
3. Don't speak poorly of the offender (Rom. 12:14).
As the old adage goes, if you don't have anything good to say, don't
say anything at all.
4. Release them from your punishment (Rom. 12:17-19).
Stop giving them the silent treatment and keeping them at arm's
length.
5. Don't celebrate their failures (Prov. 24:17).
Refrain from gloating, saying "I told you so" or having a mindset of
"That's what you get."
6. Treat them the way you want to be treated (Matt. 7:12).
When you do wrong and repent, you want grace and another
chance. Be willing to offer it to others when you get hurt.
7. Stop dwelling on the past (Isa. 43:18). Hit the
"delete" button of your heart—stop dwelling on old hurts.
Choose to replace them with focusing on good thoughts (Phil. 4:8,
13-14).
Yes, we are to forgive because God has forgiven us. We close
with this important and clear command: "And be kind to one another,
tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ
also forgave you" (Eph. 4:32).
— via the Bulletin of the Southside church of Christ (Gonzales,
Louisiana), January 19, 2020
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-2-
Translating the Bible into Life
Dennis Abernathy
I read a story about four preachers who were discussing their
favorite translations of the Bible. One preacher preferred the King
James Version because of its beautiful language. The second preacher
liked the American Standard Version best because it translates more
literally the original Hebrew and Greek. The third preacher said
that he preferred the New King James Version because of its
up-to-date vocabulary. Finally, they asked the fourth preacher which
translation of the Bible he liked best. He said, “I like my mother’s
translation best.”
This surprised his fellow preachers, who asked if he was saying his
mother translated the Bible into English. “No,” he said, “but she
translated the Bible into life, and it was the most convincing
translation I ever saw.”
This little story reminds me of something else I read: “We are the
only Bible the careless world will read. We are the sinner’s gospel,
we are the scoffer’s creed. We are the Lord’s last message given in
deed and word, what if the type is crooked? What if the print is
blurred?”
People who claim to be Christians may be the only translation
of the Bible some people ever see. Unfortunately, too many who claim
to be Christians have very poorly translated the Bible into life. My
friend, what kind of translation of the Bible are those around you
seeing? Think on these things.
— Via The Elon Challenger, Volume 17, Number 3, November
2019
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-3-
A Faith That Works
David Maxson
"Then they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two
doorposts and the lintel of the houses in which they eat it... And
when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague will
befall you to destroy you, when I strike the land of Egypt" (Exodus
12:7, 13).
The argument is made that baptism is not necessary for salvation
because it is a work, and we're not saved by works. The scriptures
clearly say we are saved by faith and not by works (Eph 2:8-10; Gal
2:16; Rom 4:4-5).
So, if this is true, what are we to do with passages which say that
baptism saves us (1 Pet 3:20-21; Mark 16: 16; Acts 2:38; 22:16)? Can
we not take these passages at face value? Are we missing something?
Is the Bible contradicting itself?
I believe the answer is simple. Baptism is not the kind of work
under consideration in the passages that contrast faith and works.
On the contrary, baptism is considered in scripture to be an act of
faith (Gal 3:26-27; Col 2:12; Mk 16:16; Rom 1:5). So, there is no
contradiction at all between scriptures that say we are saved by
faith, and scriptures that say we are saved through baptism. The
inspired writers did not see faith and baptism as mutually
exclusive. Baptism is an expression of our faith.
Just like the children of Israel sprinkled the blood of the lamb on
their doorposts by faith (Heb 11:28), so we are "buried with him in
baptism, in which you were also raised with him THROUGH FAITH IN THE
POWERFUL WORKING OF GOD, who raised him from the dead" (Col 2:12).
Father God, help us to trust in you enough that we obey all of your
commandments.
— via Daily Devotions, January 19, 2020
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-4-
Acts 1:1-3
“The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus
began both to do and teach, until the day in which He was taken up,
after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the
apostles whom He had chosen, to whom He also presented Himself alive
after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them
during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the
kingdom of God” (NASB).
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-5-
News & Notes
Folks to be praying for:
Rick Cuthbertson who has cancer of the liver and lung.
James Medlock who recently had a tube placed in his leg
to improve circulation, which it does. He also had a heart
attack a few weeks ago.
A.J. and Pat Joyner who are both healing from
procedures.
Rex & Frankie Hadley have been physically weak lately --
and more so than they had been.
Jan Bartlett will begin her radiation treatments tomorrow.
Let us also continue to pray for the following: John Bladen,
Kelly Stoneheart, Ann Vandevander, the Medlock family, Jim Lively,
Shirley Davis, Brook & Kaydance Richardson, and Kerry
Williams.
WordPress version of this week's bulletin:
https://thegospelobserver.wordpress.com/2020/02/02/the-gospel-observer-february-2-2020/
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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) 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 sermons)