“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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Contents:

1) It is Not Enough (Irvin Himmel)
2) National Day of Encouragement (Heath Rogers)
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It is Not Enough

Irvin Himmel

With disappointment a young lady walked away from the office where she had made application for a job. She knew she could do the work expected, having been trained in that field and having done the same kind of work for another company. “You must have a high school diploma,” she was informed. She had personality, ability, experience, and good references. “It is not enough to have all the other qualifications,” she was told, “the contract specifies that you must be a high school graduate.”

The New Testament is God’s contract with man for our age. It reveals the requirements for our receiving remission of sins. How utterly disappointed many individuals will be in the day of judgment when they are turned away from heaven due to sins which they suppose have been forgiven.

1. It is not enough to pray. A man named Saul, from Tarsus in Cilicia, learned on the way to Damascus that he was a sinner. He asked what to do, only to be told, “Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do” (Acts 9:6). He had to wait until someone was dispatched to make known to him the terms of forgiveness. In agitation and without food and drink, he waited. Most men in such condition would pray. When the Lord directed a disciple named Ananias to go to Saul, the observation was made, “Behold, he prayeth.” We dare not doubt the sincerity of Saul, the genuineness of his repentance, nor the fervor of his praying. But all of that was not enough to wash away his sins. Ananias addressed him in this manner: “And now why tarriest thou? Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22:16).

2. It is not enough to be charitable. A benevolent disposition is commendable. Jesus taught, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). At Caesarea there once lived a man named Cornelius, an officer in the Roman army, a man of excellent character and reputation. Cornelius was devout, God-fearing, prayerful, just, of good report among all the nation of the Jews, and he gave much alms to the people (Acts 10:2, 22). Some would not hesitate to pronounce such a person a “Christian” in this modern world. On the basis of his charitableness alone, some would suppose Cornelius was already saved. But all the good in this man’s life could not remit a single sin. He needed Christ. To receive Christ he needed the gospel. Consequently, he was told by an angel to send for Simon Peter, “Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved” (Acts 11:14).

3. It is not enough to worship God. The belief seems widespread that men who worship God are saved and it matters not how they worship, provided they are sincere. While God seeks men to worship him (John 4:23), not all worship is accepted, and not all who attempt to worship are redeemed. In Acts 8:27-39 there is an account of how a man who had been to Jerusalem to worship was converted on his way home. He worshiped God to the best of his knowledge, but that was not enough. Many Jews and proselytes continued to worship God after the manner of Moses even though the old law was fulfilled. This man, treasurer for the queen of Ethiopia, was enlightened by Philip the evangelist who preached unto him Jesus. The man believed, was baptized, and went on his way rejoicing in the assurance of salvation through Jesus.

4. It is not enough to hear the word. In my limited experience I have known several people who seemed to delight in hearing the word, attending church services with some regularity, yet showing no interest in personal submission to Jesus. It is an enigma to me that anyone who shows interest in the gospel over an extended period of time would not obey it. Perhaps such persons are deceived into thinking that hearing alone will bless them. The Bible says, “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves” (Jas. 1:22). To hear and not obey is comparable to building a house on sand, according to our Lord in Matt. 7:24-27.

5. It is not enough to believe on Jesus. The living oracles state plainly that faith in Jesus Christ is indispensable to one’s obtaining salvation (Heb. 11:6). Many who believe that Jesus is God’s Son do nothing more than give the assent of the intellect to that fact. They do not subject their wills to His will, their lives to His doctrine, or their consciences to His divine standard. During Christ’s earthly ministry, many among the chief rulers believed on him, but because of the Pharisees, they did not confess him, lest they be put out of the synagogue, loving the praise of men more than the praise of God (John 12:42,43).

6. It is not enough to do good works. Religious people frequently give liberally of both time and money to support humanitarian endeavors. Their works are heralded as “wonderful.” In some cases, these works are connected with the name of Jesus. But the Lord said, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? And in thy name cast out devils [demons, NASB]? And in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity” (Matt. 7:21-23). Wonderful works are not enough. One must do the will of the heavenly Father.

7. It is not enough to be baptized. Some folks at Ephesus were baptized but not according to the terms of the New Covenant (Acts 19:1-5). They had to be taught and then baptized in the name of the Lord. Some who are baptized do not obey from the heart. (See Rom. 6:3-5, 17, 18.) One may submit to the wrong baptism, or not be a proper subject when baptized, or submit to an improper action called “baptism.” One must be baptized scripturally to be saved from his sins.

Let no one suppose that his sins have been remitted because he has done one or two good things. God forgives sins when men fully obey the gospel. We appropriate to ourselves the benefits of the blood of Christ and become heirs of grace when we cheerfully yield to the faith once for all delivered.

— Via Truth Magazine, XV: 21, pp. 5-6, April 1, 1971  https://www.truthmagazine.com/archives/volume15/TM015325.html

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National Day of Encouragement

Heath Rogers

According to the calendar in my office, September 12th is designated as the “National Day of Encouragement.” This was the first time I had ever heard of this day of observance. Seems like nowadays every day is dedicated to something. What is this National Day of Encouragement?

This day of observance started with a group of young students at the National Leadership Forum at Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas, in 2007. They saw a lack of encouragement as one of the main obstacles that youth face. Recognizing an urgent need to help each other overcome negative influences, they came up with the idea of The Encouragement Project, which developed the National Day of Encouragement. September 12th was chosen because the events of 9/11 brought a great need for encouragement. Later that same year, President George W. Bush signed a document designating September 12th as the National Day of Encouragement. A Senate resolution for the day was introduced by Arkansas Senator Mark Pryor and was passed by unanimous consent on September 13, 2011.

Our young people certainly need encouragement. Standards of morality and respectful behavior that were understood by previous generations aren’t even recognized by some young people today. Many children are growing up in broken homes, repeating cycles of failure displayed before them. Statistically, many young people today are dealing with feelings of hopelessness, sadness, despondency, and despair. The children of faithful Christians are not immune to these challenges. They are being influenced by an evil world in ways that us older folks just can’t comprehend. Yes, our young people need encouragement.

However, all of us need encouragement. In addition to the common struggles of daily life, each of us faces unique challenges with things like our health, relationships, and finances – just to name a few. As Christians we struggle with temptations and concerns regarding the spreading of the gospel and the faithfulness of God’s people in this world.

The Lord saw fit to have His people involved in the work of encouraging one another. Numerous times in the book of Acts, apostles and evangelists were said to encourage Christians (Acts 11:23; 14:22; 16:40; 20:1-2; 27:22-25). Paul struggled in his efforts to preach so that “hearts may be encouraged” (Col. 2:2). He sent Timothy to the Thessalonians “to establish you and encourage you concerning your faith” (1 Thess. 3:2).

Christians are admonished to “warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all” (1 Thess. 5:14). We are to “strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees” (Heb. 12:12). We are to “bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Gal. 6:2).

While the country may have its National Day of Encouragement, Christians know that every day is a day of encouragement. We benefit from the encouragement we receive from others. We must look for opportunities to be a source of encouragement to others. Do you know of someone who is discouraged? Go out of your way to see them. Speak kind words to brighten their spirits. Share Scriptures that are appropriate for their needs. Let them know you are praying for them today. Plan to spend time together with them. These are just a few ideas that can help us become a needed source of encouragement to others.   

— Via Articles from the Knollwood church of Christ, September 2024

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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 Jesus Christ, the Son of God (John 8:24; John 3:18).

3) Repent of sins.  For every accountable person has sinned (Romans 3:23; Romans 3:10), which causes one to be spiritually dead (Ephesians 2:1) and separated from God (Isaiah 59:1-2; Romans 6:23). Therefore, repentance of sin is necessary (Luke 13:5; Acts 17:30).  For whether the sin seems great or small, there will still be the same penalty for either (Matt. 12:36-37; 2 Cor. 5:10) — and even for a lie (Rev. 21:8).

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; 1 Pet. 3:21).  This is the final step that puts one into Christ (Gal. 3:26-27).  For from that baptism, one is then raised as a new creature (2 Cor. 5:17), having all sins forgiven and beginning a new life as a Christian (Rom. 6:3-4). For the one being baptized does so “through faith in the working of God” (Col. 2:12). In other words, believing that God will keep His word and forgive after one submits to these necessary steps. And now as a Christian, we then need to…

6) Continue in the faith by living for the Lord; for, if not, salvation can be lost (Matt. 24:13; 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: 9 a.m. Bible Classes and 10 a.m. Worship Service.   Congregational Song Service: 5 p.m. for every first Sunday of the month.

Wednesday: 7 p.m. Bible Classes

evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (912) 281-9917
Tom@ThomasTEdwards.com

https://thomastedwards.com/go/all.htm (This is a link to the older version of the Gospel Observer website, but with bulletins going back to March 4, 1990.)