Month: September 2024

“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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1) “The Proper Order” or “The Prescribed Way” (Bryan Gibson)
2) The “Sons of God” in Genesis 6 (Joe R. Price)
3) Walk Carefully (Gene Samford)
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“The Proper Order” or “The Prescribed Way”

Bryan Gibson

David wanted to bring the ark of the covenant back to Jerusalem, something his fellow-Israelites agreed was the right thing to do (1 Chronicles 13:1-4). And so they went to Kirjath Jearim, where the ark had been for twenty years (1 Samuel 7:2), and began transporting it to Jerusalem. During this trip, “David and all Israel played music before God with all their might” (1 Chronicles 13:8). So far, so good.

It wasn’t long, though, before they ran into serious trouble. “And when they came to Chidon’s threshing floor, Uzzah put out his hand to hold the ark, for the oxen stumbled. Then the anger of the LORD was aroused against Uzzah, and He struck him because he put his hand to the ark; and he died there before God” (1 Chronicles 13:9-10). The law of Moses was clear—no one could “touch any holy things, lest they die” (Numbers 4:15). Turns out, Uzzah’s error was not the only error they made. They put the wrong people in charge of transporting the ark, and they were transporting it the wrong way. The Levites were supposed to carry it on their shoulders (instead of a cart), using poles inserted through rings on the sides of the ark (Exodus 25:12-15; Numbers 4:1-15; 1 Chronicles 15:15). Their failure is summarized in 1 Chronicles 15:13: “The LORD our God broke out against us, because we did not consult Him about the proper order.” The NIV says, “We did not inquire of him about how to do it in the prescribed way.” They should have gone to the law to find out exactly how they were supposed to do it.

The lesson in this story is crystal clear. God desires we do things His way, that we consult Him about the “proper order,” or “prescribed way.” Claiming something is done “in His name,” or, “to His glory,” doesn’t make it so. God is a stickler for doing things according to His will (Matthew 7:21-23; 12:50).

For example, on the question, “What must I do to be saved?” look to God, to the New Testament, for the “proper order,” or “prescribed way.” The full answer won’t be found in one “silver bullet” passage. John 3:16 is a wonderful passage, but it doesn’t give all the details. Consider everything God says on the subject; that’s the only way to find His answer.

On the worship, work, and organization of the local church, same principle. Please don’t make the mistake of saying, “there is no prescribed way.” The New Testament provides a clear pattern for each one of these. The Israelites learned their lesson. They eventually did move the ark back to Jerusalem, and this time did it God’s way (1 Chronicles 15:14-16:1). Here’s hoping we learn the same lesson—before it’s too late!

— Via Plain Words from God’s Word, September 6, 2024

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The “Sons of God” in Genesis 6

Joe R. Price

Who were the “sons of God,” taking as their wives the “daughters of men” in Genesis 6:1-8? What can we possibly learn from this Bible text?

The context of Genesis 6 leads us to the conclusion that the “sons of God” mentioned in Genesis 6:2 were the descendants of Seth, the son of Adam (Gen. 4:25).

In Genesis 4 we are introduced to two families: (1) Cain and his descendants, and (2) Seth and his descendants. Cain’s descendants followed the pattern set by their father Cain and continued to live farther and farther away from God (Gen. 4:16-24). In contrast, Seth and his family “began to call on the name of the Lord” (Gen. 4:26). Genesis 5 records this family tree all the way to Noah (Gen. 5:32).

Genesis 6:1-8 tells us how the world became so wicked and vile that God determined to destroy sinful man (which He did with the flood). This occurred because those whose ancestors had previously “called upon the name of the Lord” began to compromise and cohabit with the “daughters of men” (that is, the men and their families who did not call upon the name of the Lord). They abandoned their spiritual heritage and “took wives for themselves of all whom they chose” (Gen. 6:2). When men began to be driven by their own lustful desires rather than the word and will of God they were influenced by the evil they grew to love. The result was a world full of violent attackers, robbers and tyrants (Gen. 6:4 says “giants” which is translated from a word which means “to fall upon” or attack) rather than one filled with people who “called upon the name of the Lord.” These men made a name for themselves among other men, but not in eyes of the Lord (Gen. 6:4). It was Noah, a just man who walked with God who caught God’s attention and obtained God’s favor (Gen. 6:8-9).

The divine reaction to the wickedness of men was one of grief, sorry and ultimately judgment (Gen. 6:3, 5-7). He determined to destroy the earth and accomplished their punishment with the great flood (Gen. 6:13, 17; 7:1ff).

There is no compelling reason from the immediate context or the rest of the Bible to convince us that the “sons of God” in Genesis 6:2 were heavenly creatures instead of human beings. Such is the stuff of human fancy and fiction. There is no basis for this view in the inspired text. The “angels who sinned” in 2 Peter 2:4 cannot be the “sons of God” of Genesis 6:2 because those angels were “cast down to hell and delivered into chains (pits, ASV) of darkness.” They were not sent to the earth (see also, Jude 6).

So, the “sons of God” in Genesis 6:2 were men who did not remain holy and separated from the sin that was around them. Instead, they married women who influenced them to forsake righteous living. The result was mankind’s ruin and destruction.

There are clear lessons for us to learn from this sad period in human history:

1) “Be not deceived: Evil companionships corrupt good morals” (1 Cor. 15:33).

2) The person one chooses to marry will influence him or her for good or evil, so wisely choose a mate who will help you live in God’s favor (Prov. 18:22; 1 Pet. 3:1-7).

3) God expects us to live holy lives, separated from sin: “…as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, ‘Be holy, for I am holy’” (1 Pet. 1:15-16).

4) God will punish sin, so we must be careful to live in truth and holiness (Rom. 1:18; 2:1-11).

— Via The Spirit’s Sword, Volume IV: Number 50, Feb. 18, 2001

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Walk Carefully

Gene Samford

Psalm 1:1

1. Blessed is the man
Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
Nor stands in the path of sinners,
Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;

The temptation is always there to compromise what we know to be God’s will — and one of the most effective inducements offered by the devil is, “Everybody else is doing it.” Overcoming this temptation is not as difficult as some might imagine, though. All it takes is “walking carefully” — watching where we “put our steps.” In other words, being certain we keep to the “straight and narrow path” which leads to Heaven.

Easily said, but how do we do this? By making God’s word a familiar part of our lives. As we study and meditate on it, it becomes our whole direction.

Psalm 1:2

2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
And in His law he meditates day and night.

— via Viewpoint from the Valley Grove church of Christ, December 4, 2022

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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.)
  
   

“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).
——————–

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.)

“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) Reaching the Lost (David Dann)
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Reaching the Lost

David Dann

Synopsis: Reaching the lost is about helping people hear, believe, and obey the gospel of Christ so that they came to be freed from their sins.

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Introduction

Most people are lost. “Few” are headed in the right direction, in contrast to the “many” who are bound for destruction (Matt. 7:13-14, NKJV). They are “dead in trespasses and sins” (Eph. 2:1) and are “alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart” (v. 18). Separated from God in sin, most people are destined for eternal misery in hell.

We should be moved with compassion and a sense of urgency, as we recognize that most of those around us are lost and destined for destruction. If you were lost, wouldn’t you want someone to help you correct your course? It is up to those who are already faithful servants of the Lord to help the lost turn from their sins and obey Him (cf. Matt. 7:12; 2 Tim. 2:24-26).

To know this is not enough. We must take action to reach the lost and bring them to salvation. However, a great deal of confusion exists over how to reach the lost. For much of the religious world, “outreach” to the lost involves offering people opportunities for entertainment, recreation, and social activities, hoping they will enjoy themselves so much that they might eventually see the benefits of joining a particular church. As a result, many people remain lost in sin, but are now part of some religious community. In order to reach the lost effectively, we must help people hear, believe, and obey the gospel of Christ so that they will be freed from their sins (cf. Acts 18:8). How can we go about reaching the lost today?

Seek the Lost

Jesus is the perfect example for us to imitate in reaching the lost: “for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10). Rather than waiting for the lost to find their own way to salvation, the Lord actively sought those who needed spiritual help and direction. The first step to take in reaching the lost is actively to seek those around us who are separated from God in sin so that we can show them the way of salvation. Interact with them, talk with them, engage them in a discussion of spiritual matters, and invite them to learn about the Lord. Let us imitate the Master by seeking the lost in order to lead them to salvation.

Jesus said, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore, pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest” (Matt. 9:37-38). While we may complain that no one seems to be interested in the gospel anymore, there are opportunities all around us. Who are the lost? Our neighbors, co-workers, fellow students, people with whom we do business, those we interact with each week, and perhaps even members of our own families. Some of them are living immoral lives, some are viewed as being good people, some are even religious, while others are atheists or agnostics, and many are just confused. It is up to us to invite them to investigate the message of the cross. We need to imitate the Savior by seeking those who are lost in sin in order to lead them to repentance and salvation (Mark 2:17).

Find a Common Foundation with the Lost

All lost people need the gospel, but they are not all prepared to start at the same place. Philip could preach Jesus to the Ethiopian “beginning at this Scripture” (Acts 8:35) because the Ethiopian already worshiped the true God and believed the Scriptures. At the synagogue, Paul “reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and demonstrating that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead” (17:2-3) because they shared a common foundation in the prophets who foretold the coming of Jesus. On the other hand, when encountering pagans, Paul had to begin with, “God, who made the world and everything in it” (17:24) in an effort to establish common ground—i.e., a starting point. Paul challenged Felix with the reality of “judgment to come” (24:25) as a foundation from which to work. However, when dealing with Agrippa, the same apostle found more of a common religious foundation from which to begin, saying, “King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you do believe” (26:27). The New Testament serves as an instruction manual for finding a common foundation from which to teach the lost.

The goal is to take this lost person from where he is to where he needs to be by leading him to believe and obey the gospel so that he will be saved. As Paul puts it, “I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some” (1 Cor. 9:22). If you are trying to reach someone who already believes in God, believes that Jesus is the Son of God, and believes the Bible is the word of God, then you have a very solid foundation to work with as you show what the Bible teaches one must do to be saved. If you are trying to reach someone who isn’t convinced that the Bible is God’s word, then you’ll have to establish that fact before moving on to what the Bible says one must do to be saved. Find out what this individual believes, spend time in prayer, and use wisdom and good judgment in working to bring this lost soul from where he is to where he needs to be in understanding and obeying the gospel. The inspired wise man points out that “he who wins souls is wise” (Prov. 11:30). We need to put forth the effort to start from a common foundation in order to be as effective as possible in reaching the lost.

Present God’s Plan to the Lost

Paul writes, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek” (Rom. 1:16). The message of the loving Savior who laid down His life at the cross in order to redeem humanity from sin is the power that God uses to convert the soul. Reaching the lost is not about catering to man’s physical or social desires, nor is it about helping people experience earthly success so they can live a better, more enjoyable life. Instead, the focus is on presenting a message of salvation from sin to those who are desperately in need of reconciliation with God. For those who are truly seeking, the gospel message is the sword of the Spirit that pricks the heart of the sinner so that he is turned to the Lord. Place your confidence in the gospel to accomplish its work.

To reach the lost and bring them to salvation, God’s plan must be presented in a simple manner so that people are led to understand, believe, and obey it. The lost should be shown from Scripture how sin entered the world in the garden of Eden and how God carried out a plan to save man from sin through the sacrifice of His Son. They need to be shown what the Bible teaches about sin, salvation, the church, the two covenants, Bible authority, and man’s eternal destiny. It is our job to help them understand that, in order to benefit from the sacrifice of Christ, they must repent and be baptized into Christ (Acts 2:38). The souls of sinners are purified “in obeying the truth” (1 Pet. 1:22). We need to present the plan of God to the lost so that they will be convicted to comply with the conditions He has set in order to receive salvation.

Conclusion

Jesus said, “Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents” (Luke 15:10). No work in this world is greater and more urgent than reaching the lost with the saving message of Christ. Seek them out, find a common foundation from which to begin, and present God’s plan in all of its power and simplicity. Will you join in the work?

— Via Truth Magazine, No. 4, Volume 66, April 2022

https://truthmagazine.com/kindle/2022/2022-04-apr/08_Monthly_Theme_Lesson_01.htm

——————–  

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).
——————–

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.)

“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) The Lamb’s Book of Life (Cecil Willis)
2) Sword Tips #30 (Joe R. Price)
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The Lamb’s Book of Life

Cecil Willis

One of the very beautiful expressions to me found in God’s Word is the reference to “The Lamb’s book of life” (Rev. 21:27). The allusion is to the practice of enrolling all the citizens of a particular city upon a register, indicating that person is a citizen and entitled to all the rights and privileges of citizenship. When a person died, or did some dishonorable thing, his name was blotted from the roll. From this custom, the lessons about the Lamb’s book of life are taken.

(1) There is such a record kept. The prophet Daniel indicated that such a book was kept: “and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book” (Dan. 12:1). In Rev. 13:8, John speaks of those who “make war with the saints” as being those “whose name hath not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb that hath been slain.” Paul spoke of his fellow workers as those “whose names are in the book of life” (Phil. 4:3).

(2) This roll is an infallible record. Inasmuch as this is the roll of the Lamb, surely the record is infallibly kept. Jesus is described in Revelation as one whose “eyes were as a flame of fire,” which probably alludes to his omniscience. The Lord is said to know “what was in man” (Jno. 2:25). He knows the hearts of all men (Acts 1:24). Indeed, “there is no creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and laid open before the eyes of him with whom we have to do” (Heb. 4:13).

Hence, it follows that the Lord knows those who are his own. His people are a people for his own possession (Tit. 2:14). He loved his own (Jno. 13:1), and he knows those who are his own (Jno. 10:14). The Bible teaches that the Lord adds to his church daily those that are being saved (Acts 2:47). He does not add the names of any whose name should not be enrolled, nor does he fail to add the name of one whose name should he enrolled. Men sometimes keep church rolls, but their record keeping is not infallible. Man may add the name of some insincere person, or unrighteous men may strike from the church roll the name of some righteous saint of God. However, the authentic and infallible roll is kept in heaven. Jesus told the returning seventy, “Nevertheless in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject to you; but rejoice that your names are written in heaven” (Lk. 10:20).

(3) The names of the Old Testament worthies were written there. Apparently from the beginning, God has kept a heavenly record of those who faithfully served Him. On one occasion when Israel had sinned grievously, Moses sought to intercede with God for them. Moses even sought to exchange himself for his sinning people. He pleaded with God: “Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin –; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written. And Jehovah said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book” (Ex. 32:32, 33). The ancient heroes of faith, such as those listed in Hebrews 11, were enrolled in the book of life.

(4) The names of Christians are written there. Again I refer to Phil. 4:3 where Paul stated that the names of his fellow-laborers “are in the book of life.” The Hebrew writer refers to the “general assembly and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven” (Heb. 12:23). Only members of the church have their names written in heaven. If a person can be saved outside the church, he can be saved without having his name written in heaven. If one can be saved without being a member of the church, he can be saved without Jesus acknowledging him before the Father (Lk. 12:8, 9).

(5) If one’s name is not written there, he is lost. In the judgment scene in heaven, John saw that one’s name must be found in the book of life in order to be saved eternally. John stated, “I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne; and books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of the things which were written in the books, according to their works” (Rev. 20:12). John stated also that the destruction of the beast would cause wonderment on the part of those “whose names hath not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world” (Rev. 17:8). In order to show categorically the absolute essentiality of having one’s name in the Lamb’s book of life, John said, “And if any was not found written in the book of life, he was cast into the lake of fire” (Rev. 20:15).

(6) One’s name may be blotted out. Some try to use the fact that there is a heavenly book of life to prove the impossibility of apostasy. Albert Barnes, for example, said, “Names that are written in the book of life will not be blotted out.” Matthew Henry agreed, “But they whose names are written in heaven shall never perish.” It is true that man cannot blot your name from the Lamb’s book of life, but the Lamb can do so.

Moses realized that God could remove his name from his roll book when he asked to be blotted out (Ex. 32:32). Speaking of some who had become adversaries of God’s people, David said, “Let them be blotted out of the book of life, and not be written with the righteous” (Ps. 69:28). Obviously one’s name could not be blotted from the book of life if his name had never been written there. Thus the possibility of having one’s name blotted out shows without doubt the possibility of apostasy.

In the church at Sardis, there were some who had not defiled their garments. Of these, Jesus said: “He that overcometh shall thus be arrayed in white garments; and I will in no wise blot his name out of the book of life, and I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels” (Rev. 3:5).

Conclusion: John spoke of the heavenly city, and who shall enter it. “And there shall in no wise enter into it anything unclean, or he that maketh an abomination and a lie: but only they that are written in the Lamb’s book of life” (Rev. 21:27). You need to ask yourself the question we often ask in song: “Is my name written there, on the page white and fair? In the book of Thy kingdom, is my name written there?” If not friend, you need to obey the gospel that you might be added by Christ to His kingdom, for only those in the church are enrolled in heaven.

— Via Truth Magazine, XVI: 11, pp. 3-5, January 20, 1972
https://www.truthmagazine.com/archives/volume16/TM016163.html

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“And take…the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Eph. 6:17).

Sword Tips #30                                 

Joe R. Price

“Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666.” (Revelation 13:18)

There are many fanciful and false interpretations of the book of Revelation, including the infamous “number of the beast,” 666.

Wisdom teaches us it signifies failure, upon failure, upon failure, as it thrice falls short of the perfect number “7.” Worldly forces that oppose God’s truth and God’s people will ultimately fail.

The Revelation assures Christians of victory in Jesus in the face of overwhelming odds.

Do not be dismayed or discouraged by the forces of evil that rise up and press against you in this world.

Be steadfast in your faith; “the Lamb will overcome them” (Rev. 17:14).

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Psalm 37:3

“Trust in the LORD and do good;
Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.”

— NASB

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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.)

   

 

“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).
——————–

Contents:

1) “Blessed is the Man” (Psalm 1) (Kyle Pope)
2) Sword Tips #23 (Joe R. Price)
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-1-

“Blessed is the Man” (Psalm 1)

Kyle Pope

What characterizes the one considered “blessed” by God? Riches? Good health? A large family and friends? The first psalm in the Old Testament book of Psalms offers several characteristics that might surprise us:

1. “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly” (1a). The man blessed by God does not look to the ungodly for advice. Having rejected the counsel of God’s word, the ungodly should be the last source we consider. If their deeds are sinful, their insights will be equally poisoned by a wicked spirit.

2. “Nor stands in the path of sinners” (1b). The “path” of those is sin as their course of life. The choices they make, the places they frequent, the responses they take to different situations all make up a “path” the blessed man will choose to avoid. He will neither follow it, nor stand in it, because he has chartered a better course.

3. “Nor sits in the seat of the scornful” (1c). Those who reject the guidance of God’s word seldom do so with a dispassionate indifference. To soothe the pains of a guilty conscience, the rebel finds it easier to mock the truth than to simply ignore it. The man blessed by God does not approach serious things with scorn but recognizes the true source of good counsel.

Having begun with three things the man blessed by God does not do, the Holy Spirit now leads the psalmist to one supreme positive characteristic:

1. “But his delight is in the law of the LORD” (2a). What delights you? A lover? A hobby? A favorite food? A law code?—probably not! God’s law is different than the volumes of books that line the shelves in a lawyer’s office. Yes, it offers mandates and prohibitions, but unlike human laws, every word revealed by the Holy Spirit gives to us the counsel of God regarding how best to live our lives.

2. “And in His law he meditates day and night” (2b). The blessed man doesn’t isolate his consideration of God’s word to a few brief hours on Sundays and Wednesdays. He reads it, reads it, and then reads it again. With every meditation he discovers some new jewel of wisdom from the mind of his Creator.

This devotion to God’s word bears great fruit. The Holy Spirit makes this clear in four graphic descriptions of the results of such focused delight:

1. “He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water” (3a). The tree growing by the riverside has a constant and unceasing source of water. It is not subject to that uncertainty of rain. It does not rely upon irrigation or the melting snows of some far away mountain. Its source of life stays always near. The blessed man who delights in God’s law finds in it a constant source of life and sustenance.

2. “That brings forth its fruit in its season” (3b). Doing the right thing at the right time isn’t always easy. One left to his own experience alone can miss opportunities, overlook serious dangers, and neglect important responsibilities. The blessed man, following the guidance of God’s word bears fruit at the right time and in the needed proportions.

3. “Whose leaf also shall not wither” (3c). Seasons of life wear upon all living things, but the soul who feeds upon the eternal nourishment of God’s word maintains a youthful spiritual vigor that defies the decay of the flesh. Whether he is a young man or an old man, the blessed man of God who feeds upon the rivers of God’s law maintains an undying vitality that does “not wither.”

4. “And whatever he does shall prosper” (3d). Most human efforts are a mix of failure and success. The athlete doesn’t always score the goal. The investor doesn’t always pick a winner. The farmer doesn’t harvest every seed planted. Unlike all other human endeavors, all efforts the blessed man makes in following the direction of God will “prosper.” No other activity carries such promise.

The Holy Spirit began this psalm by offering three things the man blessed of God does not do. In a similar way, the Holy Spirit ends the psalm by contrasting the hope set before the blessed man with the negative fate that awaits the ungodly:

1. “The ungodly are not so, but are like the chaff which the wind drives away” (4). It is commonly claimed that the Old Testament says nothing about life after death, the resurrection, or final judgment. The contrasting fates of the wicked and the blessed in this psalm refute these claims. While the righteous will not “wither” but “prosper,” the wicked are driven away like chaff in the wind. Is this annihilation of the soul? No. Because the psalm goes on to say:

2. “Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment” (5a). What judgment is under consideration here? Many wicked avoid temporal judgments in this life, but none can avoid ultimate judgment before God. To “stand in the judgment” here expresses divine approval. Rather than being humiliated and shamed in judgment, those approved of God—those “blessed” shall “stand in the judgment.” The wicked shall not. They will face disgrace and punishment.

3. “Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous” (5b). This foresees a future “congregation” of God’s people. Who will be included in this assembly of the righteous blessed? Not sinners! Not only will they be unable to “stand” with divine approval at the final judgment, but they will be excluded from the gathering of God’s people into eternity. The psalmist does not teach universal salvation. The fate of the wicked is eternal exclusion from fellowship with God.

The contrast between the blessed man and the fate of the ungodly culminates in two clear statements regarding God’s knowledge of all men:

1. “For the LORD knows the way of the righteous” (6a). The wicked may receive the spotlight while the righteous fade into the background, but God is not blind to the true nature of every soul. The Lord knows the quiet deeds performed by the godly in secret. He sees their trials and knows the good they do. Nothing His people do escapes His notice. He knows “the way of the righteous.”

2. “But the way of the ungodly shall perish” (6b). When this world comes to an end—when human life expires, the deeds of the wicked will be brought to nothing. All popularity, beauty, wealth, and honor “shall perish.” The reality of the final fate of the wicked stands as a concluding encouragement to the righteous. The godly man devoted to God’s word will not find that his way perishes. The blessed condition of the one faithful to God will prosper into eternity.

— Via Focus Online, November 12, 2020

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“And take…the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Eph. 6:17).

Sword Tips #23

Joe R. Price

“Poverty and shame will come to him who disdains correction, but he who regards a rebuke will be honored” (Proverbs 13:18).

Nobody is always right. Yet, to hear some people talk, wisdom will die with them! Such arrogance refuses correction when it is needed. Remember, pride goes before destruction, but wisdom “regards a rebuke.”

Be willing to accept God’s correction that turns you away from spiritual danger. His correction is contained in the holy Scriptures.

Avoid the shame and eternal loss that is produced by pride.

Honor will come to you as you yield up your heart and your life to God.

——————– 

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).
——————–

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.)