Month: April 2025

“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 Didn’t Have to Be This Way! (Kyle Pope)

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It Didn’t Have to Be This Way!

Kyle Pope

The Holy Spirit often preserves the facts about the behavior of men and women in the Bible without Divine comment on the sinfulness of their actions. We should not conclude from this that God was pleased with all that was done. Especially when those involved ultimately played a role in Messianic history, as in questions of authority, Divine silence does not mean approval. In some situations, when sin abounds on all sides, the Holy Spirit simply allows the chaos to speak for itself.

The Family of Isaac

A striking example of this is found in Genesis 27. It concerns the family of Isaac, the son of Abraham. Although all involved are adults, the childish behavior demonstrated by parents and children alike led to a family being torn apart, and one son ready to kill the other, because of the action motivated by the parents.

The Birth of Esau and Jacob. To set the stage we must look back two chapters to the time of the birth of two sons to Isaac and his wife Rebekah. Isaac was forty when he married Rebekah (Gen. 25:20). At first, she was unable to have children, but the Lord answered Isaac’s prayer and she conceived (Gen. 25:21). It was a hard pregnancy, leading Rebekah to pray to God about her difficulties (Gen. 25:22). The Lord answered her prayer, and revealed a prophecy about the children within her womb. He told her, “Two nations are in your womb, two peoples shall be separated from your body; one people shall be stronger than the other, and the older shall serve the younger” (Gen. 25:23, NKJV). Rebekah had a healthy birth to twin boys—Esau (a hairy child) and Jacob (who was born second, but holding his brother’s heel) (Gen. 25:24-26). Their condition at birth foreshadowed their lives. Esau would become an outdoorsman and a hunter, and Jacob’s life would be characterized by trying to supplant his brother (Gen. 25:27). Esau means “hairy” and Jacob means “heel-holder” or “supplanter” (BDB) (Gen. 25:25-26).

Parental Partiality. Unfortunately, the Holy Spirit records something their parents did long before the events of chapter 27 that undoubtedly contributed to the ill-will that would fester between these two boys. We learn that, “Isaac loved Esau because he ate of his game, but Rebekah loved Jacob” (Gen. 25:28).

The Sale of the Birthright. How this partiality played into the first record of conflict between the boys is not clear. We are told that Esau came in weary from a hunt and begged Jacob for some lentil stew he had cooked (Gen. 25:29-30). Jacob agreed, if Esau would “sell” him his birthright (Gen. 25:31). Impulsively, Esau agreed (Gen. 25:32-34a). Moses described that by doing so, “Esau thus despised his birthright” (Gen. 25:34b). The writer of Hebrews called Esau a, “profane person” in the fact that “for one morsel of food sold his birthright” (Heb. 12:16).

What We Are Not Told. There are many things we are not told about the circumstances that developed in the life of these boys. Did Rebekah tell Isaac, Esau, and Jacob about what the Lord said to her during her pregnancy? We don’t know. If so, this would have a bearing on the events that followed. If so, their actions reflect a desire to countermand or “assist God” by sinful methods. If not, it is selfish, conniving, and a disregard for the consequences this would have on other family members. Did the sale of this birthright (generally given to the firstborn) entitle Jacob to the best blessing also? Esau and the Hebrew writer considered them two separate things (Gen. 27:36; Heb. 12:17). Did Isaac and Rebekah know about Esau’s sale of his birthright? If so, the actions that follow may be seen as rebelling against God and the agreement Esau had made.

Deception to Receive the Blessing. Chapter 27 begins with Isaac as an old man, with poor vision. He commands Esau to hunt and prepare some wild game and bring it to him, “that my soul may bless you before I die” (Gen. 27:1-4). In reality it would be a long time before Isaac died (Gen. 35:28-29), but he thought the time was near. Rebekah overheard Isaac’s instructions to Esau (Gen. 27:5). She commanded Jacob to bring her two goats so she could prepare them to taste like the food Esau would make. She then commanded him to pretend to be Esau (even covering Jacob’s arms with hairy hide) and putting on some of Esau’s clothing to go in and trick Isaac so he would bless Jacob instead (Gen. 27:6-17). Jacob obeyed, hesitating only to make sure he would not be caught by his father (Gen. 27:11-12). Jacob succeeded in the deception, blatantly lying to him (Gen. 27:18-27). Thinking he was blessing Esau, Isaac prophetically declared:

. . . may God give you of the dew of heaven, of the fatness of the earth, and plenty of grain and wine. Let peoples serve you, and nations bow down to you. Be master over your brethren, and let your mother’s sons bow down to you. cursed be everyone who curses you, and blessed be those who bless you! (Gen. 27:28-29).

Shortly after Jacob left, Esau came with food for his father, only to discover the blessing had been given to his brother (Gen. 27: 30-40). In anger, Esau decided to kill Jacob after his father died (Gen. 27:41). Learning his plan, Rebekah commands Jacob to run away to Haran, where he would end up staying for the next two decades (Gen. 27:42-28:5).

Practical Lessons

Although the Holy Spirit says little about the sins committed in this encounter, it illustrates some important lessons that should teach us in our own lives.

1. The Damage Partiality Can Do. Parents may naturally connect more with one child than another, but when this plays out in the form of partiality it can create competition and resentment with devastating consequences. We must imitate the example of our Father in heaven, “For there is no partiality with God” (Rom. 2:11).

2. Don’t Involve Children in Parental Disagreements. If Isaac knew what the Lord told Rebekah, his actions were a deliberate effort to countermand the will of God. If not, the partiality of one parent over another led a mother and father to involve their children in their own conflicted preferences. When parents do this today it is the children who suffer. Siblings are pitted against sibling and sides are drawn. This is not how it ought to be! The psalmist said, “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity!” (Ps. 133:1).

3. When Older Family Members Aren’t Using Good Judgment. According to Scriptures, Isaac was old and considered himself near death. It is not uncommon when age impacts the minds of older family members that it puts others in some difficult situations. Will they make choices that harm them or others? How can we protect them with respect? Did Rebekah consider Isaac’s judgment compromised? Did she fear he was about to violate God’s will? If so, she did not make the proper choice. The answer is not to sin. Christians are not to act in “the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting,” but are to act in ways that involve, “speaking the truth in love” (Eph. 4:14b-15a).

4. When Parents Tell Children to Do Wrong. The Bible teaches, “Children, obey your parents in all things” (Col. 3:20a), but a parallel text qualifies this by adding the words “in the Lord, for this is right” (Eph. 6:1b). This was not the first situation the world has seen where parents have instructed children to do wrong. If Esau knew the prophecy given to Rebekah, Isaac’s command to him was wrong. Even if Jacob knew the prophecy, that did not justify lying and defiance of the authority of his father. If those with authority over us command us to do wrong, servants of God must not follow them (Acts 5:29).

5. Don’t Try to “Help God.” Did Rebekah imagine that if Isaac blessed Esau it would keep the prophecy from taking place? Perhaps, but we should notice that the focus of the prophecy was on “nations” and “people,” not merely individuals (Gen. 25:23). The Hebrew writer speaks of Isaac blessing “Jacob and Esau” (Heb. 11:20). Even if the nature of the blessing had been different, it would not have thwarted God’s will. Israel would have still grown into a nation that would one day subdue Edom. Man cannot prevent what God determines will happen, nor does He need man’s help to accomplish what He declares.

This sad story didn’t have to end this way! Isaac and Rebekah could have loved each child equally. Jacob and Esau could have behaved like loving brothers. Rebekah could have shared the Lord’s prophecy with all and in submission to God’s will this family could have worked together to honor God’s will and consider the needs and best interests of one another instead of themselves. Fortunately, as time went on, this shattered family was reunited in peace and love (Gen. 32-33), but how different this story could have been if sin had not crept its way into the hearts and lives of these souls. May we learn from their mistakes and avoid the same pain and chaos in our own families.

— Via Focus Online, August 13, 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 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
Wednesday (all but the first): 7 p.m. Bible Classes 
 First Wednesday of the month: 7 p.m. Congregational Song Service (about 45 minutes of singing, followed by a short talk)

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) Paul’s Voyage to Rome–What Others Saw in Him (Bryan Gibson)
2) Characteristics of a True Christian (Heath Rogers)

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Paul’s Voyage to Rome–What Others Saw in Him

Bryan Gibson

“I appeal to Caesar”—when Paul said these words to Festus (Acts 25:11), it enabled him to do something he wanted to do for many years (Romans 15:23), and that was to preach the gospel in Rome (Romans 1:8-15). Despite his status as a prisoner, Paul did “bear witness at Rome” (Acts 23:11; 28:16, 30-31); but he also had some things to say on the way to Rome, on that long and stormy voyage described in Acts 27-28. And here’s how he spoke—by the things his shipmates observed in him.

They saw a man who gained the favor of the centurion. Julius allowed Paul to go to his friends in Sidon and receive care (Acts 27:1-3); he saved Paul’s life when he kept the soldiers from killing the prisoners (Acts 27:42-44); and he gave Paul unusual liberties when they arrived in Rome (Acts 28:16, 30-31). The Lord used this centurion to make sure Paul got the opportunity to “bear witness at Rome” (Acts 23:11), to make sure all this “turned out for the furtherance of the gospel” (Philippians 1:12).

They saw a man who was not ashamed of his identity, not ashamed to confess God’s name. “For there stood by me this night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve…” (Acts 27:23). Doesn’t sound like much, until you contrast this with our own behavior—how we sometimes might disguise our identity, for fear of what others might think or say or do. Don’t ever be ashamed to say you’re a Christian—it might just get others interested in becoming one, too.

They saw a man who had faith in God. When the storm became so severe all hope was lost (Acts 27:20), the Lord spoke to Paul and said, “Do not be afraid, Paul; you must be brought before Caesar; and indeed God has granted you all those who sail with you” (Acts 27:24). Paul relayed this message to the others and then offered this assurance: “Therefore take heart, men, for I believe God that it will be just as it was told me” (Acts 27:25). That’s the kind of faith we all need.

They saw a man who prayed to God. “And when he had said these things, he took bread and gave thanks to God in the presence of them all…then they were all encouraged, and also took food themselves” (Acts 27:35-36). We don’t pray to be seen (Matthew 6:5), but there’s nothing wrong with being seen praying.

They saw a man who had family everywhere, referring of course to his family in the Lord. On this journey alone, Paul was greeted by brethren from Sidon, from Puteoli, and from Rome. Surely it impressed others to see the care they gave Paul (Acts 27:3), the hospitality they showed him (Acts 28:13-14), and the distance they traveled to offer him encouragement (Acts 28:15). And surely it impressed them to see how much this meant to Paul. “When Paul saw them, he thanked God and took courage” (Acts 28:15). Folks outside this family would surely be impressed.

— Via Plain Words from God’s Word, April 2, 2025

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Characteristics of a True Christian

Heath Rogers

A Christian is a follower of Jesus Christ. The Bible uses several other terms to refer to followers of Christ. Among them are “disciples” (Acts 11:26), “believers” (Acts 5:14), “brethren” (Acts 11:29), “saints” (Acts 9:13), and “children of God” (Rom. 8:16). The word “Christian” is found only three times in the New Testament (there are no Old Testament Christians).

We see the word “Christian” is misused by many in the world today. Good people are sometimes referred to as “Christians” without any regard to their religious beliefs or practices. Some use the word “Christian” in a broad sense to refer to those in western cultures who are not Jews or Muslims. There are times when the word is used to describe things that aren’t even associated with the Bible. Such misuse waters down the significance of this word.

1. A Christian is a Disciple of Christ. The first time the word “Christian” appears in the Bible is in Acts 11:26. “And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.” True disciples of Christ have distinct characteristics.

Baptized Believer. Jesus commissioned His apostles to go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Matt. 28:19). If a Christian is a disciple, then a Christian is one who has been taught, believes, and has been baptized. There are no unbaptized Christians in the Bible.

Follows the Teachings of Christ. After the apostles made disciples, they were to teach them to observe all the things that Jesus had commanded (Matt. 28:20). Since a disciple is a follower, a Christian is one who follows the teachings of Christ. “Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, ‘If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed’” (John 8:31).

Member of the Lord’s Church. A Christian is one who is saved, and the moment one is saved, he is added to the Lord’s church. “And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved” (Acts 2:47). There is no “joining the church of your choice.” There is only one church in the Bible, and a Christian is added to that church the moment they are saved.

Worships God. A true Christian worships God the way God wants to be worshipped: “…those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth” (John 4:23-24). In spirit (sincerely, from the heart) and in truth (according to the pattern set forth in the New Testament) not after their own desires or the customs and traditions of the day.

Contends for the Faith. A true Christian is not a pacifist. They are soldiers fighting the good fight of faith (1 Tim. 6:12). As Jude admonished, “Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints” (v. 3). To “contend earnestly” means to struggle about a thing as a combatant. The “faith” is the truth of the gospel, the teachings that a disciple must follow. A true Christian is willing, ready, and able to defend the truth against error.

2. A Christian persuades others to become Christians. The second occurrence of the word “Christian” is in Acts 26:28. In this passage, Paul was giving a defense of his faith before King Agrippa. As he concluded his message, he asked Agrippa if he believed the prophets. “Then Agrippa said to Paul, ‘You almost persuade me to become a Christian.’ And Paul said, ‘I would to God that not only you, but also all who hear me today, might become both almost and altogether such as I am, except for these chains’” (vs. 28-29).

Paul did not have a live-and-let-live attitude towards others. He spoke plainly about his desire for everyone to become a Christian. Paul’s prayer for Israel (a religious people) was that they be saved (Rom. 10:1). This means Paul believed they were lost. A true Christian does not see all religious people as being right with God. They know Jesus is the only Savior of the world (Acts 4:12).

3. A Christian is willing to suffer for the cause of Christ. The final place the word “Christian” is found in the Bible is 1 Peter 4:16. “Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.” Peter spoke of a great persecution that was coming on these Christians. They were not to think it strange or be ashamed of the fact that they were suffering. Instead, they were to rejoice because they were partaking with Christ’s sufferings (vs. 12-16).

True followers of Christ will suffer for their faith (Matt. 5:10-12, 2 Tim. 3:12). Christians don’t have to go looking for trouble. Their allegiance with Christ has made them enemies of this world (John 15:18-20). This helps us understand that the biblical use of the word “Christian” denotes a spiritual distinction, not a social or ethnic distinction. A Christian is one who follows Christ, and is willing to suffer, if need be, because of that choice.

True Christians are going to bear the characteristics of the Christians we read of in the Bible. A Christian is a disciple of Christ, one who persuades others to become Christians, and one who is willing to suffer for the cause of Christ. It is unethical, and sometimes against the law, to knowingly claim to be something that one is not. Professing to be a Christian doesn’t make you one. Are you a true Christian?

— Via Articles from the Knollwood church of Christ, February 2025

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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
Wednesday (all but the first):7 p.m. Bible Classes 
First Wednesday of the month: 7 p.m. Congregational Song Service (about 45 minutes of singing, followed by a short talk)

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.)