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) David’s Ways of Escape (Kyle Pope)

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David’s Ways of Escape

Kyle Pope

The apostle Paul told the Corinthians, “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it” (1 Cor. 10:13, NKJV). While this promise is given under the New Covenant, I am convinced that it describes principles that have always been true of God’s relationship to man.

First, No One Has to Sin. If all temptation is “common to man,” and yet God does not allow temptation “beyond what you are able,” it cannot be that any sin with which man struggles is unavoidable. If (as some teach) our nature is “utterly indisposed, disabled, and made opposite to all good, and wholly inclined to all evil” (Westminster Confession of Faith, 6.4), we couldn’t help but sin! The Holy Spirit tells us, however, that we are “able to bear” temptation without sin. When Paul tells the Romans “all have sinned” (Rom. 3:23) he is not describing a condition that was unavoidable, but a condition that has resulted from the fact that all accountable souls at some point choose to sin by their own freewill.

Second, God’s Law Can Be Obeyed. Paul’s words tell us as much about God’s Law as they do about His providence. If He does not “allow us to be tempted” beyond our ability to withstand but “with the temptation” provides a way to avoid sin, we cannot argue that God’s laws are too difficult for anyone to be able to obey. As burdensome as Mosaic Law was, in speaking about it, Moses told the people through the Holy Spirit “the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, THAT YOU MAY DO IT” (Deut. 30:14, emphasis mine). Paul applies this same wording to the message of the gospel in his letter to the Romans (see Rom. 10: 8). The fact that we do not always obey does not mean we cannot obey.

Third, There is Always a Way of Escape. Not only is it possible to overcome sin, and possible to obey God’s law, but the Holy Spirit promises that in God’s providence there is always a “way of escape” by which we can overcome the temptation and avoid giving-in to sin. That doesn’t mean God will miraculously intervene in our freewill. David tells us that “God tests the hearts and minds” in order to see if man will choose to obey Him (Ps. 7:9). Nor does it mean that we cannot choose a course of action that makes it harder to avoid sin. The wise man said, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death” (Prov. 14:12). Rather, Paul tells us that in any temptation the path to turn away from committing sin is always accessible if we will only look for it and take it!

When it comes to sin, the problem is not that it cannot be avoided, the problem is that far too often we choose not to take the “way of escape.” David’s sin with Bathsheba is a clear example of this. Consider the opportunities he chose not to take.

First “Way of Escape.” The account of David’s sin begins with the detail that it happened “at the time when kings go out to battle” (2 Sam. 11:1a). Rather than going out with his troops “David sent Joab and his servants with him” (2 Sam. 11:1b). If David had been where he should have been, doing what he should have been doing, this sin might never have happened. Sin often catches us when we neglect responsibilities we ought to fulfill, or when we are not busy with things that should occupy our time.

Second “Way of Escape.” While idle at home, the Holy Spirit tells us “from the roof he saw a woman bathing” (2 Sam. 11:2a). I didn’t really appreciate the architectural landscape of this until I was able to go to Jerusalem. The most ancient portion of Jerusalem, known as the “City of David,” lies at the foot of the Temple Mount and stretches southward along the Kidron Valley. The area believed to be where David’s palace stood sets high above the city that spreads out below it on the steep hillside that drops to the floor of the valley. The flat roofs of ancient Israelite homes were commonly used for storage, cooking, cleaning, rest or sleep in the cool of the evening (cf. Josh. 2:6, 8; Neh. 8:16). For David to see a woman under such conditions wasn’t necessarily voyeuristic on his part or immodest on her part. Even so, he could have looked away when he saw her engaged in such a private activity. Instead, he looked enough to determine “the woman was beautiful to behold” (2 Sam. 11:2b). We cannot always avoid being exposed to temptation, but we can always choose to turn away from it.

Third “Way of Escape.” As a married man, David should have been content. Instead, he inquired who the woman was (2 Sam. 11:3a). His sin would not come from ignorance—he was told her name, her father’s name, and the fact that she was “the wife of Uriah the Hittite” (2 Sam. 11:3b). For this man after God’s “own heart” (1 Sam. 13:14) that should have been enough! The Law of Moses condemned adultery (Exod. 20:14) under punishment of death (Lev. 20:10). The king was to uphold the law (Deut. 17:14-20)—not to ignore it. When temptation begins to take hold of one’s heart it is not uncommon to hear words of warning that could help us avoid sin, if we will only listen—“Words of the wise, spoken quietly, should be heard rather than the shout of a ruler of fools” (Ecc. 9:17).

David missed three opportunities that could have allowed him to escape the temptation to sin. Instead, “Immediately he went after her, as an ox goes to the slaughter” (Prov. 7:22). The “sweet psalmist of Israel” (2 Sam. 23:1) committed adultery with another man’s wife (2 Sam. 11:4)! Once sin has been committed there is no “way of escape” that allows us to take it back, but there are ways to respond to our sin lest we “add sin to sin” (Isa. 30:1).

Fourth “Way of Escape.” David’s son would declare, “He who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy” (Prov. 28:13). The remaining opportunities David had to escape further compounding his sin involved avenues he was given to confess and forsake his sin. First when he learned from Bathsheba “I am with child” (2 Sam. 11:5), he could have faced his guilt and done right by her, her husband, and the child. He did not. Guilt is a frightening thing. This man who was once brave enough to fight Goliath (1 Sam. 17:36) was afraid to face his own sin!

Fifth “Way of Escape.” David hoped he could conceal his sin by bringing Uriah, her husband, back from the war (2 Sam. 11:6-8). He assumed that Uriah would go in to his wife, and all would assume any child was Uriah’s. Instead, Uriah contentiously refused to be with his wife while “the ark and Israel and Judah are dwelling in tents” (2 Sam. 11:11). David heard this man’s noble devotion. He could have allowed this to move him to see the treachery of his own sin. He could have confessed and repented. He did not. This was a man who once had a conscience so tender that he felt guilty over cutting the corner of the robe of King Saul, who was then trying to kill him (1 Sam. 24:4-6)! Sin can sear the conscience and blind us to our own actions.

Sixth “Way of Escape.” Covering sin often forces us to bring others into our web of deception. Messengers had brought Bathsheba to David (2 Sam. 11:4)—did they know about David’s sin? Somehow Bathsheba “sent” word to David (2 Sam. 11:5)—did a servant bring this message? Did this person know about this sin? David told Joab to return Uriah to Jerusalem (2 Sam. 11:6), and servants had told David that Uriah didn’t go home to his wife (2 Sam. 11:10). Did Joab know about David’s sin? Did these servants wonder why the king was so curious about Uriah’s love life? How could David care so little about the influence he had on all these people around him? In a last desperate attempt to cover sin David actually fed Uriah and “made him drunk” (2 Sam. 11:13). Surely, he must have thought, a drunken soldier would go home to his wife. Even though he was drunk, Uriah did not. When we try to hide sin, we no longer care how many people we lead into sin in the process. David could have stopped even at this point and taken the “way of escape” to avoid further sin. He did not.

Seventh “Way of Escape.” The next morning David wrote a letter and sent it to Joab in the hand of Uriah (2 Sam. 11:14). Scripture only records one sentence of this letter (2 Sam. 11:15), but the exchange that follows probably infers that there was more to it. Uriah was carrying his own death warrant! If Joab didn’t know before this about David’s sin, it is likely that he was brought into the conspiracy to cover David’s sin with this letter. David plans the means of Uriah’s death (2 Sam. 11:15), Joab carries out the plan (2 Sam. 11:16-17), then deceitfully concocts a method to inform David about the crime under the guise of a military report (2 Sam. 11:18-24). This allowed David the opportunity to word a false message of encouragement to his commanding officer (2 Sam. 11:25). The hand cannot write without the direction of the mind. What went through David’s mind as he wrote this letter? He could have thought, concerning God “Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence?” (Psa. 139:7). He could have said to himself, “If I say, ‘Surely the darkness shall fall on me,’ Even the night shall be light about me; Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You, But the night shines as the day; The darkness and the light are both alike to You” (Psa. 139:11-12). At some point in his life these words were penned by this man, but not on that morning.

By missing each of these opportunities to escape sin David fell into adultery, perjury, drunkenness, collusion, conspiracy, the incitement of others to sin, and ultimately murder. David didn’t have to sin, but he ignored each “way of escape” the Lord provided. David’s failure must teach us not to follow the same course. No matter what the temptation the Lord promises “the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it” (1 Cor. 10:13). Our task is to look for it and follow it!  

— Via Faithful Sayings, Volume 25, Issue 51, December 17, 2023

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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) “His Inheritance” (Eph. 1:18) (Kyle Pope)

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“His Inheritance” (Eph. 1:18)

Kyle Pope

In Ephesians 1:18, as Paul prays for the well-being of the Christians in Ephesus, he prays that they might come to know “the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints.” The context makes it clear that the possessive pronoun “His” refers to God, but how can anything be said to be God’s “inheritance”? The Lord declared in Psalm 50:

For every beast of the forest is Mine, And the cattle on a thousand hills. I know all the birds of the mountains, And the wild beasts of the field are Mine. If I were hungry, I would not tell you; For the world is Mine, and all its fullness (10-12, NKJV).

So clearly, everything already belongs to God. He cannot inherit anything in the sense we normally think of the concept of inheritance. How then are we to understand Paul’s wording in Ephesians?

The Biblical Concept of Inheritance

The words translated “inheritance” in both the Hebrew Old Testament and Greek New Testament refer to a possession, property, or portion belonging to the one to whom the word is applied, but there are four ways it is used:

1. In reference to the possession inherited by an heir from a progenitor or benefactor. The Holy Spirit declares, “A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, but the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous” (Prov. 13:22). He says further, “Houses and riches are an inheritance from fathers, but a prudent wife is from the LORD” (Prov. 19:14). In these cases, a possession that did not previously belong to someone is given to an heir. The land of Canaan was given to the Israelites as their “inheritance”—it was to be divided to them by lot (Num. 33:54; 34:17, 29; Josh. 1:6). In this case, God was considered the progenitor or benefactor. Jeremiah wrote, “Thus says the LORD: ‘Against all My evil neighbors who touch the inheritance which I have caused My people Israel to inherit—behold, I will pluck them out of their land and pluck out the house of Judah from among them’” (Jer. 12:14). Eternal life is described as an inheritance God will give to the saved. Paul speaks of “giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light” (Col. 1:12). But inheritance is also used . . .

2. In reference to the possession belonging to a progenitor or benefactor. Under Mosaic Law, provisions were made for the distribution of the assets of one who died. If he had no sons, it was to go to his daughters—if no daughters, to his brothers—if no brothers, to his father’s brothers—if no father’s brothers, to the closest relative (Num. 27:8-11). In each case, four times in this text the assets are called “his inheritance” because it belongs to him, irrespective of the heir or beneficiary. This sense is often used of God’s people and their relationship to Him. For example, “For the LORD’S portion is His people; Jacob is the place of His inheritance” (Deut. 32:9). In this use, it is not describing “Jacob” or “His people” in regard to what they will inherit, but as a possession belonging to God as the benefactor or progenitor. We see this also when Saul was anointed king. Scripture records, “Then Samuel took a flask of oil and poured it on his head, and kissed him and said: ‘Is it not because the LORD has anointed you commander over His inheritance?’” (1 Sam. 10:1). This idea is repeated frequently—“He also gave His people over to the sword, and was furious with His inheritance” (Psa. 78:62)—“From following the ewes that had young He brought him, to shepherd Jacob His people, and Israel His inheritance” (Psa. 78:71)—“For the LORD will not cast off His people, nor will He forsake His inheritance” (Psa. 94:14)—“The Portion of Jacob is not like them, for He is the Maker of all things; and Israel is the tribe of His inheritance. The LORD of hosts is His name” (Jer. 51:19). This becomes a standard way of identifying Israel. God spoke through Isaiah of “Israel My inheritance” (Isa. 19:25). In this sense Israel belongs to God, but is also counted as His “portion” (Deut. 32:9), His “special treasure” (Exod. 19:5; Deut. 7:5; 14:2; Psa. 135:4), or His “special people” (Deut. 26:18)—a distinction now applied to the saved in Christ. Jesus “gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works” (Titus 2:14; cf. 1 Pet. 2:9). When God punished Israel, He declared to Babylon, “I was angry with My people; I have profaned My inheritance, and given them into your hand” (Isa. 47:6a). In this text, because of sin God is said to release His “inheritance” into the “hand” of another. They still belonged to Him by right, but He released His possession to another because of sin. The concept of inheritance can also be used . . .

3. In reference to an heir actually taking possession of the thing inherited from a progenitor or benefactor. An heir may have the right to a possession, but not actually have it until he takes possession of it. For example, the tribes on the east side of the Jordan promised, “We will not return to our homes until every one of the children of Israel has received his inheritance” (Num. 32:18). In this case the land belonged to them by right, but they had not yet taken possession of it. Jeremiah wrote:

“Behold, the days are coming,” says the LORD, “That I will cause to be heard an alarm of war in Rabbah of the Ammonites; it shall be a desolate mound, and her villages shall be burned with fire. Then Israel shall take possession of his inheritance,” says the LORD (Jer. 49:2).

Israel had the right to “his inheritance” but the Ammonites actually possessed it, until the time when Israel “shall take possession” of it. When Jerusalem fell to Babylon, Jeremiah lamented, “Our inheritance has been turned over to aliens, and our houses to foreigners” (Lam. 5:2). It was their inheritance, but during the Babylonian exile they did not actually possess the land. In a similar way, land that belonged to a tribe that had been sold was still one’s inheritance, but had to be redeemed in order for one to take possession of it—and in the year of Jubilee, one returned to “his possession” or “his inheritance” (Lev. 25:8-30; Num. 36:1-13). Eternal life is described in similar terms. Daniel was told, “you shall rest, and will arise to your inheritance at the end of the days” (Dan. 12:13). Christians await, “an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you” (1 Pet. 1:4). It is our “inheritance”—it is “reserved” for us, but we will not inherit it until we take possession of it upon the “redemption of our body” (Rom. 8:23) at the judgment. Finally, inheritance can be used . . .

4. In reference to a progenitor or benefactor actually taking possession of the possession belonging to him. Similar to the second usage above, in this use the possession in fact belongs to a progenitor or benefactor, but (for some reason or another) he has not claimed it as his own. Zechariah declared, “the LORD will take possession of Judah as His inheritance in the Holy Land, and will again choose Jerusalem” (Zech. 2:12). This describes a restoration of God’s relationship to His people. Israel was released due to sin and restored by God’s mercy. The psalmist prays, “Remember Your congregation, which You have purchased of old, the tribe of Your inheritance, which You have redeemed—this Mount Zion where You have dwelt” (Psa. 74:2). In this sense, God is actually spoken of as inheriting His people. The psalmist prayed, “Arise, O God, judge the earth; for You shall inherit all nations” (Psa. 82:8). As we noted above, doesn’t God already possess “all nations”? Yes. Clearly, “The earth is the LORD’S, and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell therein” (Psa. 24:1); but the Holy Spirit says of God, “you shall inherit all nations.” This is not the same sense in which an heir inherits something—this is the progenitor or benefactor claiming something as a possession. God inherits in that sense. This is seen in Scriptures pertaining to Christ. The Messiah was told, “Ask of Me, and I will give You the nations for Your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for Your possession” (Psa. 2:8). Didn’t the Messiah—God in the flesh—already possess all things? Yes. But in His exaltation to the throne He is told He would be given, “the nations for Your inheritance.” The Hebrew writer says of Jesus, “having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they” (Heb. 1:4). Jesus—God in the flesh—already possessed a “more excellent name” than the angels, but in His death and exaltation to the throne “by inheritance” He “obtained” it in the sense of taking possession of that which was His by right.

So how may this help us to understand Ephesians 1:18? Clearly, God already possesses all human beings just as He does all things (Psa. 24:1), yet sin separates us from Him. Like Israel, in sin God releases His “inheritance” (cf. Isa. 47:6a; 59:1-2) to Satan (2 Tim. 2:26). In obedience to the gospel, God renews His claim to us. In Christ, God “has visited and redeemed His people” (Luke 1:68), but now we await the “the redemption of the purchased possession” (Eph. 1:14). It is at that point that God will take possession of us as “His inheritance” (Eph. 1:18). It is in this sense that, yes, He will inherit us just as He “shall inherit all nations” (Psa.  82:8). This seems to be the sense in which Ephesians 1:18 speaks of “His inheritance in the saints”—God will claim us as His possession in the riches of His glory. 

— Via Focus Online, March 24, 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 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) 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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-1-

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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-2-

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).

——————–

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.)