Month: July 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) “The Burden of Malachi” (Jarrod M. Jacobs)

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“The Burden of Malachi”

Jarrod M. Jacobs

The book of Malachi was written at a time when God gave His people one last chance to repent before they experienced 400 years when there was “no open vision” from God (to borrow a phrase). Malachi begins with the words, “The burden of the word of the LORD to Israel by Malachi” (Mal. 1:1). The word “burden” means, “a burden or load, figuratively a judgment which lies heavy on a people” (Wilson’s, p. 59). Why was this word a burden? What was this judgment, and why would it lie heavily on the people? Let us read Malachi and discover what God said to His people. Let us also learn the intended lessons and work to ensure these things do not happen to us!

God’s People Did Not Honor Him.

In Malachi 1:6-7, we read, ‘A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honour? And if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the LORD of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name? Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar; and ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee? In that ye say, The table of the LORD is contemptible.” God charges the people with disrespect and dishonoring Him. The Jews ask in verse 7 how this happened, and the Lord answers them by describing the way they were worshipping. They offered polluted, or unclean bread on the altar, and their attitude was one of pride. They also despised the altar. In other words, they gave God the leftovers in their worship! They gave God the least of their time and devotion. This dishonoring of God led to a breakdown in their relationship with Him and the loss of His favor. They focused on this world and its pleasures, rather than looking to God and pleasing Him, and God condemned them for it, warning them of the dire consequences of such actions.

God’s People Were Bored With Worshipping Him.

In verse thirteen of chapter one, God says, “Ye said also, Behold, what a weariness is it! And ye have snuffed at it, saith the LORD of hosts; and ye brought that which was torn, and the lame, and the sick; thus ye brought an offering: should I accept this of your hand? saith the LORD.” These people were not just bored with serving God; they lost the joy and enthusiasm in their worship! They had no intention of pleasing God through sacrifices, and did not want to serve God. Instead of it being a pleasure and privilege to serve the only true and living God, they considered it a burden upon them.

God also condemns how they sacrificed whatever they wanted instead of the best they had. Let us notice what David said in Psalm 122:1. “I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.” This attitude, and not the attitude of those in Malachi’s day, ought to be our attitude today. Let us come to worship with zeal and enthusiasm, just as David did, ready to serve God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength (Mk. 12:30)! Our worship should be a joyous occasion, a time to connect with God and express our love and devotion to Him (Jn. 4:24).

God’s People Had A Perverted View Of His Character.

In Malachi 2:17, God tells them, “Ye have wearied the LORD with your words. Yet ye say, Wherein have we wearied him? When ye say, Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight of the LORD, and he delighteth in them; or, Where is the God of judgment?” These folks had pushed God to the point that He was disgusted with them (Wilson’s, p. 477). These people had completely perverted the character of God. They taught that God delights in those who do evil. You can see the utter disrespect as they sneered, “Where is the God of judgment?”

Their attitude was not unique, but a resurrection of the attitude of their forefathers. Before the people had gone into exile, God through Isaiah said, “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!” (Isa. 5:20-21) Woe to those today as well who try to pervert God’s character and scoff at His power and might!

God’s People Robbed Him.

In Malachi 3:8, God accuses, “Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.” Just as they had defiled the altar, they had also robbed God through their tithes and offerings. They refused to do as God commanded. They did not give as they should, and God was ready to punish them for it. As we read further in this chapter, we notice that these Jews had become very arrogant. “Your words have been stout against me, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, What have we spoken so much against thee? Ye have said, It is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the LORD of hosts? And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered” (Mal. 3:13-15). There is no room in God’s kingdom for those who think they can work wickedly and God will not care, or for those who think He will not punish them for acting that way.

God’s People Were Allowed To Return.

Even at this time, God had not given up on them completely. In Malachi 3:7 God said, “…Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts.” After all God’s people had done, God was still ready to forgive them. He told them to return to Him, and He would return to them when they did. This passage is like James 4:8 which says, “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you…” God was still willing to forgive after all the terrible things these people did to God!

In like manner, if we want to be forgiven by God, we must realize that we have sinned (Rom. 3:23), and make our lives right with God through obedience to His word. Despite their arrogance and thievery, God was willing to take them back because He loved them as a man loves his son (Mal. 3:17). God is willing to take us back when we repent (II Pet. 3:9).

God’s People Had A Reward Waiting For Them.

Notice the promise God made to these wicked Jews, “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts. And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts” (Mal. 3:10-12). After their selfishness and unwillingness to serve God, He still was there with out-stretched arms waiting for them. He told them, “…prove me now…” How foolish these people were for not taking God up on His offer.

How foolish people are today, as well. Jesus Christ extends the invitation, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matt. 11:28-30). Do not let the cares of this world lead you away from the Truth. Stay grounded and settled in God’s word as long as you live (I Cor. 15:58). Do not become like these people in Malachi’s day (Rom. 15:4; I Cor. 10:11).

— via Articles from the church of Christ in Spenser, Indiana, March 1, 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.)

“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) Together (Irvin Himmel)
2) The Tragic Sin of King Uzziah (Keith Sharp)

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Together

Irvin Himmel

Christians are not expected to be loners. First, we need the help of, and constant communion with, the Lord. “For none of us liveth to himself. For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s” (Rom. 14:7-8). Second, we need each other.

Please consider the emphasis which the New Testament places on togetherness.

Gathering Together

Jesus taught, “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them” (Matt. 18:20). The presence of Jesus is not contingent on the size of the gathering, but rather that the gathering is “in His name.” The Hebrew writer admonished, “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another. . .” (Heb. 10:25).

Mutual edification strengthens and fortifies. God wants us to come together. Deliberately staying away from the meetings of the church is a symptom of selfishness and self-centeredness. Our presence is needed, not to boost a preacher’s ego or to swell the attendance merely to have larger numbers, but for our own good.

Worshiping Together

“And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them” (Acts 20:7). The first-century disciples did not partake of the Lord’s supper in solitariness; they came together to break bread. When Peter was released from prison, “he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying” (Acts 12:12). Although one may pray in privacy, as other examples clearly show, it is appropriate that we pray together. The fact that we are to teach and admonish one another in singing indicates our coming together to sing (Col. 3:16).

Our attitude toward worshiping together should be that expressed by the psalmist, “O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together” (Ps. 34:3). There is beauty and inspiration in our blending our voices in praise and being of one heart in expressing homage and adoration to God.

Striving Together

Paul taught the saints at Philippi to “stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel” (Phil. 1:27). Too often Christians are found striving one against another. A spirit of divisiveness hinders our efforts. Some who are quick to label others as having a “party spirit” are themselves quite partisan in certain views which they champion. “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity” (Ps. 133:1).

Striving together means working and fighting shoulder to shoulder against the common foe. It means contending together for the faith “once delivered” to the saints (Jude 3). For this to be a reality we must “be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment” (1 Cor. 1:10). It is to be regretted that petty squabbles and personal clashes prevent our closing ranks in the battle against wickedness. Some had rather sit on the sidelines and take potshots here and there than to work together with courageous brethren in striving for the faith of the gospel.

Following Together

Certain people follow one religious standard and others follow another. There is always confusion in a congregation when some adhere to one rule and others give attention to a conflicting concept. Paul said to the Philippians, “. . . Let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing. Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample” (Phil. 3:16-17). To be “followers together” of Paul means imitating the same model. To follow Paul is to follow Christ, for the apostle insisted, “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ” (1 Cor. 11:1).

Followers together of Paul are not ashamed of the gospel (Rom. 1:16). Followers together of Paul come not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring the testimony of God (1 Cor. 2:1). Followers together of Paul learn, in whatever state, to be content (Phil. 4:11). Followers together of Paul endure persecutions and afflictions (2 Tim. 3:10-12). Followers together of Paul fight a good fight, finish the course, and keep the faith (2 Tim. 4:7). Followers together of Paul do not covet anyone’s silver, gold, or apparel (Acts 20:33).

Being Caught Up Together

The faithful in Christ who are living on earth when he returns will have no advantage over the dead in Christ, because “the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord” (1 Thess. 4:16-17). Think of it! The dead in Christ are raised up; and they, along with the living in Christ, are caught up together to meet the Lord and be with him forevermore.

Together, God’s people worship, work, struggle, weep, rejoice, suffer, and go home to eternal glory. Together, we shall praise him for ever and ever!

— Via Truth Magazine, Vol. XLV; 3, p18, February 1, 2001

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The Tragic Sin of King Uzziah

Keith Sharp

King Uzziah of Judah obeyed the law of the Lord; and, as the result, God blessed him and made his kingdom strong (2 Chronicles 26:1-15). “But when he was strong, he grew proud, to his destruction. For he was unfaithful to the LORD his God and entered the temple of the LORD to burn incense on the altar of incense” (verse 16, English Standard Version).

Azariah the high priest and 80 brave priests followed the king into the temple, confronted him, and informed him he had no right to offer the incense to the Lord. Uzziah became very angry, but as the priests courageously withstood him, leprosy broke out in his forehead. The priests rushed him out of the temple, and he himself hurried to leave. But he was an unclean leper the remainder of his life, had to live by himself (cf. Leviticus 13:1-3; Numbers 5:1-3), and his son Jotham reigned in his place (2 Chronicles 26:17-23).

King Uzziah, a descendant of David, was of the tribe of Judah (Matthew 1:2-9). The Lord did not specifically forbid one from Judah to function as a priest; He just said nothing about priests from the tribe of Judah (Hebrews 7:14). He commanded that priests in Israel were to be of the tribe of Levi and of the lineage of Aaron (Exodus 40:13-15; Numbers 26:58-59).

King Uzziah could not minister as a priest because the Lord God specified the tribe from which the priests were to come, and he was of the wrong tribe.

Why don’t churches of Christ have instrumental music in worship? It’s because in the New Testament the Lord tells us to sing in worship (Acts 16:25; Romans 15:8-9; 1 Corinthians 14:15; Ephesians 5:18-19; Colossians 3:16; Hebrews 2:11-12; James 5:13). He didn’t say play on an instrument, as He did under the Old Testament (cf. Psalm 150); and He didn’t just say “make music.” He specified that we sing in worship. Instrumental music is the wrong kind of music.

When the Lord specifies what He wants in worship, it is sin to introduce something else. Do you think you could convince King Uzziah now that it doesn’t make any difference how we worship?

— via Articles from the Knollwood church of Christ, June 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.)

“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) So, What’s a Good Sermon? (Jefferson David Tant)
2) What Think Ye? (Keith Hamilton)

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So, What’s a Good Sermon?

Jefferson David Tant

Out of all the thousands of sermons preachers have delivered and to which people have listened, how would we determine which sermons are good, which are bad, or which are so-so? I would suppose that even preachers evaluate themselves from time to time, and on occasion might conclude, “Well, I’ll never preach that sermon again!”

In answering the question, it would be good to go to the “Preacher’s Manual,” which we would agree would be God’s Word. I doubt that any preacher would suppose that he could measure up to the Master Teacher, Jesus Christ, in His Sermon on the Mount; but there are various Scriptures that do mention preaching that is connected to the apostles and others in the New Testament writings.

For some helpful advice, let’s consider the words of one chosen by God to be a teacher, as he instructs a young preacher. Of course, we’re writing about the apostle Paul and the young man Timothy:

“I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction” (II Timothy 4:1-2).

Preach the Word

What is “the Word”? Obviously, it is the teaching of Jesus Christ. A good sermon is based on God’s Word, not the opinions or doctrines of men. And if preachers are to “preach the Word,” they need to spend some time studying and meditating on the Word. There may be various things that occupy a preacher’s time and thoughts, but there must be a priority set on the matter of spending time with the Bible. Within it are the “words of life.”

Oh, there may be times when a preacher says, “Let me give you my thoughts on that.” But be sure that your thoughts are in agreement with what the passage says, rather than giving a different view.

Be Ready in Season and Out of Season

What does Paul mean by this? To preach in both summer and winter? Obviously, that’s not what Paul meant, but it certainly would apply to preaching in good times and hard times. Yes, there are good times for preaching. The hearers are at peace with one another and there is harmony, and the audience/church is working together to further the Lord’s work. But Satan is still at work in the world, and sometimes brethren are distracted by his devices, and there may be some difficulties the preacher faces. Some preachers don’t want to get involved, and just ignore problems when they arise, hoping they will go away. But that’s not how either Christ or Paul dealt with problems. They confronted them.

Reprove, Rebuke

These words are very similar in their meanings, and carry the idea of “to admonish, convict, convince.” I suppose this would not always be the most pleasant duty of a preacher, but if the body of Christ is to be whole and pure, it must be done. We certainly know that a medical doctor sometimes has to take measures to remove disease from our bodies. It may not always be pleasant for us, but we know that good health makes it necessary. Is the body of Christ, the church, any less important?

Some readers are familiar with the well-known denominational preacher in the United States named Joel O’Steen. In an interview on TV, he stated, “I don’t preach on sin. I want my people to feel good.” I guess that’s how he could build a church of some 40,000 members and become a millionaire.

The greatest preacher of all time, Jesus Christ, certainly did not hesitate to rebuke the Pharisees and others for their hypocrisy and sinful deeds in his preaching. And Paul did the same, even confronting a fellow apostle, Peter, for his bad behavior when he separated himself from the Gentiles in Galatians 3:11-12.

And what is our attitude and behavior when we have to confront those who are in error? What should be the tone of our voice in this matter? Paul tells us in Galatians 6:1: “Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted.”

I’m afraid that I know of too many situations where people may have been driven away by the harsh attitude of the preacher either in private or in public. How would we want others to deal with us if we have been in the wrong? Thus Paul said we should “look to ourselves.”

Exhort

This is an encouraging word, and Strong’s Greek Dictionary says: “parakaleo, par-ak-al-eh’-o — to call near, i.e. invite, invoke (by imploration, hortation or consolation):–beseech, call for, (be of good) comfort, desire, (give) exhort(-ation), entreat, pray.”

I don’t think I need to add to that, as Strong gives a pretty good definition of what it means to “exhort.” And of course, this corresponds to what Paul said in Galatians 6:1 about a “spirit of gentleness.”

With Great Patience

Just what  does it mean to be “patient?” Would this not carry the idea that we are not to be quick to anger, not use harsh words, but rather to have a spirit of love and kindness when we seek to correct others, whether from the pulpit or in person?

Brethren, if we seek to apply Paul’s instructions to a young preacher to our own work, then obviously God’s Word will work its purpose, and the hearers of our sermons/lessons will be edified and strengthened and the church will grow.

The Psalmist closes the 107th Psalm with the following words: “Whoso is wise will give heed to these things; And they will consider the lovingkindnesses of Jehovah” (Psalms 107:43).

And Paul’s words to the church in Rome also have an application to those who preach the gospel: “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor” (Romans 12:12).

— Via Seeking Things Above, Volume 3, Number 10, January 2023

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What Think Ye?

Keith Hamilton

“But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard. He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went. And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not. Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him” (Matthew 21:28-32).

On various occasions, our Lord asked questions of His audience appealing to their intellect. He did not ask them, “How do you feel about this?” Nor did he ask, “How does that make you feel?” Or even, “When that happened, how did it make you feel?” No, our Lord wanted people to think. He wanted them to engage their mind and intellect. The reason for such was to settle things in their minds. It is when the mind is convinced that matters become settled, and solid convictions can come to be formed. When the heart and feelings get involved, things can become messy and fickle.

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9).

The mind must not follow the heart. Meaning our convictions must not be based on our feelings or emotions. Rather, the heart must follow the mind. Meaning that we must think deeply about the things God has said, become soundly convinced we recognize what His will is, then form convictions that rest solidly on God’s Word. When one does that, they can then rejoice and feel great about their relationship with God. Now, go back and read the story Jesus told above and consider His question. Which of the two sons truly respected their father? The one who gleefully said, “I go”? Or the one who reflected on his actions, repented, and went to do the will of his father? You know, don’t you? Complying with the will of our Father in heaven is something we must do! Have you done the will of Jesus by believing and being baptized (Mark 16:16)? The will of God for you begins with repenting and being baptized for the remission of your sin (Acts 2:38). What THINK ye? Are you doing the will of God?

— Via Articles from the Knollwood church of Christ, July 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.)

“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) Paradise and the Thief on the Cross (Kyle Pope)
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Paradise and the Thief on the Cross

Kyle Pope

When Jesus was crucified, Scripture records that His cross was positioned between two others (Matt. 27:38; Mark 15:27; Luke 23:33; John 19:18).  Luke tells us the men on these crosses were “criminals” (Luke 23:33), using a word that literally means ones doing evil. Matthew and Mark call them “thieves” (KJV) or “robbers” (ASV, NASB, NKJV, ESV). Brother David McClister, in his recent article “And With Him Two Other Men” points out that the word Matthew and Mark use could also mean, “insurrectionists” or “rebels.”* Whether their crime was rebellion against Rome or simply theft, one of these men acknowledged, “we receive the due reward of our deeds” (Luke 23:41a, NKJV).

The Bible tells us that at first both of these men mocked Jesus (Matt. 27:44; Mark 15:32). Luke, however, records that at some point one of the men had a change of heart. As the other continued to mock Jesus (Luke 23:39), this man rebuked him, saying “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation?” (Luke 23:40). After acknowledging that they deserved their condemnation (Luke 23:41a), this criminal declared of Jesus, “this Man has done nothing wrong” (Luke 23:41b).

We are not told why he said that. Did he know what Jesus had said and done during His ministry? Had he followed Jesus at some point, only to stumble into theft or insurrection? Or, was this the first time he had encountered Jesus, but saw from all that was happening around him that this was no ordinary Man? The Holy Spirit has not answered these questions.

Whatever the source of this man’s knowledge about Jesus, the Holy Spirit has preserved for us a very important request he made to Jesus. He begged Him, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom” (Luke 23:42). What a striking request! These men were both about to die. What kingdom could either expect to experience? Did this man realize what the modern religious world has missed, that Jesus’ kingdom would not be an earthly, political dominion, but a spiritual realm made up of those in submission to Him as King (cf. John 18:36; Luke 17:21)? That seems unlikely—Jesus’ own disciples did not yet understand that (see Acts 1:6). Did he believe that Jesus would rise from the dead, and at that time establish an earthly kingdom? That seems to have been the expectation of Jesus’ apostles. After His resurrection they asked, “Will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6). If so, how would that have helped the thief? Did he hope that Jesus would resurrect him too? On the other hand, was he speaking of a kingdom in the afterlife to which he assumed they would both go upon their death? Once again, the Holy Spirit has not given us the answers to these questions, only the fact that this man saw in Jesus One who would be a King who would at some point “come into” His own kingdom.

What we are told is Jesus’ answer to the man’s request. He told him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise” (Luke 23:43). How are we to understand Jesus’ words? Where (or what) is this “Paradise” to which Jesus refers?

“Paradise” in the New Testament

The word “Paradise” is a transliteration of the Greek word paradeisos (παράδεισος) referring literally to an enclosed preserve, grove, park, or hunting ground.  The New Testament uses this word only three times. The first is in our text in Luke 23:43. The last comes in a short letter in the book of Revelation directed to the church in Ephesus. After giving this church both praise and rebuke (Rev. 2:1-6), the letter ends with this charge:

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God (Rev. 2:7).

This connection with the “tree of life” is interesting. This was what was said to stand in Eden before the sin of Adam and Eve (Gen. 2:9). It was accessible to the man and woman before their sin, but they were cast out of the garden in order to prevent them from having access to it, lest they should–“take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever” (Gen. 3:22). The Greek Old Testament translated before the time of Christ used the word paradeisos 13 times in Genesis in reference to Eden (Gen. 2:8, 9, 10, 15, 16; 3:1, 2, 3, 8 [twice], 10, 23, 24). At the close of the book of Revelation when description was given of the dwelling place of those saved by the blood of Jesus after final judgment (Rev. 20:11-15) and the destruction of the present heaven and earth (Rev. 21:1), twice we are told that the “tree of life” will be accessible to God’s people once again. In this place it does not stand as a lone tree, but grows on either side of the “river of life” yielding its fruit constantly (Rev. 22:2). Jesus declared, “Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city” (Rev. 22:14). This would suggest that the “Paradise of God” promised to the church in Ephesus refers to the place of final reward where the children of God enjoy eternal life. Was this what Jesus meant when He spoke to the thief or are there other ways the word is used?

A second instance is found in Paul’s second letter to the church in Corinth. As Paul called upon the brethren to recognize the futile nature of boasting in fleshly accomplishments (2 Cor. 11:16-33), he then moved to speak “of such a one” of whom he said “I will boast” (2 Cor. 12:5). He calls him “a man in Christ” whom he claimed to have known “fourteen years ago” (2 Cor. 12:2), but it’s evident from the text that this is a humble way of speaking about himself. He describes this man as receiving “visions and revelations” (2 Cor. 12:1), but then goes on to describe his own “thorn in the flesh” which was given to him “lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations” (2 Cor. 12:7). Paul is talking about what he was allowed to see. Paul acknowledges twice that God had not revealed to him whether this had been a bodily transportation or an out of body experience (2 Cor. 12:2-3), but says this “man in Christ” was “caught up to the third heaven” (2 Cor. 12:2). The Jews conceived of three distinct realms of heaven—The first where the birds and the clouds are, the second where the stars, sun, and moon are, and the third, where God is. Paul uses a parallel term to describe this same place declaring of the same man, “he was caught up into Paradise” (2 Cor. 12:4a). In this remarkable experience, Paul was allowed to see (as brother Melvin Curry puts it) the very “abode of God” (Truth Commentary on Second Corinthians Bowling Green, KY: Guardian of Truth Foundation, 2008. p. 409). Was this what Jesus meant when He spoke to the thief on the cross, or is there yet another way of understanding Jesus’ words?

Jesus’ Death and Jesus’ Wording

To answer this we must consider two things: 1) What does the New Testament teach about where Jesus went upon His death? and 2) Is there anything in the wording of Jesus’ promise that helps us narrow its meaning?

On the Day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit came upon the apostles and they declared Jesus as the resurrected Messiah, Peter appealed to Psalm 16 as a prophecy of the Messiah’s resurrection. He quotes verse 10 to say, “For You will not leave my soul in Hades, nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption” (Acts 2:27). Peter then explained that this prophetically pointed to Jesus (Acts 2:29-32). Declaring that David, “spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that His soul was not left in Hades” (Acts 2:31). So where did Jesus go when He died? To “Hades” the place of all departed souls prior to judgment. Is this the “Paradise” to which Jesus refers?

On one occasion Jesus told an account of a rich man and a poor man named Lazarus and events that happened after their deaths (Luke 16:19-31). People often call this a “parable,” but it is never identified that way in Scripture. Like Acts 2 it describes all who die (prior to judgment) going to “Hades” (Luke 16:23). Yet, while final sentencing and judgment has not happened to them yet, we are told that there is a separation of the righteous and the wicked. Lazarus went to the region of Hades called “Abraham’s bosom” (Luke 16:22) where he was “comforted” (Luke 16:25). The rich man went to a region “in Hades” called simply “torments” (Luke 16:23). As Jesus describes it between these two areas is a “great gulf” preventing souls from going from one region to the other (Luke 16:26). Since Jesus is said in Scripture to have gone into “Hades” upon His death (Acts 2:31) is it reasonable to conclude that the “Paradise” where Jesus promised the thief “you will be with Me” (Luke 23:43) is the same region of Hades described as “Abraham’s bosom” (Luke 16:22).

Someone might ask, how do we know that Jesus wasn’t talking about “Paradise” in either of the ways Paul or the book of Revelation used the term? Let’s notice Jesus’ wording. He said, “Assuredly, I say to you, TODAY you will be with Me in Paradise” (Luke 23:43, emphasis mine). We noticed in the example in Revelation 2:7 the connection with “the tree of life” and saw that this describes a condition after final judgment (cf. Rev. 20:11-15; 22:14). We should note something that is said to happen before final judgment. In order for the dead to appear before the “great white throne” of judgment (Rev. 20:11), we are told:

…Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death (Rev. 20:13b-14).

It is only after this that the “new heaven and new earth” are said to appear (Rev. 21:1) and “the tabernacle of God” now is said to be “with men, and He will dwell with them” (Rev. 21:3).

The “Paradise” of Revelation 2:7 is a place of eternal life with God after judgment. The “Paradise” of 2 Corinthians 12:4 is the present “abode of God”—something Paul was allowed to see, but no one can enjoy until after judgment (cf. Rev. 21:3). Since Jesus is clearly declared in Scripture to have gone into“Hades” upon His death (Acts 2:27, 31)—yet, “Death and Hades” must be cast into the “lake of fire” before final judgment—if Jesus promised the thief “today you will be with Me in Paradise” He must have been using this term to refer to the region of Hades also called “Abraham’s bosom” (Luke 16:22). We may see from this that “Paradise” should not be understood as the formal proper name of a single place or condition, but as a way of describing a wondrous place of beauty, joy, comfort, and peace—whether that be in the realm of the saved prior to judgment, the present “abode of God,” or the final place where God’s people will dwell with Him eternally after judgment.

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* McClister, David. “And With Him Two Other Men” Focus Online April 12, 2016 [online] http://focusmagazine.org/and-with-him-two-other-men.php.

— Via Faithful Sayings, Volume 18, Issue 21 (May 22, 2016)

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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.)