“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations…teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20, NASB).
——————–
Contents:
1) “Making Mention Of You In Our Prayers” (Jarrod M. Jacobs)
2) New (Doy Moyer)
——————–
-1-
“Making Mention Of You In Our Prayers”
Jarrod M. Jacobs
The apostle Paul says on several occasions that he is praying for the brethren. One of these times is when he writes to the Thessalonians (1:2). As this letter begins, Paul says he (and Silvanus and Timothy) are praying for them. What might a prayer from Paul sound like? What might he pray for the brethren?
In answering this question, we do not have to guess or conjecture. The focus of their prayer was stated in verse 3: “Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father.” This says a great deal about the brethren at Thessalonica, considering Paul spent a relatively short time with them (Acts 17:1-10).
Their“work of faith,” “labor of love,” and “patience of hope” left such an impression on him and the others that Paul would tell the brethren that when they prayed, they remembered those characteristics in them. These virtues, demonstrated by the Thessalonians, are not just commendable but also essential for every Christian. They are the foundation of our relationship with God and our interactions with others.
I find it interesting how Paul describes each attribute. Notice it is a “work of faith.” While this is consistent with Jesus’ teaching (Jn. 6:28-29), this is not the way the world describes faith. Men want to divorce faith from any action or work, even though James tells us that “faith without works is dead” (Jas. 2:26), meaning that our actions evidence true faith. Paul knew how deep their faith was because he saw it in their actions. How do we show our faith today (Jas. 2:18; Rom. 10:16)?
The Thessalonians’ “labor of love” made an impression on Paul as well. Again, men today might not associate“labor” with “love,” but Paul did! The English word “love” is translated from the word “agape.” “Agape” love is the love that looks out for the best interests of others (Vine’s, pp. 702-704). It is a sacrificial love that ought to be in the lives of all Christians. In this case, “agape” love is a decision that is made. We will love others whether or not they love us first. In the case of Paul and the Thessalonians, we can see how their faithfulness to the Lord despite the persecution they faced would be a true “labor of love” (Acts 17:5, 8, 13)! How much do you love others? What kind of labor is it to love some people? Are you still trying, or have you given up (Matt. 22:37-39)? Don’t ever give up on showing that true, sacrificial love toward others (Matt. 5:46-47; I Cor. 13:1-8)!
Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy also remembered their “patience of hope” (I Thess. 1:3). What did this mean? Understand, the word “hope” in this passage means earnest expectation. This was not a wish or a pipedream, as we often associate with “hope.” Instead, these people had been promised something and expected to receive it! In that expectation, they were patient. This means long-suffering, or enduring to receive the thing for which they hoped! Mr. Thayer includes these thoughts when defining patience: “In the NT the characteristic of a man who is not swerved from his deliberate purpose and his loyalty to faith and piety by even the greatest trials and sufferings” (Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon). Truly, these people stand out in their faithfulness to the Lord. They were going to have to stand and suffer as they looked forward to something better that was to come (II Cor. 4:17)!
As we read the passage, notice where all of these things originated, “in our Lord Jesus Christ”! It is in this relationship that we can have faith, love, and hope. Dear one, are you “in Christ” or not (Gal. 3:27; Eph. 1:3)? Being “in Christ” makes all the difference in the world! In Christ, we have opportunities to enjoy faith, hope, and love, and to grow in these areas, just like the Thessalonians. These three characteristics, faith, love, and hope, are not fleeting, but they abide in Christ, as Paul said to the Corinthians (I Cor. 13:13).
In simple terms. Paul was praying that the Thessalonians would remain strong and not give up in their service to God. Let this be our prayer for fellow Christians today. If someone is not a Christian, then become one today (II Cor. 6:2; Mk. 16:16) and then be determined to mature in the Lord like the Thessalonians!
— Via The Ancient Landmark, June 1, 2025
——————–
-2-
New
Doy Moyer
We all like new things, or at least things that are new to us. The new car, the new house, the new computer, the new …fill in the blank. We speak about the New Year and perhaps new beginnings. There is something special about newness. Sadly, we often tire of something after the newness has worn off and we are ready, again, for something else new. Yet what if we can have something new that stays new, is constantly being renewed, and forever keeps its newness? This is what we have in the gospel of Jesus!
New Creatures: When we become disciples of Jesus, we become new creatures: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come” (2 Cor 5:17). As we are born again of water and the Spirit (John 3:3-5), we are buried with Christ in baptism and raised to walk in “newness of life” (Rom 6:4). The “old self” was crucified with Jesus so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin (as is characterized by the old self). Being the “new creation” is not just a one-time event but is a continual effect of being in Christ.
Paul had more to say about putting off the old and putting on the new. If we are raised up with Christ, we are to seek the things above where Christ is (Col 3:1-2). We are to put to death the “what is earthly” in us: “sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry” (v. 5). Putting off the old self with its practices, we are to “put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator” (v. 10). This includes putting on “compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony” (vv. 12-14). With new attitudes and new hearts, we are continually renewed in Him. Likewise, Paul wrote about putting off the old self, that “former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness” (Eph 4:22-24).
Renewed in Mind: In contrast to being conformed to the world, we are to be living sacrifices for the Lord and “transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect” (Rom 12:1-2). We must not allow ourselves to slip back into the old self, conforming to the world and its evil desires. God will renew our minds daily when we trust Him.
Renewed in Courage: When faced with significant discouragement in his work, he could still say, “we do not lose heart” (2 Cor 4:1). He may have been afflicted, persecuted, perplexed, and struck down, but he knew he was not crushed, driven to despair, forsaken, or destroyed. “So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day” (v. 16). Because of his eternal perspective, knowing that what is seen is temporary and what is not seen is eternal, he could focus on what was most important, trust God, and be renewed day by day.
A New Covenant: We live according to a “new covenant,” which was promised by the Lord through the prophets. For example, the Lord promised through Jeremiah that He would “make a new covenant” with His people (Jer 31:31-34). The Hebrews writer quotes this, calling the new covenant “better” than the old as it is enacted upon “better promises” (Heb 8). He concludes this thought by saying, “In speaking of a new covenant, he makes the first one obsolete. And what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.” It is this “new covenant” of which the Lord spoke when He gave instructions concerning the Lord’s Supper (1 Cor 11:25).
New Heavens and New Earth. The theme of newness runs from beginning to end of Scripture, pointing us to the end times in which we look forward to a “new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells” (2 Pet 3:8-13). This points us to heaven itself, God’s dwelling, and the “new Jerusalem” where the former things have passed away; and He who sits on the throne says, “Behold, I am making all things new” (Rev 21:1-15). The glory of God illuminates the eternal city where the newness never wears off, and God’s people will never tire or battle with the “old” again.
If we do like what is new, then we need to understand that there is nothing greater than the newness we have in Jesus Christ. We share in a new covenant, look forward to the newness of God’s presence, and, while remaining on earth, live a new life that is continually being renewed through His Spirit and His word. The old is gone. The new has come!
— Via Bulletin Articles from the Vestavia church of Christ, January 5, 2025
——————–
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.)