“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) Grace and Works: They Really Do Go Together (Bryan Gibson)
2) Trusting God (Psalm 71:1) (Mike Johnson)

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Grace and Works: They Really Do Go Together

Bryan Gibson

Have YOU seen the grace of God? Barnabas sure did. “When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord” (Acts 11:23). What Barnabas saw, of course, was the effect of God’s grace—the effect it had on these people in Antioch, which was that “a great number believed and turned to the Lord” (Acts 11:21). What Barnabas actually saw was their service to the Lord, clear proof they had received or accepted God’s grace.

God’s grace is not an end in itself—it has an aim or purpose. Its initial aim, of course, is to provide the means for the forgiveness of our sins, but it goes beyond that. God’s grace is designed to change us in such a way that when people see us, they see the grace of God, just like Barnabas did when he saw the new Christians in Antioch.

Here is a partial list of the changes God’s grace should produce in us. These passages all show a clear connection between grace and works, especially when you look at the larger context.

  • That we die to sin and walk in newness of life (Romans 5:20-6:1-4).
  • That we change from being slaves of sin to being slaves of righteousness (Romans 6:15-23).
  • That we deny ourselves “ungodliness and worldly lusts,” and instead “live soberly, righteously, and godly” (Titus 2:11-12).
  • That we no longer live for ourselves, but for Jesus, who died for us (2 Corinthians 5:14-15).
  • That we first give ourselves to the Lord and then to others (2 Corinthians 8:5).
  • That we become “zealous for good works” (Titus 2:14); that we labor “abundantly” for the Lord (1 Corinthians 15:10).

How could anyone possibly think obedience detracts from or diminishes the grace of God? Nothing could be further from the truth. What obedience actually does is bring the grace of God into clearer light, for all to see (like Barnabas did). As seen in the above passages, the very design of God’s grace is to change our hearts and then change our lives, to make us “obedient in all things” (2 Corinthians 2:9).

Let’s be sure we don’t “receive the grace of God in vain” (2 Corinthians 6:1). May it change us in every way it was designed to change us, which is ultimately into “the image of His Son” (Romans 8:29). “It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me” (Galatians 2:20)—only the grace of God can make that happen, and that’s exactly what others will “see” when they see Him in us. And they won’t see Him without full and complete submission to the will of God.

— Via Plain Words from God’s Word, March 27, 2025

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Trusting God
(Psalm 71:1)

Mike Johnson

Psalm 71:1 says, “In You, O Lord, I put my trust; let me never be put to shame.”  This psalm was written by an aged man who had trusted God, not an idol or false deity, throughout his life.   However, even in his old age, he faced enemies waiting to devour him like vultures.  In this prayer, he expresses his appreciation for all that the Lord had done for him in the past.  He makes requests of God with complete confidence that He will be with him.  He knew that God would continue to be his deliverer as long as he lived, and even in the later stages of his life, he would declare the message of God’s goodness to others. With this verse in mind, we will examine the concept of trusting God.

The Hebrew word found in verse 1, translated as “trust” (NKJV), is rendered by most translations as “take refuge.” Sometimes, it is used figuratively of God to take refuge under His wings.  Consider Psalm 36:7, “How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God!  Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Your wings.”  In Ruth 2:12, Boaz told Ruth that the Lord would reward her “under whose wings you have come for refuge.”  Finally, Proverbs 14:32 says, in contrast to the wicked, “the righteous has a refuge in death.”  The psalmist trusted God and could go to Him for protection and refuge, as a baby chick would go to its mother.  (Note also verse 5.)

Today, some people are hesitant to trust in God.  Perhaps this is because they have not seen Him.  Some people may have more difficulty trusting someone they have never seen.  Also, many do not know much about God.  It is harder to trust someone we do not know.  Finally, some may have trust issues due to past experiences.  Thus, a person might ask, “Why should I trust anyone?”

If one person says to another, “Trust me.” He may respond by saying, “Why should I?”   It can be helpful to have some reasons to trust another.  Consider four reasons to trust God.

1. God never lies or fails to keep His promises. People often do not do what they say they will.  A person may make a promise and fail to keep it, which is never the case with God.  Consider Numbers 23:19, which says, “God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent.  Has He said, and will He not do?  Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?” In Deuteronomy 7:9, we are told, “Therefore know that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments.” We can count on God.

2. God cares for His creation.  In Matthew 6:25-34, Jesus tells His followers not to worry.  He speaks of His care for the birds of the air, the beauty of the lilies, and the grass of the field.  He points out that if God takes care of these, even more so, He will take care of his people (33).  Also, in Matthew 7:7-12, the Lord points out that an earthly father gives good gifts to his children.  Then He says (11), “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!” Romans 8:28 tells us, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”  Then verse 35 says, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?  Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?” The fact that God cares for us is another reason to trust Him!

3. God has proven Himself to be trustworthy. Throughout the Scriptures, we can read of the trustworthiness of God as he fulfilled His promises.  To Abraham, in Genesis 12:1-3, we read of the land, nation, and seed promise.  God would give Abraham’s descendants a land, and they would become a great nation.  He also promised that all nations of the earth would be blessed, which was related to Christ’s coming.  God fulfilled these promises.  In 1 Kings 8:56, Solomon said, “Blessed be the Lord, who has given rest to His people Israel, according to all that He promised.  There has not failed one word of all His good promise, which He promised through His servant Moses.”  The Lord has proven Himself in our own lives, the lives of others, and the lives of the people we can read about in the Bible.

4. God is sovereign.  Holman Bible Dictionary defines God’s sovereignty as “The biblical teaching that God is the source of all creation and that all things come from and depend upon Him.” God is in control. He is the creator of the universe, and He rules over all.  God is omniscient (has all knowledge) and omnipotent (has all power).  Psalm 24:1 explains, “The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell therein.”  Psalm 103:19 says, “The Lord has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all.”  In Jeremiah’s prayer to God, he said, “Ah, Lord God!  Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm.  There is nothing too hard for You” (Jer. 32:19).  In daily life, we may be unable to trust certain people to do a particular task because they lack the knowledge and ability.  For example, we would not trust our plumbers to perform brain surgery on us.  Likewise, we may be unable to trust our physicians to wire our house.  However, we can completely trust God in everything because God is sovereign!

In conclusion, as the psalmist, we should trust the Lord.  God is dependable, and He cares for us.  Further, the Lord has proven Himself to be trustworthy, and He is sovereign.  People may ask us to trust them, which may or may not be a good idea.  However, we can always have confidence in God!

— Via Seeking Things Above

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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.)