Year: 2026 (Page 1 of 3)

The Gospel Observer

July 26, 2026 / Tom Edwards

“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) Searching in All the Wrong Places (R.J. Evans)
2) Fools, Fools, and More Fools (Bryan Gibson)
3) Psalm 119:49-56 (Berean Study Bible)
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Searching in All the Wrong Places

R.J. Evans

Some years back, there was a popular song about looking for love in all the wrong places. In a similar manner, Solomon teaches us that most people in the world are searching in all the wrong places for purpose, fulfillment, true values, joy, peace and contentment. In the book of Ecclesiastes, we read of his search for life’s true meaning. He seemed to first be attracted to the pleasures of this world, laughter, and mirth. But then we hear him say, “this also was vanity” (Eccl. 2:1-2). He tried accumulating material possessions—he built houses and planted vineyards and orchards “of all kinds.” His own words were, “Whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them” (Eccl. 2:10). He then acknowledged it all to be “vanity and grasping for the wind.” It all caused him a lot of worry, trouble, and heartache. It even distressed him to think of all the material possessions he had saved up. He became concerned about who would inherit them and what they would do with them (Eccl. 2:18-19). Throughout the book Solomon repeatedly stated— “Vanity of vanities…All is vanity.”

Jesus has set the record straight concerning where fulfillment, purpose, values, joy, peace and contentment are all to be found. He tells us to “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things [necessities of life, rje] shall be added to you” (Matt. 6:33). He has also told us to “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses” (Lk. 12:15). Covetousness involves that inordinate desire for “things.” It involves that persistent striving to have more and more. But again, the words of Solomon come to mind: “He who loves silver will not be satisfied with silver; Nor he who loves abundance, with increase. This also is vanity” (Eccl. 5:10). The Apostle Paul also taught us by example when he said, “I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content” (Phil. 4:11). He tells us that joy and the peace of God are found in living for the Lord, rather than lusting after the material things of this world (Phil. 4:4-7). Thus, some of the most unhappy, unsatisfied, miserable people on this earth are those who have a “love of money” and a love for the “things” they possess (Lk. 12:15; 1 Tim. 6:6-10).

We definitely live in a materialistic, pleasure-mad society that the Bible tells us to expect in the last days (2 Tim. 3:1-5). Jesus warned in the Parable of the Sower: “Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful” (Matt. 13:22). It is much the same today, as it was for Solomon—the super abundance of riches can also be “vanity and grasping for the wind.”

Jeremiah told the people of his day that they should “ask for the old paths, where the good way is, And walk in it; Then you will find rest for your souls” (Jer. 6:16). I believe this same message is in order today. If we are not a Christian, we need to obey the gospel now, not later (2 Cor. 6:2). We need to get back to the “old paths” of children obeying and honoring their parents (Eph. 6:1-3); the “old paths” of building strong families and home life (Matt. 19:1-9; Eph. 5-6; Col. 3; Titus 2); the “old paths” of faithfully worshiping on the Lord’s Day (Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 16:1-2; Heb. 10:25); the “old paths” of dressing modestly (1 Tim. 2:9); the “old paths” of living separate and apart from the world (2 Cor. 6:17-18; 1 Jn. 2:15-17); and the “old paths” of putting the kingdom and the Lord’s work first and foremost in our lives (Matt. 6:33).

Thus, there is no need for us to waste our whole life searching in all the wrong places. Solomon can save us all that time, energy, and effort. Please notice where Solomon finally and ultimately found that for which he was searching: “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is the whole duty of man” (Eccl. 12:13).

— via the Facebook site of the Southside church of Christ in Gonzales, Louisiana, April 3, 2016

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Fools, Fools, and More Fools

Bryan Gibson

You can find them in the Bible—the rich man in the parable was one (Luke 12:20), and so were some of the Pharisees (Matthew 23:17, 19), and some of the Galatians (Galatians 3:1). Fools, we’re told, often come from those who profess to be wise (Romans 1:22). The Book of Proverbs, though, contains the most detailed description of the fool, so let’s put some of those passages together and see what we’ve got.

A fool is easy enough to spot (Proverbs 13:16)—eventually both his speech and behavior give him away (Proverbs 12:23; 15:2). Everyone can see he’s a fool, everyone that is, except himself. Let’s just say he has a pretty high opinion of himself (Proverbs 12:15; 14:3; 30:32), and perhaps that’s the reason he keeps doing the same foolish things over and over again (Proverbs 26:11).

No one can tell him anything, because he is “right in his own eyes” (Proverbs 12:15). He won’t listen to heavenly wisdom and instruction, even when it comes from those who love him most (Proverbs 1:7, 22; 10:8; 12:1; 18:2). So rather than do what the Lord tells him to do, he just does what “feels right” or what “seems right” (Proverbs 28:26; 16:25).

Someone like that—you wouldn’t expect sin to bother them, and that’s exactly the case. A fool mocks at sin (Proverbs 14:9); it’s like sport to him (Proverbs 10:23); he’s not even thinking about the consequences of his actions (Proverbs 14:16; 9:13-18).

He may not listen very well, but he sure can talk. Unfortunately, he doesn’t know when to quit (Proverbs 10:14; 12:23; 14:33; 18:2; 29:11). Others would think better of him if he could just learn to keep his mouth shut (Proverbs 17:28).

A fool is no laughing matter, because he can do a lot of harm, and not just to himself. The fact is, he’s more dangerous than “a bear robbed of her cubs” (Proverbs 17:12), and much of that has to do with the fact he gets too angry, too quickly, and stays that way too long (Proverbs 12:16; 14:16-17, 29; 27:3). He’s never met a fight he didn’t like (Proverbs 18:6-7; 20:3).

A fool has little or no regard for others, so it’s not surprising he would slander others (Proverbs 10:18), or that he would bring grief and shame to his parents (Proverbs 15:20; 17:21, 25; 19:13).

“A fool and his money are soon parted”—that’s not a direct quote from Proverbs, but the principle is certainly there. Luxury doesn’t fit him well (Proverbs 19:10), because he’ll only squander it (Proverbs 21:20).

Is there any hope for the fool? There most certainly is, if he’s willing to repent. Foolishness is a hard habit to break (Proverbs 27:22), but it can be done. “Forsake foolishness and live, and go in the way of understanding” (Proverbs 9:6). “O you simple ones, understand prudence, and you fools, be of an understanding heart” (Proverbs 8:5).

— Via the Weekly Bulletin of the Prattmont church of Christ, November 10, 2024

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Psalm 119:49-56

Zayin

⁴⁹Remember Your word to Your servant, upon which You have given me hope.

⁵⁰This is my comfort in affliction, that Your promise has given me life.

⁵¹The arrogant utterly deride me, but I do not turn from Your law.

⁵²I remember Your judgments of old, O LORD, and in them I find comfort.

⁵³Rage has taken hold of me because of the wicked who reject Your law.

⁵⁴Your statutes are songs to me in the house of my pilgrimage.

⁵⁵In the night, O LORD, I remember Your name, that I may keep Your law.

⁵⁶This is my practice, for I obey Your precepts.

— Berea Study Bible

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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 (except for last of the month Song Service)
and 10 a.m. Worship Service
Wednesday: 7 p.m. Bible Classes

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.)

The Gospel Observer

July 19, 2026 / Tom Edwards

Contents:

1) Eating the Flesh, Drinking the Blood (Clarence Johnson)
2) God’s Rules Should Become Our Habits (Gary Henry)
3) Rescue the Perishing (Heath Rogers)
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Eating the Flesh, Drinking the Blood

Clarence Johnson

Jesus said to the Jews in Capernaum, “…‘I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and are dead. This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world.’ The Jews therefore quarreled among themselves, saying, ‘How can this Man give us His flesh to eat?’ Then Jesus said to them, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me. This is the bread which came down from heaven–not as your fathers ate the manna, and are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever.’ These things He said in the synagogue as He taught in Capernaum” (John 6:47-59).”

The Jews had been impressed by the miracle of the manna in the wilderness. Jesus reminded them that those who ate of the manna for 40 years had died. In spite of eating that physical bread which came from God, they had died. In fact, many of them had died, alienated from God by their sins. They had needed more than physical blessings from God. They also needed to maintain a spiritual relationship with Him.

Though Jesus inhabited a physical body descended from David, His spirit had been with the Father eternally, John 1:1-3, 14. He had literally come down from heaven. He had come in order that those who would choose to come to Him, might have quality life forever.

As the ancient Israelites had eaten the manna from heaven, people could now “eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood” and live perpetually. Even for us today, this is sometimes a difficult concept. We, of course, do not literally eat His flesh or literally drink His blood. When we observe the Lord’s supper, we partake of unleavened bread and “fruit of the vine” which are symbols of His body and His blood. But the Lord’s supper was not really in view in this passage from John 6. That supper was not yet instituted, and there is no way His listeners could have understood such a concept.

Rather Jesus was talking about spiritually appropriating His life and His teaching into our minds and into our actions so that He has, in a very real sense, become a part of our own being. As Paul later said, “Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ…” (Philippians 1:20-21). In Colossians 3:4, he refers to “Christ, who is our life.”

For those who come to Him for the forgiveness of their sins, Jesus, the bread of life is more real than any physical loaf could ever be; and the blessings He brings are not temporary, but permanent.

— Via the Weekly Bulletin of the Prattmont church of Christ, May 25, 2025

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God’s Rules Should Become Our Habits

Discover how the quiet power of daily habits can turn God’s commands from occasional efforts into the steady pattern that shapes a holy life.

Gary Henry

“In imitation of the holy One who has called you — you also must be holy in all your habits of life” (1 Peter 1:15 Weymouth).

Often disparaged, habit is more valuable than we make it out to be. If habit is a pattern of behavior that has become typical within a person’s life, shouldn’t we want obedience to God to become such? When doing what is right has become an established norm, rather than something unusual, isn’t that a good thing?

To keep us within beneficial boundaries, God has given us some rules for our behavior. At the beginning of our lives in Christ, we may find some of these rules unpleasant to obey, but eventually it gets easier. As God’s rules become our habits, staying within His boundaries begins to be characteristic of our conduct: obedience becomes the norm rather than the exception in our lives.

Godly habits are powerful helpers in our daily walk. When the king outlawed prayer, think how much Daniel’s habits helped him to do what was right: “he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days” (Daniel 6:10). When obedience becomes dangerous, we desperately need the “momentum” imparted by habits of obedience, traits established long before the situation became an emergency.

Of course, sinful habits have their own momentum, and that’s one reason we should break those habits as quickly as possible. If doing certain wrong things has become “natural” to us, we need to get back to where they are un-natural and un-characteristic of us.

As we all know, forming a habit requires repetition. If it’s a good habit, it will take practice and patient training: repeatedly urging ourselves to do things that are hard until they finally become easy. As Hyman G. Rickover observed, “Good ideas are not adopted automatically. They must be driven into practice with courageous patience.”

Ultimately, it is our habits that determine our character. We all occasionally act in ways that are inconsistent with our character, but it is our habits — our typical behaviors — that define that character. Rules have their place, both God’s rules and our own, but until a rule becomes a habit, the results are going to be minimal. However, when God’s rules become our habits, powerful things begin to happen.

“Habits are safer than rules; you don’t have to watch them, and you don’t have to keep them either — they keep you” (Avery Johnson).

— Via Ecclesiastes Workshop, March 11, 2026

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Rescue the Perishing

Heath Rogers

“Rescue the perishing, care for the dying, snatch them in pity from sin and the grave.”

We sing this old hymn from time to time. Do we understand what it means? Do we understand what it is calling on us to accomplish? The urgency we are to show in saving those around us who are lost? We know the facts, but sometimes we aren’t acting like anyone needs to be rescued.

Jude tells us, “and some save, snatching them out of the fire…” (Jude 23, ASV). If any of us passed by a house that was on fire, and we knew someone was trapped inside that we could save, I believe we would do everything within our power to rescue them. Yet our friends and neighbors are headed for an eternal fire and we put forth little if any effort to rescue them from this fate. Those around us who are outside of Christ are in danger. The only thing keeping them out of Hell is God’s patience (2 Pet. 3:9). We must rescue them before time runs out. We must snatch them out of the fire. The power to save is not ours, but the responsibility certainly is. We must throw out the life-line.

When Jesus walked among us, He saw us as being sick with sin (Matt. 9:12). He saw us as lost and in need of a shepherd and a savior (Matt. 9:36; Luke 19:10). He knew what Heaven is like and He knew what Hell is like. His love for us caused Him to do what He could to “rescue the perishing.”

Do we look on others the same way Jesus did? Do we have the same love for their souls? Does it bother you when someone who is lost dies? Does it bother you knowing they were not rescued from the fire? Think about it. Act on it.

Our hymn ends with this verse: “Rescue the perishing, duty demands it, strength for thy labor the Lord will provide: Back to the narrow way, patiently win them; tell the poor wand’rer a Savior has died. Rescue the perishing, care for the dying; Jesus is merciful, Jesus will save.”

– Via the weekly bulletin of the Knollwood church of Christ, July 2026

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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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The Gospel Observer

July 12, 2026 / Tom Edwards

Contents:

1) The Tragedy of a Lost Soul (R.J. Evans)
2) Satan’s Blinders (Eric Reynolds)
3) Psalm 119:41-48 (Berean Study Bible)
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The Tragedy of a Lost Soul

R.J. Evans

One of the striking things about the teachings of Jesus is the way He gets to the heart of every issue. There is no better illustration than the following: “For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matt. 16:26). According to the context, Jesus is talking about the value of the soul of a person, not his physical body. In reality, man is a soul. In the beginning, God said, “Let us make man in Our image, according to our likeness…And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being (a living soul, KJV)” (Gen. 1:26; 2:7). The questions Jesus raised in Matthew 16:26 have some sobering implications:

Humans possess an eternal, immortal nature. Mankind has a physical body and a soul or spirit. When a man dies, the spirit leaves the body (Jas. 2:26). Observe that James said “the body without the spirit is dead,” not the spirit without the body is dead. The word of God teaches us that “the spirit will return to God who gave it” (Eccl. 12:7). Jesus speaks of “both soul and body” in Matthew 10:28. Such false philosophies as atheism, humanism, and evolution deny this truth–that man has a soul or spirit. This makes man merely a physical creature with no more soul or spirit than a rock.
The soul is our most priceless possession. It is worth more than all material things combined. It is of divine origin (Eccl. 12:7; Heb. 12:9), eternal in duration (Matt. 25: 46; Mk. 9:43-46), and can transcend earthly relationships (Jn. 4:24). Concerning the soul, the Apostle Peter stated: “…you were not redeemed with corruptible things…but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot… Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit… having been born again not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever” (1 Pet. 1:18-23).
The soul can be sold or exchanged. Some people exchange their souls for pleasure (2 Tim. 3:4). Others sell out for popularity, loving the approval of men more than the praise of God (Jn. 12:43). Many exchange their souls for the love of the world (1 Jn. 2:15-17). Then there are those who trade their souls for error and the false philosophies of men (Col. 2:8). Others trade their souls for material prosperity (Lk. 12:16-21).
Whatever the exchange, it is foolish and costly. The world and all that is in it can never satisfy the deep, vital need of the soul in order to be at peace with God. This world and all its material contents will ultimately be destroyed by fire (2 Pet. 3:10). At death we must leave everything behind. The Apostle Paul stated: “For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out” (1 Tim. 6:7).
There is no loss as tragic as that of the soul. The loss of health, of a child, of one’s family, of one’s life in attempting to gain the “whole world” would be tragic enough, but they are not comparable to the losing of one’s soul. The damnation of the soul is a multiple loss: the beauties of heaven are forfeited and the agonies of hell must be endured forever. A lost soul in hell is everlastingly abandoned “from the presence of the Lord” (2 Thes. 1:9); there is no help or hope for such a horrible condition. A soul in hell is lost for all eternity! What could possibly be more important to us than to obey “the gospel of Christ…the power of God to salvation” (Rom. 1:16) and do whatever the Lord commands and teaches in the New Testament for our soul’s eternal salvation. Jesus, while on earth, stated: “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Lk. 19:10).

— Via the Facebook site for the Southside church of Christ, Gonzales, LA, May 25, 2017
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Satan’s Blinders

Eric Reynolds

If the devil can get someone headed in the wrong direction, I imagine his next move is to insulate that person from any calls to turn back. Some common deceptions that harden us against the truth:

1) “Anyone who criticizes me is a ‘hater.’” Instead of hearing what they have to say, I’ll just assume they are bitter, jealous, etc.

2) “Those who rebuke me are hypocrites.” This dismisses any rebuke because of flaws (real or imagined) in the rebuker.

3) “Admonitions are attacks!” Those who criticize are seen as the enemy, and their words are personal attacks. I must shield myself from their hurtful words (and any truth they might contain).

4) “Only God can judge me.” Who do these people think they are, trying to correct me? They should focus on themselves and leave me alone.

5) “True friends are those who support me.” I will choose to focus on the opinions of those who agree with me.

If someone adopts these attitudes toward admonitions, they will be impervious to correction. Isn’t that exactly what the devil would want? Here are five truths from God regarding criticism (quotations from the ESV):

1) “Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy” (Prov. 27:6). Someone who agrees all the time might not be our friend. A true friend says what we need to hear, even if it hurts.

2) “And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God” (1 Thess. 2:13). If a criticism is founded in God’s word, we should accept it regardless of who the messenger is.

3) “Have I then become your enemy by telling you the truth?” (Gal. 4:16). Just because someone says something we don’t want to hear does not make them an enemy. The important question is: are they speaking the truth?

4) “Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching” (2 Tim. 4:2). Preaching the word includes not only encouragement but also reproof and rebukes.

5) “My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death” (James 5:19-20). We are our brothers’ keeper.

It could be that someone who is criticizing me is indeed just an enemy, attacking me with hateful, false words. But it may also be that the very one I think is my enemy is being a true friend, reaching out with the truth to turn me from heading in the wrong direction. How can I know? By listening to their words and then evaluating myself based on God’s word to see if the criticism is valid or not. It may just be that God is using that person to help me.

— via The Auburn Beacon

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Psalm 119:41-48

Vav

⁴¹May Your loving devotion come to me, O LORD, Your salvation, according to Your promise.

⁴²Then I can answer him who taunts, for I trust in Your word.

⁴³Never take Your word of truth from my mouth, for I hope in Your judgments.

⁴⁴I will always obey Your law, forever and ever.

⁴⁵And I will walk in freedom, for I have sought Your precepts.

⁴⁶I will speak of Your testimonies before kings, and I will not be ashamed.

⁴⁷I delight in Your commandments because I love them.

⁴⁸I lift up my hands to Your commandments, which I love, and I meditate on Your statutes.

— Berean Study Bible

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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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The Gospel Observer

July 5, 2026 / Tom Edwards

Contents:

1) Loneliness (R.J. Evans)
2) God Supplies Strength (Doy Moyer)
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Loneliness

R.J. Evans

I will never forget how I felt late one afternoon, sitting on the swing just across the driveway from my office at home. I was sitting there thinking of having done what I had dreaded for so long—put down my Border Collie, a constant friend and companion for thirteen years. I recall Jackie coming out of the house and asking me what was wrong. I told her I felt so lonely!

The feelings of sadness and loneliness can be overwhelming at times. The emotional experience of homesickness or loneliness has to be one of the saddest feelings in life. Of course, losing a pet doesn’t compare to the loss of a spouse, parent, child, or friend. Oh how wonderful it would be to be able to once again pick up the phone to talk, or go by and visit, with my parents. In fact, there are so many friends, family and brethren who have passed on that I would love to be able to hug and tell how much I miss them.

Loneliness is just a part of life. Everyone experiences it from time to time. It doesn’t mean there is anything wrong with you. It is simply a feeling in which people experience a strong sense of emptiness and solitude. Someone has said that language has created the word “loneliness” to express the pain of being alone; and it has created the word “solitude” to express the glory of being alone.

During the times when Christians experience loneliness, for whatever reason, it is always good to remember the comforting words of our Lord: “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Heb. 13:5). One of the best remedies for loneliness is to be worshiping with the people of God. Not only is that, in and of itself a blessing, but again to have the Lord’s assurance: “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, I am there in the midst of them” (Matt. 18:20). Truly, what a blessing to know that spiritually our Lord is always with us. The Psalmist said, “If I ascend into heaven, You are there, If I make my bed in Sheol, You are there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, Even there Your hand shall lead me, And Your right hand shall hold me” (Psa. 139:8-10).

So at this point in my life, my parents, and even my favorite dog, have all left me by means of death. And what about the time when I will have to say goodbye to all my friends, brethren and loved ones on this earth? Again, the Lord assures me that He will be there with me to take me over to the other side. “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me” (Psa. 23:4).

Someone has said, “pray that your loneliness may spur you into finding something to live for, great enough to die for.” And the answer to that would be the Lord. If you are not a Christian, why not become one by obeying the gospel, and then enjoy all the promises of God, especially the blessings He provides during those difficult times of loneliness.

Now consider this, while loneliness is a part of this life for the righteous, it will be forever gone in the next life—Heaven. There will be no more sorrow, pain, tears or death (Rev. 21:1-4). If we are righteous and faithful, we will be reunited with all the righteous of all the ages to be with God and His angels for all eternity. He has promised, “Be faithful until death, and I will give you a crown of life” (Rev. 2:10). When David’s young son died, he said I cannot bring him back, but “I shall go to Him” (2 Sam. 12:23). What words of comfort!

— via the bulletin of the Southside church of Christ, Gonzales, Louisiana, September 26, 2018 (R.J. mentioned in that bulletin that this was a “Reprint from the past….written circa 10 years ago.”)

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God Supplies Strength

Doy Moyer

Do you ever feel like a shell of your former self? This is not a question only for the older generation. For anyone, life can be tiring. It can wear on us. At times we feel like David, who said, “For we are sojourners before You, and tenants, as all our fathers were; our days on the earth are like a shadow, and there is no hope (1 Chron 29:15). This was an expression of David’s humility before God as he was preparing materials to build the Temple, and he recognized that there was nothing man could do that would compare with the permanence and power of God.

Some days we may feel this more strongly than others. Job said man is “Like a flower he comes forth and withers. He also flees like a shadow and does not remain” (Job 14:2). The Psalms are particularly fond of this shadow analogy (102:11; 109:23; 144:4). The Bible does not ignore this feeling that is common to all people. It acknowledges these emotions and then teaches us how to deal with feelings of futility. Laments in the Psalms are an important part of this teaching.

“Why are you in despair, O my soul?” Psalm 42 and 43 show the pain of despair, but then points to hope in God. No matter how weak we are, God is strong. No matter how inadequate we see ourselves, God has the answer and He supplies the sustenance to keep us alive and active. As Jesus said to the woman at the well, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life” (John 4:13-14). Water brings life and sustains us. The water that the Lord provides is living water, springing up to the eternal life (John 7:37-38). This is connected to the Holy Spirit (vs. 39). The greater meaning of this passage seems to be the same as what God was trying to tell Ezekiel in chapter 47.

God showed Ezekiel a vision of water coming from the Temple. When the water was measured, it was found to go deeper and wider the farther it traveled from its source. God provides for us all we need to live well in this life, and to be ready for the one to come. The fountain of God’s love began as more than sufficient for our needs and only continues to deepen and sustain us as we continue in Him. The life of a Christian is not the path of least resistance in this world. It often involves hardships, but we have more than enough to sustain and guide us in God’s Word. If we listen to His word, the sword of the Spirit, He will be a source of living water that will keep us refreshed to the end.

Occasionally, we loosen our grip on what truly sustains us. We may even feel like a bag of dry lifeless bones. We “feel our age” or we see the futility of hanging on to the world that surrounds us. That does not mean the only answer is to dry up and blow away. We can be revived. Ezekiel 37 shows this to the nation of Israel, which was dead and lifeless, and yet they were not beyond hope. They were not past saving. All it took was the breath of God, and just like the first breath of life that animated Adam’s dust, God can bring us to life again.

We sing about revival. We ask God to “revive us, again,” and to “let the revival begin in me.” Let’s hold on to those thoughts when we feel stretched thin. “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up” (Gal 6:9). What a shame it would be if we gave up in the final stretch, especially since we have those urging us on (Heb 12:1). We may not know when our race is almost over. The end is always around some corner and may come upon us suddenly. We are called upon to stay prepared, ready to the end.

Can we make it around one more corner? Not alone, but by God’s grace, strength, and sustenance we can. We can’t make it on our own, but if we will let God fill us with His Word we can be renewed, refreshed, and ready to continue serving. God supplies us “all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence” (2 Pet 1:3). “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Phil 4:19).

“Yet those who wait for the Lord
Will gain new strength;
They will mount up with wings like eagles,
They will run and not get tired,
They will walk and not become weary” (Isa. 40:31).

— via the Bulletin Articles of the Vestavia church of Christ, June 14, 2026

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The Steps That Lead to Eternal Salvation

The Gospel Observer

June 28, 2026 / Tom Edwards

Contents:

1) “My Eyes Have Seen the King” (Bryan Gibson)
2) Is Our Love for the Lord Sincere? (R.J. Evans)
3) Psalm 119:33-40 (Berean Study Bible)

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“My Eyes Have Seen the King”

Bryan Gibson

“Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts” (Isaiah 6:5).

What exactly did Isaiah see? He “saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of his robe filled the temple” (Isaiah 6:1). I’ve seen some impressive trains before, particularly on wedding gowns, but nothing that could fill the dimensions of the temple. Above this elevated throne he saw “seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew” (Isaiah 6:2). Even more significant is what he heard, from one of the seraphim, in a voice so loud that “the posts of the door were shaken”: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory!” (Isaiah 6:3-4).

Can you see now why Isaiah reacted the way he did? Isaiah couldn’t bear what he saw in himself, and in his people, because of what he saw in God. In some measure, Isaiah could now see himself the way the Lord saw him, and he knew he was in trouble.

But then a wonderful thing happened: “One of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a live coal which he had taken with tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth with it, and said: ‘Behold, this has touched your lips; your iniquity is taken away, and your sin purged’” (Isaiah 6:6-7). What a relief this must have been to Isaiah, to feel that heavy weight of sin, and to now have it removed. Not just relieved, but also deeply grateful.

And perhaps that explains Isaiah’s eager reply to the Lord’s request. “I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?’ Then I said, ‘Here am I! Send me’” (Isaiah 6:8). Isaiah was eager to do whatever the Lord asked, yes, because of who He is, but also because of what He had done for Isaiah. Isaiah had been forgiven, and He was happy to do whatever the Forgiver asked.

What exactly did the Lord send him to do? Preach to people who won’t listen, and keep on doing it until they’ve received their just punishment (Isaiah 6:9-12). No easy task, to say the least, but Isaiah made a commitment to the Lord, and he honored it.

The details may be different, but I’ve experienced the same things Isaiah did, at least in principle. I, too, was once “undone,” “a man of unclean lips.” I understood the awfulness of my sin, because “my eyes have seen the King,” not in a vision, but in the gospel of Jesus Christ. I felt the full burden of my sin, but thanks be to God, my sins were cleansed by the blood of Christ, when I obeyed the gospel (Acts 2:37-38). And so when the Lord asks, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” my eager reply is, “Here am I, send me.” No way I’m saying no to the King, especially a King who loved me and gave Himself for me (Galatians 2:20), a King who cleansed me from all my “old sins” (2 Peter 1:9), a King who enables me to come into His holy presence (Hebrews 10:19-22). His presence is no longer “filled with smoke” (Isaiah 6:4); in fact, my hope is that one day I “shall see Him as He is” (1 John 3:2).

— Via The Weekly Bulletin of the Prattmont church of Christ, May 12, 2024

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Is Our Love for the Lord Sincere?

R.J. Evans

A scribe once asked Jesus which was the first commandment of all. Jesus answered by telling him “you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. This is the first commandment” (Mk. 12:28-30). There are many scriptures which speak of the blessings that come to those who truly love the Lord.

But, as Christians, are we sure that we love Him? The Apostle Paul ended his letter to the Ephesians with these words: “Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen” (Eph. 6:24). Please notice the word “sincerity.” This indicates that one could think or pretend he loves the Lord when he really doesn’t. In this short article, let us consider five ways we can tell if our love for Jesus is sincere.

1. Is serving the Lord a joy? Some who serve(?) leave the impression that the Lord’s yoke is difficult to bear—the burden of service is heavy. But Jesus tells us it is just the opposite in Matthew 11:30. If our love for Christ is truly sincere, observe what the Apostle John tells us: “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome” (1 Jn. 5:3).

2. Do we thirst for the Lord? Often we find David reaching out for more and more of the Lord in his life. Hear him as he prays, “O God, You are my God; Early will I seek you; My soul thirsts for you; My flesh longs for You; In a dry and thirsty land where there is no water” (Psa. 63:1). Again, we hear him say, “I spread out my hands to you; My soul longs for You like a thirsty land” (Psa. 143:6). Jesus pronounces a blessing upon the ones who “hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled” (Matt. 5:6).

3. Do we love the world more than we love Him? Jesus said we can’t serve two masters (Matt. 6:24). John wrote: “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him” (1 Jn. 2:15). If our love is strong for the ‘flashy’ things of this world, we can be sure that a sincere love for Jesus is not in our hearts.

4. Is the Lord with us? Jesus said, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him” (Jn. 14:23). The Lord has promised: “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Heb. 13:5). To enjoy His spiritual presence by faith in our hearts (Eph. 3:17), we must continue to obey by walking in the light of His word (1 Jn. 1:7-10). What a thrill it is to have a close, abiding fellowship with Christ!

5. Will we love His appearing? John anxiously looked forward to the Lord’s coming (Rev. 22:20). Paul spoke of the ones who have “kept the faith” and “loved His appearing”—how they will “receive a crown of righteousness” (2 Tim. 4:7-8). Surely, he must have been speaking of those who love the Lord.

Now that we have taken a closer look at ourselves, do we sincerely love the Lord? The answer can be summed up by the simple words of Jesus— “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (Jn. 14:15).

— via the bulletin of the Southside church of Christ, Gonzales, LA, March 15, 2020

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Psalm 119:33-40

He

³³Teach me, O LORD, the way of Your statutes, and I will keep them to the end.

³⁴Give me understanding that I may obey Your law, and follow it with all my heart.

³⁵Direct me in the path of Your commandments, for there I find delight.

³⁶Turn my heart to Your testimonies and not to covetous gain.

³⁷Turn my eyes away from worthless things; revive me with Your word.

³⁸Establish Your word to Your servant, to produce reverence for You.

³⁹Turn away the disgrace I dread, for Your judgments are good.

⁴⁰How I long for Your precepts! Revive me in Your righteousness.

— Berean Study Bible

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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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The Gospel Observer

June 21, 2026 / Tom Edwards

Contents:

1) Should I Worry About This? (Larry Rouse)
2) Psalm 119:25-32 (Berean Study Bible)

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Should I Worry About This?

Larry Rouse

Over the years I have carefully noted the circumstances surrounding Christians that fell away from the Lord. Some of these I knew very well, with some even being family members. Most of them started believing and professing things they had ardently opposed in the past. As time passed, some became more aggressive and even denied the plain gospel way of salvation calling it “traditionalism.” These departures caused me great grief and I became determined to help others avoid this terrible “slippery slope.” I often have asked the question: “Why did these departures occur?”

Even though these departures were later characterized by radical doctrinal compromise, I do not know of one individual whose departure came solely from a doctrinal influence. If these individuals had studied and became convinced that these doctrines were true to the scriptures, some of these people would have talked to me with an open Bible. One thing that I found characteristic, but puzzling, about my friends was that they would no longer even talk to me about their change, even though we had good relationships in the past. Again I asked: “What causes a person to act this way?”

The answer that I discovered is the answer the scriptures supply when it describes the “works of the flesh,” which in essence is the arsenal of Satan. All of these people, I strongly believe, lost control of their hearts to issues such as uncontrolled anger, covetousness, unbridled lusts and other temptations. One of the tools Satan used to destroy their faith and allow the flesh to dominate them was the stressful burden of worry.

In the parable of the sower, Jesus describes the unrelenting war that Satan has waged against a living faith, a faith that must be fed by the word of God. The plant that began by the sowing of the powerful seed of God’s word, was made unfruitful by the later choking off of the sustaining word of God. Jesus said: “Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity” (Luke 8:14).

Jesus taught about taking on unnecessary burdens when He plainly warned: “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble” (Matthew 6:34). The Greek word that is translated “worry” in this passage has this root meaning: “to care for, be concerned about,” but also can be used in a bad sense where it denotes to “be anxious, be overly concerned about, be worried about” (Louw-Nida Lexicon). Paul plainly showed that a living faith can overcome worry when he wrote: “Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6).

How can we know the difference between the legitimate cares that God wishes us to handle and the burdensome cares that we take on ourselves through a lack of faith? The answer is very simple and very comforting. We need to open our hearts completely to Jesus and let Him sift every thought, priority and goal that is in our hearts and then let Him discard most of them, leaving us with the burdens that we can handle. Do you really trust the Lord? If you do, you can certainly live a worry-free life when you trust God like this. “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. ²⁹Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰For My yoke is easy and My burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30).

Consider some of the needless burdens we bear:

We cannot control, or even know all of the consequences of every possible choice that we face each day. Those men who think they can actually control “what may happen” are either blinded by pride or are simply foolish. The heart of faith simply asks “What does the Lord want me to do?” The burden of possible consequences is left to the God who sees and knows the very number of hairs on my head. “Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. ³⁰But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. ³¹Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows” (Matthew 10:29-31).

We cannot control what people think or how they might act. Some have become slaves of men with heavy burdens to bear because they fear “what others might think.” What burden does God give us? He simply wants us to live for Him and let His power and His word speak to others through us. The apostle Paul knew that he had no power over the will of others but there was one thing he could do. “Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one? ⁶I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase” (1 Corinthians 3:5-6).

What list of unnecessary burdens could you list? Here is a short one to consider:

1. I must not worry about who will be the leader of our country. (Rev 2:26-27)

2. I must not worry about how I will pay the bills. (Heb 13:5-6)

3. I must not worry about my health. (Lk 21:16-18)

4. I must not worry about the well being of my family. (1 Cor 7:32-35)

What happens when a person fails to develop a faith that learns to take the light yoke of Jesus? In time, that faith will break down and that person will seek relief. This was the one characteristic I found in the departure of my friends. Some had become embittered by others and refused to let that burden be the Lord’s. Others had burned themselves out through the pursuit of things that cannot last.

My friends ran to Satan with his false promises and his quick condemnation of the way of God as being “too hard.” The sad truth is that the departure from God’s way leads to a path of real hardship and trouble. Satan wants you to close your eyes and pretend that all is well. Many churches today will encourage you to cast off the commandments of God as “burdensome.”

Which burden will you choose — God’s or Satan’s? Please see clearly the path of a living faith and stand there! “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. ⁴For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith” (I John 5:3-4).

— via The Auburn Beacon
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Psalm 119:25-32

Daleth

²⁵ My soul cleaves to the dust; revive me according to Your word.

²⁶ I recounted my ways, and You answered me; teach me Your statutes.

²⁷ Make clear to me the way of Your precepts; then I will meditate on Your wonders.

²⁸ My soul melts with sorrow; strengthen me according to Your word.

²⁹ Remove me from the path of deceit and graciously grant me Your law.

³⁰I have chosen the way of truth; I have set Your ordinances before me.

³¹ I cling to Your testimonies, O LORD; let me not be put to shame.

³² I run in the path of Your commandments, for You will enlarge my heart.

— Via the Berean Study Bible

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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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The Gospel Observer

June 14, 2026 / Tom Edwards

Contents:

1) A Genuine Interest in Others (R.J. Evans)
2) We Wait by Faith (Irvin Himmel)
3) Psalm 119:17-24 (Berean Study Bible)

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A Genuine Interest in Others

R.J. Evans

“Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others” (Philippians 2:3-4).

It was out of great love and interest in our salvation that God was willing to allow His Son to leave Heaven, live on earth, and ultimately give His life as the redemptive price for the sins of men (Jn. 3:16; Eph. 1:2-12). The overriding purpose of Jesus’ coming to this earth was, not to do His own will or seek His own interests, but rather to do the will of His Father. This purpose was repeated many times in His conversations with others and His prayers to the Father. Hebrews 10:9 says it all: “He said, ‘Behold I have come to do Your will, O God.’” Jesus also taught that “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me” (Lk. 9:23). The Apostle Paul lived this kind of life, as is stated in Galatians 2:20: “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.” Jesus teaches that God must come first when He said, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Matt. 6:33).

Therefore, we must be willing to overcome ourselves, seek the Lord first, and genuinely be interested in others so that we can find true happiness, contentment, and be truly pleasing to God. The basis of the command in our title is predicated upon what is stated in Philippians 2:5: “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.” Therefore, when we truly have the mind of Christ we can do as the Apostle Paul instructs in Philippians 2:4.

Here are a few suggestions to put into action in our lives:

Resist the urge to think we are so specially important or of more value than others. In other words, work on reducing the urge to depend upon and maintain our own self-pride. To some, everything revolves around the importance of themselves. This causes one to be self-inflated and arrogant. When we develop this attitude toward self, it becomes so difficult, and next to impossible, to be interested in the welfare of others. The Apostle Paul counters this attitude when he told the Corinthians: “And I will gladly spend and be spent for your souls; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved.”

Don’t believe everything we think about ourselves. Don’t become conceited and self-absorbed (go back to our text). The heart can be very deceptive—“The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?” (Jer. 17:9). Maintain a good sense of self-esteem, while developing a healthy sense of “ego-skepticism.” We must avoid being proud and thinking we are “above” others! “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble” (Jas. 4:6). Being filled with pride sets an individual up for a “fall.” The Apostle Paul warned, “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall” (1 Cor. 10:12). In the parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus taught a tremendous lesson on being interested and willing to help others in their needs (Lk. 10:30-37). Let us all realize that we are totally dependent upon God for direction— “O Lord, I know the way of man is not in himself; It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps” (Jer. 10:23). Thus, when God tells us not to be selfish and conceited, with humility esteem others better than ourselves, and be interested in others—He knows that is what is best for us.

We must all work at overcoming ourselves by denying ourselves and developing the heart of a servant—a genuine desire to serve God and looking out for the interests of others. As Jesus said, “And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Matt. 20:27-28). When we are truly interested in others, we will seek to teach them the gospel if they are lost; we will seek to restore them if they are a fallen Christian; we will assist others in their physical needs; we will rebuke them when necessary; we will show kindness and true love in every way possible; and we will pray for them.

The Apostle Paul stated, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Phil. 4:13). This, along with having the mind of Christ, are the keys to obeying the words of our text in having A GENUINE INTEREST IN OTHERS.

— Via the bulletin of the Southside church of Christ, Gonzales, LA, July 16, 2017

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We Wait by Faith

Irvin Himmel

To the Galatians, Paul wrote, “For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith” (Gal. 5:5). The main thought in that sentence furnishes the title of this article.

1. We wait by faith when the gospel is preached. After the farmer or gardener sows the seed, he cultivates, waters, and cares for the plant, patiently waiting for the harvest. He has faith that the seed will germinate, the soil will be productive, and the sunshine will cause growth according to God’s natural laws.

In like manner, we do not expect immediate results each time the seed of the kingdom is sown. We show our faith in God’s word, in the divine laws for the growth of the kingdom, and in the promises of God by cultivating and watering, and by patiently waiting for the increase.

2. We wait by faith for the coming of the Lord. Jesus has promised that He will come again (John 14:1-3; Acts 1:9-11). No one knows of that day or that hour (Matt. 24:36). We do know that “unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation” (Heb. 9:28). Our citizenship is in–heaven, “from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Phil. 3:20). “Look for” in this passage is the same as “wait” in Gal. 5:5. It conveys the thought of eager expectation as well as patient readiness.

3. We wait by faith for eternal life. We who are Christians live “in hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began” (Tit. 1:2). That which is the grand object of our hope is unseen, for “hope that is seen is not hope… But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it” (Rom. 8:24, 25). This is what Paul is referring to in Gal. 5:5. We, through the Spirit’s revelation by means of the word of God, wait for the hope of righteousness. The Spirit reveals that righteousness or justification is through Jesus Christ, not the works of the law of Moses. Eternal life is the hope offered to all who attain to the righteousness that comes through the exercise of faith in Jesus Christ. We wait (rather than grow discouraged or turn back) for the hope of righteousness by faith.

The life of the Christian is one of the earnest expectation and diligent service in patient waiting; it is a life of fidelity to Christ.

— Via The Auburn Beacon

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Psalm 119:17-24

Gimel

¹⁷ Deal bountifully with Your servant, that I may live and keep Your word.

¹⁸ Open my eyes that I may see wondrous things from Your law.

¹⁹ I am a stranger on the earth; do not hide Your commandments from me.

²⁰My soul is consumed with longing for Your judgments at all times.

²¹ You rebuke the arrogant— the cursed who stray from Your commandments.

²²Remove my scorn and contempt, for I have kept Your testimonies.

²³Though rulers sit and slander me, Your servant meditates on Your statutes.

²⁴ Your testimonies are indeed my delight; they are my counselors.

— Via Berean Study Bible

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The Steps That Lead to Eternal Salvation

The Gospel Observer

June 7, 2026 / Tom Edwards

Contents:

1) The Messiah’s Humiliation (Gary Henry)
2) “Put On Love, Which is the Bond of Perfection” (R.J. Evans)
3) Psalm 119:9-16 (Berean Study Bible)

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The Messiah’s Humiliation

Gary Henry

“I can count all my bones — they stare and gloat over me; they divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots” (Psalm 22: 17,18).

ALL FOUR OF THE GOSPELS IN THE NEW TESTAMENT ALLUDE TO THIS PART OF PSALM 22. In Matthew 27:35; Mark 15:24; Luke 23:34; and John 19:24, there are references to the dividing of Jesus’ garments by the soldiers at His crucifixion. John specifically mentions that this was a fulfillment of prophecy. Yet this is only one of several details in Psalm 22 that describe Jesus’ death. Let’s look at some of the others, and as we do, ask yourself how these could have been fulfilled so vividly and specifically in the death of Jesus if He were not, in fact, the person being pictured in this Psalm.

(1) There is, as we saw yesterday, Jesus’ cry of agony from the cross, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” (v.1), which is quoted in Matthew 27:46 and Mark 15:34. (2) The mocking that was hurled at Jesus, recorded in Matthew 27:39-43, is powerfully depicted in vv.6-8 of Psalm 22. (3) The devastation of the body of a person being crucified is pictured realistically in v.14. (4) The thirst described in v.15 is emphasized in John 19:28. (5) In v.16, there is the saying, “They have pierced my hands and feet.” This wording, while controversial, is supported by the LXX, Syriac, and Vulgate translations and is attested by the earliest manuscript of Psalm 22 discovered among the Dead Sea Scrolls. (6) Finally, there is in v.18, as we saw above, the gambling for the garments of the one being executed. This point is included in all four of the gospels.

In addition to these points, there is the general impression in Psalm 22 — an absolutely profound impression — that one is reading an actual description of what happened when Jesus died. If it was only a vague resemblance, one might argue that the similarity was just a coincidence. But an account with this many specifics, and corresponding so closely to the death of Jesus, can be explained in only one way: David was enabled by God’s Spirit to predict what he could not have known about in any other way.

So we come back to the point we began with yesterday. How can it be that the Messiah, of all people, would die such a death? It is simply that His death was required for our atonement. He reigns in glory today, but the cross had to come before the crown.

“It is suffering and then glory” (Robert Crawford McQuilkin).

— via WordPoints, April 6, 2026

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-2-

“Put On Love, Which is the Bond of Perfection”

R.J. Evans

“Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart…And above all things have fervent love for one another, for ‘love will cover a multitude of sins’” (1 Pet. 2:22; 4:8).

Our text is emphasizing the need for fervent love among Christians, and that need is above anything else in our relationship to each other. These verses from the pen of the inspired Apostle Peter do not stand alone in saying that love is the greatest and most important need among the people of God. Let us give consideration to the following:

In that great chapter on love, 1 Corinthians 13, where love is personified, the chapter ends by mentioning three important abiding things to the Christian. But notice which one is the greatest: “And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love” (1 Cor. 13:13).

After giving a list of important things Christians need to “put on” in their lives, the Apostle Paul then said, “But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection” (Col. 3:14).

When Jesus was asked “Which is the first commandment of all?” Without any hesitation, He said, “The first of all commandments is: ‘Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. And the second like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these” (Mk. 12:29-30). After we obey the gospel and become “followers of God as dear children,” surely nothing is as important as to “walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us” (Eph. 5:1-2).

Even if we could do some marvelous things such as speak many languages of men and of angels–if it is not done in love, it would only be making noise such “as sounding brass or clanging cymbal” (1 Cor. 13:1). If we were the greatest preacher ever known and knew all the answers to all the questions, and even had enough faith to remove mountains—if we did not have love in our hearts, we would be “nothing” (1 Cor. 13:2). If we gave all our possessions to feed the poor, and even died doing the Lord’s work–if it was not motivated by love, it profits us “nothing” (1 Cor. 13:3). We should therefore take it seriously when the Scripture says, “Let all that you do be done with love” (1 Cor. 16:14).

We express or manifest our love for the Lord by obeying His commandments. Jesus said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (Jn. 14:15). The Apostle John said, “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome” (1 Jn. 5:3). We must ever be mindful of the need to have fervent love for one another. For if we do not love our brother, please notice what we are told: “If someone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?” (1 Jn. 4:20).

Our fervent love for one another is so important, especially when we consider the effects it has on how others view us. Jesus said, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (Jn. 13:34-35). Question: By the love you are showing, would anyone recognize you as a disciple of Christ?

Love must be the underlying motive and reason for all that we do. It solves so many potential problems. If you are a parent, one of the greatest things you can do for your children is to show your love for God, for your spouse, and for them. If there are problems within a local church, love is the answer–love for God, love for truth, love for one another.

In view of what we have covered in this short article, it is truly understandable why “love will cover a multitude of sins” (1 Pet. 4:8). We close with these words— “Beloved, if God so loved us. we ought to love one another” (1 Jn. 4:11).

— Via the bulletin of the Southside church of Christ, Gonzales, LA, March 10, 2019

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Psalm 119:9-16

Beth

9 How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to Your word.

10 With all my heart I have sought You; do not let me stray from Your commandments.

11 I have hidden Your word in my heart that I might not sin against You.

12 Blessed are You, O LORD; teach me Your statutes.

13 With my lips I proclaim all the judgments of Your mouth.

14 I rejoice in the way of Your testimonies as much as in all riches.

15 I will meditate on Your precepts and regard Your ways.

16 I will delight in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word.

— Via Berean Study Bible

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Matthew 4:4

But Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God’” (Berean Study Bible).

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The Steps That Lead to Eternal Salvation

The Gospel Observer

May 31, 2026 / Tom Edwards

Contents:

1) Building a Good Name (Bryan Gibson)
2) “You Seek Me…Because You Ate of the Loaves and Were Filled” (R.J. Evans)

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-1-

Building a Good Name

Bryan Gibson

Found among the qualifications for elders: “he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil” (1 Timothy 3:7). So an elder must have a good reputation, not just among his brothers and sisters in Christ, but also among those outside the church. “A good name in the community” is how we might express it.

But a good name is not just important for elders. “All the people of my town know you are a virtuous woman” (Ruth 3:11)—that’s what Boaz said about Ruth, and it sure would be great if the people of our town thought that highly of each one of us. What else does the Bible say about a good name?

A good name is a very valuable asset.

“A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches…” (Proverbs 22:1). “A good name is better than precious ointment…” (Ecclesiastes 7:1). Why so valuable? Because it greatly affects the influence we have on those around us. It’s awful hard to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world if our reputation has been damaged (see Matthew 5:13-16).

It takes many deeds to build a good name, only one to lose it.

Seems unfair, but experience bears it out. Here’s one way a good reputation can be ruined: “Debate your case with your neighbor, and do not disclose the secret to another; lest he who hears it expose your shame, and your reputation be ruined” (Proverbs 25:9-10). Showing a lack of trustworthiness—telling something we should not—is a good way to ruin a good name. I’m sure you can think of many others. Sometimes, we don’t even have to do anything wrong to lose our good name; it could be we’re just guilty of suspicious behavior. See 2 Corinthians 8:16-21 for how Paul was careful to avoid even the appearance of evil. A Chinese proverb says, “When walking in your neighbor’s melon patch, don’t stop to tie your shoe.” You may not be stealing any melons, but it sure looks like it. How people perceive our actions—that’s important, too.

A good name is important, but character comes FIRST.

The difference between reputation and character? He’s obviously not an inspired writer, but Thomas Paine put it this way: “Reputation is what men and women think of us. Character is what God knows about us.” The first order of business will always be to please God, to develop the kind of character with which He is pleased, and if we can do that, the good reputation will follow. You can see this illustrated in 1 Samuel 2:26 (“Samuel grew…in favor both with the Lord and men”) and Luke 2:52 (“Jesus increased…in favor with God and men”).

It is possible to have a good reputation, to be well spoken of by men, but still not be pleasing to God.

This was certainly the case with the church at Sardis: “you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead” (Revelation 3:1). Another example would be the Pharisees who did enough to gain a good reputation among at least some of their fellow Jews, but were far from pleasing to God (Matthew 23:23, 25, 28). We can sometimes fool people; we can never fool God.

Conclusion

The ultimate aim in all this? To have the same thing said about us that was said about Demetrius. Read it carefully. “Demetrius has a good testimony from all, and from the truth itself. And we also bear witness, and you know that our testimony is true” (3 John 1:12). It’s great when witnesses all around speak well of us; it’s even better when the witness is the truth itself.

— Via the Weekly Bulletin of the Prattmont church of Christ, June 2, 2024

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-2-

“You Seek Me…Because You Ate of the Loaves and Were Filled”

R.J. Evans

While Jesus was here on earth, He told a large group of people, “Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled” (Jn. 6:26). He stated this after He fed the five thousand and had perceived that the multitude wanted to take Him and by force make Him their king (Jn. 6:1-15). That evening His disciples were going across the Sea of Galilee by boat, and Jesus came to them walking on the water (Jn. 6:15-21). The next day, when the crowd realized that Jesus had gone to the other side of the sea, they got in their boats seeking to find Him (Jn. 6:22-25). It was on this occasion, under these circumstances, that Jesus rebuked them for seeking Him for the wrong reason (v. 26). To put it all in perspective, Jesus went on to say, “Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him” (Jn. 6:27).

It is so interesting, as well as disappointing, that brethren today think the same way concerning the church—its worship, work, and mission. Somehow, they have convinced themselves that the church is to be “filled” with worldly things that will attract large crowds of people who will be spiritually minded as they grow and develop. But this is not true! It is most certainly a falsehood and a deception.

Worldly activities never produce anything but that which is also worldly and carnal. Why do some think that bringing in “loaves and fishes” (dining/banquet halls, entertainment, ball teams, etc.) will appeal to spiritually minded people? Or, that these kind of activities will increase one’s spirituality? The more carnal, worldly things that are brought in, the more worldly and fleshly things will be required to keep the kind of people who have been drawn in by all these unscriptural activities. There is an often-used slogan that in effect says: “If we use hamburgers and hot dogs to draw people to the church, then we will have to continue to provide hamburgers, hot dogs, and much more, to keep them.” It is the gospel of Christ that is “the power of God to salvation”–not fun, food, and frolic! (Rom. 1:16; 1 Cor. 1:21; 15:1-2; Jn. 6:44-45)

It is unfortunate to see so many of our brethren caught up in the “social gospel” today. The difference between the individual and home activities, as opposed to the worship, mission and work of the church, is clearly set forth by what the Apostle Paul told the Corinthians. He strongly rebuked them because they had perverted their worship by turning the Lord’s Supper into a feast or meal. “What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and shame those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you in this? I do not praise you….But if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, lest you come together for judgment. And the rest I will set in order when I come” (1 Cor. 11:22, 34). The difference between the role of an individual Christian versus the role of the church is also set forth by Paul in the context about the work of caring for widows in 1 Timothy 5:3-16. The last verse of this paragraph makes the difference clear and distinct: “If any believing man or woman has widows, let them relieve them, and do not let the church be burdened, that it may relieve those who are really widows” (v. 16).

Are you seeking true worshipers who “will worship the Father in spirit and truth” (Jn. 4:23-24)? Or, are you one who seeks to be “filled” with “the loaves” (Jn. 6:26-27)?

— Via a bulletin of the Southside church of Christ, Gonzales, LA, April 28, 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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The Gospel Observer

May 24, 2026 / Tom Edwards

Contents:

1) Living As Christians Should (R.J. Evans)
2) The New Man’s Speech (Heath Rogers)
3) Psalm 119:1-8 (Berean Standard Bible)

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-1-

Living As Christians Should Live

R.J. Evans

Throughout history, men generally have been selfish and lacked genuine concern for God and others. In recent years, we have had many describe those of this world as the “Me” generation. And, not to be cynical, but in reality, we live in a world where most people think only of themselves and their own interests. So many think nothing of using or taking advantage of others; they show hatred, envy, and jealousy toward those within their circle of friends and associates; they never show sympathy, or are willing to empathize with others; and they seek to gratify and fulfill whatever desires they have for themselves.

While Jesus was here on earth, He taught many wonderful lessons in what is referred to as “The Sermon on the Mount” (Matt. 5 – 7). One thing for certain, what He teaches “goes against the grain” of what men naturally tend to do in their day-to-day living. In the sermon, He taught the blessings of serving God; being examples to others (salt/city/light); the sin of committing murder and adultery in one’s heart; going the second mile; loving and praying for our enemies; not doing our good works for show; and a host of other great lessons. This sermon tells us how we ought to live, not as the world lives, but according to God’s will for our lives.

But when it comes to living the kind of life that pleases God, and not self, there are many other instructions throughout God’s Word. In this article, here’s just a sampling of living as Christians should live:

1. Be open to and heed correction. “The ear that hears the reproof of life will abide among the wise” (Prov. 15:31). The Apostle Peter had to correct and rebuke Simon the sorcerer for his attempting to purchase the power of laying his hands on others to impart miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:9-25). The Apostle Paul had to openly correct the Apostle Peter by withstanding him to the face for being a hypocrite at Antioch (Gal. 2:11-14).

2. Be interested and considerate of others. “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others” (Phil. 2:3-4). This characterized the life of the Apostle Paul. He consistently prayed for his brethren, as is evidenced in all his epistles. Beyond all his physical difficulties, he stated: “Besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: My deep concern for all the churches” (2 Cor. 11:28).

3. See ourselves realistically. “For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more higher than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith” (Rom. 12:3). Again, this involves not being conceited and lifted up with pride (Phil. 2:3).

4. Rejoice with others when they are happy and cry with them when they are sad. “Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep” (Rom. 12:15). This eliminates envy and jealousy. Again, “if one member sufferers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it” (1 Cor. 12:26).

5. Sympathize and empathize with others. We do this when we practice what is sometimes called “The Golden Rule.” “Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets” (Matt. 7:12).

6. Deny ourselves. “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me” (Matt. 7:24). And, of course, denying self and following Christ involves serving others. The Apostle Paul said it this way: “And I will gladly spend and be spent for your souls; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved” (2 Cor. 12:15).

Oh, what a blessing it is when we are living as Christians should live. Many other things could be mentioned, but this should be sufficient to help us see the need to do what the Lord said in Revelation 2:10: “Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.”

— Via the Southside church of Christ in Gonzales, LA, September 29, 2019

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-2-

The New Man’s Speech

Heath Rogers

“Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers” (Eph. 4:29).

The apostle Paul continues to describe changes that take place in our daily lives as we put off the old man of sin and put on the new man according to God’s righteousness and holiness (Eph. 4:22-24). Having already corrected one sin we commit with our speech (lying – v. 25), he now addresses our conversation in a more general way.

James likens our tongue to a fire (James 3:6). Fire has power to do good, but it also has the power to destroy. “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit” (Prov. 18:21). We must be careful how we wield this powerful tool each of us has received from God.

“Corrupt” is translated from the Greek word sapros which literally means rotten or worthless, worn out and unfit for use. These are words that have a corrupting influence on those who hear them. Paul goes on to specify the putting away of “evil speaking” (v. 31), “foolish talking,” “coarse jesting” (5:4), and the shame of speaking about the unfruitful works of darkness that are done in secret (5:11-12). This is the kind of speech that would characterize the old man of sin but must stop when we put on the new man.

Emphasis is placed on the hearers – those who will be impacted by our speech. Instead of hurting people with our words (either purposely or carelessly), we should use our words to help, encourage, cheer, and comfort others. We have a responsibility to contribute to the building up of others. It is easy to destroy others with careless words. The new man gives thought to speaking what is good for the purpose of edifying those who hear his words. This also applies to the things we post on social media.

“That it may impart grace to the hearers.” We must take care that our words have a positive effect on others. “Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one” (Col. 4:6). The ability to communicate our thoughts is a great blessing. God wants this blessing to be used as a blessing to others. Not only must we refrain from using corrupt speech, we must make the effort to say the right things, in the right way, at the right time.“The heart of the righteous studies how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours forth evil” (Prov. 15:28).

James says no man can tame the tongue (James 3:8). One difference between the old man and the new man is that the new man tries to tame his tongue.

— Via Articles from the Knollwood church of Christ, March 2026

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-3-

Psalm 119:1-8

Aleph

¹ Blessed are those whose way is blameless,
who walk in the Law of the LORD.

² Blessed are those who keep His testimonies
and seek Him with all their heart.

³They do no iniquity;
they walk in His ways.

⁴ You have ordained Your precepts,
that we should keep them diligently.

⁵ Oh, that my ways were committed
to keeping Your statutes!

⁶ Then I would not be ashamed
when I consider all Your commandments.

⁷ I will praise You with an upright heart
when I learn Your righteous judgments.

⁸I will keep Your statutes;
do not utterly forsake me.

— Berean Standard Bible

——————–

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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Searching in All the Wrong Places

Fools, Fools, and More Fools

Psalm 119:49-56

The Steps That Lead to Eternal Salvation

Eating the Flesh, Drinking the Blood

God’s Rules Should Become Our Habits

Rescue the Perishing

The Steps That Lead to Eternal Salvation

The Tragedy of a Lost Soul

Satan’s Blinders

Psalm 119:41-48

The Steps That Lead to Eternal Salvation

Loneliness

God Supplies Strength

The Steps That Lead to Eternal Salvation

“My Eyes Have Seen the King”

Is Our Love for the Lord Sincere?

Psalm 119:33-40

The Steps That Lead to Eternal Salvation

Should I Worry About This?

Psalm 119:25-32

The Steps That Lead to Eternal Salvation

A Genuine Interest in Others

We Wait by Faith

Psalm 119:17-24

The Steps That Lead to Eternal Salvation

The Messiah’s Humiliation

“Put On Love, Which is the Bond of Perfection”

Psalm 119:9-16

Matthew 4:4

The Steps That Lead to Eternal Salvation

Building a Good Name

“You Seek Me…Because You Ate of the Loaves and Were Filled”

The Steps That Lead to Eternal Salvation

Living As Christians Should Live

The New Man’s Speech

Psalm 119:1-8

The Steps That Lead to Eternal Salvation

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