Month: April 2026

“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) Good Actions are Never Wasted (Doy Moyer)
2) Overcoming Discouragement (R.J. Evans)

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Good Actions are Never Wasted

Doy Moyer

No one wants a good deed to be wasted, right? After all, we want to put in time and effort to do what is right, and we wouldn’t want any of that energy to count for naught.

Here’s the good news. Any action that we engage in that is consistent with Scripture and in accordance with keeping a good conscience will never be wasted. We can know that what we do for the Lord will not be in vain (1 Cor. 15:58).

Paul wrote, “Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve” (Col. 3:23-24).

“Whatever we do” includes every act. As we act, we need to strive to be consistent with being servants of Christ. We are to do what we do heartily, to the best of our ability, and not just to please people. It is the Lord Christ whom we serve, and what we do—whatever it is—we do for Him. This is a basic principle by which Christians live. Our service to the Lord, in whatever we do, means that we strive for excellence in all things. “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might” (Eccl. 9:10).

Yet another principle by which we live is that we are to keep our consciences pure. Paul told Timothy, “But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith” (1 Tim. 1:5). Through the revelation of God’s word, Christians may learn to fight the good fight and keep a good conscience. Paul instructed, “This command I entrust to you, Timothy, my son, in accordance with the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you fight the good fight, keeping faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and suffered shipwreck in regard to their faith” (1 Tim. 1:18-19).

Other passages like Romans 14 and 1 Corinthians 8 show that we are to act in accordance with a good conscience. There are matters that individuals must decide within a context of Scripture and faith, and no one else is to act as their judge. We try to train our consciences according to God’s word and act accordingly.

For at least these reasons, we need to know that any actions in which we engage that are consistent with being servants of the Lord, consistent with Scripture, and done in good conscience from faith are never wasted.

This point is true:

1. Even if no one else knows about it. God knows what we do even when others don’t, and it is not our job to boast about our own actions. If we act just so that others will take notice, then our motives are off. See Matthew 6 for Jesus’ teachings on this. Private actions consistent with Scripture and conscience, when done alone, are still good regardless of who else is aware of them. God is the One we try to please. 

2. Even if it has no measurable outcomes by human standards. Whether or not an action is good is not based on that action having measurable outcomes. A good action may have little immediate effect on a situation, but that doesn’t mean it’s not good. That doesn’t change the nature of the action, for “your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you” (Matt. 6:4). This coincides with the first point because we might do something in good conscience, not in violation of Scripture, and yet no one see any particular effects from it. That’s okay. We don’t need to see such effects if our primary concern is pleasing the Lord. Prayer, for example, is still good even when we don’t see an immediate effect, and even if God’s answer is, “No.” The outcome doesn’t change the nature of the good act.

3. Even if others disagree. Disagreement is not the measure of whether something is right, nor can the disagreement of others be what determines our consciences. Romans 14 demonstrates this well. If we act in faith, in all good conscience, and consistent with Scriptural teaching, then someone disagreeing with our application has no bearing on whether or not the action is good. Now it is possible that we have decided something is good when it’s not really consistent with God’s word, and we need to be careful not to justify ourselves. This is one reason why a constant study of Scripture is needed.

Keep doing good because good actions will never be a waste of time. As Paul by the Spirit wrote, “Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith” (Gal. 6:9-10).

— Via Bulletin Articles from the Vestavia church of Christ, November 6, 2016

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Overcoming Discouragement

R.J. Evans

In Psalm 77:4, Asaph, a musician, stated, “You hold my eyelids open; I am so troubled that I cannot speak.” When we are depressed and feeling sad, the Lord should still be “our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble” (Psa. 46:1).

Experiencing discouragement often increases as we begin to age. As we get older we start having health issues and also begin to realize we have limitations on what we are capable of doing. Solomon described what happens during the aging process in poetic language, but is so understandable by anyone experiencing it (Ecclesiastes 12:2-7). We may have difficulty adjusting to the changes that occur during the sunset years, but they happen to everyone who lives long enough.

The feeling of being rejected can also bring on discouragement. After experiencing a great victory on Mount Carmel (1 Kgs. 18), the prophet Elijah had to run for his life in order to escape wicked Jezebel’s plan to have him killed (1 Kgs. 19:3). While out in the wilderness, sitting under a juniper tree, Elijah said to God, “It is enough! Now, Lord, take my life for I am no better than my fathers” (1 Kgs. 19:4). Later on he told God why he experienced the feelings of rejection— “the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life” (1 Kgs. 19:14).

But there is always a bright side when others have forsaken us. For one thing, the situation may not be as bad as it seems. The Lord told Elijah to get up and go to work—there were kings (Jehu and Hazael) he needed to anoint, and also he needed to anoint a prophet (Elisha) who would be his successor (1 Kgs. 19:16-17). Then the Lord corrected his feelings of thinking he was all alone— “Yet I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him” (1 Kgs. 19:18).

When all others have truly forsaken us, we can be encouraged by the Apostle Paul. Notice what he told Timothy: “At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me. May it not be charged against them. But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me…And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom” (2 Tim. 4:16-18).

The Psalmist, David, said, “When my father and my mother forsake me, Then the Lord will take care of me” (Psa. 27:10). As the Hebrew writer has assured us— “For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you’” (Heb. 13:5). Thus, when we go through times of discouragement, we need to give heed to the instructions and promises given to those who are doing God’s will: “Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!” (Psa. 27:14).

Therefore we need to pray to God and trust in Him, His promises, and His providence during times of discouragement. Again, the words of the Psalmist come to mind when we are going through times of discouragement: “God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble” (Psa. 46:1).

— From the Southside church of Christ in Gonzales, Louisiana, for March 25, 2018

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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.)

“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) Salvation Belongs to  God (Colby Junkin)
2) The Parable of the Best Seats (Mike Johnson)

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Salvation Belongs to the Lord

Colby Junkin

The beauty of the Psalms is conveyed in a variety of ways. The use of Hebrew poetry and its various parallelisms give depth to even the shortest of the Psalms. The imagery and figures that are contained throughout the Psalms paint a picture of salvation, love, security, and great sadness for sin. The Psalms offer to us much more than simple memorization of certain verses, but rather in their application we find the pathway to a stronger and more reliable spiritual life with God. Our knowledge of the Psalms will indeed make us into better Christians suited against the battles of this life.

The Psalmist David wrote many of his psalms in the midst of tremendous trials throughout his life. David wrote one of the greatest individual laments, when he was confronted with the sin he had committed with Bathsheba (2 Samuel 12). When a person reads Psalms 51, he is moved by David’s devotion to make things right with his God. David serves as a beacon of light in his attitude toward sin and its consequences. David also serves as a tremendous influence for those enduring the trials of this life. One such example is found in the Psalms 3. David had been driven from Jerusalem by his son, Absalom, and in the midst of those dark days, David called out to his God for deliverance and security.

The Psalm begins with describing the historical rise of David’s adversaries—“O Lord, how my adversaries have increased! Many are rising up against me” (Psalms 3:1). Absalom had taken counsel from Hushai concerning the pursuit of David. He instructed Absalom to assemble all the men of Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, to march against David and his mighty men (2 Samuel 17:8-12). The number of Israel’s men was said to have been “as the sand that is by the sea in abundance” (2 Samuel 17:12). When David is informed of this coming battle, he goes to his Father in prayer.

David’s faith in the deliverance of God was unwavering. While men were proclaiming, “there is no deliverance for him in God” (Psalms 3:2), David trusted in God! David did not allow the appearance of these adversaries to distract him from faithfully trusting in God. David wrote, “I was crying to the Lord with my voice, and He answered me from His holy mountain” (Psalms 3:4). The Lord heard the cries of His righteous one and immediately went to action on David’s behalf. The calm that must have rushed over David’s heart, when he knew God was on his side, is directly upheld by David’s restful night of sleep—“I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the Lord sustains me” (Psalms 3:5).

When the day of the battle arrived David’s mighty men were victorious over Absalom’s army (2 Samuel 18:7-8). David’s trust in the Lord’s deliverance was once again proven absolute. As David cried out, “Arise, O Lord; save me, O my God!” (Psalms 3:7a). The Lord heard David’s cry and delivered him. In conclusion, David wrote, “Salvation belongs to the Lord, Your blessing be upon Your people!” (Psalms 3:8).

The example of David contained in this psalm should motivate us to a deeper trust in God’s deliverance. While we may struggle to understand the complexities of our trials and the pain that we must endure at times. May these never distract us from manifesting our total trust in God’s ability to deliver us from the greatest of harms. David’s enemies arose on every side, but this did not deter his devotion to his God. May God bless our efforts to imitate David and his trust in God throughout our lives!

— Via the Weekly Bulletin of the Prattmont church of Christ, June 23, 2024

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The Parable of the Best Seats

Mike Johnson

“When you are invited by anyone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in the best place, lest one more honorable than you be invited by him; and he who invited you and him come and say to you, ‘Give place to this man,’ and then you begin with shame to take the lowest place.  But when you are invited, go and sit down in the lowest place, so that when he who invited you comes he may say to you, ‘Friend, go up higher.’ Then you will have glory in the presence of those who sit at the table with you.  For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted” (Luke 14:8-11).

Jesus taught on many subjects during the time He lived on earth.  One topic, which He spoke on a great deal, was humility.  The proud and arrogant Pharisees of His day needed teaching on this subject, and He addresses this issue in the parable above.  The principles taught here are also desperately needed in our time.

The Occasion 

Luke 14:1 tells us that Jesus had come to the house of one of the chief Pharisees on the Sabbath day to eat.  The same verse says they watched Him while He was there.  It seems they were trying to find some fault with Jesus so they could criticize Him, hurting Him in the people’s eyes.  We read further that there was a man present with dropsy.  So Jesus asked the lawyers and the Pharisees, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath day?”  He then healed the man and defended what He did.

Verse seven says,“So He told a parable to those who were invited, when He noted how they chose the best places . . .”  To begin with, Jesus does refer to Luke 14:8-11 as a parable.  It is different (in form) from some of the other parables, but Jesus does refer to it as that.  Also, we see that the parable came about when Jesus noticed how the people at the feast “chose the best places.”  The NASB renders it, “When He noticed how they had been picking out the places of honor at the tables . . .”  Neil R Lightfoot, in his book Lessons from the Parables, points out some facts about the ancient practices.  He said:

It is well-known that the ancients in Greek and Roman times ate their meals in reclining positions on low couches drawn up against low tables. Ordinarily, the tables were U-shaped, which allowed the servants to serve food about the table with ease.  At the head of the table was placed the honored guests . . . On his right and left were placed the next most honored guests, and the others were seated around the table in descending order of importance  (Page 95).

Further, we learn that the hosts did not always announce the exact time of the meal, so the Pharisees would arrive at various times and try to time their arrival to make a grand entrance and receive the chief seats.

The Parable

Jesus had watched the pompous people vie for position at the feast.  Because of their pride and arrogance, they would thrust themselves to the forefront by seeking to occupy the chief seats.  Seeing this, Jesus instructed them on how to act appropriately.  He said they were not to immediately sit at the most important place when invited to a wedding feast.  Following this course of action might cause embarrassment as the host could ask them to move and go to a lower position when a guest with more honor arrives.  The proper response would be for the individual invited to the feast to take the lowest seat.  If the host chose to do so, he could ask him to move to a higher position.

When the host asked the guest to advance, those present would look at him favorably.  Therefore, it would be better to start low and then be asked to go higher than to start high and be asked to go lower.

Application

Jesus presented His main point in verse 11 when he said, “For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”  Today, this same principle is true.  From time to time, we see religious people praising others for their humility.  Even many non-religious people recognize the value of humility and its desirability over pride and arrogance.  In that sense, those who are humble are often exalted.  Another explanation, perhaps the primary way Jesus had in mind, would be from a spiritual standpoint.  God views those humble here on earth positively and will ultimately exalt them.  They will eventually receive eternal salvation, and thus God will exalt them.

The Bible warns us that we must be humble.  Ephesians 4:2 informs us we are to walk with all lowliness and gentleness.  1 Peter 5:5 reveals that we are to “be clothed with humility, for ‘God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.’”  In Matthew 18:3, Jesus taught where true greatness lay when He revealed, “Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”

Jesus frequently taught the necessity of humility.  He was humble himself, and He expects us to follow His steps.

— 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).
——————–

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.)

“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) Far From Home: The Seventy Years of Captivity (Jon W. Quinn)
2) “Only You Can Satisfy” (Bryan Gibson)

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Far From Home

The Seventy Years of Captivity

Jon W. Quinn

The people of Judah had fallen from grace. They had rebelled against the principles upon which their nation had been founded and rejected any attempt by those sent to her to call her back. As promised, God withdrew His protection from her. He had warned that if His people became faithless that He would employ a pagan power to conquer them and lead them back into captivity. He had led them from Egyptian bondage 800 years before, and now, because of their infidelity, He would allow them to return to bondage; this time in Babylon.

They had refused to believe it could ever happen to them. They found their own false prophets to tell them that everything was fine. They ridiculed Jeremiah and others who warned of the devastation to come. They were arrogant. The Lord, through Jeremiah, put it this way; “Behold, I will send and take all the families of the north…and I will send Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon…against this land and against its inhabitants…and this whole land shall be a desolation and a horror, and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years” (Jeremiah 25:9-11).

The prophesied desolation began with the fall of Jerusalem to Babylon in 606 B.C. with the first deportation of the best of the land into slavery on foreign soil. Further deportations followed and finally Jerusalem was destroyed, just as the prophets had warned. It was seventy years in exile before the repentant people of God were permitted to go back home and begin to rebuild their wrecked cities. It would be Darius, king of the Persians, who allowed the rebuilding to begin in 536 B.C.

Fulfilled prophecy deepens our respect for our God’s power and wisdom. After Jeremiah’s prophecy began to be fulfilled by the first deportation into slavery, Jeremiah wrote a letter to those now serving in Babylon. These were sad people who had lost everything; their homes, freedom and in many cases were separated from their families. They were brought to live in a strange land with strange customs and language. Jeremiah’s instructions to these exiles seem pertinent to God’s people today as we are also exiles in a manner of speaking.

God’s Advice to the Exile

“Now these are the words of the letter which Jeremiah the prophet sent from Jerusalem to…all the people whom Nebuchadnezzar had taken into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon (Jeremiah 29:1). The Christian today is also an exile. The New Testament tells us that men and women of faith have always looked at this world as only a temporary home. We are invited to approach life with the same attitude as Abraham who “died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth” (see Hebrews 11:13-16). Our stay here is short, relatively speaking. It makes little sense to completely focus on the things of this world when the time we spend here is so fleeting compared to the vastness of eternity (1 Peter 1:17; 2:11).

Accepting Life as it Comes

“Build houses and live in them; and plant gardens, and eat their produce…take wives and become fathers of sons and daughters…seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you unto exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf…” (Jeremiah 29:4-7). Life goes on. Jeremiah told the exiles of his day to live as normal lives as possible. He also told them to pray for the welfare of the city which had taken them captive, much in the same way as Jesus tells us to pray for our enemies as well as for our government. The New Testament tells us to let our lives be examples to others: “Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may on account of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation” (1 Peter 2:12).

Patience is a Virtue

“For thus saith the LORD, ‘When seventy years have been completed for Babylon, I will visit you and fulfill My good word to you, to bring you back to this place” (Jeremiah 29:10). God had the timing all worked out. I am sure that seventy years seemed like a long time for the people, but seventy years is what had been decreed. There would be no short cuts. God knew how long and how much.

He also knows how long our exile here will last. The Son of God will one day appear in the clouds to take the exiles home (Acts 17:31). We are encouraged to be patient and wait for that day; to never give up because the day of our homecoming has already been decided.

Trust God in Everything

“For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and hope. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me and I will listen to you…and I will bring you back to the place from where I sent you into exile” (Jeremiah 29:11-14). Through all of life’s hardships there is one absolutely secure place wherein we can place our hope and future. God assured the exiles of Jeremiah’s day that He loved them. Even in their bleakest hour God was there and influencing events toward their proper conclusion. He is still there today. His plans for our future fill us with hope; “…and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls” (1 Peter 1:8,9).

Beware of False Hopes

“For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, ‘Do not let your prophets who are in your midst and your diviners deceive you, and do not listen to the dreams which they dream. For they prophesy falsely to you in My name; I have not sent them…” (Jeremiah 29:8,9). It was something people really wanted to believe. The false prophets were telling them that they would be going home soon; it would not take seventy years. They were insisting that captivity would soon be over and there were probably many ears happy to hear the news. But it wasn’t true!

Today we have the modern counterparts of these false prophets. False promises are made by both religious and secular leaders contrary to the word of God in the Scriptures. Do not allow yourself to trust in a lie. The truth of God is better than the lies of men. It is our hope and is found in Jesus!

 — Via The Bradley Banner, April 24, 2014 (published by the Bradley church of Christ)

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“Only You Can Satisfy”

Bryan Gibson

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied” (Matthew 5:6, NAS).

“Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you shall be satisfied…woe to you who are full now, for you shall be hungry” (Luke 6:21, 25, ESV).

“For He satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things” (Psalms 107:9, ESV).

“As for me, I will see Your face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness” (Psalms 17:15, NKJ).

“O satisfy us in the morning with Your lovingkindness, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days” (Psalms 90:14, NAS).

“And the LORD will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail” (Isaiah 58:11, ESV).

“He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves abundance with its income…” (Ecclesiastes 5:10, NAS).

“All the toil of man is for his mouth, yet his appetite is not satisfied” (Ecclesiastes 6:7, ESV).

And so, as the song says…

“I want you more than gold or silver, only You can satisfy. You alone are the real joy giver, and the apple of my eye. You alone are my strength, my shield; to You alone may my spirit yield. You alone are my heart’s desire and I long to worship You” (As the Deer, Martin Nystrom).

— Via Weekly Bulletin of the Prattmont church of Christ, July 14, 2024

——————–

The Steps That Lead to Eternal Salvation

1) Hear the gospel — for that is how faith comes (Rom. 10:17; John 20:30-31).
 
2) Believe in the deity of Jesus Christ, the Son of God (John 8:24; John 3:18).

3) Repent of sins.  For every accountable person has sinned (Romans 3:23; Romans 3:10), which causes one to be spiritually dead (Ephesians 2:1) and separated from God (Isaiah 59:1-2; Romans 6:23). Therefore, repentance of sin is necessary (Luke 13:5; Acts 17:30).  For whether the sin seems great or small, there will still be the same penalty for either (Matt. 12:36-37; 2 Cor. 5:10) — and even for a lie (Rev. 21:8).

4) Confess faith in Christ (Rom. 10:9-10; Acts 8:36-38).

5) Be baptized in water for the remission of sins (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16; 1 Pet. 3:21).  This is the final step that puts one into Christ (Gal. 3:26-27).  For from that baptism, one is then raised as a new creature (2 Cor. 5:17), having all sins forgiven and beginning a new life as a Christian (Rom. 6:3-4). For the one being baptized does so “through faith in the working of God” (Col. 2:12). In other words, believing that God will keep His word and forgive after one submits to these necessary steps. And now as a Christian, we then need to…

6) Continue in the faith by living for the Lord; for, if not, salvation can be lost (Matt. 24:13; Heb. 10:36-39; Rev. 2:10; 2 Pet. 2:20-22).
——————–

Tebeau Street
CHURCH OF CHRIST
1402 Tebeau Street, Waycross, GA  31501

Sunday: 9 a.m. Bible Classes (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.)