Category: Uncategorized (Page 48 of 51)

“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) Keeping a Pure Conscience (Sean P. Cavender)
2) News & Notes
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Keeping a Pure Conscience

by Sean P. Cavender

While standing trial before Felix, the apostle Paul stated that he had strived to live with a pure conscience before God and men (Acts 24:16). This should be the goal of each and every child of God — living life with a pure conscience (I Timothy 1:5,19). The conscience can be a valuable tool for the Christian which gives personal insight into one’s own actions, thoughts and desires.

While the conscience is not authoritative, binding or infallible it can be helpful. Although your conscience can be mistaken — no matter the amount of sincerity shown in any practice — it can be a good gauge of one’s spiritual status before God and before men.

When one’s conscience is alarmed it is because of some area of weakness or sin which causes one to feel guilty. That feeling of guilt is the natural result of a wounded conscience — you are supposed to feel that way! The trouble is, many people ignore that feeling of guilt and continue practicing such sin which causes one’s conscience to be hardened or seared over (I Timothy 4:2).

The Conscience Is a Witness

The term conscience is defined as co-knowledge with oneself. The conscience shares information with yourself by processing your innermost thoughts, feelings, emotions and desires. The conscience is able to provide helpful insight into why you are involved in certain activities or why you react in certain ways to particular events. It serves as a self-witness.

The conscience can be a witness defending our actions (Romans 2:15). The apostle Paul said that he had served God with a clear conscience all of his life even while persecuting Christians (Acts 23:1). Paul’s conscience defended his actions. Paul was convinced he was doing what God wanted him to do by killing Christians. Therein lies the key to keeping a pure conscience: performing the will of God. Now we see in Paul’s case that his conscience was wrong. However, we must teach ourselves what is pleasing to God in order to keep a pure conscience for we will be judged based on the gospel of Jesus Christ (Romans 2:16). We cannot determine practice just because we like an activity, or we think it is right. We must study God’s word and allow that to be the judging factor.

The conscience can also testify against us, accusing us of guilt (Romans 2:15). When our conscience is telling us we are guilty of some sin we must eradicate that sin. Ignoring a guilt-bearing conscience can cause worry, anxiety, festering, turmoil, distress, grief and anger — none of which are profitable emotions. Far too often we ignore these feelings, or we turn to encouraging books, or complain that we don’t get enough encouragement from the preacher, etc. What people need to do is repent.

The conscience will be judged before God. The terms “heart,” “conscience,” “thoughts” and “secrets” are used interchangeably (Romans 2:15-16 NASB) and will be judged by God who will bring every deed into consideration (Ecclesiastes 12:14). The standard that the conscience will be judged is the gospel. Thus, it is vitally important to live by that standard in order to keep a pure conscience.

The Conscience Is a Weapon

The term justification is a legal term which means to be free of any guilt. The result of justification is peace with God (Romans 5:1). Yet this peace can be disrupted by the piercing weapon that the conscience is. Eliphaz described the conscience as “sounds of terror” in one’s ears and destroying the peace that one enjoys (Job 15:21), which results in distress, anguish and fear (Job 15:24). What caused the turmoil and fear? Transgressing the commandment of the Lord (Job 15:25). The conscience is unsheathed when we sin against God Almighty!

The target of this weapon is the heart. The conscience is used to convict and bring a knowledge of sin. That conviction of sin should lead one to repent (Acts 2:37-38). When the weapon has been used and cuts at the heart it arouses the feeling of guilt. What is the purpose of the guilt one may feel? It is there to make you repent! That is the purpose guilt has. Do not ignore the guilt-bearing conscience.

The conscience is supposed to feel guilt; it is supposed to be harmed when one sins. The grief and guilt you feel from a wounded conscience are natural (Psalm 73:21). Our society tends to think of guilt as a negative feeling that we should ignore. Do not ignore the guilt you feel — its purpose is to cause repentance. To rid your conscience of guilt you must repent!

The Conscience Is a Warning System

The conscience is intended to sound an alarm when it has been harmed. The conscience is supposed to be sensitive to sin. In order for the conscience to be sensitive to sin it must first know what sin is. We must educate ourselves concerning the law of God. If we do not read, understand and apply God’s law then how can we expect to know what sin is? All sin must be defined and shown to be transgression through the Scriptures. We cannot quit preaching against sin to soothe our conscience because then we will have untrained consciences that will be given over to sin. Danger also lies when we become associated with sin, causing one to become desensitized resulting in indifference (I Timothy 4:1-2). Indifference will ultimately lead to approval of sinful activities. Paul warned the Gentiles of judgment for approving sinful activities with no differentiation between slanderers, gossips, haters of God and murderers (Romans 1:32). Thus, the warnings to flee and abhor sin and cleave to what is good (Romans 12:9).

When we find ourselves in situations that cause us to feel uncomfortable, then our conscience is telling us to flee! However, if we ignore our conscience we run the risk of losing any sensitivity we may have to sin.

Pharaoh allowed his heart to be hardened because he ignored God’s glory (Exodus 7:1,3), refused to believe in God (Exodus 7:13), and was impenitent (Exodus 9:27,35). There is great danger in ignoring the cries of our guilty conscience.

The Conscience Can Be Made Whole

Even though our conscience may be giving us the warning that we have sinned, we may take steps in order to clear our conscience. Our consciences are intended to be pure and whole. How can I maintain a pure conscience? In order to keep a pure conscience we must follow through with repentance by doing five steps to clear your conscience.

1. Confess and forsake sin (Psalm 32:5; I John 1:9)

2.  Ask for forgiveness and be reconciled to those whom you’ve wronged (Matthew 5:23,24; 6:14-15)

3. Make restitution (Numbers 5:6-7; Luke 19:8)

4. Don’t procrastinate in clearing your wounded conscience (Acts 24:16; Titus 1:5)

5. Educate your conscience (I Corinthians 8:7,12; Romans 14:23)

By following these five steps we will strengthen our conscience, our knowledge and our faith. Repentance is necessary to keeping a pure conscience.1

Conclusion

Keeping a pure conscience is vital to each Christian’s faith (Romans 14:22-23). Knowing that we have maintained a pure conscience, we may be confident when we appear before the judgment seat of God, knowing that there is laid up for ourselves a crown of righteousness (II Timothy 4:7,8).

1. The five steps in order to keep a pure conscience was borrowed from John MacArthur’s book, “The Vanishing Conscience.”

— Via articles from the La Vista church of Christ
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Ephesians 6:10-12

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (NASB).
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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 Christ (John 8:24; John 3:18).
3) Repent of sins (Luke 13:5; Acts 17:30).
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; Rom. 6:3,4; Gal. 3:26,27; 1 Pet. 3:21)     
6) Continue in the faith; for, if not, salvation can be lost (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 services: 9:00 AM (Bible class); 10 AM & 5 PM (worship)
Wednesday: 7 PM (Bible class)
evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (912) 281-9917
Tom@ThomasTEdwards.com
http://ThomasTEdwards.com/go (older version of the Gospel Observer website, but with bulletins going back to March 4, 1990)
http://ThomasTEdwards.com/audioser.html (audio sermons)

“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) Are We Thankful? (Lewis Willis)
2) 1 Chronicles 16:23-27 (NASB)
3) Tell Me the Old, Old Story (But Give it to Me in Digestible Bites!) (Greg Gwin)
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Are We Thankful?

by Lewis Willis

Let me share a thought with you which someone here shared with me. (I wish I could remember who, so I could give him the credit.) Stop and think of all the things you have in this life: salvation, the church, family, health, house, food, clothing, etc. Now, imagine that tomorrow you lost every single one of those things. What an unspeakable loss that would be! But, to your surprise, the next day you suddenly got back all that you had lost. Would you be exceedingly thankful that you had all of those things again? Surely you would. But, is it necessary to lose and regain them, before we are thankful for them? Should we not be thankful already just because we are so richly blessed?

Next Thursday is the day set aside in our great country as a national day of Thanksgiving. For Christians, it should be very easy to find reasons for being thankful. We have so much of this world’s goods to enjoy, and we have such a fortune of spiritual blessings (Eph. 1:3). How could we be anything but thankful? We certainly cannot limit our thanksgiving to one day a year! It is impossible to adequately express to God our thanks for the immeasurable blessings he has given to us. We often say to our families and friends who give us gifts, “Saying ‘thank You’ is just not enough!” Such is certainly true regarding God’s gifts to us.

I often wonder if our prayers to God do not consist too much in asking him to give us the things we want. Now, being able to ask things of God is one of the blessings he grants to his children (Matt. 7:7; 1 Jn. 3:22). It is absolutely right and proper that Christians request his blessings for their lives. But, a “Give me this; give me that” prayer practice can become very selfish. We must balance our prayers with praise, supplications, intercessions and giving of thanks (Matt. 6:9; 1 Tim. 2:1).

Also, it is not unusual to hear people, even Christians, who blame God for all of their troubles.  Their attitude seems to be, “I prayed and look what he did to me, or, look what he let happen to me.”  We must be careful that we not charge God foolishly. The Patriarch Job, who suffered through so many problems, “sinned not, nor charged God foolishly” (Job 1:22). What does God do for us?  What kind of gifts does he give? James said, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning” (1:17). “Good” and “perfect” gifts come from God. Let us never charge that he has given to us that which brings us pain and heartache. Blame the Devil for that! Until he was allowed into the lives of Adam and Eve, none of these bad things happened. Since then, the world is filled with his wickedness, and its attendant grief.

Fortunately, today our nation is at peace, though we do have troops stationed in dangerous places around the world. Economic hard times have beset us for several years and many wonder what the future holds. American industry continues to decline and many are losing their jobs and security.  An entire nation feels their hurt, and is helping. At the same time, more Americans are working than at any time in history. Our standard of living is better than most of the people in the world. In fact, it is almost equal to that found anywhere. It is certainly appropriate that we be thankful for our prosperity.

During the past year, many families have been touched with serious health problems. Some still struggle with these illnesses. Some families have had to deal with death, while others have known the joy of babies arriving. Given the disasters which have afflicted parts of our nation, and other countries, we can be thankful that things have gone as well for us as they have.

Remember, our prayers should not be used only “In the event of an emergency.” Do you find yourself negligent in praying, except when you have some problem, which you are unable to solve? Are you too busy, or too preoccupied with other things, to find a quiet time for prayer? The Lord taught us that we should always pray (Lk. 18:1). Paul taught us to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thess. 5:17). Let us never hesitate to pray in times of trouble, but let us not forget to also pray in times of peace and plenty!

The Bible teaches us the importance of prayers of thanksgiving to God for the bounty he has bestowed upon us:

Psa. 50:14: “Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High.”

Psa. 105:1: “O give thanks unto the Lord; call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people.”

Psa. 106:1: “Praise ye the Lord. O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth forever.”

Col. 3:15: “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.”

1 Thess. 5:18: “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”

Heb. 13:15: “By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.”

Eph. 5:20: “Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Col. 3:17: “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.”

1 Cor. 15:57: “But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

2 Cor. 9:15: “Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.”

When we look at the Word of God, our duty is rather evident, isn’t it? In this case, we know we have received many blessings for which we should be thankful. It is hoped that God’s people will be thankful, not only on Thanksgiving Day, but every day!

— Via Guardian of Truth, XXXVIII, No. 22, p. 1, November 17, 1994
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1 Chronicles 16:23-27

“Sing to the LORD, all the earth;
Proclaim good tidings of His salvation from day to day.
Tell of His glory among the nations,
His wonderful deeds among all the peoples.
For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised;
He also is to be feared above all gods.
For all the gods of the peoples are idols,
But the LORD made the heavens.
Splendor and majesty are before Him, Strength and joy are in His place.
(NASB).
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Tell Me the Old, Old Story

(But Give It to Me in Digestible Bites!)

by Greg Gwin

Knowing the best approach to use and the right things to say when teaching someone the gospel is a difficult challenge. Our judgments about how to proceed will be flawed from time to time, but good and honest hearts will be ready to accept God’s truth despite our failings.

One of the critical things in this process is determining a student’s basic level of knowledge.  We must be able to determine where to start with each individual learner.  Philip did this in an expert way when he encountered the Ethiopian eunuch.  A simple question, an observation of the text the eunuch was reading, a statement by the man himself, and Philip was ready.  He “began at the same scripture and preached unto him Jesus” (Acts 8:35).  We will do well to follow Philip’s example.  Make no assumptions about what your prospect knows.  Find out where your student is in terms of fundamental knowledge and commence your teaching at the appropriate starting place.  Failure to do so will lead to confusion and frustration for both the student and the teacher.

Another essential component of effective teaching is to keep the instruction in manageable ‘bites.’  Too often we see well-intentioned Christians launch off into long discourses that incorporate way too much information.  It all makes sense to them, of course — and they sincerely want to share their understanding with the one they are teaching — but it is simply too much.  The student will not be able to take it all in.  They won’t be able ‘to see the forest for the trees,’ and they may very well throw up their hands in despair.  So, our best approach is to take it slowly.  Methodically walk the student through the necessary foundational truths.  While it may be possible to do this “in the same hour of the night” (Acts 16:33), it often will take several carefully planned sessions.  Knowing how much and how fast to ‘feed’ the student is a much needed talent in teachers.

The apostle Paul urged: “Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man” (Colossians 4:6).  Salt, of course, is a good thing, but too much ruins the food.   The same is true of our efforts to inform others.  We need to be doing this essential work, but let us pray for wisdom (James 1:5) so that we serve up the truth in an effective way that does not overwhelm the one we are trying to teach.  Think!

— via The Beacon, November 17, 2015
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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 Christ (John 8:24; John 3:18).
3) Repent of sins (Luke 13:5; Acts 17:30).
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; Rom. 6:3,4; Gal. 3:26,27; 1 Pet. 3:21)     
6) Continue in the faith; for, if not, salvation can be lost (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 services: 9:00 AM (Bible class); 10 AM & 5 PM (worship)
Wednesday: 7 PM (Bible class)
evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (912) 281-9917
Tom@ThomasTEdwards.com
http://ThomasTEdwards.com/go (older version of the Gospel Observer website, but with bulletins going back to March 4, 1990)
http://ThomasTEdwards.com/audioser.html (audio sermons)

“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) Are We “Committed” in Our Marriage? (R.J. Evans)
2) “As Long as It Doesn’t Harm Anyone” (Doy Moyer)
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Are We “Committed” in Our Marriage?

by R.J. Evans

Commitment is the cement which keeps the bricks of marriage in place.  Sadly, many couples in our selfish, self-indulgent culture do not make a genuine commitment when they marry.  I believe the Scripture gives four basic, clear principles that define the necessary commitment for marriage.  Too many among us approach marriage  concerned only with  self —  “what’s in it for me?” Commitment demands something other than that.

1. Commitment between marriage partners begins with a deep trust in one another (1 Cor. 13:7). This means that we do everything possible to maintain trust.  Nothing is done to violate the promise, the vow, or in any way destroy the priority of the two remaining “one flesh” (Gen. 2:24).  Trying to make one’s spouse jealous is foolish, juvenile, and can be a precursor to serious marital problems.

2. A solid marriage demands deep devotion to one another (Eph. 5:22-25).  This takes the commitment from a promise to a passion.  It means that we cannot live the promise without total effort to meet the needs of our mate. It means that we would never abuse, use, or take advantage of our spouse.  We protect and provide for one another — supplying each other’s needs.  When our spouse is sick, we care for them with deep devotion and loving concern. In such a marriage, we each fulfill our God-given roles (1 Cor. 7:1-9; Eph. 5:22-29; Col. 3:18-19; Titus 2:1-6; 1 Pet. 3:1-7).

Also, a devoted husband or wife will not indifferently sit by and allow someone else to use, manipulate, mistreat, or take advantage of their spouse. This is especially true of a husband toward his wife since he is primarily her provider and protector (Eph. 5:25, 28-29; 1 Tim. 5:8). This principle is illustrated in Paul’s attitude toward the Corinthians.  He told them: “For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy.  For I have betrothed you to one husband that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ” (2 Cor. 2:2).  But then notice his deep concern for them in the next verse: “But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ” (V. 3).  Likewise, he earlier gave them proper instruction, “lest Satan should take advantage of us”  (2 Cor. 2:11).

3. A happy home is where the husband and wife are dependent on one another (Gen. 2:18).  Here there is developed a strong sense of mutual need and dependence.  The husband and wife see the other as strength to their own weakness — a God-given complement (Gen. 2:18, 23).  No one will be allowed to come between the husband-wife relationship — not parents, grandparents, children, in-laws, or friends.  Also, jobs, hobbies, outdoor activities, sports, etc. should never be allowed to drive a wedge between a husband and wife.

4. An unshakable determination to succeed is the standard equipment in the home that is outfitted for a lifetime of happiness. Just as the Apostle Paul pressed toward the goal of heaven (Phil. 3:14), the faithful couple presses on toward making their marriage a success.  Nothing happens without complete effort.  If we will make it work…it will work.  More than that, it will be to God’s glory and our joy.

With these truths as our constant companions, the strong winds of adversity and trials will never blow our marriage apart. “Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate” (Matt. 19:6).

— Via the bulletin of the Southside church of Christ, Gonzales, Louisiana, August 30, 2015
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“As Long as It Doesn’t Harm Anyone”

by Doy Moyer

One of the most prominent moral justifications heard today is that as long as the practice doesn’t harm anyone, then it is right and should be allowed. The primary argument this is being used for today is gay marriage, to no one’s surprise. However, it carries broader applications, and those applications aren’t just about politics.

“The practice is not harming anyone, so you need to let them do what they want.”

Doesn’t that just make sense? How can we not agree with that?

First, the argument from “no harm” makes assumptions not only about what “harm” is or is not, but also about who should or should not perceive something as harmful.

We might notice that when people talk about what doesn’t “harm” anyone, they don’t really define what they mean. They assume that everyone’s on the same page, and proceed to argue from their assumptions. Interestingly, some of the same people will argue against all religion on the basis that they believe religion “harms” people, showing that “harm” is often a matter of perspective.

What does it mean to “harm”?

“Harm” means to injure or do damage to something. Something good can harm something bad, and something bad can harm something good. Truth will injure the false, and what’s false can damage the cause of truth. The issue shouldn’t be so much, “does it cause harm?” but rather, “is it right or wrong?” What we should always be concerned about is doing what is right, and “no harm” isn’t to be equated with “right.”  “Harm” is too fluid of a concept to be anchored to “right” or “good.” If what’s good harms what’s bad, then that’s as it should be.

Is there such a thing as universal harmlessness? Is there really a practice that is totally and completely harmless to everyone and everything in all circumstances? When people say that a practice “doesn’t harm anyone,” are they making some universal statement of truth? Or are they focusing on a particular circumstance? Are there bigger issues that we ought to think about?

What of something considered harmful to one group or person, but not another? Do we ignore part of the equation in order to push an agenda? Who gets to decide that? Who is the authority on what harms people?

There are different kinds of harm, including physical, emotional, and moral harm. These seem most obvious, but let’s also consider the idea that something can be subtly harmful overall because it chips away at and destroys the structural foundation of a society. When it comes to matters like living together apart from marriage, having children apart from marriage, easy divorce, or gay marriage, we are looking at practices that challenge the infrastructure of the family, which in turn harms the structural foundation of our society.

By redefining marriage or family, against both God’s revealed will and all conventional wisdom of many thousands of years, we are naive if we think that there is no harm to the structural foundation.

Of course, the worst of all harms is spiritual in nature. Sin is always the real harm, so if something is sinful, as defined by God, then it is absolutely harmful to the ones who practice the sin as well as the surrounding society. We all ought to desire avoiding that.

“Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people” (Prov. 14:34).

If we take something that is sinful, then argue that it is acceptable because it doesn’t cause anyone “harm,” then we have misunderstood the true nature both of what is harmful and the consequences of sin. We are no different from those who called good evil or evil good (Isa. 5:20).

Rather than asking whether something is harmful, we need to ask whether some- thing is right.  “Right” isn’t defined by our own selfish perspectives, but by a Creator who ultimately knows what is most beneficial or harmful to all of us.

Finally, the gospel addresses the situation in that it calls on us to repent of sin while offering forgiveness and reversing the eternal effects of what sin does to us (Acts 3:19). When we deny the harm that sin causes, then we deny the power of the gospel to overturn our sinful condition. This will result in irrevocable and permanent harm to us, and none of us can afford that. This is why we need to diligently teach the truth that will set us free from sin (John 8:31-32). This isn’t about taking a political position; it’s about reaching a lost world that needs to come home to God.

— Via Search for Truth, November 15, 2015, Volume VII, Number 16
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“…’I am the resurrection and the life. He that believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?’” (Jn. 11:25,26).
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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 Christ (John 8:24; John 3:18).
3) Repent of sins (Luke 13:5; Acts 17:30).
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; Rom. 6:3,4; Gal. 3:26,27; 1 Pet. 3:21)     
6) Continue in the faith; for, if not, salvation can be lost (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 services: 9:00 AM (Bible class); 10 AM & 5 PM (worship)
Wednesday: 7 PM (Bible class)
evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (912) 281-9917
Tom@ThomasTEdwards.com
http://ThomasTEdwards.com/go (older version of the Gospel Observer website, but with bulletins going back to March 4, 1990)
http://ThomasTEdwards.com/audioser.html (audio sermons)

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations…teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20, NASB).
——————–

Contents:

1) Does Everything Happen for a Reason? (R.J. Evans)
2) Faith — Do You Have It? (Ronny E. Hinds)
3) Proverbs 3:5-8 (NASB)
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Does Everything Happen for a Reason?

by R.J. Evans

Based upon how often we hear the expression “everything happens for a reason,”  you would think the answer to our title would be a definite “yes.”  Some time back, while watching a professional football player on TV being interviewed, and in commenting on his team’s loss, he remarked: “I know everything happens for a reason.”   And I can think of many other examples and situations in which this statement is used even by members of the Lord’s church.

If we were able to go back to the 1500’s and ask John Calvin the above question, his answer would certainly be in the affirmative. In fact, this kind of thinking that is so common among us today is Calvinism through and through, permeating almost every religious denomination. Calvin’s doctrine of Predestination, not only teaches that only certain ones have been chosen by God to be saved from eternity, but also teaches that every little insignificant incident in a person’s life has all been predetermined by God. Some go so far as applying this to finding a parking space in a public parking lot.

Do I believe that certain things happen in a way in which God has designed? Absolutely! He foreordained from eternity that salvation would be obtained through Christ, in his body, which is His church. In fact, Paul spoke of this to the Ephesians: “…having predestined us…as sons by Jesus Christ…in whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will” (Eph. 1:5, 11; see also Acts 2:23; Eph. 3:10-11; 1 Pet. 1:20). We serve a sovereign God.

But that does not rule out the fact that some things happen which have no impact on God’s ultimate goals. Thus, while God has decided in some areas what needed to happen, contrary to Calvinistic doctrine, He also allows things to happen as they may. To prove this point that many things happen at random or by chance, we turn to the words of the inspired wise man: “I returned and saw under the sun that — The race is not to the swift, Nor the battle to the strong, Nor bread to the wise, Nor riches to men of understanding, Nor favor to men of skill; But time and chance happen to them all” (Eccl. 9:11). Again, some events randomly occur by simple “time and chance.”  (See also: 1 Sam. 6:9; 2 Sam. 1:6; Lk. 10:31)

Of course, another factor would be the providence of God in answering our prayers. He can take bad things that happen in our lives and help them turn out for good. For instance, it was necessary for Paul to appeal to Caesar in order to save his own life. However, while a prisoner in Rome he was able to say, “But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel” (Phil. 1:12; Rom. 8:28; see also Joseph’s statement in Gen. 50:20).

I am so thankful that, contrary to what John Calvin taught, we have the ability to choose our own eternal destiny. And of our own free will, we can become a member of God’s family by obeying the gospel of Christ. In becoming a child of God, we then have the avenue of prayer where, He, through His providence, can intervene and work in our lives. But that is a far cry from the common usage of the expression: “Everything happens for a reason.”   If that were true of every little, small incident in our lives, then we could blame God and not take responsibility for any of our own actions.

So before you say, “everything happens for a reason,”  give it some serious thought and ask yourself if you are using that expression in a scriptural manner. In one sense, there is a reason for everything that happens. For example, a person is in a car wreck. Is there a reason for it? Yes, perhaps the driver was driving on the wrong side of the road, drunk while driving, or a tire blew out, etc. Some huge oak trees fell down in my yard. Was there a reason for this happening? Yes, strong hurricane winds blew them over. But on the other hand, “everything happens for a reason” with the idea that every detail in one’s life has been predetermined by God is the doctrine of Calvinism. The Scripture does not teach such. In fact, the phrase “everything happens for a reason” is not found in the Bible.

— Via bulletin for the Southside church of Christ, Gonzales, Louisiana
——————–

-2-

Faith — Do You Have It?

by Ronny E. Hinds

Faith is a common word. The dictionary says it means “confident belief in the truth, value, or trustworthiness of a person, an idea, or a thing.” While faith may be a common word it involves ideas of uncommon importance and worth. Confidence, truth and trustworthiness are ideas we should all desire.

Faith is not something you choose to have or not have. Faith is a necessary part of everyone’s life. We cannot function without it. Every bite of food I put in my mouth and swallow demands faith — faith that it will not poison me and faith that it will do for my physical well-being what it is supposed to do. Religion is not the only area of life that requires faith. Evolutionists like to make fun of religion and faith, because they think evolution does not require faith. Such reveals their prejudice, foolish thinking and self-deception!

Certain Bible verses come to mind when I think of a defining statement about faith. One is Hebrews 11:1, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Another is Acts 27:25, “Therefore take heart, men, for I believe God that it will be just as it was told me.” But the verses that I have come to appreciate most in defining faith is Romans 4:19-21. Read them carefully. They are speaking about Abraham’s faith in connection with Isaac’s birth. “And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform.”

A real, God-pleasing faith requires being “fully convinced” (NKJ). Other Bible Versions translate this: “fully persuaded” (KJV, NIV); “fully assured” (ASV, NAS). This kind of faith requires from us toward God a total commitment, nothing withheld, attitude and behavior. Jesus said, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind” (Matt. 22:37). Romans 12:1-2 instructs us, “I beseech you…that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God… And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…” Note mind and body are involved. It is total, absolute dedication to God. No exceptions! No excuses!

Romans 4:19 says Abraham was not “weak in faith.” I can easily deceive myself thinking, “Yes, I have faith,” but never realize that it is an insufficient, weak faith. Such is not God’s fault, but mine. God “has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him…” (2 Peter 1:3). Second Timothy 3:16-17 tells us, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” And, of course, Romans 10:17: “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

A strong, growing, God-pleasing faith will make itself known in its willingness to do what God has said. Notice I said DO. Consider what is said in James 2:14,17-18. “What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? …[F]aith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. … I will show you my faith by my works.” Without the actual DOING of GOD’S INSTRUCTIONS, our faith will be unacceptable. A person who has faith but is unwilling to give up their opinions and ideas to what God says, obeying what God says, does not really believe. James 2:20 describes such faith as a dead faith and that person as foolish. “But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?” James continues by asking us to consider two other questions. “Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?” (2:21-22). We must be like Abraham. “By faith Abraham obeyed…” (Heb. 11:8).

What about your faith? Do you really have faith?

— Via Focusing On Truth, September 2015
——————–

-3-

Proverbs 3:5-8

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding. 
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight. 
Do not be wise in your own eyes;
Fear the LORD and turn away from evil. 
It will be healing to your body
And refreshment to your bones” (NASB).
——————–

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 Christ (John 8:24; John 3:18).
3) Repent of sins (Luke 13:5; Acts 17:30).
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; Rom. 6:3,4; Gal. 3:26,27; 1 Pet. 3:21)     
6) Continue in the faith; for, if not, salvation can be lost (Heb. 10:36-39; Rev. 2:10; 2 Pet. 2:20-22).
——————–

Tebeau Street
CHURCH OF CHRIST
1402 Tebeau Street, Waycross, GA  31501
Sunday services: 9:00 AM (Bible class); 10 AM & 5 PM (worship)
Wednesday: 7 PM (Bible class)
evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (912) 281-9917
Tom@ThomasTEdwards.com
http://ThomasTEdwards.com/go (older version of the Gospel Observer website, but with bulletins going back to March 4, 1990)
http://ThomasTEdwards.com/audioser.html (audio sermons)

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations…teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20, NASB).
——————–

Contents:

1) Blasphemy Against the Holy Spirit (Charles G. Caldwell, Jr.)
2) Psalm 1:1-3 (NASB)
3) Obedience is Necessary (Donnie V. Rader)
——————–

-1-

Blasphemy Against the Holy Spirit

by Charles G. Caldwell, Jr.

In Matthew 12:31,32, Jesus said, “Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.”

Down through the years, this passage has been the occasion of great concern to devout, God-fearing people. This concern is the result of a gross misunderstanding of what our Lord was actually saying. It is the sequel to a perversion of His teaching and is productive of the usual effect of such perversion in depriving men of the peace, contentment, and happiness of soul and mind, and the joy that God intends for us to have in Christ. It would, in the very nature of the case, be impossible for one to “rejoice in the Lord always” (Philippians 4:4) if there was the slightest possibility of his having sometime inadvertently committed a sin that could not be forgiven.

All Sins Forgivable

John said in I John 1:7, “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another [He with us, and we with Him, CGC], and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” I do not consider this passage to be in conflict with Matthew 12:31,32. Nor do I consider Matthew 12:31,32 to set forth an exception to John’s promise. In order to the forgiveness of sins — all sins — there are certain conditions, divinely ordained, that must be met. If a sin — any sin — is not forgiven it is because the conditions have not been met. One may fail to meet the conditions either because of his unwillingness to do so or because he is unable to do so. Both of these reasons might be involved and it is my contention that such is the case with all those about whom our Lord spoke in Matthew 12. It is possible for one to reach such a state of depravity that he has no willingness to accept the truth and be governed by it, no matter how strong the evidence, and sink so low in the mire of degradation that he is unwilling and even unable because of his degenerate attitude to submit to that which is right.

Anyone, therefore, who is interested in truth and righteousness or who is concerned about his soul’s well being has not committed the “unpardonable sin.”

The Case in Context

An understanding of the passage under consideration is dependent — as is almost always the case — upon the context in which it is found. Jesus has just healed a man possessed of a demon which caused the multitudes to marvel and be amazed. But there were others of the Pharisees and Scribes who heard of it and being unable to deny that a miracle had indeed been performed sought to explain it away by attributing the power by which it was accomplished to “Beelzebub.” The claim was made by them that Christ was not exercising divine power but rather Satanic or diabolical power. Christ then proceeded to disprove their contention with a number of arguments which are irresistible:

Argument Number 1: First, He showed that which is evident on the surface, that Satan would not work against his own interest because in doing so, he would destroy himself and be brought to an “end.”

Argument Number 2: His next argument to disprove their contention was based upon their purported claim that their disciples, “sons,” cast out demons. If it was true that they did cast out demons (which Christ did not admit) and that demons were cast out only by “Beelzebub,” then it would follow that their “sons” exercised diabolical power. This He argued to show the absurdity of their contention from their own premise.

Argument Number 3: He next submitted that since He could not possibly be casting out demons by the power of the Devil, it must of necessity be by the power of God and that such exercise signaled the arrival of the kingdom of God.

Argument Number 4: His final argument in this regard was to the effect that He had entered Satan’s house (the body of the demoniac) and had spoiled Satan’s goods (the evil spirit in the man) and, therefore, instead of being in league with the devil, He had contested him and defeated him. The conclusion based on these arguments is that these Scribes and Pharisees were wrong in their charge that Christ was working miracles by the power of Satan rather than by the power of God. Their charge was not against the power of God, the Holy Spirit, but rather against Christ — that He was in league with the Devil and not with the Holy Spirit. This, Christ disproved and sought to correct their misconception.

Misunderstanding the Charge

Contrary to popular opinion and acceptation, Christ did not say that these Jews had committed the sin of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, but He did say in substance that they had blasphemed against Him and He emphatically says that such will (or can) be forgiven. The circumstances surrounding the incident, however, do suggest to the mind of Christ a need for a warning to these people of the danger of the course they are following. They had said that He was casting out demons by the power of “Beelzebub” (the Devil). If they persisted in this contention and in the light of all the evidence became convinced that the power exercised was of God but nevertheless was still evil because it worked through Christ, whom they hated and refused to accept, then they would become guilty of the sin against which Christ warned. In this they would be charging the Holy Spirit with being a devil or being equivalent to the Devil. Certainly, they were not now saying that the Holy Spirit was a devil or that He was as bad as the Devil. They were not denying that the Spirit is holy or affirming that the Spirit is evil. They were simply denying that the Holy Spirit had anything to do with Christ’s miracles.

If they were affirming that the Spirit of God was not holy but rather was as evil as the Devil, this would, of course, have been blasphemy against the Spirit and there would have been no point in Christ’s having attempted to correct them by presenting the arguments that He did. They would have been beyond argument and beyond the hope of correction. They were getting on dangerous ground, however. They were approaching the point of no return. They were getting near to a condition of heart and mind which would damn their souls and Christ was simply warning them to stop before they had gone too far; not to allow their hatred and their contemptuous attitude toward Him to cause them to defame the Spirit of God. To take that step and affirm that the Holy Spirit is not holy but is evil and only evil continually, that He is a devil and on a par with Satan is to sink beyond all hope. Such a frame of mind on the part of anyone would be beyond all correction. Thus, the conditions of correction and forgiveness given by the Spirit have no place in the man’s heart.

The Good Tree

Jesus said, “Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt” (vs. 33). If the product of the working of the Spirit is good, the Spirit, Himself, is good and holy, “for the tree is known by his fruit.”

— Via Truth Magazine, XXI, 49, pp. 781-782, December 15, 1977
——————–

Psalm 1:1-3

“How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked,
Nor stand in the path of sinners,
Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!
But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water,
Which yields its fruit in its season
And its leaf does not wither;
And in whatever he does, he prospers”
(NASB).
——————–

-2-

Obedience is Necessary

by Donnie V. Rader

Just a casual reading of the Scriptures will reveal that God expects obedience to his will. Consider a few simple texts.

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven” (Matt. 7:21).

“But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do the things which I say” (Luke 6:46)?

“Though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him” (Heb. 5:8- 9).

Those who heard the gospel in the first century were told to “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out” (Acts 3:19) even though the sin they committed was done “in ignorance” (v. 17).

We must conclude that there will be honest and sincere people who will be lost. If such is the case, it behooves us to carefully study God’s word and live accordingly.

— via The Beacon, October 27, 2015
——————–

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 Christ (John 8:24; John 3:18).
3) Repent of sins (Luke 13:5; Acts 17:30).
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; Rom. 6:3,4; Gal. 3:26,27; 1 Pet. 3:21)     
6) Continue in the faith; for, if not, salvation can be lost (Heb. 10:36-39; Rev. 2:10; 2 Pet. 2:20-22).
——————–

Tebeau Street
CHURCH OF CHRIST
1402 Tebeau Street, Waycross, GA  31501
Sunday services: 9:00 AM (Bible class); 10 AM & 5 PM (worship)
Wednesday: 7 PM (Bible class)
evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (912) 281-9917
Tom@ThomasTEdwards.com
http://ThomasTEdwards.com/go (older version of the Gospel Observer website, but with bulletins going back to March 4, 1990)
http://ThomasTEdwards.com/audioser.html (audio sermons)

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations…teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20, NASB).
——————–

Contents:

1) Making Shipwreck of One’s Faith (Tom Edwards)
2) News & Notes
——————–

-1-

Making Shipwreck of One’s Faith

by Tom Edwards

As seen in 1 Timothy 1:18-20, there is a need for the Christian to maintain faith and a good conscience in order to stay afloat, in a manner of speaking.  For some had rejected that, such as Hymenaeus and Alexander, and, as a result, made shipwreck of their faith.

It would seem that these two whom Paul cites by name had been prominent in leading others into error and away from the Lord, for Hymenaeus is also mentioned in 2 Timothy 2:17, 18 as not only one who had gone astray, but also as one who had upset the faith of others as well.

Making shipwreck of one’s faith is not merely dangerous to the soul, but also spiritually fatal.  Paul, therefore, took serious measures to try to rescue Hymenaeus and Alexander by delivering them over to Satan “so that they may be taught not to blaspheme” (1 Tim. 1:20).

What Paul did might sound strange, but this is not the first time similar language is used with regard to trying to correct a wayward brother.  And it certainly doesn’t mean that Satan was intent and cooperative in helping people become good Christians!  For Satan is “…the god of this world” who has “blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God” (2 Cor. 4:4).  Jesus refers to Satan as being “…a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. …he is a liar and the father of lies” (Jn. 8:44).   So what good would it do to deliver anyone to him for correction, and what involvement would he have in that?

First of all, Satan dwells in that domain of darkness that the Christian had been delivered from when having obeyed the gospel plan of salvation and is then “transferred …to the kingdom” of God’s beloved Son (cf. Col. 1:13).  So to go back into sin is to go back into that realm of darkness (cf. 1 Jn. 1:5-7).  In that sense, the backsliding Christian has once again given himself over to Satan.

Concerning that Corinthian who had been guilty of an incestuous affair, and of which the brethren had done nothing about, Paul had “…decided to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of his flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus” (1 Cor. 5:5), which, again, is very serious.  This was done about 7 or 8 years prior to the writing of 1 Timothy.  Though this transgressor had already given himself over to Satan through an immoral life, it was now to be dealt with by the church in a public way.  This does not mean, of course, that the offender was to be literally put to death by Satan; but the church was to withdraw fellowship from the wrongdoer and, in hopes, that the humiliation that stems from it would lead to this person’s wanting to “put to death” those sinful deeds of the flesh, which is what the “destruction of the flesh” has reference to.  Paul declares, “for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live” (Rom. 8:13. cf. Gal. 5:19-21,24,25).  Paul is speaking here of sinful deeds that are to be abstained from.  As Christians, we are always in a battle between flesh and Spirit; and we must, therefore, strive to be victorious by living according to the Spirit and putting to death our thoughts and actions that would conflict with the Spirit. “For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so” (cf. Rom. 8:6-7).

Consider Paul.  He was a righteous man, yet to keep him from exalting himself above measure, after having been caught up to the third heaven, Paradise, and hearing “inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak” (2 Cor. 12:2-4), and “because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations,” Paul says he was given “a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to buffet me–to keep me from exalting myself” (v. 7). So God can even use that which is evil or calamitous for the good of those who love and obey Him.  James had also pointed that out about “various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance” (Jam. 1:2,3).

In addition, illness was sometimes brought upon others as a means of chastening.  For instance, in 1 Corinthians 11:30, concerning those Christians who were perverting the Lord’s Supper, Paul declares, “For this reason many among you are weak and sick, and a number sleep.”

During a time of miracles, Jesus had referred to a woman’s infirmity, which caused her body to be bent and prevented her from straightening up for eighteen years, to have been “caused by a spirit” (Luke 13:11).  And then attributes that to Satan, who had bound her for all those years (v. 16), before the Lord healed her.

In 2 Timothy 2:18, Paul specifies the false teaching with which Hymenaeus had not only destroyed his own faith, but was also damaging the faith of others.  The apostle states in verses 16-18, “But avoid worldly and empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness, and their talk will spread like gangrene.  Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, men who have gone astray from the truth saying that the resurrection has already taken place, and they upset the faith of some.”

In 2 Peter 3:16, Peter speaks of those who “distort” the Scriptures “to their own destruction.”  He refers to them as being “untaught” and “unstable.”  Peter, therefore, warns others, by saying, “You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall from your own steadfastness, but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ…” (vv. 17,18).

Though we are not told exactly what all was meant in the false teaching that the resurrection had already occurred, it is thought that it was Gnosticism that had influenced Hymenaeus toward his wrong belief.  For since the Gnostics had viewed all matter as being evil, but the spirit good, what glory or benefit would they see in a physical resurrection of the body?  So it is said that they had taken passages that pertain to being made spiritually alive with Christ to be referring to the resurrection, such as Romans 6:4, where Paul declares, “Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.”  And Colossians 2:12: “having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.”  And Ephesians 2:5,6: “even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ…and raised us up with Him….”  So, according to this view, it would be just a spiritual resurrection, rather than a physical one of the body.

But just because the gospel shows of this spiritual “resurrection” in being “born again” (John 3:3-5), which includes that need of baptism, does that nullify the fact that there will also be a physical resurrection?

Jesus speaks of both of these in John 5:

“Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear shall live. For just as the Father has life in Himself, even so He gave to the Son also to have life in Himself” (vv. 25,26).  Here He is referring to those who are spiritually dead, but then would be made spiritually alive through the word of God.  For the Lord’s words are “spirit” and “life” (Jn. 6:63).

He then goes on to contrast this “spiritual resurrection” with the physical resurrection of the body: “Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs shall hear His voice, and shall come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment” (Jn. 5:28,29).

As we see in 1 Corinthians 15:12, some of the Corinthians were teaching that “…there is no [physical] resurrection of the dead.”  But if that be the case, then not even Christ was raised; and if that be so, then preaching and faith is vain (v. 14), the apostles would have been false witnesses (v. 15), faith would be worthless, we would still be in our sins (v. 17), those who have died have perished (v. 18), and we who call ourselves Christians would be most to be pitied (v. 19).

But Christ did arise from the dead!

Notice also the importance of His resurrection in view of the following passages:

“And corresponding to that, baptism now saves you– not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience–through the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (1 Pet. 3:21).

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Pet. 1:3).

In that same chapter where Paul shows the futility and hopelessness for all us if there be no resurrection (1 Cor. 15:13-18), he begins that chapter by saying, “Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures” (vv. 1-4).  What a major part the resurrection is to the gospel!

Paul then mentions some of those who witnessed the resurrected Christ, which includes the apostles and “more than 500 brethren at one time” (v. 6).

And, lastly, if the resurrection pertains to only a spiritual resurrection when sins are forgiven, why did Paul say what he does in Philippians 3:10-12? “that I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect, but I press on in order that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.”

And may we all do likewise, so as not to make shipwreck of our faith.

Whatever the specifics were concerning Hymenaeus’ false teaching on the resurrection, it was bringing harm to the body of Christ, just as various other false teachings also can.

May we, therefore, acquire a good and complete knowledge of God’s word so that we will not be led astray by any of the religious error that is being taught and practiced in the world today.
——————–

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 Christ (John 8:24; John 3:18).
3) Repent of sins (Luke 13:5; Acts 17:30).
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; Rom. 6:3,4; Gal. 3:26,27; 1 Pet. 3:21)     
6) Continue in the faith; for, if not, salvation can be lost (Heb. 10:36-39; Rev. 2:10; 2 Pet. 2:20-22).
——————–

Tebeau Street
CHURCH OF CHRIST
1402 Tebeau Street, Waycross, GA  31501
Sunday services: 9:00 AM (Bible class); 10 AM & 5 PM (worship)
Wednesday: 7 PM (Bible class)
evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (912) 281-9917
Tom@ThomasTEdwards.com
http://ThomasTEdwards.com/go (older version of the Gospel Observer website, but with bulletins going back to March 4, 1990)
http://ThomasTEdwards.com/audioser.html (audio sermons)

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations…teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20, NASB).
——————–

Contents:

1) Were We Pre-existing Spirits Before the Creation, and Was Jesus the First One Created? (Tom Edwards)
——————–

-1-

Were We Pre-existing Spirits Before the Creation, and Was Jesus the First One Created?

Tom Edwards

I had an interesting study with a couple  young Mormons yesterday.  They had stopped by earlier this week, but I invited them back so that we could talk about each other’s beliefs.  It was an interesting conversation; and they were polite, well-mannered, and informative about their doctrines.

Did you know that Mormons believe that everyone who has ever been — and ever will be — has actually already existed in spirit-form before the world began?  According to the young men I spoke with, Jesus was the first spirit-being God the Father created; and then all the other spirit-beings were made, which included you and me, along with everyone else who has ever been or ever will be!  My two visitors did not know how long ago that actually happened, but it was sometime prior to the creation of the universe; and in that state, we were all supposedly similar to angels!

Out of all those spirit-beings, about a third of them eventually chose to follow Satan in his rebellious ways and were, thus, cast out of heaven.

For the first humans, the spirits of Adam and Eve had been chosen by God to come to earth; and they willingly agreed.

Other spirit-beings also desired to have a home on earth, so they then became the souls within the bodies born.

Reading from one of the Mormons’ pamphlets, entitled, “The Plan of Salvation,” page 2 has a section that answers the question, “Where did I come from?”  Here is the answer it gives: “Your life did not begin at birth…  Your Heavenly Father created your spirit, and you lived with Him as a spirit before you were born on earth.  You knew and loved Him, and He knew and loved you.  This period is called pre-earth life.  Throughout your pre-earth life, you were taught the principles and commandments that would lead to happiness.  You grew in intelligence and learned to love the truth.  You were taught about the plan of salvation.  During this pre-earth life, Jesus Christ was chosen as the Savior; you learned that through Him you would be able to overcome the effects of your wrong choices.  An important part of God’s plan was for you to come to earth to receive a physical body and to learn to make correct choices. You would not remember living in Heavenly Father’s presence, but He would give you the ability to know right from wrong. … In your pre-earth life, you chose to have faith in Jesus Christ and to follow God’s plan.  Because of your choices, you were born on earth.  Only by making these same choices can you find peace in this life and be able to return to live with your Heavenly Father after this life is over” (pages 2,5,6).

According to the Mormons, the reason why none of us are aware of our previous state as spirit-beings is because of the “veil of forgetfulness,” which God gave us when entering this world, and which was necessary in order that we could benefit from Christ’s sacrifice.

Where, however, do you read of any of this in the Bible?  Does it give any indication that Jesus was created and, therefore, has not always been?  And that we existed in spirit-form prior to the creation?

Was Jesus Created?

The passage the Mormons cited to allege that Christ was created is Colossians 1:15 that speaks of Him as being “the firstborn of all creation.”  James Strong, however, shows that the Greek word can be used literally or figuratively.  And in the context, it expresses not merely first in time, but first in greatness, in the sense of having a superiority over all.

In Old Testament times, when a father “wills what he has to his sons,” the firstborn was to receive “a double portion of all” that his father had, “for he is the beginning of his strength; to him belongs the right of the firstborn” (Deut. 21:15-17).  So this right of the firstborn gave him a preeminence over his siblings; and that idea of a higher rank or superior position is also the way “firstborn” is figuratively used in Psalm 89:27, where God says of David, “I also shall make him My firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth.”

The context of Colossians 1:15 also implies this figurative usage in Jesus being “the firstborn of all creation.”  For the passage shows Him exalted above all creation and gives good reasons for that: “For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities — all things have been created through Him and for Him.  He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.  He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything” (Col. 1:16-18).

The very phrase having “first place in everything” expresses preeminence, that exalted and superior position over others.

The passage begins by saying that “by Him all things were created.”  This corresponds with what John says of Jesus in John 1:3: “All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.”  And wouldn’t that also be a good reason for the Lord to be exalted over all that has been created — since He is the Creator of all?

Like the Mormons, the Jehovah’s Witnesses also believe that Jesus was a created being before the world began; so in their New World Translation of the Bible, Colossians 1:16 is rendered as, “because by means of him all OTHER things were created in the heavens and on the earth…” (emphasis mine).  By their usage of the word “other,” it twists the passage to fit with their doctrine that Jesus was the first one created, and then He created everything else.  For, otherwise, if all created things were created by Him, then He would have had to also create Himself.  So the Jehovah’s Witnesses use the word “other” to exempt Him from that and conform the verse to their wrong belief.  We should all, however, take heed to the warnings in the Bible of not tampering with God’s word by adding to or taking away from its teachings and, thus, perverting it and bringing upon ourselves the wrath of God (cf. Gal. 1:6-9; 2 Jn. 1:9; Rev. 22:18,19).

Looking to the Scriptures, Jesus is shown to have always existed.  Though His physical body had a beginning when born of the virgin Mary, yet He is actually “…from long ago, from the days of eternity” (Micah 5:2); and though inconceivable to us, it appears from John 8:58 that He was filling all eternity at that very moment — and still is. For in this passage He says of Abraham, who lived about 2,000 years prior to this statement, that “Before Abraham was born, I am.”   Also, in Revelation 22:13, Jesus refers to Himself by saying, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end,” which also expresses His eternal nature.  And just as we know that there will be no “end” to Jesus’ existence, the same is true when we also try to look back to His “beginning” — for that also stretches throughout eternity.

Consider also Hebrews 7:3.  It speaks of Melchizedek being “like the Son of God” in the sense of “having neither beginning of days nor end of life”; but in Melchizedek’s case, it figuratively conveys that his serving as a priest was not based on his ancestry — “Without father, without mother, without genealogy” — which would have been required for the Levitical priesthood and would disqualify one without that genealogical record of proof, as it did with those in Ezra 2:62: “They searched among their ancestral registration, but they could not be located; therefore they were considered unclean and excluded from the priesthood.”  While these phrases are used figuratively with regard to Melchizedek, they are literal when referring to Jesus.  His eternal existence did not come about through a father and mother; so He is, therefore, without genealogy.

That the Lord Jesus Christ has always been is truly an amazing characteristic that also indicates His superior greatness!  What other religious leader could even come close to that?!

Did We Exist Before the Creation?

But what about man existing in spirit-form prior to the creation?  Is that so?

God is spirit (Jn. 4:24), and “…a spirit does not have flesh and bones…” (Luke 24:39).  So when man was created in God’s “image,” according to His “likeness,” as seen in Genesis 1:26,27, that pertains to the spiritual part of man, his soul, that entity that will never cease to be — rather than merely his temporary physical appearance, his body.  Therefore, being created in God’s image does not mean that He necessarily looks like a human.

But if we were already spirit-beings prior to the creation, why would that spirit part of us need to be created again — rather than just simply be put into the body?

It can also be said that when we were formed in the womb, our souls or spirits for those bodies were made morally pure, innocent, without sin.  Some have referred to this as man’s “original righteousness.” Solomon declares, “Behold, I have found only this, that God made men upright, but they have sought out many devices” (Eccl. 7:29).   This same verse is also rendered as, “…We were completely honest when God created us, but now we have twisted minds” (CEV); And that “…God made people decent, but they looked for many ways to avoid being decent” (God’s Word).

Due to having corrupted our spirits (our souls) by transgression, which every accountable person has done, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23), there is, therefore, that need to be made pure again — and just as pure as when we were first born into this world as those innocent children of whom belongs the kingdom of God (cf. Mark 10:14,15).

Paul also speaks of that need to get back to the “likeness of God” as we “lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth” (Eph. 4:22-24).

From these passages, we can see that the soul or spirit of man is much more than merely the body. This is also clearly seen in Matthew 10:28, in which Jesus encourages His followers by saying, “Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”

But if man were a pre-existing spirit-being prior to the creation of the universe, why would Genesis 1:26,27 indicate the spiritual part of man also being made on the 6th day of the creation?

Though you might read it in other books, nowhere does the Bible say we existed as spirit-beings prior to the creation of the universe.

And what we each need to be concerned with now is making sure that our souls, which will never cease to be, will end up in the right place where we would want to spend an eternity.  The choice is up to us.  God has made the way that every lost soul can be saved, but we must be willing to comply with His plan of salvation, as shown toward the end of this bulletin.  So if you haven’t done that yet, please give it some serious thought — and know that if you do become a Christian, you’ll never regret having done so in the Judgment Day!
——————–

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 Christ (John 8:24; John 3:18).
3) Repent of sins (Luke 13:5; Acts 17:30).
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; Rom. 6:3,4; Gal. 3:26,27; 1 Pet. 3:21)     
6) Continue in the faith; for, if not, salvation can be lost (Heb. 10:36-39; Rev. 2:10; 2 Pet. 2:20-22).
——————–

Tebeau Street
CHURCH OF CHRIST
1402 Tebeau Street, Waycross, GA  31501
Sunday services: 9:00 AM (Bible class); 10 AM & 5 PM (worship)
Wednesday: 7 PM (Bible class)
evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (912) 281-9917
Tom@ThomasTEdwards.com
http://ThomasTEdwards.com/go (older version of the Gospel Observer website, but with bulletins going back to March 4, 1990)
http://ThomasTEdwards.com/audioser.html (audio sermons)

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations…teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20, NASB).
——————–

Contents:

1) The Profitable Word (Irven Lee)
2) They Say He Is a Liar (Robert Turner)
——————–

-1-

The Profitable Word

by Irven Lee

It certainly makes sense for one to suggest that man should study the Bible. The Bible is a revelation of the will of God. This revelation includes His authoritative commandments which man must obey if he would please his Creator, and it includes the exceeding great and precious promises concerning the good things laid up in heaven for the faithful (II Peter 1:3-4). We may observe that every transgression and disobedience receives a just recompense of reward (Hebrews 2:2-3). He chastens every son whom He receives that strength of character may be developed (Hebrews 12:6). How could one carefully examine the profitable word and not be impressed by the goodness of God? God is love (I John 4:8), and those who would know of His mercy and of His plan for man may learn from His revealed will.

A Firm Basis

Man is capable of having many similarities to a vicious wild animal, but he is also capable of being a lively stone in the temple in which God dwells among men (I Peter 2:5). Man can so follow the example of Christ that purity, unselfishness, and strength of character can remind us that he was created in the image of God. There is an indescribable difference in the man most like the wild beast and the man who best exemplifies the image of his Maker. What is the difference? One is taught of God. The other follows the leadings of his carnal animal nature.

The sacred writings are able to make one wise unto salvation (II Timothy 3:15). They completely furnish man the instruction he so sorely needs, since the way of man is not in himself (Jeremiah 10:23). The way that seems right unto man may lead to destruction and ruin (Proverbs 14:12).

The same holy scriptures are able to furnish the motivation for the good life. The goodness of God leads to repentance. We love Him because He first loved us. The example of the Christ in His life on earth and the love revealed in His death on the cross draw men to Him. Many have died for their faith. Many have given all that they might gain Christ and lay hold on the hope set before them. It follows, as night the day, that those who have hope, as sons of God, of obtaining the prize of the high calling of God purify themselves. There is no stronger pull toward righteousness than that exerted by the gospel of Christ. It is able to save (Romans 1:16). It attracts one into the way that leads unto life.

Is there sufficient evidence that the Book is of God? Did the holy men speak as they were moved by the Spirit of God? (II Peter 1:21). These men gave the world the perfect standard of righteousness. They were holy men, and they said they obtained it by revelation. Would liars write such a book? Surely they were not pathetically deceived. Would ignorant men have given such a wonderful standard of behavior? The influence of the Bible in this scientific age in America is still as wholesome in the hearts of those who are led by it as it was nineteen hundred years ago in Palestine. The test of the pudding lies in the tasting. Those who know most about the Bible appreciate it most. It will bear acquaintance. When we see the lives most influenced by it, we are led to glorify God.

The well proven fact of the resurrection, other miracles, fulfilled prophecies, along with the unity and perfection of the message give us a firm basis of hope. What more could He do than He has done to give us a written revelation? No men on their own in any generation could have approached its perfection.

Planting Is Necessary

The word is the seed of the kingdom (Luke 8:11). America could have the word, but few there be that find the way that leads to life (Matthew 7:14). Many who have eyes have never read from its pages. Many who could have heard many sermons were not listening. Their hard hearts were engrossed in arrogant fulfillment of the lust of the flesh and in the search for money by any means. Animals they are, and without the wholesome influence of the powerful word.

Preaching to some is like casting pearls before swine, while some hunger and thirst after righteousness so they receive the word with all readiness of mind. If men have no love for truth, but have their pleasure in unrighteousness, God will send a strong delusion that they may believe a lie and be damned (II Thessalonians 2:10-12). The lake of fire is for the unbelievers as well as for the liars (Revelation 21:8). The flaming fire of vengeance is for those who know not God as well as for those who obey not the gospel (II Thessalonians 1:8-9).

Many men say they appreciate the Bible and believe it to be the word of God, but they remain babes in knowledge. They evidently do not desire the milk or the meat of the word. They are without excuse for their lack of skill in the use of this great discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Ignorance is alarming even among those who should be teachers (Hebrews 5:12-13). They are not rooted and grounded, but they are as unstable and as easily tossed about by the winds of doctrine as the wave of the sea by the winds of the storm cloud (Ephesians 4:14). The wave is fastened by nothing. The willingly ignorant are in no position to give an answer to those who may ask a reason for their hope (I Peter 3:15).

Awake from Sleep

The night is far spent (Romans 13:11-12). It is high time for America to awake to righteousness. The atomic bomb is not the only thing that can destroy America. The increasing number of burning, looting, angry anarchists can do it. It may now be too late to preserve this land as a land of opportunity for the free. It is not too late to try to save it.

The gospel was not given to make America or any other country great. Christ came to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10). The gospel is God’s power to salvation, but, as a by-product, Christians receive a hundred fold in this life. Their righteous lives are as the saving and lighting influence in a crooked and perverse nation (Philippians 2:15). This nation needs salt.

Let more people meditate on the law day and night (Psalms 1:2). This is our way up from the gutter in which we now find ourselves. The church is in distress, the nation is in confusion, and the world is in turmoil. What can help? The profitable word always leads to the abundant life here and here after. It is the word of God. “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!” (Romans 11:33). We need to open our eyes that we may behold wondrous things in His law. Is there anything more important for us?

— Via Articles from the La Vista church of Christ
——————–

-2-

They Say He Is a Liar

by Robert Turner

My friend had an “experience” — “better felt than told” — he “got” something. Some people tell my friend he has allowed his imagination to deceive him; that he had no feeling, no experience. Some even accuse him of faking the whole story. This makes my friend very unhappy. He doesn’t like to be called a liar. He says, “I know what I feel.”

Now I believe my friend. I know him to be an honest man. If he tells me he “felt something” I will not deny this.

But sometimes I try to check his unwarranted conclusions concerning the meaning of these feelings. My friend assumes that because he “had a feeling” his sins are forgiven. Why could not this just as well mean his sins were multiplied??

God alone can forgive sins; and His Word states the truth concerning such matters as these (John. 17:17). When my friend says he knows his sins are forgiven because he “felt something” I must remind him that the Bible allows no such evidence. It even warns us that feelings can be deceptive (2 Thess. 2:10-12).

Christ is the author of eternal salvation unto all them who obey Him (Heb. 5:9). And Christ teaches us to repent and be baptized for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38). HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THIS?

— Via Truth Magazine VII: 3, pp. 26, December 1962
——————–

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 Christ (John 8:24; John 3:18).
3) Repent of sins (Luke 13:5; Acts 17:30).
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; Rom. 6:3,4; Gal. 3:26,27; 1 Pet. 3:21)     
6) Continue in the faith; for, if not, salvation can be lost (Heb. 10:36-39; Rev. 2:10; 2 Pet. 2:20-22).
——————–

Tebeau Street
CHURCH OF CHRIST
1402 Tebeau Street, Waycross, GA  31501
Sunday services: 9:00 AM (Bible class); 10 AM & 5 PM (worship)
Wednesday: 7 PM (Bible class)
evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (912) 281-9917
Tom@ThomasTEdwards.com
http://ThomasTEdwards.com/go (older version of the Gospel Observer website, but with bulletins going back to March 4, 1990)
http://ThomasTEdwards.com/audioser.html (audio sermons)

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations…teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20, NASB).
——————–

Contents:

1) Good Relationships Among Brethren (R.J. Evans)
2) My Rock & My Redeemer (Mike Johnson)
——————–

-1-

Good Relationships Among Brethren

by R.J. Evans

The Scripture provides much information concerning good relationships among those who are children of God.  There are many positive teachings concerning how to get along — especially all the commands to love one another.  There are a number of warnings against gossip, tale bearing, backbiting, slander, and sowing discord among brethren.  The book of Proverbs is filled with wise instruction concerning relationships with others.

In the church, many problems have occurred because someone failed to abide by the teachings of God’s Word.  Brethren are told to put “away lying, each speaking truth with a neighbor, for we are members of one another” (Eph. 4:25); we are warned against causing “dissensions, contentions and heresies” (Gal. 5:20); those who are factious, causing “divisions and offenses” are to be marked (Rom. 16:17); a divisive person is to be rejected “after the first and second admonition” (Titus 3:10); also, there are warnings against being “idle, wandering from house to house, not only idle but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not” (1 Tim. 5:13).

But what about those occasions when we believe someone has sinned against us?  Are we told what to do? Are we supposed to go around telling everyone, except the person himself, that he has sinned against us?  Indeed, the Bible does give clear instructions on what to do in this situation — see Matthew 18:15-17.  Notice the very first step: “Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone.  If he hears you, you have gained your brother” (V. 15).  How many do this?  It seems to be so much easier to go to someone else first, and gain a sympathetic ear, rather than following what the Bible teaches.  Quite often, those who operate like this, have not even been sinned against.  It’s often pettiness, hurt feelings, jealousy, an “ax to grind,” etc., and not actually a sin, to begin with.  Also, the other person may be totally unaware of any wrong they  might have done.  The passage goes on and gives further instructions: “But if he will not hear you, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’  And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church.  But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector” (Vv. 16-17).

Years ago, when living in another state, we had a sister move from across the city and place membership with the congregation where I preached.  We’ll call her “sister Smith.”  Before she identified with us, the preacher where she had been attending told me that she had many admirable qualities, but to be careful, because she occasionally had a tendency to “stir things up.”  Well, after she had been with us for several months, I was in my study one day and the phone rang.  It was sister Smith.  After the usual greetings, she then proceeded to start telling me how she had been “wronged” by a particular couple in the congregation.  I’ll just refer to them as the “Jones.”  They were fine Christians, very faithful and diligent in the Lord’s work. They had been with us a number of years.  As soon as I realized what she was attempting to do, I stopped her.  I told her that I should not be a party to what she was beginning to tell me about this couple. This brother had his own business, so I gave her his office phone number and suggested she call him immediately and set up an appointment with him and his wife.  Sister Smith immediately became somewhat “rattled” and started backing away from what she was about to tell me.  From that point on, with my insisting that she contact this couple, the conversation ended rather quickly.  At the next service of the church, I asked sister Smith if she had contacted the Jones couple about her complaints.  Essentially, what she proceeded to tell me was that after giving it some more thought, she realized that it was all a big misunderstanding on her part and she had no problem with this couple.  Never again did another incident like that one ever come up involving sister Smith.

That’s interesting, isn’t it?  How many problems could be solved if Christians were willing to simply follow Bible instructions concerning establishing and maintaining good relationships among brethren. Some make a practice of dropping little “bomb shells” about someone, but immediately follow it up by saying — “But I don’t know anything about it,” “But I’m not getting involved,” or “Oops, I shouldn’t have said that.” Such subtle actions, in reality, already have them involved. They are simply “stirring things up”!  They have already done their damage.  Those who conduct themselves in such a manner, destroy what credibility they may have had by their “behind the back” actions.  Please note, concerning the seven things that God hates, what is listed in Proverbs 6:19: “A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren.”

When dealing with such deeds as just mentioned, the information that might have been revealed should be dealt with in a similar manner as  having received an  anonymous letter — dispose of it in the proverbial “File 13”!

— via bulletin for the Southside church of Christ, October 1, 2015
——————–

-2-

My Rock & My Redeemer

by Mike Johnson

Psalm 19:14 says, “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.”  Consider the last part of the verse where the Psalmist refers to God as his strength and redeemer.

The Hebrew word translated “strength” (NKJV) is defined by Vine’s Expository Dictionary as “rock; rocky wall; cliff; rocky hill; mountain; rocky surface; boulder.”  Many translations actually translate the original word as “rock,” (i.e. O Lord my Rock and my Redeemer).  A husband, for example, may refer to his wife as “his rock.”  He would be pointing out his wife is his “strength”; she provides stability for the family.  God is our rock; He provides us with strength and with safety; He is our refuge. Psalm 18:2 says, “The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” Psalm 18:31 says, “For who is God, except the Lord? And who is a rock, except our God?” Psalm 46:1 points out, “God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.”

Also, the Psalmist, thought to be David, refers to God as his “Redeemer.”  The word used here simply means to “buy back,” and when applied to God it means a deliverer from sin, death, or danger.  David probably could recall many occasions where God had delivered him, but David may not have understood the details regarding the true price of redemption.  The cost would be Jesus, having been sent by God, dying for the sins of mankind on the cross. Thus, in the ultimate sense, Jesus Christ is our Redeemer.  Ephesians 1:7 says, “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.” Job said, in Job 19:25, “For I know that my redeemer lives….”

Is God your Rock and Redeemer today?  If not, why don’t you make him that?

— via Biblelist, 11/24/15
——————–

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 Christ (John 8:24; John 3:18).
3) Repent of sins (Luke 13:5; Acts 17:30).
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; Rom. 6:3,4; Gal. 3:26,27; 1 Pet. 3:21)     
6) Continue in the faith; for, if not, salvation can be lost (Heb. 10:36-39; Rev. 2:10; 2 Pet. 2:20-22).
——————–

Tebeau Street
CHURCH OF CHRIST
1402 Tebeau Street, Waycross, GA  31501
Sunday services: 9:00 AM (Bible class); 10 AM & 5 PM (worship)
Wednesday: 7 PM (Bible class)
evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (912) 281-9917
Tom@ThomasTEdwards.com
http://ThomasTEdwards.com/go (older version of the Gospel Observer website, but with articles going back to March 4, 1990)
http://ThomasTEdwards.com/audioser.html (audio sermons)

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations…teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20, NASB).
——————–

Contents:

1) Living Godly Lives (Stan Cox)
2) Pray for Strength (Doug Pennock)
——————–

-1-

Living Godly Lives

by Stan Cox

The apostle Paul wrote to Titus, “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age” (Titus 2:11-12). In these words are found the response of every Christian to the gift of grace. We have the hope of salvation because of what God has granted to us. Our response is an ordering of our lives: “we should live soberly, righteously and godly.”

The definition of the word godly is minimally helpful. The term refers to piety, devotion and reverence. More helpful are the verses that describe the kind of life that characterizes the Christian profession. For example, when considering the proper role model for a godly life, we consider Jesus Himself. Peter wrote, “But as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, ‘Be holy, for I am holy’” (1 Peter 1:15-16). Jesus was guileless (cf. 1 Peter 2:21-24), and pure (cf. 1 John 3:1-3). In His life, and in His death, He always sought to do the will of His Father in heaven (cf. John 15:10).

A truly godly life is an informed one. Paul wrote about the Jews, who “have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God” (Romans 10:2-3). In order for us to live a godly life, we have to know what God considers godly. Fortunately, He has revealed these things to us in scripture.

So, simply put, a godly life is a life that is lived in accord with God’s expressed will. The Psalmist wrote, “Teach me, O Lord, the way of Your statutes, and I shall keep it to the end. Give me understanding, and I shall keep Your law; indeed, I shall observe it with my whole heart. Make me walk in the path of Your commandments, for I delight in it. Incline my heart to Your testimonies, and not to covetousness. Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things, and revive me in Your way” (119:33-37). He contrasts God’s way with “worthless things,” and contrasts God’s testimonies with covetousness. God’s will is the antithesis of evil. His way is the way of godliness. Consider these words: “How sweet are Your words to my taste, Sweeter than honey to my mouth! Through Your precepts I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false way. Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (119:103-105).

So, we seek to emulate our Lord. We seek direction from God to know what is right and wrong. And, as we attain such knowledge, it is important that we dwell upon it. Paul wrote the Philippians, “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praise- worthy — meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you” (Philippians 4:8-9). Meditation on what is righteous, in contrast with the pablum of popular culture, helps to direct the Christian’s path in the way of godliness. The man whose mind dwells in the muck of worldliness will be corrupted in his walk.

Finally, a godly walk is a motivated walk. It is easy to become distracted by the tedium of this life. We can become “shortsighted, even to blindness” (cf. 2 Peter 1:9). In fact, Peter’s statement is made within the context of adding virtuous characteristics (including godliness, vs. 6), to ensure we don’t suffer from that myopia that would endanger our eternal standing before God. As Paul put it, “Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13-14). A disciplined Christian, seeking always to do all and only what God allows, will most certainly attain the prize he seeks.

A righteous life is attainable with effort and focus. Such godliness is wonderfully profitable, “For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come” (1 Timothy 4:8). Later in the same epistle, Paul wrote, “Now godliness with contentment is great gain” (6:6). If we remember that this life is preparatory to eternity, we will answer the call of grace with a life that is lived in accord with God’s righteousness.

— Via the Monthly Messenger, August 2015
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“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life —  the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us” (1 John 1:1,2).
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Pray for Strength

by Doug Pennock

“Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you” (1 Pet. 5:6,7).

What a great comfort this verse is to us as Christians. Knowing that God, the creator and sustainer of all things, cares for us. This is worth more than all the gold or silver or money or anything else that we might possess in this life. When we come upon hard times in life or we lose a loved one or feel compassion for the sick; When we are troubled in mind and in spirit — even to the point of deep despair — we can turn to God, our Father, in prayer and let Him know all about it, knowing that He has compassion on us and will ease our cares and troubles in life, giving us the strength to cope because He cares for us.

Of course God already knows of our troubles before we ask, but, being the benevolent Father that He is, to hear it from us means a great deal to Him, not to mention that just sharing our troubles with Him can mean a great deal to us.

Think how God is involved in our lives. He watches over us in everything we do and think. He knows our hearts and all that we might aspire to. He knows all of our concerns and is concerned with us. With Him looking out for us in all things, how can we ever feel down or despair? We can just look to Him and know that everything will work out in the end.

Speaking of which, if we keep our eyes on that blessed goal of heaven in the after while, it will go a long way toward keeping our spirits up and will keep us on the true path of joy and happiness that we need to sustain us in this life.

God cares for us. Think of it: how can anything be more powerful or moving in our lives? To think of the many blessings we have through Him, because He cares for us, is enough to lift our spirits.  So we should count our blessings and cast our cares upon God when we have those moments of feeling sad or despair and are in need of the comfort that God provides.

But what if we are not in that covenant relationship with God at this moment in our lives. What if we do not know the comfort that comes through Him? I cannot imagine how someone outside the Lord is able to cope with the troubles of life. Do not they become cold and callous and give up on caring so that they will not feel the pain of life? God does not want us to be uncaring, but rather to lean on Him to carry the load when we feel pain because we care.

Are you in a covenant relationship with God tonight? Jesus said in John 14:6, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me.”

To have this relationship with God, we must be in Christ; and to get into Christ, we must be baptized and wash away our sins, which is preceded by confessing that Jesus is the Christ and repenting of our sins. Then, to stay in that relationship, we must devote our lives to doing all that the New Testament teaches we must do, and repent when we do transgress and sin.

If you have a need tonight you can come forward and renew your relationship with God while we stand and sing.

*****

— This was Doug’s “Invitation Talk” for last Wednesday evening, which we enjoyed and appreciated, following the Bible classes.
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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 Christ (John 8:24; John 3:18).
3) Repent of sins (Luke 13:5; Acts 17:30).
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; Rom. 6:3,4; Gal. 3:26,27; 1 Pet. 3:21)     
6) Continue in the faith; for, if not, salvation can be lost (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 services: 9:00 AM (Bible class); 10 AM & 5 PM (worship)
Wednesday: 7 PM (Bible class)
evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (912) 281-9917
Tom@ThomasTEdwards.com
http://ThomasTEdwards.com/go (older version of the Gospel Observer website, but with bulletins going back to March 4, 1990)
http://ThomasTEdwards.com/audioser.html (audio sermons)