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“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 Gospel Which Was Preached Of Me” (H.E. Phillips)
2) One with the Father and the Son (Bryan Gibson)
 ——————–

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“The Gospel Which Was Preached Of Me”

H.E. Phillips

No man in New Testament times received more attacks and criticism for his preaching than did the apostle Paul. Again and again he was called upon to defend his apostleship and the gospel which he preached. The book of Galatians is largely devoted to the proof of his apostleship and the divine origin of the gospel which he preached in contrast to the false doctrines which were carrying them away from the Lord. The ideas of what constitutes proof of sound doctrine today may vary, but the one way to prove what is sound doctrine was used by the apostle in Galatians 1:11,12: “But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

Of course, we do not today receive the gospel directly from Jesus Christ; but we do receive what was delivered directly to the apostles. What we read in the New Testament is the word of Christ just as Paul and the other apostles received it. But usually when one comes to prove a proposition or establish a practice he uses other arguments besides the fact that it is written in the New Testament. Those who do such are occupying the grounds of the false teachers against whom Paul wrote in the Galatian epistle. A certain doctrine is taught; and to make the hearer believe it, the teacher or preacher resorts to the following claims:

1. ‘My years of experience.’ Paul could not say much for his years of experience in the gospel as compared to the other apostles. He speaks of himself as “of one born out of due time.” Now one of the first arguments made is that of preaching so many years. That is supposed to make the hearer accept what he says. This is no proof because a man may preach error for fifty years and never get it right.

2. ‘My education.’ Paul mentioned his education in the righteousness of the law at the feet of Gamaliel (Acts 22:3), but he counted all this for nothing in preaching the gospel delivered to him by Christ (Phil. 3:7-9). One does not know God by the wisdom of this world (1 Cor. 1:20-21). The number of degrees a man has does not prove his preaching to be true.

3. ‘I stand with great men of the past.’ Paul stood with one of the greatest teachers of his day — Gamaliel — but he did not offer that as proof of the truth he preached. Often great men of the past were wrong in what they taught. The thing to do is to prove that these men stood upon the only foundation of truth — the New Testament, then we have only proved that we have the truth because it is taught in the word of God. Just the fact that we stand with great men of the past does not give credence to what we teach; it is the fact that it comes from the New Testament.

4. ‘The majority agree with my stand.’ Not one time do we read of Paul, or any other apostle, using this argument to prove either apostleship or truth of the gospel which they preached. History abounds with proof that the majority are always opposed to the gospel of Christ. It is true that many people are more persuaded by the stand of the majority and the elite than they are by what is taught in the gospel of Jesus Christ, but this does not prove their doctrine to be true. Just the fact that one stands with the minority does not prove him right. It must be proved by what is taught in the word of God. Neither the majority nor the minority proves a man to be teaching the true gospel.

5. ‘I have never changed.’ This is supposed to guarantee that the position held without change is the true one. This is certainly not the proof Paul used to establish his apostleship and his gospel. He freely admitted his change and told why. His proof was not in the consistency of his own belief and practice through his years, but rather that he had learned and received the truth that did not come from man, nor by man, but from the Lord himself. He says that in his former course he “thought” he was right, but learned of his error and changed. The mere fact that one has never changed his teachings does not prove his doctrine to be true. The only proof of sound doctrine is what is taught in the New Testament. Let that be our only appeal.

— Via Viewpoint from the Valley Grove church of Christ, August 7, 2022
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One with the Father and the Son

Bryan Gibson

Jesus, in describing His relationship with the Father, used these phrases: “I and My Father are one” (John 10:30); “the Father is in Me, and I in Him” (John 10:38); “I am in the Father, and the Father in Me…the Father who dwells in Me” (John 14:10). But here’s what’s amazing—Jesus wants us to be one in them (the Father and the Son): “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in you; that they also may be one in Us…” (John 17:20-21).

So how is this possible—that we can be one in the Father and the Son (them in us and us in them)? If we can identify the different ways Jesus is one with the Father, then we can understand how we can be one in them. Here are three different ways in which Jesus and the Father are one, and how each relates to our unity with them.

Jesus and the Father are one in DOCTRINE. Jesus affirmed over and over again that what He taught came from His Father, that His words were the Father’s words (John 7:14-18; 8:26-29, 40; 12:47-50; 14:24; 17:8, 14). That being the case, for us to be one in them, we must teach only what Jesus taught. And that’s exactly what these passages plainly state: “Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son” (2 John 1:9). “Therefore, let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father” (1 John 2:24). There’s no getting around it—what we teach must be ONE with what Jesus taught.

Jesus and the Father are one in LOVE. Jesus spoke often of His Father’s love (John 3:35; 5:20; 10:17; 14:21, 23; 16:27; 17:24), the same love Jesus showed to others (“as the Father loved Me, I also have loved you”—John 15:10). This divine love is exemplified in a number of ways, including His willingness to lay down His life for us (John 3:16; 10:11, 15, 17-18). And it’s this divine love that Jesus wants to see in us: “And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which you loved Me may be in them, and I in them” (John 17:26). We can’t be “in them” and “them in us” unless we demonstrate this same love to others (“love one another, as I loved you”—John 15:12; see also John 13:34-35; Ephesians 5:25; 1 John 3:13-18; 4:7-16).

Jesus and the Father are one in WILL. Not only was what Jesus taught in harmony with the Father’s will, but also what He did (“for I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me”—John 6:38; see also 4:34; 5:30; 8:29; 14:31; 15:10). In fact, this was the very way Jesus expressed His love for the Father—“I love the Father, and as the Father gave me commandment, so I do”—John 14:31). And so, to be one with the Father and the Son, and to properly express our love, we must do as Jesus did—obey the Father’s will, or make His will our will (“he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him”—1 John 3:24; see also John 14:15, 21, 23-24; 1 John 2:3-6). Unlike Jesus, we don’t obey the will of God perfectly, and so in order to maintain this fellowship, we must humbly repent, confess our wrongs, and seek forgiveness from God (1 John 1:7, 9).

How is it, then, that we can be one in the Father and the Son? How can they be in us and us in them? How do we maintain this fellowship? By making His doctrine our doctrine, His love our love, and His will our will.

— Via Plain Words from God’s Word, May 29, 2024

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The Steps That Lead to Eternal Salvation

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sunday: 9 a.m. Bible Classes and 10 a.m. Worship Service.   Congregational Song Service: 5 p.m. for every first Sunday of the month.

Wednesday: 7 p.m. Bible Classes

evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (912) 281-9917
Tom@ThomasTEdwards.com

https://thomastedwards.com/go/all.htm (This is a link to the older version of the Gospel Observer website, but with bulletins going back to March 4, 1990.)

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

Contents

1) The Proud Pharisees (Bryan Gibson)
2) Misplaced Trust (Zack Fisk)
——————–

-1-

The Proud Pharisee

Byran Gibson

There were notable exceptions (e.g. Paul), but generally speaking, the Pharisees were a proud bunch. The Pharisee Jesus depicted in this parable was all too typical: “God, I thank You that I am not like other men–extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector” (Luke 18:11). Speaking of the Pharisees, Jesus said, “They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, ‘Rabbi, Rabbi’” (Matthew 23:6-7). Pride of this sort will inevitably lead to other problems, and this was certainly the case with the Pharisees. Let’s examine some of the fruits of their pride, with this goal in mind: to make sure we’re not guilty of the same.

They did their good works, not to please the Lord, but to be seen of men (Matthew 23:5), the very thing Jesus warned against in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 6:1-2, 5, 16). Desire for man’s honor was exactly what kept many of the Pharisees from believing in Jesus (John 5:44). When you’re proud, it’s too easy to believe and do what’s popular, instead of what’s right.

This desire for man’s praise led them to practice what we might call an “outward only righteousness” (Matthew 23:23-28; Luke 11:42). They were meticulous in doing the things that could be seen by others, but they neglected such things as justice, mercy, faith, and even the love of God.

They failed to see themselves as God saw them—which is easy to do when you are full of yourself. They couldn’t see they were “full of extortion and self-indulgence…hypocrisy and lawlessness” (Matthew 23:25, 28). They couldn’t see their need for Jesus, because they couldn’t see their sin (Luke 7:36-50).

They couldn’t see their own sins, but they could sure see the sins of others. They were surprised Jesus would eat with such low-lifers as “tax collectors and sinners” (Mark 2:16); they even thanked God they were not like them (Luke 18:9-14). Honest self-examination would have made them much more humble in their approach to others (Galatians 6:1-5).

They closed their ears to the truth. When you’re proud, it’s easy to become entrenched in your own view, to reach the point that no amount of evidence can persuade you otherwise. There was no disputing that Jesus healed the blind man in John 9, but they did everything they could to dismiss the evidence (John 9:13-34). When proven wrong on a point, they didn’t admit it; they either got mad with the one who proved them wrong (Matthew 12:9-14), or resorted to ridiculous arguments (Matthew 12:22-26).

They loved money (Luke 16:13-15; 11:39), which is not surprising, when you consider they were all about status. When in love with the praise of men, it’s easy for this to become one’s focus.

Their traditions became more important to them than God’s word (Mark 7:1-13). Again, we’re not surprised, because these traditions were theirs. Breaking these traditions was an affront to them. It’s a shame that they couldn’t get as upset over violations of God’s commandments (including their own).

It’s no wonder Jesus sounded this warning in the Sermon on the Mount: “Unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:20).

— Via Plain Words from God’s Word, July 9, 2024
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Misplaced Trust

Zack Fisk

The days of the prophets were dark days indeed, being completely surrounded in sin and lawlessness. Behind them, the people of Judah had left their first love and true God. Currently, they were knee deep in sins and idolatry with no sign of changing, nor any sign of remorse. Ahead of them, destruction and captivity awaited them. This is the context of Jeremiah’s message when he said, “Trust ye not in lying words, saying, The temple of Jehovah, the temple of Jehovah, the temple of Jehovah, are these” (Jer. 7:4). The people of Judah never considered captivity or destruction as reasonable possibilities, because they believed as long as the temple of God stood, Jerusalem would stand. Because of this faulty mindset, Jeremiah warned against false prophets by saying “They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace” (Jer. 6:14; 8:11). Jeremiah called the people to turn back to God and place their trust in Him, not in the temple or in some other physical object.

Although Jeremiah’s voice seems far removed from us today, the lessons that he taught are as timely as ever. The world ranks “strong” and “weak” churches today based on the number of people that attend. Another big factor that controls the world’s view of strength is the size of the contribution offered. Many churches draw in new families by advertising the size of their “youth group” to create a family-friendly atmosphere. While each one of these elements is not wrong in and of themselves, they do not necessarily represent congregational strength. John wrote to the Church at Sardis that they had a reputation among men for being alive, but they were actually dead (Rev. 3:1). Jesus did not address the contribution, the attendance, the so-called “youth group,” or any other physical attraction. He attacked their teaching, their failure to repent, their incomplete devotion towards God, and their failure to be watchful for Christ’s coming (Rev. 3:2-3). God wants all men to be saved (1 Tim. 2:4) and wants to see them added to the church (Eph. 5:23; Col. 1:18), but He does not want people placing their confidence in a number, a size, a preacher, a song service, or a large number of young people. More than anything else, God wants His followers to focus on hearing His word, and keeping His commandments (Matt. 7:21-25; James 1:21-25). Jesus connected obedience with love when He said “If ye love me, keep my commandments” (Jn. 14:15), and again “Ye are my friends if ye do whatsoever I command you” (Jn. 15:14). While we cannot earn our salvation by keeping a checklist of commands to get our ticket to heaven punched, obedience demonstrates a living and saving faith (1 Thess. 1:3; James 2:14-26). God does not desire a large number of lukewarm followers who have placed their trust in carnal symbols of strength and success (Rev. 3:14-19), but hearts that are truly convicted to serving Him faithfully.

Jeremiah’s preaching urged the people to turn back to God and trust in His laws (Jer. 18:8). Their false security in the temple and in Jerusalem pulled their hearts away from God, and we must not follow their example. Our hope and trust must not be in what we see around us, but in God’s Word and the promises He has given for those who will follow Him. 

— Via Viewpoint from the Valley Grove church of Christ, May 8, 2022
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Micah 6:8

“He has told you, O man, what is good;
And what does the LORD require of you
But to do justice, to love kindness,
And to walk humbly with your God?”

— 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 Jesus Christ, the Son of God (John 8:24; John 3:18).

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

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

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

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

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

Sunday: 9 a.m. Bible Classes and 10 a.m. Worship Service.   Congregational Song Service: 5 p.m. for every first Sunday of the month.

Wednesday: 7 p.m. Bible Classes

evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (912) 281-9917
Tom@ThomasTEdwards.com

https://thomastedwards.com/go/all.htm (This is a link to the older version of the Gospel Observer website, but with bulletins going back to March 4, 1990.)

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

Contents

1) Jesus the Good Shepherd (Doy Moyer)
2) What Does God See in Your Heart? (Bryan Gibson)
——————–

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Jesus the Good Shepherd

Doy Moyer

One of the great figures for the Messiah is that of the Good Shepherd. Jesus refers to Himself as the “door of the sheep,” but He is more than that. “I am the good shepherd,” He claimed (John 10:11). We will consider more in that context, but let’s back up a little.

This concept of the Lord as a Shepherd is rich in meaning, and it finds its roots in the Hebrew Scriptures. For example, God is referred to as “the Shepherd, the Stone of Israel” in Genesis 49:24. When the Lord brought Israel out of Egypt, He led them “like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron” (Psa 77:20). The psalmist also recognized that “He is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand” (Psa 95:7). Kings were considered to be shepherds, and these concepts are tied with God in Psalm 80:1 where God is called the “Shepherd of Israel” who is also “enthroned upon the cherubim.” David, a messianic type, was both a shepherd and a king. Think of David’s experiences as he referred to God in his famous Psalm 23, a psalm that also connects to the exodus: “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want” (Psa 23:1). In the New Testament, overseers of a congregation are referred to as shepherds looking forward to the unfading crown of glory they will receive when “the Chief Shepherd appears” (1 Peter 5:1-4). The shepherd theme is rich and runs throughout Scripture.

The many passages referencing shepherds point to Jesus as the ultimate Shepherd, the “Good Shepherd.” Think of the beautiful passage in Isaiah 40 as the prophet provides God’s people this encouragement:

“Behold, the Lord GOD comes with might, and his arm rules for him;
behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him.
He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms;
he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young” (Isa 40:10-11).

This perfectly describes the work that Jesus would do, and John picks up this theme in John 10. Think, then, of what Jesus says He would do as the Good Shepherd:

“The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep” (John 10:11). Jesus is not just a hired hand who does not own the sheep; He is the owner and loves His sheep deeply and will not run from danger. He is not willing to let wolves snatch and scatter His own, but loves them to the point of giving His life so that they might live.

“I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me” (John 10:14). Jesus does not guess at who belongs to Him. He knows His people (cf. 2 Tim 2:19). As Scripture says, “He knows those who take refuge in him” (Nah 1:7). Not only does He know His own people, but His people know Him. This is tied to the earlier statement: “But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out” (John 10:2-3). The Lord’s sheep hear His voice and they follow Him. “And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments” (1 John 2:3).

“I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice” (John 10:16). The mission of Jesus includes bringing in all nations, both Jew and Gentile. Doing this means “there will be one flock, one shepherd” (v. 16). The implication is that whoever listens to Jesus and follows Him will be part of the sheepfold. Jesus laid down His life, but it didn’t end there: “I lay down my life that I may take it up again” (v. 17). He died and rose again to lead people out of the wilderness of sin and into His kingdom where He gathers His lambs in His arms and carries them.

As the Good Shepherd, Jesus offers the good life, eternal life, the abundant life (John 10:10). When He is our Shepherd, we will not lack anything needed for life and godliness (2 Pet 1:3). He will have us lie down in green pastures and lead us beside quiet waters. He will restore our souls and lead us in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. With Him by our side, though we walk in the valley of the shadow of death, we need not fear evil (cf. Heb 2:14). He is with us, and His rod and staff will comfort us (Heb 13:5-6). Goodness and mercy will follow us all our days as we serve Him.

God be praised that we have the Good Shepherd as our Rock and Salvation! Jesus, the Chief Shepherd of our souls, stands ready and willing to grant us the unfading crown of glory.

— Via Bulletin Articles from the Vestavia church of Christ, March 24, 2024

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What Does God See in Your Heart?

Bryan Gibson

“God left him alone only to test him, that He might know all that was in his heart” (2 Chronicles 32:31, NAS). King Hezekiah of Judah is the subject of this passage, but forget him for a minute. What does God see in YOUR heart? These five contrasting hearts should help us answer that question (these examples come from kings of Israel or Judah).

CONTRAST #1: PREPARED OR UNPREPARED?

Does He see what He saw in Rehoboam’s heart? “He did evil, because he did not prepare his heart (“did not set his heart”—ESV, NASV) to seek the LORD” (2 Chronicles 12:14).

Or, does He see what He saw in Jehoshaphat’s heart? “Good things are found in you, in that you have removed the wooden images from the land, and have prepared your heart to seek God” (2 Chronicles 19:3).

CONTRAST #2: MY WAYS OR HIS WAYS?

Does He see what He saw in Jeroboam’s heart? “So he made offerings…in the month which he had devised in his own heart” (1 Kings 12:33).

Or, does He see what He saw in Jehoshaphat’s heart? “And his heart took delight in the ways of the LORD” (2 Chronicles 17:6).

CONTRAST #3: HARD OR TENDER?

Does He see what He saw in Zedekiah’s heart? “He stiffened his neck and hardened his heart against turning to the LORD God of Israel” (2 Chronicles 36:13).

Or, does He see what He saw in Josiah’s heart? “Because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before God when you heard His words against this place…you tore your clothes and wept before Me, I also have heard you” (2 Chronicles 34:27).

CONTRAST #4: ALL OR HOLDING BACK?

Does He see what He saw in Jehu’s heart? “But Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of the LORD God of Israel with all his heart” (2 Kings 10:31).

Or, does He see what He saw in Josiah’s heart? “Now before him there was no king like him, who turned to the LORD with all his heart, with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses…” (2 Kings 23:25).

CONTRAST #5: LIFTED UP OR LOWLY?

Does He see what He saw in Uzziah’s heart? “But when he was strong his heart was lifted up, to his destruction…” (2 Chronicles 26:16).   

Or, does He see what He saw in Hezekiah’s heart? “Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart…” (2 Chron. 32:26). And in Manasseh’s heart? “Now when he was in affliction, he implored the LORD his God, and humbled himself greatly…”

CONCLUSION

“I am He who searches the minds and hearts” (Revelation 2:23). Let’s make sure God finds in us a humble heart; a heart that delights only in His ways; a heart completely set on following His ways; a heart devoted to following ALL His ways; and a heart which is ever tender, toward both His commandments and His correction.

— Via Plain Words from God’s Word, July 4, 2024

——————–  

The Steps That Lead to Eternal Salvation

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sunday: 9 a.m. Bible Classes and 10 a.m. Worship Service.   Congregational Song Service: 5 p.m. for every first Sunday of the month.

Wednesday: 7 p.m. Bible Classes

evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (912) 281-9917
Tom@ThomasTEdwards.com

https://thomastedwards.com/go/all.htm (This is a link to the older version of the Gospel Observer website, but with bulletins going back to March 4, 1990.)
  

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

Contents

1) A Question About Good and Evil (Hoyt Houchen)
2) “Wouldn’t Be Prudent” (Bryan Gibson)
3) Sword Tips #19 (Joe R. Price)
——————–

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A Question About Good and Evil

Hoyt Houchen

We read in Isaiah 45:7: “I form the light, and create darkness; I make peace, and create evil; I am Jehovah, that doeth all these things.” This verse raises the question: did God actually create only good?

God’s original creation was very good (Gen. 1:31). Also, we are told that God “cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempteth no man” (Jas. 1:13). Since God is moral (sinless), moral evil is contrary to His very nature. God, then, does not create moral evil.

In what sense does God create evil? The NASB translates Isaiah 45:7: “The one forming light and creating darkness, causing well-being and creating calamity; I am the Lord who does all this.” The word rendered by the NASB, “calamity,” is the Hebrew word rah, which basically means “evil” (either moral or misfortune evil). God is addressing Cyrus (v. 1), the Medo-Persian king who was later to “subdue kingdoms.” Specifically, he would capture Babylon because of the wickedness that prevailed in that city. God was using Cyrus as His instrument to inflict this punishment. The prophecy was uttered more than a hundred years before Cyrus was born, but it was all literally fulfilled. So, in view of the meaning of the Hebrew word in the verse, and the context of the verse, the word “evil” which God creates refers to the calamities as punishment upon wicked nations. God, therefore, does not create moral evil, but calamities or misfortunes come upon man as a result of his sin (see Ezek. 18:20; Rom. 5:12; 6:23; Jas. 1:14,15).

There are instances in the Old Testament when God brought calamity upon people as a result of their moral evil or wickedness. Because of wickedness, God destroyed the earth with water, sparing only Noah and his family (Gen. 6:5-8). God afflicted the Egyptians with ten plagues because of the hardness of Pharaoh’s heart (Ex. 7-12). God smote the Philistines with a great discomfiture and tumors while the Ark of the Covenant was among them (1 Sam. 5:9). Hell is created by God for those who are disobedient to His will (Matt. 25:41; 2 Thess. 1:7-9; Rev. 21:8; etc.) These are examples of evil which God created — calamity, adversity, misfortune — all punishment as a result of moral evil. He did not create the moral evil. God created man a free moral agent. When man violates God’s moral law, it is man, not God who is responsible for moral evil.

In 1 Samuel 16:14, we are told, “Now the Spirit of Jehovah departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from Jehovah troubled him.” This verse has posed a problem for some in that they assume that this is a cause of moral evil coming directly from God. But actually, Saul’s sin broke fellowship with God, and God allowed the evil spirit to trouble him. Again, this serves as an example of the evil consequences that come upon those guilty of sin or moral evil. The same truth is illustrated again in Saul’s case (1 Sam. 18:10). God is the author of moral law and He is also the author of consequences which follow because of the violation of that law (1 Jn. 3:4). 

Not all physical disasters today such as floods, tornadoes and earthquakes are due to sin (Lk. 13:1- 5). Christians suffer in such calamities along with the wicked. Neither is it to be supposed that all suffering or affliction is the result of sin (see Jn. 9:2). In fact, Christians may suffer affliction as a means of chastisement (Heb. 12:7-9). Persecution is an example (2 Tim. 3:12). Chastisement of Christians should motivate them to greater faith. We all suffer misfortunes in life — illness, disappointments, loss of loved ones and many more, but the Christian looks forward to heaven where none of these exist. Men do often blame God for consequences which result from their moral evil.

A simple solution is not always found for the problem of evil in the world, but we do know that God does not create moral evil and we can always be assured that whatever God does is right and in harmony with His moral character (Gen. 18:25).

— Via Viewpoint from the Valley Grove church of Christ, October 9, 2022

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-2-

“Wouldn’t Be Prudent”

Bryan Gibson

Prudent: 1) “…exercising sound judgment in practical matters…cautious or discreet in conduct; circumspect; not rash…” (Webster’s New World Dictionary); 2) “using good judgment to consider consequences and to act accordingly” (Encarta Online Dictionary). Synonyms: careful, cautious, discreet, wise, farsighted. Antonyms (opposites): reckless, foolish, simple, shortsighted.

Prudence became sort of a buzz word under President George H. W. Bush’s administration. “Not gonna do it, wouldn’t be prudent”—comedians would often use that line when they impersonated President Bush.

God talked about prudence, though, a long time before President Bush did; and it’s what He says that really piques my interest. Using His word, let’s look at some things it wouldn’t be prudent for us to do.

Wouldn’t be prudent to lose our cool, pop off, or fly off the handle, even when folks insult us. “Fools show their anger at once, but the prudent ignore an insult” (Proverbs 12:16, NRSV).

Wouldn’t be prudent to just talk all the time. “A prudent man conceals knowledge, but the heart of fools proclaims foolishness” (Proverbs 12:23). Wouldn’t be prudent, for a number of reasons, not the least of which is the increased likelihood of sin. “In the multitude of words, sin is not lacking, but he who restrains his lips is wise” (Proverbs 10:19).

Wouldn’t be prudent, especially in religious matters, to believe everything we hear—to direct our steps by what we think may be right, although we haven’t really checked to make sure. “The simple believes every word, but the prudent considers well his steps” (Proverbs 14:15). “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits…” (1 John 4:1). What would be prudent is to make certain that what we teach and practice is the truth. “The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way, but the folly of fools is deceit” (Proverbs 14:8). “Do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is” (Ephesians 5:17).

Wouldn’t be prudent to close our ears to rebuke and correction, because we’ll just keep making the same mistakes over and over again. “A fool despises his father’s instruction, but he who receives correction is prudent” (Proverbs 15:5). “He who disdains instruction despises his own soul, but he who heeds rebuke gets understanding” (Proverbs 15:32).

Wouldn’t be prudent to ignore spiritual red flags—places, people, situations that might endanger our soul. “A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself, but the simple pass on and are punished” (Proverbs 22:3).

Wouldn’t be prudent for us to take prudence too far, to be so careful that we never get anything done. “He who observes the wind will not sow, and he who regards the clouds will not reap” (Ecclesiastes 11:4). Let’s not confuse prudence with inactivity.

— Via Plain Words from God’s Word, June 25, 2024

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“And take…the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God” (Eph. 6:17).

Sword Tips #19                      

Joe R. Price

Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. (Matthew 5:9)

The Son of God is the Prince of Peace. Peace is made between man and God when sins are forgiven, and Jesus Christ makes that possible (read Eph. 2:14-18). Peace is the absence of conflict plus the presence of harmony. Christ removes the conflict of sin and reconciles sinners to God. Christians have peace, and love peace.

Don’t settle for a “ceasefire” with your husband, your wife, your child, your parent, your co-worker or your neighbor. Take the initiative and be a peacemaker. Act to settle the conflict and restore the harmony.

Be a child of God.

——————–

The Steps That Lead to Eternal Salvation

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sunday: 9 a.m. Bible Classes and 10 a.m. Worship Service.   Congregational Song Service: 5 p.m. for every first Sunday of the month.

Wednesday: 7 p.m. Bible Classes

evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (912) 281-9917
Tom@ThomasTEdwards.com

https://thomastedwards.com/go/all.htm (This is a link to the older version of the Gospel Observer website, but with bulletins going back to March 4, 1990.)
  

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

Contents

1) “Cleave to the Lord” (Jerry Fite)
2) Being Spiritual (Jerry Fite)
3) Guard Every Step (Andy Sochor)

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-1-

“Cleave to the Lord”

Jerry Fite

Barnabas “…exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord” (Acts 11:23). God’s people always need an encourager. Barnabas effectively filled this role among brethren in the first century.

His encouraging push in Acts 11 came when the grace of God was spreading effectively to both Gentiles and Jews in Antioch (Acts 11:20). A great number of people were turning to the Lord (Acts 11:21). When he came to the city, he saw “the grace of God” for himself and was “glad” (Acts 11:23). This could have been a time to just sit back and praise God for all the converts to Christ. Why don’t we just be happy for awhile in God’s grace and think about exhorting the new converts later. This might cross the mind of some. But not Barnabas. He quickly went to work.

New converts need teaching and exhortation from the very beginning to ground them in the faith. Why? The Devil is always at work seeking whom he may devour and must be withstood by a steadfast faith (I Peter 5:8-9). No one was excluded in Barnabas’ exhortation. All needed to “cleave to the Lord.” 

Different Greek words are translated “cleave” in our New Testaments. For example, a husband is to “cleave”(KOLLAO) to his wife (Matthew 19:5). The word conveys the idea of sticking like glue to convey the closeness of the relationship between the husband and the wife. Barnabas used the term PROSMENO which denotes the idea of “abiding with” the Lord. 

Abiding with the Lord was not some ill-defined mission. The Christians were to heed the exhortation with “purpose of heart.” The word “purpose” (PROTHESIS) means literally to “show forth.” They were to manifest what was clearly set forth in their heart, and that was: abide with the Lord. 

How many times have we pleaded, “Lord, be with me!” or, “Lord, stand by me!”? How often have we sung the song, “Abide with me,” without consciously thinking that we have the responsibility to “abide with the Lord?” 

We need Barnabas’ exhortation in our day. One way that we “show forth” our heart’s desire to “abide with the Lord” is to be diligent in reading God’s Word. In daily study and meditation, we stay close to the Lord’s mind, reminding ourselves of what He approves and disapproves in our lives. With this knowledge, we make corrections, and renew an upright walk with Him in sanctifying light.

By taking to heart Barnabas’s exhortation, we refuse to allow the cares of this world to choke out the word in our hearts. We guard our hearts from the deception of riches that so easily sabotage our single-minded mission to abide with the Lord (Matthew 13:22).

God will always be with those who are submitting to His authority and carrying out His work in His way (Matthew 18:20). Therefore, we will do what He says and worship with our brethren on a consistent basis (Hebrews 10:22-25). We will carry out God’s commands in His name, for in doing so we will abide with Him, and He with us (Colossians 3:17, John 15:7). Cleave to the Lord. Its single-mindedness will free you from the impossible and disheartening task of always having to please others. Let it “show forth” and not lie buried in the heart beneath the rubbish heap of good intentions. Heed the exhortation! Cleave to the Lord, today!

— Via Glad Tidings, Volume XXIX, No. 24, June 16, 2019

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-2-

Being Spiritual

Jerry Fite

Paul writes, “Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted” (Galatians 6:1). Paul is calling for Christians to come to the aid of their fellow brethren, when one is overtaken in any sin. The occasion demands someone who does not merely wear the name of Christian, but who lives in the Spirit. Paul calls for brethren “who are spiritual.”

The task of restoring a brother back to a place of usefulness demands one who is meek or humble. Such a Christian knows that he or she can be overcome by temptation and suddenly fall into sin just like the one whom currently needs restoration. Therefore, one who is spiritual is needed for the occasion because it demands one who is meek or gentle, not haughty or judgmental.

One “who is spiritual” is one who is bearing “the fruit of the Spirit.” Paul sets forth the nine facets of the single fruit of the Spirit that is manifested in the life of the Christian: “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” Possessing the “love” for God and His children, wanting “joy” to return to the guilty heart and the consequent “peace” with God, the one with “gentleness” seeks the mending of the fallen brother or sister.

“Being spiritual” will also occur when the Lord’s servants are engaged in correcting doctrinal error. “And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth…” (2 Timothy 2:24-25). The Lord’s servant is not out to promote self, but in humility uses one’s teaching ability to correct the opposition in their ignorance of the truth. What a moment for the spiritually minded servant when the knowledge of the truth is grasped so “they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him unto his will” (2 Timothy 2:26).

One is spiritual when he or she minds the things of the Spirit in contrast to fulfilling the lusts of the flesh. Paul sets forth this distinction of the righteous: “For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit” (Romans 8:5). Being spiritual is not something you stumble into, but a determined way of living. One is “in the Spirit” when “the Spirit of God dwells” in the Christian (cf. Romans 8:9). When the revealed teachings of the Spirit continue to abide in the heart and direct one’s life, one is being spiritual.

Manifesting “self-control” against sin is “being spiritual.” Is it not one facet of the fruit of the Spirit? (cf. Galatians 5:23). We can have the Word readily at hand to defeat the wiles of the devil (Psalms 119:11), but it will be the inward saying of no to the devil’s alluring bait that determines successful resistance. Knowing Scripture coupled with self-control will result in a fleeing Devil (cf. James 4:7).

Resisting sin ourselves, while restoring those overcome by sin characterize spiritual people. Keeping self in check when humbly correcting doctrinal error allows deceived people to free themselves from the will of the Devil. Following the lead of the Spirit through the divinely inspired Word, fills the life of the spiritual person. Being spiritual is determined by who you are and what you do, not so much as to how you feel!  

— Via Glad Tidings, Vol. XXIX, No. 21, May 26, 2019

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-3-

Guard Every Step

Andy Sochor

Moses was God’s faithful servant who led the Israelites out of Egypt. He dealt with opposition from Pharaoh, grumbling by the people, and difficulties of the journey.

Yet Moses was not perfect. When God told him to “speak to the rock…that it may yield its water” for the congregation (Numbers 20:8), Moses instead struck the rock with his rod and took credit for providing water for them (Numbers 20:9-11).

Because of this misstep, God told Moses that he would not bring the Israelites into the promised land (Numbers 20:12). We might think this was unfair. Surely we can sympathize with Moses as he had to deal with all of the stress and frustration of leading the Israelites through the wilderness. But none of that changed God’s decision.

We need to be careful about what we do. We could bring irreparable harm by some misdeed. In a moment of weakness, we could do something that has long-reaching negative consequences–for ourselves and others. Because of this, we must always be on the alert.

So guard every step. The devil is always looking for an opportunity to lead us into sin (1 Peter 5:8). We don’t need to give him one. Let us always be careful to do God’s will in all things.

— Via Articles from the Knollwood church of Christ, April 2024

——————– 

The Steps That Lead to Eternal Salvation

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sunday: 9 a.m. Bible Classes and 10 a.m. Worship Service.   Congregational Song Service: 5 p.m. for every first Sunday of the month.

Wednesday: 7 p.m. Bible Classes

evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (912) 281-9917
Tom@ThomasTEdwards.com

https://thomastedwards.com/go/all.htm (This is a link to the older version of the Gospel Observer website, but with bulletins going back to March 4, 1990.)

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

Contents

1) Reaching Forward (Jon W. Quinn)
2) Sword Tips #41 (Joe R. Price)
——————–

-1-

Reaching Forward

Jon W. Quinn

“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. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:12-14).

Solomon said, “The end of a thing is better than its beginning” (Ecclesiastes 7:8). Is that the way we feel about life itself? It ought to be! And that is true even if life here is great. It may be, but faith says the life to come is better.

There are several metaphors for how we feel about life in the hymns we sing. One hymn speaks of “laying our burdens down” but another says, “I’d like to stay here longer than man’s allotted days.” Interestingly, either one may be true in a Christian’s life at different times. As a basic metaphor for life, many people choose between the following:

1. Life is a problem: it is a burden that we wish to lay down. It is a harsh ordeal through which we must go. It is a “rat race” which we so look forward to being over. Do we anticipate the end of life as merely the end of the struggle and the difficulties of this life and this world??

2. Life is an opportunity: it is a growth process. It is doable and we can be successful at it. There is a reachable goal and no righteous step we take toward it is wasted. Life’s events, good and bad, have their purpose and meaning, even when we cannot discern what they are. Do we think of life as a wonderful gift that moves us ever closer to something even better?

Which of these two perspectives we choose has a big impact on the quality of our lives. While it is easy to allow ourselves during the dark days of trial to be overwhelmed by the first perspective, it is the second perspective that the Lord would prefer we have.

The Scriptures deal much with heart and attitude. It is important because our attitude about how to approach the end of life will greatly effect how we live each day. Only when we think that no righteous effort on any dark day will be wasted will our lives take on the character and strength they ought to have. We will have the strength to “press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

Our text teaches several things. Consider them, as we acknowledge that we are headed toward something worth having.

Our Goal is Worth It!

The word “goal” means “end, outcome, culmination, the purpose toward which something moves.” The Scriptures teach that the “goal” or “end result” of our being freed from sin and living as faithful disciples serving Christ is “eternal life” (Romans 6:20-23). However, the end result of a life of sin results in living free from righteousness… we get to live how we want to… free! Great! But not as great as Satan would like us to believe because the outcome is eternal death.

Our confidence that we can reach our goal keeps us reaching until we have it. We must “hold fast” to our confidence until the end (Hebrews 3:6).

Salvation is the goal of our faith (1 Peter 1:9). Peter writes, “obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.“ Understand that Christianity is a goal-oriented way of life. We must daily keep our eyes on Jesus, who also was “goal oriented” as He lived His life: “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God“ (Hebrews 12:1,2).

“Good” is not Enough When We Can Have the “Best”

By nature, we strive to grow, to make progress, to work toward goals (2 Peter 1:5-8). We need to have significant goals in the daily living of life as Christians. It is quite inadequate to have goals such as “Get up and go to church” because the Lord expects so much more of us than that.

Often our goals are not big enough – we underestimate what is possible and have too little vision or faith or commitment (Philippians 3:11-13). Many of our limitations are put there by ourselves. This is true whenever and wherever the Lord says, “I want you to do this.” And we respond “I can’t!”

At other times our goals are too general and vague. “I’m going to do better” is a worthy goal, but too vague. What will it take to “do better”? What will it take to go beyond the mediocre and excel? (2 Corinthians 13:5; James 1:4,5). Concerning my life before God as a father, mother, husband, wife, child, member of the body… Let the goals be so high that they’re impossible, because with God even the impossible becomes possible. There’s an old saying, “Aim low and you’ll hit your target.” We need to aim high and require more of ourselves, not less.

Why We Can Achieve the Best and Reach the Goal

Because Jesus, the “Beginning and the End” is the cause of our hope, we are certain of victory that comes by faith (Revelation 22:13). Because Jesus died for our reconciliation we have confidence (Colossians 1:16,17). We, in Christ, overwhelm the adversary and crush his weapons (Romans 8:1; 31-39). “If God be for us, who can be against us?” It is the Lord who says to His faithful children, “Here is your goal; I am with you; nothing is impossible for Me!”

Conclusion

Though life’s ultimate goal is reachable, and God has seen to it that we can win the victory, it is not automatic. Paul said he had not obtained it yet, but that he continued to press on so that he could. So, what is your vision? What is your life all about? What is it that you are reaching for today?

“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. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:12-14).

Based on outline by Gary Henry

— Via The Bradley Banner (from the Bradley Church of Christ), May 15, 2005

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-2-

“And take…the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Eph. 6:18).

Sword Tips #41                          

Joe R. Price

Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith. (1 Timothy 1:5)

Love is the purpose of God’s commandments: love for God and love for others. It is sad and so wrong when people think the necessity of obedience minimizes one’s love for God.

Jesus said, “if you love Me, keep My commandments”; and again, “If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love” (John 14:15; 15:10).

The commandments of God produce good things in your life when you obey them in faith.

First, obeying God comes from a “pure heart” toward God. Obedience is not rote performance; it is the deliberate expression of love’s purity.

Second, obedience shows a good conscience toward God. When it is trained by God’s truth, your conscience will commend you when you obey God.

Third, obeying God’s commands is the action of sincere faith. Love God today by keeping His commandments – not as a burden you must bear, but as the full expression of your faith in Him (1 John 5:3).

——————–

The Steps That Lead to Eternal Salvation

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sunday: 9 a.m. Bible Classes and 10 a.m. Worship Service.   Congregational Song Service: 5 p.m. for every first Sunday of the month.

Wednesday: 7 p.m. Bible Classes

evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (912) 281-9917
Tom@ThomasTEdwards.com

https://thomastedwards.com/go/all.htm (This is a link to the older version of the Gospel Observer website, but with bulletins going back to March 4, 1990.)

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

Contents

1) The “Hallelujah” Psalms (Jerry Fite)
2) If I Knew I Were Going to Die Tomorrow, What Would I Tell My Children Today? (Bryan Gibson)
3) Sword Tips #18 (Joe R. Price)
——————–

-1-

The “Hallelujah” Psalms

Jerry Fite

God deserves praise from all His creation. Throughout the Old Testament Psalms, such a point is driven home. But Psalms 113-118 form a special grouping called the “Hallelujah” Psalms. The title is taken from the first verse of Psalm 113, which reads, “Praise ye Jehovah. Praise, o ye servants of Jehovah, Praise the name of Jehovah.” The word “praise” translates the Hebrew word, “Hallul.” This is where we get the more familiar word “Hallelujah.” These “Hallelujah” psalms were sung when the people of Israel traveled to Jerusalem for the various appointed feasts.

The Jewish Talmud reveals the tradition of using this grouping of Psalms when partaking of the Passover meal. After partaking of the first of four cups of the fruit of the vine, Psalm 113 and 114 would be sung. Then, at the end of the meal, Psalm 115-118 would be sung.

The first two Psalms in this group exhort God’s servants to praise God, because the extent of His glory demands it. God’s character establishes a name that should be praised for ever more (Psalm 113:2). His praise-worthy name goes from east to west, following the direction of the sun’s rising and setting. Then, the Lord should be praised as His servants look upward above all nations and fathom the fact that God’s glory is “high above the heavens” (Psalm 113:4). God is so high above all things, that He must “humble” Himself “to behold the things that are in heaven and in the earth”(Psalm 113:6). He not only beholds but raises the poor and needy from dire straits (Psalms 113:8). He blesses the barren woman with the joy of keeping house in motherhood (Psalm 113:9). 

Psalm 114 begins with Israel coming forth out of Egypt (Psalm 114:1). The Psalmist seems to be so impressed with God’s miraculous deeds that he uses the pronoun, “his” before saying, “Tremble, thou earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob” (Psalm 114:7). Before establishing “His” presence in the temple in Judah and ruling over Israel, the sea divided in fear before His presence as Israel was delivered from Egypt (Psalm 114:3). The Jordan River also “was driven back” as God’s people were allowed passage into the promised land. While in the wilderness, the mountain of Sinai quaked, skipping as disturbed rams when the Law of Moses was delivered to the people (Psalm 114:4, 6). God’ glorious presence “turned the rock into a pool of water…”when the people thirsted in the wilderness (Psalm 114:8). God is praised for delivering His people from bondage, providing for them in the wilderness and ruling over them in Judah.

At the end of the Passover meal, the Psalms, broadening the focus to the nations, contrast God with their idol gods (Psalm 115) and look to the future when God is praised for His lovingkindness and truth among all “ye peoples” in “all the nations” (Psalm 117). Loving God because He has “delivered my soul from death” (Psalm 116:7) and rejoicing in the day when “the stone which the builders rejected is made the head of the corner” point to the nations praising God in the resurrected Christ (Psalm 118:22-24; I Peter 2:7).

The Passover meal allowed Jesus to institute the Lord’s supper, and the “Hallelujah” Psalms connected Him in song as well. This last section of Psalms, especially Psalm 118, was probably the hymn Jesus sang with His apostles at the end of His partaking of the Passover…right before heading to the Mount of Olives (Matthew 26:30).

— Via Glad Tidings, Volume 29, Number 34, August 25, 2019

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If I Knew I Were Going to Die Tomorrow, What Would I Tell My Children Today?

Bryan Gibson

Forgive me for my sins. Maybe you know things I’ve done against you (Matthew 5:23-24), and if that’s the case, I need to be forgiven by you—and by God. I’ve tried hard, but I know my example has been imperfect. I’ve been too harsh at times, other times not firm enough. Please forgive me and make it your aim to improve on the things I did as a parent.

I love each one of you. Your mother and I rejoiced the day you were born (John 16:21), but that was nothing compared to the feelings we had when you were born again (John 3:3-5). I’m looking forward to an eternal reward (2 Timothy 4:6-8), but you children have been my reward here on this earth (Psalms 127:3-5). I’ve tried to demonstrate my love in a variety of ways, but I do hope you remember most the love I’ve shown for your soul.

Yes, you have spouses and children to care for, but take really good care of your mother, too. She has always been willing to “spend and be spent for your souls” (2 Corinthians 12:15). No doubt she made up for my deficiencies as a parent—when I didn’t have time, she did; when I was too soft, she was firm; when I was too harsh, she provided the softer touch. So “repay” your mom (1 Timothy 5:4), a debt you already know you’ll never completely erase.

Make sure our precious grandchildren are prepared for the life beyond this one. You already know what’s most important to God (Jeremiah 9:23-24; Galatians 6:14; Matthew 16:26)—make sure they know it too, through what you say AND do.

Serve the Lord faithfully, which among other things means daily (Luke 9:23). Jesus died for you so that you would live wholeheartedly for Him (2 Corinthians 5:14-15). I pray you have good health, that you are able to provide for your families, but above all, I pray that your souls prosper (3 John 1:2). Whatever you accomplish in this life, whatever happiness you find—it won’t mean a thing if you lose your soul (Matthew 16:26).

Study God’s word diligently (2 Timothy 2:15; 3:16-17; 1 Peter 2:1-3). The times I’ve made a mess of things was when I either wasn’t studying like I should, or when I ignored what I had studied. Bottom line, I shudder to think how dark my life would be without the light of God’s word, the (many more) foolish decisions I would have made without its guidance, how unprepared I would be for “the time of my departure” (2 Timothy 4:6).

“Heaven holds all to me,” and I sure hope it’s the same for you. It’s where I plan on going, and it’s been my hope for each of you since the day you were born. This time of sorrow—I wish I could say it’s your last, but it’s not. And that’s okay, because these times of sorrow will make you long for a better place—a place Jesus has prepared for you (John 14:3); a place where you never die, where there is no more pain or sorrow (Revelation 21:4); a place that needs no light, because it is completely lit up by the glory of God (Revelation 21:23; 22:5). Think of the best day you’ve ever had, multiply that joy by 10 million (is that enough?), and then imagine every day throughout eternity being just like that.

One more thing—please sing, “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross,” at my funeral. It’s my favorite song, and if you read those words again, you’ll know exactly why. It doesn’t have to be your favorite song, but you sure better live by its words.

— Via Plain Words from God’s Word, June 4, 2024

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“And take…the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God” (Eph. 6:17).

Sword Tips #18                            

Joe R. Price

“And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32).

Oh, how much trouble we could avoid if only we would be kind to one another! Kindness is an attribute of love that flows out of a compassionate heart (1 Cor. 13:4).

Be kind to others by imparting goodness with your words and your actions.

Be kind, even when they are not kind to you.

Remember, kindness forgives others like God in Christ forgives us.

So today, imitate God and be kind.

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The Steps That Lead to Eternal Salvation

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

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

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

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

6) Continue in the faith by living for the Lord; for, if not, salvation can be lost (Matt. 24:13; Heb. 10:36-39; Rev. 2:10; 2 Pet. 2:20-22).
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Tebeau Street
CHURCH OF CHRIST
1402 Tebeau Street, Waycross, GA  31501

Sunday: 9 a.m. Bible Classes and 10 a.m. Worship Service.   Congregational Song Service: 5 p.m. for every first Sunday of the month.

Wednesday: 7 p.m. Bible Classes

evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (912) 281-9917
Tom@ThomasTEdwards.com

https://thomastedwards.com/go/all.htm (This is a link to the older version of the Gospel Observer website, but with bulletins going back to March 4, 1990.)

 

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

1) The Tomb–Do the Gospels Coincide? (Jon W. Quinn)
2) Christ’s Obedience To The Father Was Love, Not Legalism (Joe R. Price)
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The Tomb–Do the Gospels Coincide?

Jon W. Quinn

“Why do the accounts at Jesus’ tomb conflict?”

I was recently asked this question by a visitor to our website. This young man was engaged in a discussion with another who denies the Bible is the inspired word of God. This was evidently one of the arguments that was made. If the Bible was really the word of God, then there would not be any contradictions in how the events at the tomb of Jesus are recorded. Often times the charges that the gospels contradict are based on the women who are mentioned as going to the tomb early that Sunday morning.

My answer: “They don’t (conflict). A conflict would be an irreconcilable difference. Different perspectives of the same event is not a conflict.”

“If you have a genuine conflict in mind, I would like to know what it is.”

“Example: The number of women who went to the tomb. There is a deference in number, but only because they are written from different perspectives. John follows only Mary Magdalene and does not mention the others who went to the tomb. All of them agree that she went. Matthew also says “the other Mary” went to the tomb that morning. Mark and Luke agree with Matthew. John does not say that the other Mary did not go, so there is no conflict. Salome also went according to Mark. None of the others say she didn’t so there is no conflict. Luke says a woman by the name of Joanna also went. None of the others deny this so there is no conflict.”

Note now the inspired records in the gospels:

Now after the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to look at the grave. (Matthew 28:1)

When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought spices, so that they might come and anoint Him. (Mark 16:1)

Now they were Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James; also the other women with them were telling these things to the apostles. (Luke 24:10)

Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came early to the tomb, while it was still dark, and saw the stone already taken away from the tomb. (John 20:1)

I then explained what it would take for there to be a genuine conflict: If John had said, “Only Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and no one else went.” If one said “Joanna went to the tomb” and another said “Joanna did not go to the tomb.” Those would be conflicts, but there are no conflicts.

I then illustrated it this way: “Suppose police were investigating what happened at a party at which there was Mary M and Mary and Joanna and Salome present. They ask you, “What happened at the party?” You respond, Mary M. was there. She arrived at 7:30.”

Then they ask me the same thing. I respond, “Mary M was there, as was Joanna. Joanna arrived later than Mary.”

Then another witness responds to the same question: “There were two people named ‘Mary’ there.”

Finally, a fourth witness says, “Salome was at the party as well as some other women.”

There is no conflict in these reports. They can all be true. They are told from different perspectives and different aspects of the same event are mentioned. We would expect such in witness testimony even when all the witnesses are telling the truth. I challenged: Neither is there genuine conflict in the Biblical account of the tomb. They can all be true as stated. If you find one… a genuine conflict… then please let me know.

The young man wrote back and responded this way: “I wasn’t saying that they all didn’t go to the tomb, but did they go at different times? How many angels appeared? If you put all the accounts together how do they fit?”

This suggested to me that he was also having a problem with the angels at the tomb. I responded this way:

We are not given an exact time frame. We are not told that all the women traveled together. We are not even told that they set out to the tomb from the same place… they could have easily spent the night in different quarters. We only know that some of them, at least, traveled to the tomb as dawn was approaching.   

As far as the number of angels, there are at least two, but only one did the talking (or, at least, most of it).

Matthew mentions one… the one who descended from heaven and rolled the stone away and then sat upon it. Later, when the women arrive, he speaks to them. But Matthew does not say there were no other angels, but just emphasizes this one.

The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified” (Matthew 28:5).

Mark says it was inside the tomb where the angel spoke to the women. But we do not know if it was the same angel or a different one. But whether it was or not, there were two, though only one of them may have spoken initially. Entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting at the right, wearing a white robe; and they were amazed. And he said to them, “Do not be amazed; you are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who has been crucified. He has risen; He is not here; behold, here is the place where they laid Him” (Mark 16:5-6).

Luke lets us know that here were at least two angels altogether. Perhaps Matthew and Mark emphasize the one who did most of the talking. Also, the fact that Luke says concerning the angels, “and they said” does not necessarily mean that they talked in unison. (Like, if someone said “The two police officers came to my house and they asked me where I was last night” does not mean they both did the talking).

While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men suddenly stood near them in dazzling clothing; and as the women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living One among the dead?” (Luke 24:4-5).

John follows Mary Magdalene, who we find out does not enter the tomb at all as the other women did. As soon as she sees the stone rolled away, and before meeting the angels, she runs back to tell the apostles. When Peter and John run back to the tomb to investigate, it is empty… by the time they get there, neither the women nor the angels are still present.

There simply is no conflict about the angels either. Now, if one of the gospels had said “There was only one angel” and another said “There were not less than two angels” then that would be a conflict. But these are not conflicts. Skeptics and doubters would like for them to be, and sometimes blindly insist that these are contradictions, but they are not. Our faith in Jesus and the Bible is well placed.

— Via The Bradley Banner from the Bradley church of Christ,  November 6, 2005

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Christ’s Obedience To The Father Was Love, Not Legalism

Joe R. Price

30 I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me. 31 But that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father gave Me commandment, so I do. Arise, let us go from here (John 14:30–31, NKJV).

Jesus was about to be arrested, tried, and condemned to death by crucifixion. We marvel at God’s love for us by which He “gave His only begotten Son” for the redemption of sinners (John 3:16; 1 John 3:16; 4:8-10). Today’s passage adds another element to God’s love for us: the Son’s love for the Father. Jesus’s death on the cross was not only the great expression of divine love for humanity but also the great expression of His obedient love for His Father (Rom. 5:8; John 6:38; 10:18). Christ’s love for the Father compelled Him to do the Father’s will, becoming “obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross” (Phil. 2:8). His sacrificial, selfless obedience makes Him the Exemplar of love. You see, previously in today’s passage, Jesus had told His apostles, “If you love Me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15). Jesus holds His disciples to the same standard He followed, to express our love for Him through faithful obedience. We ought not to view obedience as a legalistic approach to discipleship but as love’s full measure of devotion. As John wrote, “My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and truth” (1 John 3:18). It is no wonder that Jesus saves those who obey Him (Heb. 5:8-9). Today and hereafter, “arise, let us go from here” and in love obey the Father and the Son.

— Via the Facebook site for the Round Lake Beach church of Christ, February 18, 2022

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The Steps That Lead to Eternal Salvation

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sunday: 9 a.m. Bible Classes and 10 a.m. Worship Service.   Congregational Song Service: 5 p.m. for every first Sunday of the month.

Wednesday: 7 p.m. Bible Classes

evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (912) 281-9917
Tom@ThomasTEdwards.com

https://thomastedwards.com/go/all.htm (This is a link to the older version of the Gospel Observer website, but with bulletins going back to March 4, 1990.)

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

Contents

1) Agreement in Meaning Despite Differences in Terms (Steve Wallace)
2) The Holy Spirit’s Role in Conversion (Bryan Gibson)
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Agreement in Meaning Despite Differences in Terms

Steve Wallace

The gospel of John uses different names for the same individual or beings. Simon was called “Cephas,” which is by interpretation “Peter” (1:42). The Holy Spirit is simply called “the Spirit,” “the Spirit of truth,” or the “Comforter” (or “Helper,” NKJV; NASB; 7:39; 1:32; 16:13; 15:26). Satan is also called “the devil” and “the prince of this world” (13:27; 8:44; 16:11). Of those lost eternally, it is written that they “shall not see life,” “will die in their sins,” or that they would come forth from their graves “to the resurrection of condemnation” (3:36; 8:24; 5:29).

Such use of different words or phrases in reference to the same person, event, or thing does not surprise us as this is a part of everyday life. Mothers are called mom, mommy, ma, mama, etc. We see agreement in meaning despite the difference in terms. With this in mind, let us now look at three passages from John culminating with the most well-known verse of the Bible, John 3:16.

John 10

Jesus said, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand” (John 10:27-28).

Jesus is “the good shepherd” (v. 11). His sheep hear His voice and follow Him, i.e., there is a progression in their response to His words. They follow His lead (as in vs. 3,4). They cannot follow the voice of strangers and continue following Him at the same time (v. 5; Matt. 15:14). As a result of their following Him, He says, “And I give them eternal life” (v. 28). Let us now look at another passage from the gospel of John which teaches the same thing.

John 8

“Most assuredly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he shall never see death” (v. 51). “Keep” is the same word as “observe” in Matthew 28:20, where Jesus said, “Teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you…” “Keep” also corresponds with what Jesus said earlier in John 8: “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed” (v. 31). “Abide in My word” and “keeps My word” shows clear agreement between these two verses.

Further, these verses agree with other clear texts of God’s word.

“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).

“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).

“Keeps my word” (John 8:51) agrees with “does the will of My Father” and “obey Him.” “Shall never see death” (John 8:51) agrees with “enter the kingdom of heaven” and “eternal salvation.” Beyond this, we see harmony between John 8:51 and 10:27,28. The one who “keeps My word” (8:51) is the same as the sheep who “hear My voice” and “follow Me” (10:27). Also, there is harmony in the resulting message of both passages: “shall never see death” (8:51) and “I give them eternal life” (10:28). We should expect such agreement. All these words are inspired by the same Spirit (2 Tim. 3:16-17). We now turn to another text which John penned.

John 3

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (v.16). God’s love for the lost people of this world led Him to send His only begotten Son, Jesus the Christ, to die for their sins. Sinners could not be saved without the blood He shed on the cross (Matt. 26:28; 1 Tim. 2:5-6).

As we look at the three passages from the gospel of John that we have examined we see agreement in the promised future blessings of which they speak. “Give them eternal life” (10:28), “never see death” (8:51) and “have everlasting life” (3:16) are three different ways of saying the same thing. There is harmony in the promises of these verses. What about conditions for receiving these blessings? Is there agreement in the words “believe” (3:16), “keeps My word” (8:51), “hear My voice” and “follow Me” (10:27)? There is progressive action in the language of 8:51 and 10:27. “Believes,” in John 3:16, is a verb in the present tense. It describes customary or habitual action (Dana and Mantey, 183; Burton, 8–9). This harmonizes with the progressive action found in 8:51 and 10:27. It also harmonizes with the actions of believers in other passages (Heb. 10:39; 11:7, 30; Mark 16:15,16; Acts 8:12; 18:8).

Conclusion

We close this brief study with agreement on the destiny of the saved. They shall be given “eternal life,” “never see death,” and “have everlasting life.” We also have agreement regarding the conditions necessary for eternal life. One must ‘hear Christ’s voice’ as revealed in His word and “follow” Him. One must ‘keep His word.’ One must ‘believe.’ However, to have agreement in these last three sentences, we cannot change “believe” to “believe only,” as many religions erroneously do.

Sources:

Dana, H. E., and Julius R. Mantey. A Manual Grammar of the Greek New Testament. New York: MacMillan Publishing, Co., Inc., 1927, 1957

Burton, Ernest De Witt. Syntax of the Moods and Tenses in New Testament Greek, 3rd ed. Edinburg: T&T Clark, 1898.

— Via Facebook website for the Round Lake Beach church of Christ, April 4, 2019

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The Holy Spirit’s Role in Conversion

Bryan Gibson

Jesus promised His apostles He would baptize them
with the Holy Spirit (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:5-8). Jesus made
another promise regarding the Holy Spirit, this one with a more
general application: “And when He has come, He will
convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of
judgment” (John 16:8). Remember this promise, because we will
come back to it shortly.   
   
The best way to understand the Holy Spirit’s role in conversion
is to look at the actual cases of conversion recorded in the
Book of Acts. What role did the Holy Spirit play in these
conversions? He did just what Jesus said He would do—He
convicted these people of sin, of righteousness, and of
judgment. And He did that through the preaching of the gospel,
which shouldn’t surprise us in the least, because the gospel is
“the power of God to salvation” (Romans 1:16). Yes, the gospel
was preached by men, but they preached it “by the Holy Spirit”
(1 Peter 1:12), because the words they spoke were revealed by
the Holy Spirit (John 16:13; 1 Corinthians 2:6-13; Ephesians
3:1-5). Jesus had this to say about the life-giving power of
these words: “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits
nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are
life” (John 6:63). This same life-giving power is also seen in
this passage: “having been born again, not of corruptible seed
but incorruptible, through the word of God…” (1 Peter 1:23); and
in this one: “Of His own will, He brought us forth by the word
of truth…” (James 1:18).

To illustrate, consider the conversion of some Jews in Acts 2.
Notice verse 37 in particular: “Now when they heard this,
they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the
rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” This
is exactly what Jesus was talking about—these people were
convicted by the Holy Spirit, because the gospel Peter preached
to them was revealed by the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:4). Study the
conversions one by one, and you will see this same truth
illustrated over and over again. Pay close attention to how they
responded when they heard the gospel, and realize this
is the work of the Holy Spirit in conversion.

Of course, the Holy Spirit does not convict everyone—cases on
non-conversion are also found in Acts, people who did not
receive the word “with meekness” (James 1:21). The problem was
not with the Holy Spirit, or with the words He revealed; the
problem was with the hearers. As Stephen said to his audience,
“You always resist the Holy Spirit” (Acts 7:51). The gospel is
compared to a fragrance in 2 Corinthians 2—to some it is the
“aroma of death,” to others it is the “aroma of life” (2
Corinthians 2:14-16).

Please give close attention to the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Welcome it “not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the
word of God” (1 Thessalonians 2:13). It will tell you “words by
which you and all your household will be saved” (Acts 11:14).
Give the gospel a fair hearing, and the Holy Spirit will convict
you of your sins; He will show you how to be right with God; and
He will impress upon you the urgency of it all by warning of the
judgment to come.

— Via Plain Words from God’s Word,  May 22, 2024

——————–

The Steps That Lead to Eternal Salvation

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

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

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

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

6) Continue in the faith by living for the Lord; for, if not, salvation can be lost (Matt. 24:13; Heb. 10:36-39; Rev. 2:10; 2 Pet. 2:20-22).
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Tebeau Street
CHURCH OF CHRIST
1402 Tebeau Street, Waycross, GA  31501

Sunday: 9 a.m. Bible Classes and 10 a.m. Worship Service.   Congregational Song Service: 5 p.m. for every first Sunday of the month.

Wednesday: 7 p.m. Bible Classes

evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (912) 281-9917
Tom@ThomasTEdwards.com

https://thomastedwards.com/go/all.htm (This is a link to the older version of the Gospel Observer website, but with bulletins going back to March 4, 1990.)

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

1) Holy Spirit Baptism — Just the Facts, Please (Bryan Gibson)
2) Jumping to Conclusions (Gene Taylor)
3) A Living Hope (Jesse A. Flowers)
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-1-

Holy Spirit Baptism — Just The Facts, Please

Bryan Gibson

Much has been written and said about Holy Spirit baptism, sometimes with little concern for what the New Testament actually teaches. We will do our best to stick with the facts in this article.

John the Baptist promised “one mightier than I” would baptize with (“in”—ASV) the Holy Spirit (Matthew 3:11; Mark 1:8; Luke 3:16). That this “one” was Jesus was confirmed to John in a remarkable way: “Upon whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit” (John 1:33). John saw what God described when he baptized Jesus (John 1:32; Matthew 3:13-17), and so he knew for sure Jesus was the One who would baptize with the Holy Spirit.

Here is where we need to be careful. We might assume Jesus baptized people with the Holy Spirit on a regular basis, but we only find two instances in the New Testament specifically described as Holy Spirit baptism.

First, Jesus promised the apostles He would baptize them with the Holy Spirit (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-5, 8). He specifically told the apostles to wait in Jerusalem until they received this promise, which is exactly where Jesus baptized them with the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-4, 33).

Jesus baptized the apostles with the Holy Spirit to give them power for their work as His witnesses (Acts 1:8; 4:33). They were empowered in basically two different ways. First, the Holy Spirit revealed all truth to them (John 14:26; 16:13), so that what they spoke and what they wrote was inspired of God. Secondly, they were empowered to perform miracles, in order to confirm that what they were teaching came from God (Acts 14:3; Mark 16:20).

We have one other example specifically called Holy Spirit baptism in the New Testament—a Gentile named Cornelius and his household (Acts 10:44-48; 11:15-18). That this was an unusual event can be seen in Peter’s recount of the event: “And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, as upon us at the beginning” (Acts 11:15). A unique event for sure, because for Peter to find the same thing that happened here, he had to go all the way back to the time when the apostles were baptized with the Holy Spirit (“at the beginning”).

Cornelius and his household were baptized with the Holy Spirit for a special purpose: to convince the Jews God made no distinction between them and the Gentiles, to show that Gentiles could be saved through Jesus Christ—without having to be circumcised and keep the law of Moses (Acts 11:17-18; 15:5-11). It had this very effect on the Jews in Jerusalem when Peter told them what happened: “Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life” (Acts 11:18).

Baptism with the Holy Spirit is not something we should seek today—in fact, it was not even sought by the people cited in the examples above. It had a unique purpose for the apostles and for Cornelius and his household. We don’t need it for the reasons the apostles did, because all truth has been revealed and confirmed. And we certainly don’t need it for the reason it was given to Cornelius and his family, because we can learn the same lesson from what happened to them (which is the way it was used in Acts 15). The “one baptism” of Ephesians 4:5 is water baptism, and it is necessary for the remission of sins (Acts 10:47-48; 2:38; 8:35-39). Holy Spirit baptism was a promise, fulfilled only in certain individuals; water baptism is a command everyone must obey.

— Via Plain Words from God’s Word, May 15, 2024

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-2-

Jumping To Conclusions

Gene Taylor

A few weeks ago I attended a musical put on by one of our local high schools. I went because my son had done some video work for it, one of the young people from church was in it, and, frankly, I enjoy musicals. I was enjoying this one. I was pleasantly surprised at the professionalism demonstrated by these students. I recalled my high school days and the productions we put on and they in no way compared to the expertise these young people displayed. So I was having a good time.

Everyone else seemed to be enjoying it too. The auditorium was filled and the applause was thunderous — except for the woman sitting next to me. I don’t remember when I first noticed it but she was not applauding at all. While the rest of the audience was gleefully putting their hands together, she just sat there quietly.

I consciously watched her the next time applause rang out. Again, she didn’t so much as move or acknowledge the performance in any way. I thought to myself, “Why did you come if you were going to just sit there? Don’t you realize these young people need to be encouraged when they do good, worthwhile things?”

It became a distraction to me. My enjoyment was greatly diminished. In reality, not only was I distracted, I was becoming angry at this woman. “Perhaps,” I thought, “she is jealous — grudging these young people their youth and talents.” “Maybe she thinks she is better than everyone else and that all this is beneath her.” I carried such thoughts to intermission.

When I stood to stretch, so did she. Then she turned around. It was then I knew the truth — she had only one hand. She could not have applauded even if she desperately wanted to. I felt stupid. I was glad I had not shared my feelings with anyone else. I was ashamed.

I wondered, “How many times have I jumped to conclusions about other people when I did not know the truth of their situation?” Our Lord told us we should not be quick to judge others (Matt. 7:1-2) but I had “jumped in with both feet.” I was the self-centered one. I was the one who lacked sensitivity and understanding. I asked the Lord to forgive me. I smiled at the lady and said, “Good play, huh?” She replied, “It’s wonderful! I am really enjoying it.” Now, putting aside my selfishness, I could too.

Throughout our lives, as we live them for Christ, let us  not be quick to judge others and impugn their motives. Only God knows their hearts (Acts 1:24). Let us let Him judge in matters of the heart.

— via Viewpoint from the Valley Grove church of Christ, October 30, 2022

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-3-

A Living Hope

Jesse A. Flowers

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you” (1 Peter 1:3-4).

Praise be to God our Father for His abundant mercy to us in that He has granted us a living hope! This “living hope” was made certain by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead (cf. Acts 2:22-32). Jesus is the reason why our hope is “living” and not dead. We serve a risen Savior who is presently reigning over all things as He is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

This living hope is accessed by means of our being born again. Jesus taught that we must be born again of water and the Spirit (John 3:3-5) to enter the kingdom of God. We were born again through the word of God (1 Peter 1:23; John 8:32) which the Holy Spirit revealed through the apostles and prophets (Eph. 3:1-5) and receiving that word through faith we were baptized into Christ (through water) for the remission of our sins (Acts 2:38; 1 Peter 3:20-21).

Our brother Peter then speaks of those who have been born again to a living hope obtaining an inheritance (received by those born into the family of God). Please notice that the apostle describes our inheritance as being imperishable, undefiled, will not fade away, and reserved in heaven – for you!

The original recipients of Peter’s letter needed to hear this encouraging and reassuring message because of the fiery trial that they were experiencing. And the people of God today need to hear (loud and clear) this same great divine message as we are grieved and distressed by various trials. We need to hold fast to our living hope! We need to praise God for His great mercy! And we need to ever press towards that eternal inheritance that awaits us in heaven!

— Via Articles from the Knollwood church of Christ, April 2024

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The Steps That Lead to Eternal Salvation

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

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

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

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

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

——————–

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

Sunday: 9 a.m. Bible Classes and 10 a.m. Worship Service.   Congregational Song Service: 5 p.m. for every first Sunday of the month.

Wednesday: 7 p.m. Bible Classes

evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (912) 281-9917
Tom@ThomasTEdwards.com

https://thomastedwards.com/go/all.htm (This is a link to the older version of the Gospel Observer website, but with bulletins going back to March 4, 1990.)