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The Gospel Observer

June 18, 2017 / Tom Edwards

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

1) Enoch (Tom Edwards)
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Enoch

Tom Edwards

Sometimes it is just brief statements made about some individuals in the Bible that indicate their faith and devotion toward God — but that which can also give much encouragement to us in our own relationship with the Lord.

One such individual that the Bible says little about, but of whom we can infer had been a godly man, is seen in Genesis 5:18-24, along with a most unusual statement that is made about him. It tells of a man named Enoch who at 65 became the father of Methuselah (who in living to be 969 years of age is the oldest recorded human in the Bible). But though that was unique for Enoch to have a son that lived to such a great age, yet there is something even more special brought to our attention. For while Enoch’s life of 365 years was 604 years shorter than his son Methuselah’s, yet there is something more important than the number of years one lives. Rather, it is how one lives those years. And Enoch lived his the right way! For the Bible declares that Enoch “walked with God” — a phrase which indicates that Enoch believed in God, obeyed the Lord, and had obtained His favor. This also ties in with what the Hebrew writer says about Enoch: “…he was pleasing to God. And without faith it is impossible to please Him for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him” (Heb. 11:5,6).

But when did Enoch live, and what was it like in his day? Was it a time in which the world would be a challenge to his faith — a time in which ungodliness seemed to prevail?

Based on the genealogy in Genesis 5, Enoch was born 622 years, and in the seventh generation, after God created Adam. And since Enoch was on earth for 365 years, 308 of those years were while that first man Adam was still living! I wonder if they ever met? If they ever talked? Wouldn’t that be interesting to meet and communicate with Adam and find out how it had been for him and Eve in the garden of Eden and of their relationship with God before the fall and their being driven out of the garden? So soon sin had entered this world — not even the very first couple had kept from transgression!

Enoch lived 300 years after Methuselah was born. When Methuselah was 187, he became the father of Lamech. Enoch was then 252. When Lamech was 182, he became the father of Noah — 69 years after Enoch left this world.

But consider Genesis 6:1,2: “Now it came about, when men began to multiply on the face of the land, and daughters were born to them, that the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves, whomever they chose.”

Some view these “sons of God” as being the descendants of Adam and Eve’s third son Seth and of a godly lineage, while the “daughters of men” pertains to those descending from Cain and characterized with corruption.

According to the Pulpit Commentary, the phrase in Genesis 6:1, “And it came to pass,” is “Literally, it was; not in immediate sequence to the preceding chapter, but as some earlier point in the antediluvian period; perhaps about the time of Enoch (corresponding to that of Lamech the Cainite)…”

But regardless of how the world was in Enoch’s day, he strove to live in harmony with God, to be pleasing to Him, and to maintain that relationship.

And here is a most unusual thing we read of him. After mentioning that “Enoch walked with God,” the writer then goes on to say, “and he was not, for God took him” (Gen. 5:24). The Hebrew writer elucidates on this when saying, “By faith Enoch was taken up so that he would not see death; AND HE WAS NOT FOUND BECAUSE GOD TOOK HIM UP; for he obtained the witness that before his being taken up he was pleasing to God” (Heb. 11:5).

God can do the impossible (cf. Matt. 19:26). We are reminded of another case, too, in which the Lord took one up who had not died first. In knowing that the Lord would soon be taking Elijah away, Elisha had asked for a double portion of Elijah’s spirit to be upon him. Elijah then said, “You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so” (2 Kings 2:10). While they journeyed on, talking along the way, “…there appeared a chariot of fire and horses of fire which separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind to heaven. Elisha saw it and cried out…And he saw Elijah no more” (vv. 11,12).

This idea of being caught up (or supernaturally transported) by the Spirit is also mentioned in 2 Kings 2:16. In not knowing where Elijah had been taken, the sons of the prophets, who had now recognized that the spirit of Elijah was on Elisha, had come to him with the desire to search for Elijah. For they said, “perhaps the Spirit of the LORD has taken him up and cast him on some mountain or into some valley.”

For another instance, Obadiah had been “over the household” of Ahab; but being one who “feared the LORD greatly,” he hid 100 prophets of the Lord and provided for them. For Jezebel, Ahab’s wife, had been killing the prophets. Obadiah had then run into Elijah who wanted his whereabouts to be made known to Ahab by Obadiah. But Obadiah expressed his concern: “It will come about when I leave you that the Spirit of the LORD will carry you where I do not know; so when I come and tell Ahab and he cannot find you, he will kill me, although I your servant have feared the LORD from my youth” (1 Kings 18:12).

Another example is that of Philip. Though not taken from the earth, yet notice that after he had baptized the Ethiopian eunuch “…the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; and the eunuch no longer saw him… But Philip found himself at Azotus…” ( Acts 8:39,40). Though this Grecian term is found just once in the Bible, its Hebrew form of “Ashdod,” one of the five chief Philistine cities, is mentioned 19 times in the Old Testament (NASB) and 21 times in the KJV. But notice again that Philip was “snatched…away” by the Spirit. The same Greek word (harpazo) for that phrase is also used in 1 Thessalonians 4:17, which says, “Then we who are alive and remain will be CAUGHT UP together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord” (emphasis mine).

Paul also speaks of being “CAUGHT UP to the third heaven” (2 Cor. 12:2), though he didn’t know if it happened “in the body” or “out of the body.” But that he “was CAUGHT UP into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak” (v. 4, emphases mine). Again, “caught up” is from “harpazo.”

There are also some instances, while Christ was on earth, that appear to have been a miraculous transporting from one place to the next. In John 6, for instance, there was a strong wind while the disciples were on the Sea of Galilee and “had rowed about three or four miles” (v. 19). While in the process, they saw Jesus walking on the sea toward them and were initially frightened. Mark’s account mentions that when “He got into the boat with them…the wind stopped; and they were utterly astonished” (Mark 6:51). So there they were in the Sea of Galilee, which is about 13 miles from its farthest points north to south, and 7 miles across at its widest points in the north; and, as we saw, they had rowed only about “three or four miles” — and now with no wind to drive them along. But notice what John brings out about this: “…He said to them, ‘It is I; do not be afraid. So they were willing to receive Him into the boat, and IMMEDIATELY the boat was at the land to which they were going” (Jn. 6:21, emphasis mine).

When Jesus appeared to His apostles again, following His resurrection, the account says, “After eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors having been shut, and stood in their midst and said, ‘Peace be with you’” (Jn. 20:26). This appears to have been a miraculous entrance by the Lord. But even if not in this instance, it does not take away from His ability to do that.

When we think of Enoch being “taken up so that he would not see death” (Heb. 11:5), perhaps this reminds us of what we saw earlier in 1 Thessalonians 4:17 of how that “we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air…”

Though Paul is focusing on the Christians — whether living or deceased — in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, yet all of us (whether Christians or not) will be caught up to give an account of ourselves to the Lord. “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad” (2 Cor. 5:10).

Enoch also knew of the Lord’s coming in judgment upon the ungodly and prophesied of it (cf. Jude 1:14,15). Enoch had faith in God, was wise to obey Him, and made himself ready for that great day of reckoning — and may the same also and always be true for each of us!

(All Scriptures from the NASB.)
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The Steps That Lead to Eternal Salvation

1) Hear the gospel, for that is how faith comes (Rom. 10:17; John 20:30,31).
2) Believe in the deity of Christ (John 8:24; John 3:18).
3) Repent of sins (Luke 13:5; Acts 17:30).
4) Confess faith in Christ (Rom. 10:9,10; Acts 8:36-38).
5) Be baptized in water for the remission of sins (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16; Rom. 6:3,4; Gal. 3:26,27; 1 Pet. 3:21).
6) Continue in the faith, living for the Lord; for, if not, salvation can be lost (Heb. 10:36-39; Rev. 2:10; 2 Pet. 2:20-22).
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Tebeau Street
CHURCH OF CHRIST<b/ig>
1402 Tebeau Street, Waycross, GA 31501
Sunday services: 9:00 a.m. (Bible class); 10 a.m. & 5 p.m. (worship)
Wednesday: 7 p.m. (Bible class)
evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (912) 281-9917
Tom@ThomasTEdwards.com
http://thomastedwards.com/go (Older version of Gospel Observer website without pictures, but back to March 1990)
http://tebeaustreetchurchofchrist.org/
http://ThomasTEdwards.com/audioser.html (audio sermons)

The Gospel Observer

June 11, 2017 / Tom Edwards

Contents:

1) The Power to Forgive (Tom Edwards)
2) A Blessed Rest (Mike Johnson)
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The Power to Forgive

Tom Edwards

We are to be a forgiving people. Notice, for example, Paul’s motivation toward this in the following exhortations: “Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, JUST AS GOD IN CHRIST ALSO HAS FORGIVEN YOU” (Eph. 4:32, emphasis mine). Similarly, in writing to the Colossians, Paul also urges them to “…put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; JUST AS THE LORD FORGAVE YOU, SO ALSO SHOULD YOU” (Col. 3:12,13, emphasis mine).

What particular individual has ever sinned against us as much as we have sinned against the Almighty God? If we, therefore, have been forgiven by the Lord, of all our many transgressions and ever have trouble in forgiving anyone, then we should remind ourselves that whatever wrong or wrongs another did toward us does not even come close to the many wrongs we have committed against God — and, yet, He had forgiven us!

Jesus actually gave a parable concerning this in Matthew 18:23-35. It was in response to Peter’s question, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered by using two factors to figuratively indicate “always” as the “product”: “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven” (vv. 21-22). So even if it were the 491st time, or any number greater than that, we are still to forgive. He then proceeded with the parable of a slave who had owed his king ten thousand talents. Since he was not able to pay, the king was going to have him sold, along with his family and everything he owned. But the slave pleaded, “Have patience with me and I will repay you everything.” On hearing this, the “lord of that slave felt compassion and released him and forgave him the debt” (vv. 23-27). How greatly relieved the slave must have felt! “But that slave went out and found one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and he seized him and began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay back what you owe.’” This fellow slave had also pleaded in the same manner, falling to the ground, and asking that patience be granted for the repayment. But, unlike the compassion and forgiveness shown by the king to the first debtor, the creditor “was unwilling and threw him in prison until he should pay back what was owed” (vv. 28-31).

To better understand the above parable, what is the difference between the 10,000 talents and 100 denarii? The denarius was the equivalent of about 16 cents; but for that time, it was what a common laborer would make in a day (cf. Matt. 20:2). Since he could work about 300 days out of the year (earning $48), then 100 denarii would be 1/3 of a year’s salary ($16). But just one talent is the equivalent of 6,000 denarii. So 10,000 talents equals 60 million denarii! The common laborer would have to work 200,000 years to earn that amount!

Something else that should motivate us toward forgiving others is realizing that if we don’t, then God will not forgive us. Jesus taught this. After giving His model prayer in Matthew 6, He went on to say, “For if you forgive others of their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions” (vv. 14,15). The previous parable also brings this out: “So when his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were deeply grieved and came and reported to their lord all that had happened. Then summoning him, his lord said to him, ‘You wicked slave, I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow slave, in the same way that I had mercy on you.’ And his lord, moved with anger, handed him over to the torturers until he should repay all that was owed him. My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart” (Matt. 18:31-35).

Though we are to forgive others, we do not have the power to blot out sin in people’s lives. That requires the atonement that Jesus made on the cross of Calvary, which He made for every sinner of all time, but is received by meeting His conditions – whether for the sinner who had never been a Christian or the backslidden Christian who needs to be restored.

Only God can truly blot out sin in one’s life because that forgiveness takes place in the mind of God. Sin is not something inherited through DNA. It is not something we are born with. As John writes, “…sin is the transgression of the law” (1 Jn. 3:4, KJV). When we commit sin, God knows — and He has no trouble in remembering. But for those who will meet His conditions for pardon, the Lord has promised, “…I will remember their sins no more” (Heb. 8:12).

Mark records a time when some scribes overheard Jesus tell a paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven” (Mark 2:5); and they accused him of blasphemy – for, as they said, “who can forgive sins but God alone?” (v. 7). Unfortunately, they did not believe that Jesus was God. But He was actually proving, by the miracle He performed, that He did have the power to forgive because He truly was and is as much Deity as God the Father. As He states, “`Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, “Your sins are forgiven”; or to say, “Get up, and pick up your pallet and walk”? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins’ — He said to the paralytic, ‘I say to you, get up, pick up your pallet and go home’” (vv. 9-11).

Jesus could back up His claims! In John 11, He refers to Himself as being “the resurrection and the life”; and that “he who believes in Me will live even if he dies” (v. 25 ) — and He proved that the same day by raising Lazarus from the dead, who had been deceased for four days! (vv. 43-45).

And now in Mark 2, Jesus indicates by way of miracle that He is Deity and does have the power to blot out sin from one’s life!

Do you have God’s forgiveness in your life? Out of all the things you might have need of, nothing could ever be greater or more important than to simply have the Lord’s pardon of all your iniquities! If you have never been a Christian, then receiving God’s forgiveness requires hearing the gospel (Rom. 10:17), believing in the deity of Christ (Jn. 8:24), repenting of sin (Luke 13:5), confessing faith in Christ (Rom. 10:9,10; Acts 8:36-38), and being baptized in water for the remission of sins (Mk. 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16; Rom. 6:3,4; Gal. 3:26,27; 1 Pet. 3:21). For those who had been Christians, but fell away, there is a need to be restored by repenting and praying for God’s forgiveness (cf. Acts 8:13,18-23; 1 Jn. 1:9). These passages show that having God’s forgiveness is conditional.

Maintaining a right relationship with God is also necessary in order to continue to benefit from the Lord’s atonement at Calvary. John declares, “If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 Jn. 1:6,7). To walk in the light is to live according to the gospel.

We close with the comforting and praise-worthy words of the psalmist David:

“How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered! How blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity, And in whose spirit there is no deceit!” (Psa. 32:1,2).

*****

(All Scriptures are from the New American Standard Bible, unless otherwise indicated.)
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A Blessed Rest

Mike Johnson

Revelation 14:13 says, “And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.”

The word “blessed” means “happy.” There is an obvious sense in which death brings sorrow, but for those who “die in the Lord” it can be regarded as a happy occasion. Heaven is a place of joy, rest, and peace and we will experience this for eternity.

How do our “works” follow us? Consider two senses. First, if we live a faithful Christian life, the effects of that will be felt here upon this earth even after we are gone. “Good” will continue to be done by those whom we have influenced in righteousness upon this earth. In Hebrews 11, Abel is mentioned as one though dead continued to speak. Also, Peter spoke of his approaching death in the first chapter of 2 Peter. After pointing out he would soon die he said, “Moreover I will be careful to ensure that you always have a reminder of these things after my decease.” Our life on earth has an impact upon others after we die and our works do follow us. Another way to look at this passage is that the consequences of our works follow us into the next life as we will be judged on the bases of what we have done upon this earth. II Corinthians 5:10 says, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.” Also, in Romans 2:6, we are told God will render to every man “according to his deeds.”

In conclusion, it is important to consider that this blessed rest spoken of in Revelation 14:13 is only for those “who die in the Lord” and those who have “labored” for Him as the text indicates. Those who “die in the Lord” will be saved eternally. What is your situation? Are you “in the Lord?” Are you laboring for the Lord? If so, your death can be a happy occasion.

— via The Elon Challenger, June 2017
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The Steps That Lead to Eternal Salvation

Tebeau Street
CHURCH OF CHRIST
1402 Tebeau Street, Waycross, GA 31501
Sunday services: 9:00 a.m. (Bible class); 10 a.m. & 5 p.m. (worship)
Wednesday: 7 p.m. (Bible class)
evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (912) 281-9917
Tom@ThomasTEdwards.com
http://thomastedwards.com/go (Older version of Gospel Observer website without pictures, but back to March 1990)
http://tebeaustreetchurchofchrist.org/
http://ThomasTEdwards.com/audioser.html (audio sermons)

The Gospel Observer

June 4, 2017 / Tom Edwards

Contents:

1) Sarah’s Faith (Tom Edwards)
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Sarah’s Faith

Tom Edwards

Isn’t it something the way you can read over the same Bible passages many times through the years — and then, decades later, suddenly see some of those verses stand out in a way they had not done so before? This I experienced recently concerning the faith of Sarah.

Her name at the time was Sarai, and her husband was Abram, before God changed her husband’s name to “Abraham” (Gen. 17:5) and hers to “Sarah” (v. 15). (The name “Abram” is said to mean ”exalted father,” while “Abraham” means “father of a multitude” [Brown-Driver-Briggs’ Hebrew Definitions.])

It was to Abraham that God spoke of these name changes; and after mentioning Sarai’s name to “Sarah,” the Lord then told Abraham that she would be blessed by God and bear a child and, thus, become “a mother of nations” with “kings of peoples” that “will come from her” (v. 16).

On hearing this, “…Abraham fell on his face and laughed”; and he “said in his heart, ‘Will a child be born to a man one hundred years old? And will Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?’” (v. 17).

When the LORD appeared to Abraham again by the oaks of Mamre and said, “I will surely return to you at this time next year; and behold, Sarah your wife will have a son,” “Sarah was listening at the tent door, which was behind him” (Gen. 18:10) – and she “laughed to herself” over the thought of having a child at such an old age (v. 12). And not only had Sarah been “old, advanced in age” and way “past childbearing” (v. 11), but she had also been “barren” (Gen. 11:30). So she was “sterile,” as that Hebrew word (“aqar”) is also defined (James Strong and Brown-Driver Briggs), and, therefore, not able to conceive children even in her younger days.

With these factors against her, what is the possibility that she could have a child? Thinking from merely a physiological standpoint, we would conclude that there is nothing she could do about it. And, perhaps the thinking would also be, that for her to conceive a child, it would certainly have to be something totally up to God. But was that how it was?

The verse that stood out to me recently is in Hebrews 11 – that great “Hall of Faith” chapter. In each of the examples, faith had prompted certain individuals to do specific things. They had an active, obedient faith – rather than the “dead” faith that James speaks of in James 2. For instance, in Hebrews 11 (all emphases mine) we see that…

“By faith Abel OFFERED a better sacrifice than Cain…” (v. 4).

“By faith Noah…in reverence PREPARED an ark for the salvation of his household…” (v. 7).

“By faith Abraham… OBEYED by going out to a place…” (v. 8).

“By faith Abraham, when he was tested, OFFERED up Isaac…” (v. 17).

“By faith Moses, when he was born, WAS HIDDEN for three months by his parents…” (v. 23).

“By faith Moses… REFUSED to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, CHOOSING rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt… By faith he LEFT Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he ENDURED, as seeing Him who is not seen. By faith he KEPT the Passover…” (vv. 24-28).

“By faith they PASSED through the Red Sea…” (v. 29).

“By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been ENCIRCLED for seven days” (v. 30).

It is said of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets that they “…by faith CONQUERED kingdoms, PERFORMED ACTS of righteousness, obtained promises, SHUT the mouths of lions, QUENCHED the power of fire, ESCAPED the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, PUT foreign armies TO FLIGHT” (vv. 32-34).

“…others were tortured, not accepting their release, so that they might obtain a better resurrection; and others experienced mockings and scourgings, yes, also chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated (men of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground. And all these, having gained approval through their faith…” (vv. 35-39).

All of these individuals lived a life of faith. That faith prompted them in doing God’s will and standing for what was right — and, as seen in the above paragraph, they did so even in spite of the poverty, persecution, or death it had led to.

But if you take away that obedience, would any of these individuals then be mentioned in this “faith” chapter? What good would their faith have been had they not obeyed? James answers that: “faith without works is dead” (Jms. 2:26). It would then be “useless” (v. 20). Therefore, “a man is justified by works and not by faith alone” (v. 24).

Though various men of faith are cited in Hebrews 11, there are only two women who are mentioned by name – and one of them is Sarah! And this is the passage that recently became more significant. It is Hebrews 11:11, which declares, “BY FAITH even Sarah herself received ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, SINCE SHE CONSIDERED HIM FAITHFUL WHO HAD PROMISED” (emphasis mine).

I imagine we would think that for a woman in Sarah’s time to not only be past the years of childbearing, but to also have been barren through her life, that the only way she could conceive a child would require intervention from God – and He alone! But from Hebrews 11:11, we find that Sarah’s being able to conceive also involved her faith in God who had given that promise! So it was not all entirely up to God! For Sarah had to believe!

Some might say, though, but the promise was given before she even believed. But that would only be from our linear perspective of time with its chronological order. Would not, however, the eternal God, who has proven His ability to know of future events and even of how people will turn out to be, also know that Sarah would believe in such a promise?

And can we not also liken this to the promise that God had given Joshua concerning Jericho? In Joshua 6:2, the LORD said, “See, I have given Jericho into your hand, with its king and the valiant warriors.” But Israel hadn’t actually taken the city yet. And in order to do so, the LORD gave specific instructions in verses 3-5: “You shall march around the city, all the men of war circling the city once. You shall do so for six days. Also seven priests shall carry seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark; then on the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets. It shall be that when they make a long blast with the ram’s horn, and when you hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city will fall down flat, and the people will go up every man straight ahead.”

And this they did. Then “…the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight ahead, and THEY TOOK THE CITY. They utterly destroyed everything in the city, both man and woman, young and old, and ox and sheep and donkey, with the edge of the sword” (vv. 20,21, emphasis mine).

So though God had given Jericho into Joshua’s hand (v. 1), when was it that they actually “took the city” (v. 20)? It was after they obeyed the instructions God had given them concerning this (vv. 3-5)!

As we had seen, Hebrews 11 sums that up by just saying, “By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days.” But keep in mind that that doesn’t mean the additional things God had commanded of them in Joshua 6 were not necessary for that result. For those other requirements were also included in their obedient faith – and needed to be.

So God also promised to Abraham and Sarah a child and said to Abraham that “you shall call his name Isaac” (Gen. 17:19).

Though Abraham also had laughed at first in thought of having a child at such an old age, yet he also went on in faith, believing the promise: “(as it is written, ‘A FATHER OF MANY NATIONS HAVE I MADE YOU’) in the presence of Him whom he believed, even God, who gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist. In hope against hope he believed, so that he might become a father of many nations according to that which had been spoken, ‘So shall your descendants be.’ Without becoming weak in faith he contemplated his own body, now as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah’s womb; yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform” (Rom. 4:17-21).

And looking again at Sarah’s involvement as to the result: “BY FAITH even Sarah herself received ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, SINCE SHE CONSIDERED HIM FAITHFUL WHO HAD PROMISED” (Heb. 11:11, emphasis mine). So it was required of Sarah to truly believe God’s promise in order for her to conceive Isaac — and not just be totally up to God. And, as the Bible record shows, she not only believed, but is also included in that great “Hall of Faith” chapter for having done so!

(All Scriptures from the NASB.)
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The Steps That Lead to Eternal Salvation

The Gospel Observer

May 28, 2017 / Tom Edwards

Contents:

1) Facing and Undergoing the Torment of the Cross (Tom Edwards)
2) Isaiah 53:5-7 (NASB)
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Facing and Undergoing the Torment of the Cross

Tom Edwards

Though God in human flesh (Jn. 1:1,14; Matt. 1:23), yet Jesus was not exempt from the human frailness of that flesh. For He still became “hungry” (Matt. 4:2), “thirsty” (Jn. 19:28), “wearied” (Jn. 4:6), “tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin” (Heb. 4: 15) — and He could feel pain! But exchanging His glorious heavenly “form” for an inferior human body was necessary “because of the suffering of death…so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone” (Heb. 2:9); and “…that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives” (vv. 14,15).

In realizing what Jesus was up against in facing and undergoing the cross, we should be able to better appreciate the determination He had in going to that extreme to carry out His Father’s will. Paul also speaks of this in Philippians 2:8, when saying that Jesus “…humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, EVEN DEATH ON A CROSS” (emphasis mine). Of all the ways to die, being nailed to a cross to suffer for hours in excruciating torment would be a most difficult way to go. Yet, the Lord willingly went through with it! And this He indicates in John 10:17,18: “For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it again. No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father.” It is also in this same chapter that Jesus says of Himself, “I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep” (v. 11).

Prior to His crucifixion, just the mere thought of it had led to an inner torment for the Son of God. For instance, on the night of His betrayal, only hours away from being severely scourged and nailed to the cross, Jesus “began to be very distressed and troubled. And He said to them, ‘My soul is deeply grieved to the point of death…’” (Mark 14:33,34). He, therefore, “went a little beyond them, and fell to the ground and began to pray that if it were possible, the hour might pass Him by” (v. 35). Three times He prayed concerning this: “Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done” (Luke 22:43). The Hebrew writer also speaks of the Lord’s impassioned appeals to His Father when “In the days of His flesh, He offered up both prayers and supplications with loud crying and tears to the One able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His piety” (Heb. 5:7).

Notice, too, what Luke’s account brings out about this time in the garden: “And being in agony He was praying very fervently; and His sweat became like drops of blood, falling down upon the ground” (Luke 22:44).

Various versions refer to this sweat as being “like” drops of blood. But could that be said because it was not 100% blood, but a somewhat mixture of blood with sweat? If so, and which various scholars agree, it is then indicating that Jesus was actually experiencing hematidrosis, which is also sometimes written as hemathidrosis,” “hematohidrosis” and “hemidrosis.” It is defined as “a condition in which capillary blood vessels that feed the sweat glands rupture, causing them to exude blood, occurring under conditions of extreme physical or emotional stress” (Dr. Frederick Zugibe). Only in the gospel of Luke, who was a physician, is mention made of the Lord’s sweat becoming “like drops of blood.” According to Segen’s Medical Dictionary, Hematidrosis is “An extremely rare condition characterized by the sweating of blood, which is said to occur when a person is facing death or other highly stressful events. It has been seen in prisoners before execution and occurred during the London Blitz. … Hematohidrosis is attributed to rupture of the capillaries surrounding sweat glands, with oozing of blood into the glands and out the sweat ducts.”

As we had previously seen, Jesus was under extreme pressure while realizing His crucifixion was just hours away. And something else that indicates that, which we might have failed to take into consideration, is that it was not an overly warm night that was causing all that sweating. For just the opposite was true! It was a night cold enough for the need of warmth, as seen in John 18:18: “Now the slaves and the officers were standing there, having made a charcoal fire, for it was cold and they were warming themselves; and Peter was also with them, standing and warming himself.”

So could it be that it was “like” drops of blood because it was not 100% blood; but, rather, would have been a slight mixture of blood to the sweat, which then gave it a bloody appearance?

Another effect from hematidrosis is that it causes the skin to become “extremely tender and fragile” and, thus, even more sensitive toward pain. So that would certainly intensify the suffering on a cross also!

And what else would make the suffering even more difficult? Would it not be the prior flogging that was carried out most severely? According to Unger’s Bible Dictionary, “Crucifixion was preceded by scourging with thongs, to which were sometimes added nails, pieces of bone, etc., to heighten the pain, often so intense as to cause death.”

Incidentally, the word “excruciating,” which we use to express a most intense pain or torture, has its etymology around A.D. 1560-70 from the Latin “excruciatus,” which is a past participle of excruciare and means “to torment, torture.” The root of that word, “cruciare,” is derived from crux, which means “cross” (Webster’s Random House College Dictionary). So, again, we see the cross in connection with extreme pain.

We recall that after the Lord’s scourging, He was initially the One who was “bearing His own cross, to the place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha” (Jn. 19:17). According to the custom of that time, it would not have been the entire cross, which might weigh over 300 pounds, but just the upper crossbeam that would be carried, and with the upright portion of the cross already in the ground where it would permanently remain. But even that lighter crossbeam, which could be from about 75 to 125 pounds (New World Encyclopedia), Jesus was not able to continue carrying, due to the intense scourging, loss of blood, and physical weakness it had led to. So Simon of Cyrene was “pressed into service” to bear the Lord’s cross (Matt. 27:32). Simon was “a passer-by coming from the country” (Mark 15:21), and they “placed on him the cross to carry behind Jesus” (Luke 23:26).

About 1,000 years prior to the Lord’s crucifixion, the means of His death was already indicated in prophecy. Numerous verses in Psalm 22 foretell the crucifixion scene. And though at that time the Law of Moses spoke of execution by the sword (Exod. 32:27,28), by fire (Lev. 21:9), and by stoning (Lev. 20:2), yet Psalm 22:16 indicates the future way that Jesus would be executed: “For dogs have surrounded me; A band of evildoers has encompassed me; They pierced my hands and my feet.”

Herodotus, the “father of history,” who was born about 484 B.C. and a contemporary of Socrates, speaks of crucifixion as originating with the Persians (Hist. i.128.2; iii. 132.2, 159.1). The Britannica Encyclopedia states that “In 519 BC Darius I, king of Persia, crucified 3,000 political opponents in Babylon.” Rome’s use of crucifixion, which they picked up and “perfected” from the Persians, is said to have not been until the first century B.C.

But, as we have seen, God knew even before the world began how Jesus would be put to death and the events surrounding that.

So may the Lord’s willingness to submit to such extreme agony in order that an atonement could be made for every lost soul cause us to realize even more the great love that God has for us and His desire for all to be saved! By His death, Jesus made it possible that our greatest need, which is the forgiveness of sins, can be met! And that must have been one of the reasons why the Hebrew writer says about Christ that “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” (Heb. 12:2). Jesus’ love for us could not be hindered even though it would involve torturous sufferings! He loved us that much — and still does!

(All Scriptures from the NASB.)
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Isaiah 53:5-7

“But He was pierced through for our transgressions,|
He was crushed for our iniquities;
The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him,
And by His scourging we are healed.
All of us like sheep have gone astray,
Each of us has turned to his own way;
But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all
To fall on Him.
He was oppressed and He was afflicted,
Yet He did not open His mouth;
Like a lamb that is led to slaughter,
And like a sheep that is silent before its shearers,
So He did not open His mouth” (NASB).
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The Steps That Lead to Eternal Salvation

The Gospel Observer

May 21, 2017 / Tom Edwards

Contents:

1) Seeing From a Better Perspective (Tom Edwards)
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Seeing From a Better Perspective

Tom Edwards

“I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.” This was actually the very last sentence in a 14-page essay, entitled, “Is Theology Poetry?,” that C.S. Lewis delivered on November 6, 1944 to the Oxford Socratic Club, a debating society. Later, in 1962, that work was then published with the new title of, “They Asked for a Paper.”

What a great illuminating orb the sun has been for our planet! Much of what the darkness hides can be clearly seen by the sun’s reaching and revealing rays. I’ve even noticed how much easier it is to read a Kindle that is set to its smallest font when out in the direct sunlight.

And just as the sun has brought numerous things to light, even more importantly are those things that Jesus, who is “the Son of God” (Mark 1:1) and “the light of the world” (Jn. 8:12), has shone into our lives. His words are illuminating, “imperishable… living and enduring” and enabling one to be “born again” (1 Pet. 1:23). For His words are “spirit,” and they are “life” (Jn. 6:63), and truly an enlightenment at the highest level. Surely we can say of the words of Christ, just as the psalmist said of God’s word in the Old Testament times, that “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psa. 119:105) — and how necessary that is. For with God’s word to light the way in our journey through life, wrong turns and dangers can be avoided, comforts and blessings can accompany us, needs can be met along the way (Psa. 23:1; Matt. 6:33), and we can eventually reach our longed-for destination. For as Jesus says, “…he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life” (Jn. 8:12).

When Jesus came to “the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, by the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles,” Isaiah’s prophecy was fulfilled: “The people who were sitting in darkness saw a great light, and those who were sitting in the land and shadow of death, upon them a light dawned” (Matt. 4:15,16, cf. Isa. 9:1, 2).

The light of the gospel not only illumines our way, but also develops within us “the mind of Christ” (Phil. 2:5), as we make God’s word an active part of our daily lives (cf. Eph. 3:3-5; Rom. 12:2; Gal. 4:19; Eph. 4:11-13).

Paul was one who testified toward having “the mind of Christ” (1 Cor. 2:16), and notice the perspective it allowed him to have even toward severe persecution that he underwent: “Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal” (2 Cor. 4:16-18).

Paul calls it “momentary, light affliction.” But how can he say that in view of all that he went through for the cause of Christ — the “far more imprisonments, beaten times without number, often in danger of death”? The 5 times he received 39 lashes, for a total of 195? The 3 times he was beaten with rods, the once he was stoned, the 3 times he was shipwrecked, the night and a day that he spent in the deep? The frequent journeys, the dangers from rivers, from robbers, from his countrymen, from the Gentiles, from the city, from the wilderness, from on the sea, and from among false brethren? The labor and hardship, the many sleepless nights, the hunger and thirst, and often without food, and in cold and exposure, along with the daily pressure he had for all the churches (2 Cor. 11:23-28)? Yet, even in spite of all that, he viewed it as only “momentary, light affliction” because Paul had the mind of Christ and could see even these persecutions and sufferings from a better perspective.

We see this also in Jesus 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” (Heb. 12:2). The Lord could see beyond the cross and its terrible agony. He could think of what His sacrifice would accomplish for a world of lost sinners and His soon being back in heaven’s glory, after having faithfully completed His mission on earth.

When we are in Christ, as Christians, we can also have a better perspective toward difficult trials that challenge our faith. As James writes, “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing” (James 1:2-4).

Through God’s word we learn of the better ways of viewing things. Consider also the words of Jesus: “Blessed are you when men cast insults at you, and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, on account of Me. Rejoice, and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Matt. 5:11,12).

Peter exhorts the brethren, by saying, “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing; so that also at the revelation of His glory, you may rejoice with exultation. If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you” (1 Pet. 4:12-14).

These passages show of the better perspective we can have while undergoing difficult situations, and we see that type of mind in the apostles who after being imprisoned and flogged were “rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name” (Acts 5:42). How often would you find an innocent non-Christian today who would be wrongfully punished with scourging and imprisonment, but would then be able to rejoice in view of it? Having the mind of Christ sure made a difference for the apostles! It gave them the right perspective.

Philippians 2:5 is also rendered as, “Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus” (NASB). How often have we been guilty of having a wrong attitude that has led to trouble? Paul’s exhortation, however, goes on to illustrate the mind or attitude of Christ by showing His willingness to leave the blissfulness of heaven; to submit to receiving an inferior human body in place of His heavenly, glorified one, so He could humbly become a servant among men and obey His Father even to the degree of giving Himself over to the torturous death on the cross (vv. 6-8).

How can any of us even come close to willingly giving up as much as Jesus did, which shows such supreme self-denial, in order to carry out the Father’s will?

It is also by developing the mind of Christ that we can reach the spiritual maturity that enables us to “discern good and evil” (Heb. 5:14), to “be transformed” (Rom. 12:2), and to have the right moral perspectives based on God’s standard.

Unfortunately, this is greatly lacking in our world today. Far too many want to endorse the wrong and live according to it, while shunning things that are morally good and virtuous. Of course, this problem has been around for a long time. Way back in the days of Noah, who was in the 10th generation from Adam, “…the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and…every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” (Gen. 6:5). Isaiah, who began his prophetic ministry roughly about 750 B.C., declares in Isaiah 5:20 the following: “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!” (Isa. 5:20). What he said then is still often seen and heard in our time, and how tragic if folks guilty of such won’t come to that realization until the Judgment Day, when it will be too late!

What better perspective can we have toward anything than by first developing the mind of Christ so that even our very conscience will react in accordance with it – rather than to be like those “whose consciences have lost all feeling” (1 Tim. 4:2, CEV)? Or, as the NASB speaks of those, as having been “seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron”?

Let us, therefore, remember the words of the apostle Paul to “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus” and each strive to fully develop that mind that we may become more like the Savior and live and act and react in greater harmony with the Scriptures, thus improving our lives, and increasing our ability in seeing all things from a better perspective. For what we see and encounter, as we go through life, is one thing; but how we view that and how we react to what we face or undergo is another. So may that always be with the mind of Christ!

(Unless otherwise indicated, all Scriptures are from the New American Standard Bible.)
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The Steps That Lead to Eternal Salvation

1) Hear the gospel, for that is how faith comes (Rom. 10:17; John 20:30,31).
2) Believe in the deity of Christ (John 8:24; John 3:18).
3) Repent of sins (Luke 13:5; Acts 17:30).
4) Confess faith in Christ (Rom. 10:9,10; Acts 8:36-38).
5) Be baptized in water for the remission of sins (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16; Rom. 6:3,4; Gal. 3:26,27; 1 Pet. 3:21).
6) Continue in the faith, living for the Lord; for, if not, salvation can be lost (Heb. 10:36-39; Rev. 2:10; 2 Pet. 2:20-22).
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The Gospel Observer

May 14, 2017 / Tom Edwards

Contents:

1) God of Wrath vs. God of Love? (Tom Edwards)
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God of Wrath vs. God of Love?

Tom Edwards

Is the God of the Old Testament the same as the God of the New? For while some folks view the former as a God of wrath, they also see the latter in the New Testament as a God of love. But are these two different Gods?

It is true that we have more examples of God’s wrath in the Old Testament, such as the global flood of Noah’s day in which only 8 people survived (Gen. 6-8); the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah that eventually resulted in only 3 souls saved (Gen. 19:1-25); the drowning of Pharaoh’s army in the Red Sea (Exod. 14); some of the Hebrews destroyed by fire for murmuring (Num. 11:1-3); the earth that opened up and swallowed Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, along with their families, for rebelling over the leadership of Moses and Aaron, along with the 250 consumed by fire for also doing so (Num. 16). Many of the Israelites then grumbled against Moses and Aaron, accusing them of being the cause for the death of Korah and these others. So God brought a plague upon these grumblers that led to the death of 14,700 of them (Num. 16:49). Many of Israel died for complaining about the food God provided (Num. 21:4-9). For joining in with the idolatrous worship of Baal, 24,000 Israelites perished by a plague (Num. 25:1-9). When David sinned by wrongfully numbering Judah and Israel, it resulted in 70,000 dying from Dan to Beersheba (2 Sam. 24:15). In defense of the city of Jerusalem and for the Lord’s sake, as well as for David’s, the angel of the Lord put to death 185,000 Assyrians who would have come up against the city (2 Kings 19:35). These are just some of the examples in the Old Testament of God’s wrath that brought about death.

Could it be that we don’t take God seriously enough, in our time, with regard to sin? Do we think more lightly of it because we are not seeing God’s wrath being outpoured today as it was in Old Testament times? Of course, it could very well be that the Lord sometimes still does carry out His wrath providentially, which we are not aware of nor can determine. But if He did, and we knew of it, would that change our attitude toward sin and our behavior?

What examples do we have in the New Testament of God’s wrath leading to the death of the wrongdoer? In Acts 5:1-11, Ananias and his wife Sapphira were both struck down by God for lying, which resulted in “great fear” that “came over the whole church, and over all who heard of these things” (v. 11).

Though people lie today without losing their lives for it, does that mean that God now approves of such? Is not lying still wrong? And would not God’s attitude still be the same toward it as when Ananias and Sapphira did so? Of course, the worse penalty of all for lying is that it is a sin by which one can be lost, ultimately kept out of heaven, and end up in the lake of fire eternally (cf. Rev. 21:8).

Another example is that of Herod. When acclaimed as having “the voice of a god and not of a man,” after delivering a speech, Herod was then struck down and died “because he did not give God the glory” (Acts 12:20-23). Again, however, does it mean it is now all right to do the same today, as what Herod was guilty of, just because that person would not be immediately struck by God for having done so?

Paul points out to the Corinthians that “many among you are weak and sick, and a number sleep” (1 Cor. 11:30) for having incurred “judgment” by failing to remember Christ’s death when observing the Lord’s Supper (v. 29). Instead, some were making a common meal out of it to fill their bellies rather than think upon the Lord’s great sacrifice and atonement for our sins. The King James Version speaks of that “judgment” as being “damnation” brought upon oneself.

So it is not only the love side of God that we see in the New Testament, nor only the wrath side of God that we see in the Old Testament. For even in the Old Testament it shows of the Lord’s great compassion for His people. And out of that far-surpassing love, He sent His prophets numerous times to the wayward ones to urge them to repent and return to Him. For as God instructs Ezekiel, “Say to them, ‘As I live!’ declares the Lord GOD, ‘I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn back, turn back from your evil ways! Why then will you die, O house of Israel?’” (Ezek. 33:11).

Consider also His message through the prophet Joel: “’Yet even now’ declares the LORD, ‘Return to Me with all your heart, And with fasting, weeping and mourning; And rend your heart and not your garments.’ Now return to the LORD your God, For He is gracious and compassionate, Slow to anger, abounding in lovingkindness And relenting of evil” (Joel 2:12,13).

Let us remind ourselves that God sent His Son during the Old Testament times, who was “born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law” (Gal. 4:4,5). “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son…” (Jn. 3:16). Though that is read in the “New Testament,” yet the actual giving of His Son was during Old Testament times, as well as the life He lived up to His death (cf. Heb. 9:15-28). And the promise of the Messiah and the giving of His life for every sinner was prophesied several centuries prior to the New Testament Age (Isa. 53, Psa. 22). What a greatest of all indication of God’s love that was and is!

It must also be realized that God’s nature does not change (Mal. 3:6). Jesus Christ, who is “the exact representation of His [Father’s] nature” (Heb. 1:3) and, therefore, as much God as the Father (cf. Jn. 1:1-3), is also spoken of as being “…the same yesterday and today and forever” (Heb. 13:8).

That God, who never changes, has a love-side as well as a wrath-side can also be seen in Romans 11:22: “Behold then the kindness and severity of God; to those who fell, severity, but to you, God’s kindness, if you continue in His kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off.” And we also see this in John 3:36: “He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” It makes a great deal of difference in whether we choose to go the way of Christ or not.

By knowing that the God of the New Testament is the same as the God of the Old Testament, perhaps seeing those examples of His wrath will instill in us a greater reverence for God and the need to comply with His commands – rather than thinking of Him, as C.S. Lewis once wrote of the case of those who “….want not so much a Father but a grandfather in heaven, a God who said of anything we happened to like doing, ‘What does it matter so long as they are contended?’” (via The Problem of Pain).

And some go to even more extremes in actually wanting to have as little to do with God as possible. Lewis also writes in the same book, “We regard God as an airman regards his parachute; it’s there for emergencies but he hopes he’ll never have to use it.”

May the examples of God’s wrath in the Bible prompt us to realize more seriously the dangers of sin and be motivated to live holy lives instead. “For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a terrifying expectation of judgment and THE FURY OF A FIRE WHICH WILL CONSUME THE ADVERSARIES. Anyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know Him who said, ‘VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY.’ And again, ‘THE LORD WILL JUDGE HIS PEOPLE.’ It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Heb. 10:26-31).

But, as we have seen, the choice is up to us. We can either find it a terrifying thing to be in the hands of God, due to incurring His wrath, or a place of great blessing and protection and from which no one can pluck us out, due to abiding in His love by our obedience to the gospel. As Jesus teaches in John 10:27-29, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.” To hear the voice of the Lord (by hearing the gospel) and following (by our obedience) is the key to avoiding the wrath side of God and enjoying His love — and may it be that we will ever do that!

(All Scripture from the New American Standard Bible, unless otherwise indicated.)
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The Steps That Lead to Eternal Salvation

The Gospel Observer

May 7, 2017 / Tom Edwards

Contents:

1) Timeless Benefits of the Old Testament (Tom Edwards)
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Timeless Benefits of the Old Testament

Tom Edwards

Even though we are not under the Patriarchal nor Mosaical Laws today, and we live in a different time and culture, yet does not a reading of the Old Testament, and the seeing of God’s dealings with His people and what He required of them, also help us in developing the right attitude toward God and spiritual things? For does not the reading of that also enable us to have a deeper understanding of the Lord, to be more aware of His reality, to realize more the seriousness of sin and the need to obey God by not adding to nor taking away from His word, to be more humble in view of the Lord’s far-surpassing greatness, to be more reverent, to be more concerned for spiritual things, and to be more submissive to the will of God for our time?

We are to be mindful of the things above – to set our affection upon those things (cf. Col. 3:1-3); and looking to the Holy Scriptures helps us to do just that! And is it not spiritual thoughts that are required to help us be spiritual people? In writing to the Corinthians, Paul acknowledges, “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words” (1 Cor. 2:12,13). By our reading, we are acquiring those same divine truths that had been miraculously revealed in time’s past (cf. Eph. 3:3-5). And that same Spirit also led men into writing the Old Testament. For “no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God” (2 Pet. 2:20,21). Paul also wrote that “All Scripture is inspired by God” and went on to say that it is “profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work” (2 Tim. 3:16,17). In the same context, Paul had previously told Timothy “…that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus” (v. 15).

The Old Testament is filled with numerous prophecy that came to fulfillment in New Testament times and, thus, indicates the divine inspiration of the Bible. It has been said that there are about 332 prophecies in the Old Testament concerning Christ alone! Some of these are specific, such as the place of Jesus’ birth being in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2); the exact amount of 30 pieces of silver that He was betrayed for, and the potter’s field it ended up going to (Zech. 11:12,13; Matt. 26:14-16; 27:3-10); and the piercing of His hands and feet (Psa. 22:16; Mk. 15:25; Luke 24:36-40), etc. These prophecies and their fulfillments are one of the evidences that help us to believe in God and in His word.

And for those who think we should not study that part of the Bible, the Old Testament is actually quoted or alluded to hundreds of times in the New Testament! For example, in 1 Corinthians 10, Paul is referring back to Israel, shortly after they came out of Egyptian bondage, and points out specific sins they had so soon become guilty of. He then declares, “Now these things happened as examples for us, so that we would not crave evil things as they also craved” (v. 6). He then gives a similar statement in verse 10 and includes that these Old Testament examples “were written for our instruction…”

God’s word – even in the Old Testament — can help us in many ways. For one of those, have you ever felt a little depressed, but then began reading the book of Psalms, that hymn book of ancient Israel, and soon found your spirit uplifted and joining in with the psalmist in praises and appeals to the Almighty God?

In reading of the miracles in the Old Testament, do you do so with unbelief or with a humbleness, a childlike faith, and a somewhat amazement in taking to heart these supernatural events that God had brought about? To the believer, these miracles bring to our attention and help us realize that “all things are possible with God” (Mark 10:27) and “Nothing is too difficult” for Him (Jer. 32:17) – and this is the God to whom we His children pray!

In the Old Testament, some major questions are answered. Here are three of them:

1) “How did the universe, man, and all living things come about?” The very first chapter in the Bible answers this: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (v. 1); and chapters 1 and 2 show that it did not take eons of time for Him to do so. For it was “in the beginning” that God created the heavens and the earth; and that “beginning” is not the beginning of God – for He is eternal – but it is the beginning of creation itself. For time, as we know it, is accurately regulated by the creation (cf. Gen. 1:14-16). We also note that the earth was not formed more than 9 billion years after the beginning of the universe. Nor did man (as more like humans today) first come into existence more than 4 billion years after the earth was made (or more than 13 billion years after the universe began). For man was made on the 6th day of creation (Gen. 1:24-31). And hear how Jesus refers to this in Mark 10:6: “But from the beginning of creation, God made them male and female.” How could it be said that man was made at the “beginning of creation,” if he didn’t come to exist until more than 13 billion years later? You can believe what men may hypothesize and say about this or you can believe the words of Jesus, but who do you think is right? I would advise you to go with the One who knows what He is talking about – Jesus Christ the Creator (cf. Jn. 1:1-3,14; Col. 1:15,16).

2) “What is the reason – if there is a reason – for our being here?” The Old Testament also makes that clear: “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man” (Eccl. 12:13). Man was made for God (cf. Isa. 43:21), for His purpose (cf. Prov. 16:4), and for His glory (cf. Isa. 43:7).

3) “Will we exist beyond the grave?” Job rhetorically asks, “If a man dies, will he live again?” In the same verse, he then continues by saying, “All the days of my struggle I will wait Until my change comes” (Job 14:14). Yes, Job knew that death does not end it all. For he also declares, “Even after my skin is destroyed, Yet from my flesh I shall see God” (Job 19:26). King David also believed in life after death. In speaking of his deceased child, David explained, “But now he has died; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me” (2 Sam. 12:23). Though our body dies, yet we (our eternal souls) will always exist! Those Old Testament believers referred to in Hebrews 11:16 also believed in the hereafter in that “better country, that is a heavenly one” where God had prepared them a “city.”

And how else does the Old Testament help in our relationship with the Lord? What about in reading of those whose faith in God and love for Him enabled them to take such a strong stand for His ways and maintain an unwavering commitment toward the Lord – and regardless of the jeopardy, the physical pain, or even the death which that could lead to? Are we not encouraged and motivated by them? Is our faith not strengthened? Such as in hearing the case of the three friends of Daniel — Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego — who chose to be thrown into the fiery furnace, rather than sin against the Almighty God by bowing down in idolatrous worship to the 90-foot golden image that Nebuchadnezzar, the Babylonian king, had made. Are we not moved by their dedication? The command had been given: “that at the moment you hear the sound of the horn, flute, lyre, trigon, psaltery, bagpipe and all kinds of music, you are to fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king has set up. But whoever does not fall down and worship shall immediately be cast into the midst of a furnace of blazing fire” (Dan. 3:5,6). When it was brought to the king’s attention that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego would not comply, Nebuchadnezzar was infuriated and ordered that those three be brought before him. The king was willing to give them another chance to save their lives. But they responded, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to give you an answer concerning this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up” (Dan. 3:16-18).

That is truly commitment! Maintaining a right relationship with God meant something of great importance to these three loyal and dedicated followers. To them, it was a top priority! And it should be that to us as well. Reading of their example can also increase that kind of incentive in every true believer.

As we read the Old Testament, even in silence, God sees our hearts, knows our reactions, is aware of our devotion toward Him. Like some type of spiritual umbilical cord, these positive reactions — including our reverence, our worshipful respect, our admiration, and our faith and love toward God — stem from our hearts all the way up to the heart of God in heaven. As His children, we are connected to Him.

In speaking of the Old Testament, Paul says that it was “written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope” (Rom. 15:4). And now we are also seeing various other benefits from it.

So let us not neglect our study of the Old Testament, realizing that much good for our spiritual development and well-being can come from that as well.

(All Scripture from the NASB)
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The Steps That Lead to Eternal Salvation

1) Hear the gospel, for that is how faith comes (Rom. 10:17; John 20:30,31).
2) Believe in the deity of Christ (John 8:24; John 3:18).
3) Repent of sins (Luke 13:5; Acts 17:30).
4) Confess faith in Christ (Rom. 10:9,10; Acts 8:36-38).
5) Be baptized in water for the remission of sins (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16; Rom. 6:3,4; Gal. 3:26,27; 1 Pet. 3:21).
6) Continue in the faith, living for the Lord; for, if not, salvation can be lost (Heb. 10:36-39; Rev. 2:10; 2 Pet. 2:20-22).
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Tebeau Street
CHURCH OF CHRIST
1402 Tebeau Street, Waycross, GA 31501

Sunday services: 9:00 a.m. (Bible class); 10 a.m. & 5 p.m. (worship)
Wednesday: 7 p.m. (Bible class)
evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (912) 281-9917
Tom@ThomasTEdwards.com
http://thomastedwards.com/go (Older version of Gospel Observer website without pictures, but back to March 1990)
http://tebeaustreetchurchofchrist.org/
http://ThomasTEdwards.com/audioser.html (audio sermons)

The Gospel Observer

April 30, 2017 / Tom Edwards

Contents:

1) Did God Know Us Prior to Our Physical Conception? (Tom Edwards)
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Did God Know Us Prior to Our Physical Conception?

Tom Edwards

Have you ever wondered whether God actually knew of you before you were born or even conceived? Does He have that ability? Well, hear God’s words to Jeremiah and wonder no more! “Now the word of the LORD came to me saying, ‘Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, And before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations’” (Jer. 1:4,5). What an amazing foreknowledge of God!

David also knew that God was well aware of him — and of all his days to come — before he was even born, and says of the Lord, “For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth; Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; And in Your book were all written The days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was not one of them. How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How vast is the sum of them!” (Psa. 139:13-17).

Through the fulfillment of Bible prophecy, the Lord has demonstrated His ability to know of what is to come, such as with the thirty pieces of silver that Jesus would be betrayed for, and where that betrayal money would end up (Zech. 11:12,13; Matt. 26:14-16; Matt. 27:3-10); that Jesus’ death would not be by stoning, but would involve the piercing of the hands and feet (Psa. 22:16; Mk. 15:25; Luke 24:36-40); that the Lord’s clothing would be gambled for (v. 18), and that He would be “with a rich man in His death” (Isa. 53:9; Matt. 27:57-60) — to mention just a few of the prophecies concerning Christ that God knew far in advance.

And what about those who are named in prophecy even prior to their being born? Obviously, God knew of them before their conception. Consider, for instance, 1 Kings 13:1,2: “Now behold, there came a man of God from Judah to Bethel by the word of the LORD, while Jeroboam was standing by the altar to burn incense. He cried against the altar by the word of the LORD, and said, ‘O altar, altar, thus says the LORD, “Behold, a son shall be born to the house of David, Josiah by name; and on you he shall sacrifice the priests of the high places who burn incense on you, and human bones shall be burned on you.”’”

Josiah was born about 648 B.C. He became the 16th king of Judah, during the divided kingdom, and was one of its best kings. Some have placed the above prophecy, which was made during the reign of Jeroboam (the first king of the northern kingdom of Israel, during the divided kingdom), about 326 years prior to Josiah’s birth; and the fulfillment of it can be seen in 2 Kings 23:16-18: “Now when Josiah turned, he saw the graves that were there on the mountain, and he sent and took the bones from the graves and burned them on the altar and defiled it according to the word of the LORD which the man of God proclaimed, who proclaimed these things. Then he said, ‘What is this monument that I see?’ And the men of the city told him, ‘It is the grave of the man of God who came from Judah and proclaimed these things which you have done against the altar of Bethel.’ He said, ‘Let him alone; let no one disturb his bones.’ So they left his bones undisturbed with the bones of the prophet who came from Samaria” (2 Kings 23:16-18). “All the priests of the high places who were there he slaughtered on the altars and burned human bones on them; then he returned to Jerusalem” (v. 20).

So the Lord knew of Josiah’s name, of the lineage he would descend, and of these specific acts that he would perform – even prior to his having been born!

God also knew of John the Baptist prior to his being born to a childless couple who were “both advanced in years” and “had no child, because Elizabeth was barren” (Luke 1:5-7). For an angel of the Lord had informed Zecharias that “…your petition has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will give him the name John” (v. 13). And not only did God know that John would be born, but also that “many would rejoice at his birth”; and that “he will be great in the sight of the Lord” (vv. 14,15); that he would “turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God”; and that he would be obedient to the Lord in being “a forerunner” for Christ. John would be called “the prophet of the Most High” (v. 76). So God knew, in advance, all these things about John — including how his character would be, which is likened to that of the great prophet Elijah (v. 17).

And what about the other barren women whom God sent an angel to inform them that they would conceive a child — and, specifically, a son?

Consider Samson’s mother, for example: “Then the angel of the LORD appeared to the woman and said to her, ‘Behold now, you are barren and have borne no children, but you shall conceive and give birth to a son (Jdg. 13:3).

And to Abraham and Sarah, who “were old, advanced in age,” and “Sarah was past childbearing” (Gen. 18:11), the Lord had promised that “I will surely return to you at this time next year; and behold, Sarah your wife will have a son” (v. 10).

We are more than our physical body. For we also have an eternal soul or spirit, which has been created in the image of God. But where does that soul or spirit come from? Is it also in our DNA? Zechariah refers to God as being the One who “stretches out the heavens, lays the foundation of the earth, and forms the spirit of man within him” (Zech. 12:1). And Solomon tells us more of that spirit’s journey: “…For man goes to his eternal home while mourners go about in the street. Remember Him before the silver cord is broken and the golden bowl is crushed, the pitcher by the well is shattered and the wheel at the cistern is crushed; then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it” (Eccl. 12:5-7).

Mention is also made about Ishmael, the son of Sarah’s handmaid Hagar. God, in His omniscience, knew that Ishmael would “become the father of twelve princes” and “a great nation” (Gen. 17:20). And while Hagar was still pregnant with Ishmael, God also already knew what kind of person he would turn out to be. So the angel of the Lord told Hagar that Ishmael “will be a wild donkey of a man, His hand will be against everyone, And everyone’s hand will be against him; And he will live to the east of all his brothers” (Gen. 16:12).

We must understand that though God knows all about the universe, its time, and all things therein, yet He Himself dwells in eternity, a totally different kind of dimension. Or can it even be called a dimension? For eternity is without limits. To us, however, time in our realm is linear, like a timeline. We have our past, our present, and our future; and we exist only in the present or the now. But notice how Jesus expresses His eternal nature when some “…Jews said to Him, ‘You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?’ Jesus said to them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am” (John 8:57,58). Our minds cannot fully grasp what experiencing eternity must be like for God — anymore than trying to imagine all of infinity. For both go way beyond our mental ability.

God’s eternal nature is also seen in Psalm 90:2: “Before the mountains were born Or You gave birth to the earth and the world, Even from everlasting to everlasting, YOU ARE GOD.” Notice that this last part does not say, “You WERE God” or “you WILL BE God” — but, rather, “You ARE God!” God is not waiting to get to the “end” any more than He needed to get to the “beginning.” For He has eternally been. And though we cannot fathom it all, yet His eternal nature is indicated by His creation: “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His ETERNAL POWER and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse” (Rom. 1:20).

No wonder God has no trouble at all in “Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things which have not been done, Saying, ‘My purpose will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure’” (Isa. 46:9,10). For to the Lord, as Timothy M. Willis has stated, “the future is always present to the Omniscient One.”

After considering these above passages, surely we can see of God’s ability to have known each one of us, and what we would turn out to be, even prior to our birth. He does have a watchful eye on us — and desires for us to look to Him as well! That we might enjoy a relationship with God, which begins here in time and continues throughout eternity in heaven! And how much better one can know the Lord there!

(All Scripture from NASB and emphases mine.)
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The Steps That Lead to Eternal Salvation

Tebeau Street
CHURCH OF CHRIST
1402 Tebeau Street, Waycross, GA 31501
Sunday services: 9:00 AM (Bible class); 10 AM & 5 PM (worship)
Wednesday: 7 PM (Bible class)
evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (912) 281-9917
Tom@ThomasTEdwards.com
http://thomastedwards.com/go (Older version of Gospel Observer website without pictures, but back to March 1990)
http://tebeaustreetchurchofchrist.org/
http://ThomasTEdwards.com/audioser.html (audio sermons)

The Gospel Observer

April 23, 2017 / Tom Edwards

Contents:

1) The Greatest Reason for Our Being (Tom Edwards)
2) Offended By the Truth (Frank Himmel)
3) Consequences (Bill Crews)
4) Psalm 25:4-5 (NASB)
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The Greatest Reason for Our Being

Tom Edwards

Though not recognized by all, nor acted upon by everyone who does know, the greatest reason for our existence is seen in 1 Corinthians 8:6. Here, after pointing out that God is the One “from whom are all things,” the apostle Paul then declares that “we exist for Him” (NAS77)! Or as the Weymouth New Testament expresses it, “and for whose service we exist.”

That we are here to serve the Lord is also what Solomon expresses in Ecclesiastes 12:13, where he speaks of “the conclusion of the whole matter,” and defines it as, to “Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man” (KJV).

We each, therefore, regardless of who we are, certainly do have a great purpose for our being here, and which we need to be aware of and not shirk our responsibilities therein.

That we can even enter into a relationship with God, through Jesus Christ, should be quite humbling to each of us! To think that we who are mortal, sinful creatures can become a part of God’s forever family — and have that connection with Him who is our perfect, sinless, all-knowing, all-powerful, all-surpassing, omnipresent, eternal Creator, and loving Father — is truly amazing!

Even for those of us who feel like nothing in God’s sight, or terribly ashamed for being such wretched sinners and so unworthy, yet our existence does mean something to the LORD! For did not Jesus die for every transgressor – and regardless of how sinful? When the scribes and Pharisees were trying to find fault with the Lord for eating and drinking with the tax collectors and sinners, Jesus responded by saying, “It is not those who are well who need a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance” (Luke 5:31,32). And at Calvary, Jesus went to the cross to make an atonement for every transgressor – not just a certain few. Hebrews 2:9 shows that the Lord became a man in order that He would be able to “taste death FOR EVERYONE” by His suffering on the cross. For “He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the WHOLE WORLD” (1 Jn. 2:2). Yes, God truly did make salvation possible for every lost soul and does want all to be saved and none to perish (cf. 2 Pet. 3:9; 1 Tim. 2:4).

God also wants us to have a relationship with Him, to belong to Him, and to not only be blessed forevermore in heaven’s glory, but also to be blessed in the here and now while we await that world to come!

To live for God truly is the greatest of all reasons for our being here; and Jesus Christ suffered a most terrible death so that not only could our sins be forgiven, but also so we could live that new life unto Him. For “He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf” (2 Cor. 5:15). Yes, Jesus “gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds” (Titus 2:14). “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them” (Eph. 2:10). “For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body” (1 Cor. 6:20).

We begin that new life after having been baptized in water for the remission of sins (cf. Acts 2:38), which must be preceded by our faith in Jesus (Jn. 8:24), repentance (Luke 13:5), and an acknowledgement of our faith in Christ (cf. Rom. 10:9,10; Acts 8:36-38). For Paul shows that baptism is “in order that…we too might walk in newness of life” (Rom. 6:4, NAS77).

What great concern God has shown to the world by going to such an extreme of sending the best of heaven, His only begotten Son, so that we who have fallen away from God can be brought back into a meaningful relationship with Him. May we each, therefore, certainly make the Lord a top priority in our lives by carrying out — and continuing to do so — what should always be our most important reason for being here!

***

(All emphases mine; and all Bible verses from the NASB, unless otherwise indicated.)
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Acts 20_27__Gal4_16

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Offended By the Truth

Frank Himmel

These days it seems that someone is always being offended by what another person says or does. Offended groups call for apologies, resignations, boycotts, and the like. The mere fact that someone may be offended has become a major concern, so much so that people are increasingly unwilling to declare anything wrong or unacceptable.

This growing concern about offending has affected churches and preachers. Some won’t preach the truth about Christianity’s uniqueness lest they offend Jews, Muslims, or other groups. Some won’t talk about the identity of the New Testament church lest they antagonize those who belong to some other group. Some won’t plainly preach the conditions of salvation lest they hurt the feelings of those who haven’t complied. Increasing numbers won’t take a stand on moral issues lest they upset those who are acting immorally and perhaps “drive them away.”

Matthew 15 records an incident we need to consider. Some Pharisees came to Jesus and complained that His disciples did not keep the tradition of the elders by washing their hands. Jesus’ response was pointed. He indicted the Pharisees with breaking God’s commandments in order to keep their own rules, in practicality nullifying God’s word. He called them hypocrites. He said their commitment to God was mere lip service and was in vain (vv. 3-9). He then called together the crowd who had overheard this exchange and explained the error in the Pharisee’s view of the value of washing hands (vv. 10-11).

What happened next? The disciples came to Jesus and said, “Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this statement?” (v. 12). Perhaps the disciples could see it on their faces. Perhaps some of the Pharisees said something to the disciples.

Jesus was unmoved. He responded, “Every plant which My heavenly Father did not plant shall be uprooted. Let them alone; they are blind guides of the blind. And if a blind man guides a blind man, both will fall into a pit” (vv. 13-14).

In summary, the Lord pointed out three things: 1) the Pharisees were wrong; 2) it mattered that they were wrong; 3) they were going to be lost because they were wrong, despite their claims of rightness with God. Why did Jesus say these things? Because they were true, because the Pharisees needed to hear the truth while they had opportunity to repent, and because the crowds and the disciples needed to be warned that if they followed the Pharisees, they, too, would be lost.

The Bible teaches us to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15), and, to the extent we rightly can, to accommodate those we are trying to reach (1 Corinthians 9:20-23). But if people are offended by the truth, so be it. It is nothing new. Jesus did not compromise the truth to appease the disobedient, and neither should His followers.

— Via Pathlights, July 3, 2016
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consequences
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Consequences

Bill Crews

Thoughts entertained, words uttered, and deeds done have consequences. Like seed that is sown, they bear fruit — pleasant or bitter, good or evil. Decisions made, choices selected, steps taken, courses begun bring us, in time, to the goals, the destinies to which they inevitably lead.

Many are traveling toward goals and destinies of which they seem absolutely unaware or foolishly unconcerned — goals and destinies that will prove tragic and painful. Only God can see the end from the beginning; in His revealed word He tries to tell us.

— via bulletin articles from the Collegevue church of Christ, August 14, 2016
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Psalm 25:4-5

“Make me know Your ways, O LORD;
Teach me Your paths.
Lead me in Your truth and teach me,
For You are the God of my salvation;
For You I wait all the day” (NASB).
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The Steps That Lead to Eternal Salvation

The Gospel Observer

April 16, 2017 / Tom Edwards

Contents:

1) If It Had Been an Angel Instead… (Tom Edwards)
2) Repentance Only (Frank Himmel)
3) Raised Before Burial? (Ronnie E. Hinds)
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If It Had Been an Angel Instead…

Tom Edwards

What if God would have sent a heavenly angel to become a man who would live among humanity for 33 years and then terribly suffer and die on that torturous cross in order to willingly make an atonement for every sinner?! If God would have done it that way, I imagine every believer would be truly thankful and would recognize God’s love and concern for each one of us.

But how much more, therefore, should we appreciate and be grateful for what God actually did?! For He did not send an angel, a created being that is much inferior to God; but, instead, He sent His only begotten Son who is the Creator of all (Jn. 1:3; Col. 1:16), who is just as much God as the Father Himself (Phil. 2:6; Jn. 1:1-3,14) and has existed throughout all eternity (cf. Micah 5:2; Jn. 8:58; Isa. 9:6; Heb. 7:3). For Jesus is “the radiance” of His Father’s glory and “the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power” (Heb. 1:3). Jesus is “the Word” that was “in the beginning with God,” “and the Word was God” (Jn. 1:1,2; cf. Heb. 1:8). And that “Word” also “became flesh, and dwelt among us…full of grace and truth” (Jn. 1:14). So in Christ, “all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form” (Col. 2:9). And this is why Jesus was able to say, “If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him and have seen Him” (Jn. 14:7). For “He who has seen Me has seen the Father…” (v. 9).

How much more superior is God to a heavenly angel? Would it not be a greatness beyond all we have ever known or could even imagine? And, yet, it was the eternal Son of God — not one of the creation, not a lesser being, but the Creator Himself — who was and is as much Deity as the Father, who suffered and died on a cruel cross for every one of us sinners!

But what of those who say they believe in Jesus, but do not see Him as who He truly is? That to them, Jesus was just a created being, less than God, and not the same as the eternal God. Can they be as impressed of the Lord’s sacrifice, or find it as meaningful, as do those of us who truly do see Jesus as having been in heaven in an equality with God the Father, prior to coming to our world?

So in God sending not an angel, but Jesus to make an atonement by His own death for every lost soul, we see the greatest of all expressions of love for all of us who are unworthy sinners who could never earn nor deserve such infinite favor!

God’s love for us, as seen at the cross of Christ, is overwhelming and impelling. In 1707, Isaac Watts wrote the following hymn about it, entitled, “When I Survey The Wondrous Cross”:

“When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride.

“Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
Save in the death of Christ my God!
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to His blood.

“See from His head, His hands, His feet,
Sorrow and love flow mingled down!
Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,
Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

“Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were a present far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all.”

Thanks be to God for sending the best and greatest so that even we who are the worst and least can escape the wrath to come and be eternally blessed in heaven’s bliss!

Jesus truly did His part in making the atonement and the way of salvation possible. Now we must each do our part in humbly submitting our lives to Him by our faith, repentance, confession of faith in Christ, and being baptized in water so that we may also benefit from that sacrifice that can cleanse of every sin – and then strive to maintain that faithful relationship with God, as we await the coming of our Lord! (cf. 1 Jn. 1:6,7; Rev. 2:10).
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Repentance Only

Frank Himmel

If the Bible teaches anything, it is that we are justified or saved by faith. Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1). Some take this a step farther, however. They assert that we are justified by faith only, apart from anything else we may do. Thus, one is right with God at the point in time at which he believes in Jesus. As one creed puts it, “Wherefore, that we are justified by faith only, is a most wholesome doctrine, and very full of comfort” (25 Articles of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Article IX).

Faith-only advocates often try to build their case on verses that talk about faith as a condition of salvation but do not mention any other requirement. John 3:16 and Acts 16:31 are favorites. The argument is, because these say nothing about confession, baptism, etc., those things are not essential to salvation.

Using this approach, one could just as easily build a good case for salvation by repentance only. Consider the following passages:

“Now on the same occasion there were some present who reported to Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. And Jesus said to them, ‘Do you suppose that these Galileans were greater sinners than all other Galileans because they suffered this fate? I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. Or do you suppose that those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them were worse culprits than all the men who live in Jerusalem? I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish’” (Luke 13:1-5).

In the great commission, Jesus ordered “that repentance for forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem” (Luke 24:47).

Thus, in his second gospel sermon, Peter preached, “Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away” (Acts 3:19). And Paul concluded his great sermon at Athens with these words: “Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent, because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead” (Acts 17:30-31).

None of these passages mention faith (see also Acts 11:18; 26:20; 2 Peter 3:9; etc.). Shall we therefore conclude that faith is not essential? Of course not. In these references, repent is used to summarize man’s response to the gospel, just the terms believe and faith are used in others.

Instead of pitting one verse against another, take into account all the Bible says on the subject. “The sum of Your word is truth” (Psalm 119:160).

— Via Pathlights, August 14, 2016
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Raised Before Buried?

Ronnie E. Hinds

I have asked this question before, but I want to ask it again. Did Jesus’ resurrection occur before He was buried? Before you think I have completely lost all sense of sanity, you need to understand that millions of people, maybe even you, appear to believe that is what happened. Let me explain.

Romans 6:4 says, “Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” Note the comparison between Christ and us. “That just as Christ…even so we also.” What happened to Christ? “Raised from the dead.” What parallels that for us? “Walk in newness of life.” What events preceded those? For Christ, His burial. For us, baptism. Now if we can have “newness of life” BEFORE baptism, as many teach and believe, then, to maintain the parallel, you must believe Christ was raised before He was buried. “Absurd,” you say. I know! That is why I teach baptism is essential to be saved, to become a Christian.

— Via Bulletin Articles from the Collegevue church of Christ, December 20, 2015
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“Give me understanding, that I may observe Your law And keep it with all my heart” (Psalm 119:34, NASB).
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The Steps That Lead to Eternal Salvation

1) Hear the gospel, for that is how faith comes (Rom. 10:17; John 20:30,31).
2) Believe in the deity of Christ (John 8:24; John 3:18).
3) Repent of sins (Luke 13:5; Acts 17:30).
4) Confess faith in Christ (Rom. 10:9,10; Acts 8:36-38).
5) Be baptized in water for the remission of sins (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16; Rom. 6:3,4; Gal. 3:26,27; 1 Pet. 3:21).
6) Continue in the faith, living for the Lord; for, if not, salvation can be lost (Heb. 10:36-39; Rev. 2:10; 2 Pet. 2:20-22).
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Enoch

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A Blessed Rest

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Sarah’s Faith

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Facing and Undergoing the Torment of the Cross

Isaiah 53:5-7

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Seeing From a Better Perspective

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God of Wrath vs. God of Love?

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Timeless Benefits of the Old Testament

In the Old Testament, some major questions are answered. Here are three of them:

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Did God Know Us Prior to Our Physical Conception?

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The Greatest Reason for Our Being

Offended By the Truth

Consequences

Psalm 25:4-5

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If It Had Been an Angel Instead…

Repentance Only

Raised Before Buried?

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