2) Start the New Year with Daily Bible Reading
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Written Revelation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Irvin Himmel<\/p>\n\n\n\n
God revealed Himself to man in the age of the patriarchs. Adam, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were not left without a disclosure of the divine will. However, there was no written revelation in those days. With the giving of the law at Mt. Sinai, God began the utilization of writing to make known and preserve His revelation. The Ten Commandments were given on tables of stone, \u201cwritten with the finger of God\u201d (Ex. 31:18; 34:1). Moses wrote the words of the law in a book (Deut. 31:24). He wrote \u201call the words of the Lord\u201d (Ex. 24:4). He wrote Israel\u2019s journeys \u201cby the commandment of the Lord\u201d (Num. 33:2).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Book of Moses<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
The writings of Moses have been copied, translated, and read through the centuries. Nehemiah lived about a thousand years after Moses. In the time of Nehemiah, \u201cthe book of Moses\u201d was read in the ears of the people (Neh. 3:1). More than four hundred years later, the book of Moses was still being used. Jesus asked the Sadducees if they had not read certain things \u201cin the book of Moses\u201d (Mk. 12:26). On another occasion, Jesus said to some of the unbelieving Jews, \u201cFor had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me. But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?\u201d (John 5:46, 47). After the Law of Moses was fulfilled and therefore no longer in force, some continued to read the writings of Moses and were trying to follow the Old Law. Several years after the establishment of the church, the apostles acknowledged in Acts 15:21, \u201cFor Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.\u201d Today we have the writings of Moses in the first five books of the Old Testament.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Writing Prophets<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
God used many other servants to write His words during the Mosaic age. Samuel the prophet told the people the manner of the kingdom and \u201cwrote it in a book\u201d (1 Sam. 10:25). Isaiah was charged, \u201cNow go, write it before them in a table, and note it in a book, that it may be for the time to come for ever and ever\u201d (Isa. 30:8). Jehovah said to Jeremiah, \u201cWrite thee all the words that I have spoken unto thee in a book\u201d (Jer. 30:2). Habakkuk was told, \u201cWrite the vision, and make it plain upon the tables, that he may run that readeth it\u201d (Hab. 2:2). Jesus Christ respected the Old Testament writings. He said to the disciples following His resurrection, \u201cThese are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me\u201d (Lk. 24:44). The apostles honored the Old Testament writings. For example, Paul said, \u201cFor whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope\u201d (Rom. 15:4).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Apostolic Writings<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
God used the New Testament writers to reveal the Messiahship of Jesus, the plan of redemption, and the blessings of the kingdom. John said, \u201cAnd many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name\u201d (John 20:30, 31). John wrote to produce saving faith in the hearts of honest readers. Through the study of the apostolic writings we learn our duties to God. Paul said, \u201cIf any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord\u201d (1 Cor. 14:37). New Testament writings give assurance to the faithful in Christ Jesus. \u201cThese things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God\u201d (1 John 5:13). \u201cAnd these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full\u201d (1 John 1:4).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
These sacred writings can be understood. Paul told the Ephesians that he wrote, \u201cWhereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ\u201d (Eph. 3:3,4). He said to the church at Corinth, \u201cFor we write nothing else to you than what you read and understand, and I hope you will understand until the end\u201d (2 Cor. 1:13, New American Standard Bible). The Lord told John on the island of Patmos, \u201cWhat thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia\u201d (Rev. 1:11). \u201cWrite the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter\u201d (Rev. 1:19). John did write those things, and he warned that we are not to add to, nor to take from, \u201cthe words of the book\u201d (Rev. 22:18, 19).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Advantages<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Written revelation has distinct advantages over oral communication. That which is put in written form is conducive to preservation. Written words can be read, studied, re-read, copied, translated, and analyzed with ease. No communication is more important than that which comes from God. Wisely, God has made known through the Scriptures all that we need for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness (2 Tim. 3:16, 17). We thank God that He has unveiled His will in a manner that will stand the test of time, and a form that makes it readily accessible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Via Truth Magazine<\/em> XIX: 32, p. 498, June 19, 1975 -2-<\/p>\n\n\n\n A good way to start the new year is with daily Bible reading! And various schedules are made available on the Internet, which can help you to also keep track of your progress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pick out the schedule of your choosing: Read from Genesis through Revelation, or from the Old and the New Testaments each day, or read through the Bible chronologically, or how about reading from four different books of the Bible daily with the M\u2019Cheyne Bible Reading Plan? This is the one I have chosen for 2020, and here is a sample of the readings:<\/p>\n\n\n\n January 1: Genesis 1, Matthew 1, Ezra 1, and Acts 1 \u201cAnd now I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified\u201d (Acts 20:32, NASB).<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2014 Tom 1) Hear <\/strong>the gospel, for that is how faith comes (Rom. 10:17; John 20:30-31). Tebeau Street \u201cGo therefore and make disciples of all the nations\u2026teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age\u201d (Matthew 28:19-20, NASB).\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014- Contents: 1) Written Revelation (Irvin Himmel)2) Start the New Year with Daily Bible Reading\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014- -1- Written Revelation Irvin Himmel God revealed […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-154","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","post-preview"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/154","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=154"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/154\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":341,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/154\/revisions\/341"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=154"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=154"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=154"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014-<\/p>\n\n\n\nStart the New Year with Daily Bible Reading!<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
January 2: Genesis 2, Matthew 2, Ezra 2, and Acts 2
January 3: Genesis 3, Matthew 3, Ezra 3, and Acts 3
January 4: Genesis 4, Matthew 4, Ezra 4, and Acts 4<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014-<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe Steps That Lead to Eternal Salvation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
2) Believe<\/strong> in the deity of Christ (John 8:24; John 3:18).
3) Repent <\/strong>of sins (Luke 13:5; Acts 17:30).
4) Confess faith <\/strong>in Christ (Rom. 10:9-10; Acts 8:36-38).
5) Be baptized<\/strong> 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<\/strong>, 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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CHURCH OF CHRIST
1402 Tebeau Street, Waycross, GA\u00a0 31501
Sunday<\/strong>\u00a0services:\u00a09:00 a.m. (Bible class); 10 a.m. & 5 p.m. (worship)
Wednesday:\u00a0<\/strong>7 p.m. (Bible class)
evangelist\/editor:\u00a0<\/strong>Tom Edwards (912) 281-9917
Tom@ThomasTEdwards.com<\/a>
http:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/go<\/a>\u00a0(Older version of Gospel Observer website without pictures, but back to March 1990)
http:\/\/tebeaustreetchurchofchrist.org\/<\/a>
http:\/\/ThomasTEdwards.com\/audioser.html<\/a>\u00a0(audio sermons)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"