1) “For Those Who Love Him” (Kyle Pope)
2) Words of Encouragement (Greg Gwin)
3) Considering the Greek Word “Charis” (which is often translated as “grace” in the Scriptures) (video sermon, Tom Edwards)
4) News & Notes
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“For Those Who Love Him”<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Kyle Pope -2-<\/p>\n\n\n\n Greg Gwin -3-<\/p>\n\n\n\n (which is often translated as “grace” in the Scriptures) -4-<\/p>\n\n\n\n Folks to remember in prayer, due to their health: 1) Hear<\/strong> the gospel — for that is how faith comes (Rom. 10:17; John 20:30-31). Tebeau Street We will resume our Wednesday class on June 1, 2022 at 7 p.m.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n evangelist\/editor: <\/strong><\/strong>Tom Edwards (912) 281-9917 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations…teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20, NASB).——————– Contents: 1) “For Those Who Love Him” (Kyle Pope)2) Words of Encouragement (Greg Gwin)3) Considering the Greek Word “Charis” (which is […]<\/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-2006","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\/2006","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=2006"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2006\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2010,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2006\/revisions\/2010"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2006"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2006"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2006"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
First Corinthians 2:9 reads: \u201cBut as it is written: \u2018Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him\u2019\u201d<\/strong> (1 Cor. 2:9, NKJV). This text is actually a paraphrase of a passage from Isaiah 64:4-5 which reads: \u201cFor since the beginning of the world men have not heard nor perceived by the ear, nor has the eye seen any God besides You, Who acts for the one who waits for Him. You meet him who rejoices and does righteousness, who remembers You in Your ways. You are indeed angry, for we have sinned–In these ways we continue; and we need to be saved.\u201d <\/strong>In the context of First Corinthians Paul applies this text to show the glorious nature of the gospel. In it are revealed things that had not been seen, heard or imagined.
Paul does not quote directly from the passage in Isaiah but paraphrases (i.e. summarizes the meaning of) the text to illustrate the point he is addressing in this section of First Corinthians. We are generally critical of modern paraphrases when they are put forward as \u201ctranslations\u201d rather than human summaries of the Biblical text. Works like Good News For Modern Man<\/em> or the Living Bible<\/em> are not literal translations, but paraphrases that express an author\u2019s understanding of the gist of a passage. This is not to say that it is wrong to paraphrase. No preacher of the gospel can teach without summarizing a text in their own words at some point. What may be wrong is an incorrect paraphrase, that misses (or distorts) the truth of a text. In cases when Paul or other inspired writers paraphrase a text, we can be sure that the summary which they put forth is sound, accurate and reliable because it is given by the direction of the Holy Spirit (2 Pet. 1:20-21).
In the example found above, the Apostle\u2019s paraphrase, when examined closely, reveals some important things about our service to God. The first part of the passage, in Isaiah and in First Corinthians, are very similar. Both speak of what the \u201cear\u201d and the \u201ceye\u201d have not experienced. Where the text diverges is in the phrase \u201cwhich God has prepared for those who love Him.\u201d The text in Isaiah does not speak of God\u2019s preparations, but rather man\u2019s need (in the last part of the passage) to be saved. When Isaiah declares, \u201cwe need to be saved\u201d\u2014Paul through the Holy Spirit sees in this declaration God\u2019s preparation for our salvation.
What is also different in the two passages is the phrase \u201cfor those who love Him.\u201d The Holy Spirit does not lead Isaiah to use the term \u201clove.\u201d Is this an addition on Paul\u2019s part? Quite the contrary, just as Paul sees man\u2019s need for salvation as a foreshadowing of God\u2019s preparations for a way to be reconciled to God, Paul sees what the prophet says about those who are pleasing to God as the demonstration of what it really means to love God. Notice these elements:
I. \u201cThe One Who Waits For Him.\u201d<\/strong> There are a number of ways in our relationship with God that we are called upon to \u201cwait\u201d for Him. As Christians we understand that one day Jesus will return in judgment. The one who loves God keeps this fact before their mind and strives to be prepared for it. In addition to this we are sometimes called to wait upon the Lord in faithfulness to Him as we endure trial, temptation and suffering. The ungodly, in their impatience, turn away from God, thinking that their own ways are best, and that by pursuing sin they can achieve their needs. The child of God recognizes man\u2019s inability to direct his own way and waits in obedience upon God, trusting that God\u2019s ways are best. Paul shows us that this is not passive and inactive. Rather, waiting on God is a way that we show our love for Him.
II. \u201cHim Who Rejoices.\u201d <\/strong>An old song from the 70\u2019s portrayed a confused lover crying out to the one he loved, \u201cThat\u2019s a strange way to tell me you love me, when your sorrow is all I can see.\u201d As Christians we sometimes carry-on much the same way. We grumble and moan about the things that the Lord asks of us. We see opportunities to worship Him as interruptions to our schedule. We view meditation upon His word like an unpleasant homework assignment in school. We want to go to heaven, but we spend most of our time unhappy because of doubts that He will see us through hardships or envy of the sins of the ungodly. Yet, then we turn around and try to say to the Lord with our mouth that we \u201clove Him.\u201d Paul shows us here that to love the Lord means that we live a life that \u201crejoices.\u201d
III. \u201cAnd Does Righteousness.\u201d<\/strong> What a fallacy the religious world has perpetrated in convincing so many within its ranks that it is even possible to \u201clove God\u201d and yet do what is wrong! Millions have been convinced that they are secure in a loving relationship with God, while they are first unconcerned with even learning what is right and wrong and second told that even though they may give themselves to do what is wrong it doesn\u2019t alter their \u201clove\u201d for Him. In the time of Malachi, the people (much like today) had become spiritually lazy. The very animal sacrifices that they offered were not the best of their flocks and herds, but the sickly and unhealthy. In response the Lord, through Malachi asks, \u201cOffer it then to your governor! Would he be pleased with you?\u201d<\/strong> (Mal. 1:8c). None of us would imagine that we can do what is displeasing to our mate, our teacher, our employer, or our friend and hope to convince them of our love and fidelity to them. Paul shows us in this text that God is no different. If we love Him we will do what He tells us is right.
IV. \u201cWho Remembers You in Your Ways.\u201d<\/strong> The memorial which Christians observe each Sunday is kept \u201cin remembrance\u201d of Jesus\u2019 body and blood which was shed for our sin. It is important and necessary that Christians keep this observance in order for us to be pleasing unto God, remember the cost that Jesus paid for our sin and as a deterrent from future sins. At the same time, the Lord\u2019s Supper is not the only way in which we are called upon to \u201cremember\u201d the Lord in His ways. Sometimes we must remember Him and His ways when we are totally alone. At such times we must call to mind how God would have us to direct our thoughts, occupy our time and maintain a watchful, temperate disposition. Sometimes we must remember Him and His ways when we are around those in the world. When we are tempted by them to deny Jesus, to be silent when we ought to speak, to speak in ways that we should not, or to do things that we should not. We must not forget who we are and what Jesus is to us. Paul suggests to us in this text that loving God means that we will remember Him and His ways. Paul characterizes all of these traits as true of those who love God. Are these traits true of your life?
\u2014 Via Faithful Sayings, <\/em>June 12, 2016
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Occasionally we all need to hear a word of encouragement. There is no better source for this sort of help than God’s inspired word. If you need a spiritual boost, meditate on some of these passages:
– “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice … Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” <\/em>(Phil. 4:4-7).
– “I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world” <\/em>(Matt. 28:20).
– “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose”<\/em> (Rom. 8:28).
– “In all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord”<\/em> (Rom. 8:37-39).
– ” … We may boldly say, ‘The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me'”<\/em> (Heb. 13:6).
– “I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread”<\/em> (Ps. 37:25).
You can, no doubt, think of many other passages that offer similar encouragement. The point is, that God cares for us as His children. We should rejoice in that fact!
\u2014 Via The Beacon,<\/em> March 22, 2022
——————–<\/p>\n\n\n\nConsidering the Greek Word “Charis”<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Tom Edwards
For the video sermon with the above title, just click on this following link:
https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/Charis_051522.mp4<\/a>
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——————–<\/p>\n\n\n\nNews & Notes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Kayla Williams<\/strong> is now in ICU, due to a diabetic ketoacidosis.
Rex Hadley, June Peters, Alex Cornelius, Rick Cuthbertson, A.J. & Pat Joyner, Donald Sears, Ronnie Davis, Jim Lively, Doyle Rittenhouse, Tammy Griffey, Deborah Medlock, Lois Fletcher, Vivian Foster, Danielle Bartlett, <\/strong>and Kim Rowell.<\/strong>
Due to there being 5 Sundays in May, Danny Bartlett<\/strong> will be preaching for us on the 29th of this month.
We will resume our Wednesday evening Bible class June 1 at our regular time of 7 p.m.\u00a0<\/strong>
——————–<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nThe Steps That Lead to Eternal Salvation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
2) Believe<\/strong> in the deity of Jesus Christ, the Son of God (John 8:24; John 3:18).
3) Repent<\/strong> of sins. For every accountable person has sinned (Romans 3:23; Romans 3:10), which causes one to be spiritually dead (Ephesians 2:1) and separated from God (Isaiah 59:1-2; Romans 6:23). Therefore, repentance of sin is necessary (Luke 13:5; Acts 17:30). For whether the sin seems great or small, there will still be the same penalty for either (Matt. 12:36-37; 2 Cor. 5:10) — and even for a lie (Rev. 21:8).
4) Confess faith<\/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; 1 Pet. 3:21). This is the final step that puts one into Christ (Gal. 3:26-27). For from that baptism, one is then raised as a new creature (2 Cor. 5:17), having all sins forgiven and beginning a new life as a Christian (Rom. 6:3-4). For the one being baptized does so \u201cthrough faith in the working of God\u201d (Col. 2:12). In other words, believing that God will keep His word and forgive after one submits to these necessary steps. And now as a Christian, we then need to\u2026
6) Continue in the faith <\/strong>by living for the Lord; for, if not, salvation can be lost (Matt. 24:13; Heb. 10:36-39; Rev. 2:10; 2 Pet. 2:20-22).
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CHURCH OF CHRIST
<\/strong>1402 Tebeau Street, Waycross, GA 31501
Sunday: 9 a.m. <\/strong>Bible Class and 10 a.m. <\/strong>Worship Service. We also have a Song Service<\/strong> at 5 p.m. for every first Sunday of the month.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/strong><\/strong>Tom@ThomasTEdwards.com
<\/a>https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/go\/all.htm<\/a> <\/strong><\/strong>(This is a link to the older version of the Gospel Observer website, but with bulletins going back to March 4, 1990.)
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