2) Acceptance (anonymous)
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Having a Good Name<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Tom Edwards<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It was Shakespeare who said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGood name in man and woman\u2026<\/em> Shakespeare, apparently, realized the importance of a good name over even material wealth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Beginning way before Shakespeare\u2019s time, and up to our generation, the Bible has been expressing this truth for many centuries:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cA good<\/em> name is to be more desired than great wealth, Though the word \u201cgood\u201d<\/em> is in italics (because it is not in the original text), the implication of it is easy to infer by the context \u2014 and even more so by an Israelite of that day. For, as Albert Barnes points out, \u201cTo the Hebrew, \u2018name\u2019 by itself conveyed the idea of good repute, just as \u2018men without a name\u2019 (compare Job 30:8 margin) are those sunk in ignominy.\u201d Job 30:8 declares,<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFools, even those without a name<\/u><\/strong>,<\/strong> The Hebrew word for \u201cname\u201d in these passages is \u201cshem\u201d \u2014 and actually pronounced as \u201cshame.\u201d But certainly the opposite of our English word \u201cshame.\u201d For \u201cshem\u201d is defined as \u201can appellation, as a mark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character\u201d<\/em> (James Strong).<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Genesis 6:4, \u201cshem\u201d is rendered as \u201crenown,\u201d in speaking of \u201cthe mighty men which were of old, men ofrenown<\/strong>\u201d (emphasis mine). These had made quite a name for themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When we think of \u201cname\u201d (from the Hebrew \u201cshem\u201d) to mean \u201chonor, authority, and character,\u201d<\/em> who would better represent all of that than Jesus Christ Himself? For the Father has bestowed on Him \u201cthe name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father\u201d (Phil. 2:9-11).<\/p>\n\n\n\n We have seen that the name of Jesus is so great that we are to honor Him as much as we honor God the Father \u2014 and to do any less would be a violation of God\u2019s word: \u201cFor not even the Father judges anyone, but He has given all judgment to the Son, so that all will honor the Son even as they honor the Father.<\/strong> He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him\u201d (John 5:22-23, emphasis mine). Many people today and various religions need to realize this. For they fail to give Jesus the honor He deserves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In thinking on the meaning of \u201cauthority\u201d <\/strong>in the Lord\u2019s name, we know that Christians are to pray by that authority; and we often indicate that when closing our prayers with the phrase, \u201cIn the name of Jesus. Amen.\u201d This also often reminds me of what Jesus states in John 15, when pointing out the necessity of abiding in Him. For in verse 5, He declares, \u201cfor apart from Me you can do nothing.\u201d But through Jesus Christ, by being redeemed by His atonement, we have the right and privilege to pray to God as our Father.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the early church, miracles were performed \u201cin the name of Jesus\u201d <\/strong>(Acts 3:6, Acts 16:18) \u2014 by His authority. When Peter was questioned concerning the healing of the lame man, \u201cBy what power, or in what name, have you done this?\u201d (Acts 4:7), he answered by saying, \u201cRulers and elders of the people, if we are on trial today for a benefit done to a sick man, as to how this man has been made well, let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead \u2014 by this name this man stands here before you in good health. He is the STONE WHICH WAS REJECTED by you, THE BUILDERS, but WHICH BECAME THE CHIEF CORNER stone. And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved\u201d (vv. 8-10).<\/p>\n\n\n\n The account of that miraculous healing is given in the previous chapter. The beggar, who had been carried to the temple-gate, had been lame from birth. But Peter said to him, \u201cI do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene \u2014 walk\u201d (Acts 3:6)! And it was so!<\/p>\n\n\n\n That miracle was witnessed by others who were then \u201cfilled with wonder and amazement.\u201d So Peter said to them, \u201cMen of Israel, why are you amazed at this, or why do you gaze at us, as if by our own power or piety we had made him walk? The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified His servant Jesus, the one whom you delivered and disowned in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release Him. But you disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, but put to death the Prince of life, the one whom God raised from the dead, a fact to which we are witnesses. And on the basis of faith in His name, it is the name of Jesus which has strengthened this man whom you see and know; and the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect health in the presence of you all\u201d (vv. 12-16).<\/p>\n\n\n\n What great power there is in the name of Jesus! For He is Deity; and by His power, He created the universe (Jn. 1:1-3) and performed numerous miracles while on earth \u2014 such as giving eyesight to the blind; enabling the lame to walk, the deaf to hear, and the mute to speak. He cast out demons, healed the sick and the afflicted, and even raised the dead back to life!<\/p>\n\n\n\n We can also be greatly impressed through what He has made, when seriously thinking about it, from the microscopic world to the immeasurable vastness of our universe. In easily recognizing the intelligent design we see in all living things, it gives testimony<\/em> toward the great Creator \u2014 and the very heavens indicate His eternal nature and also, therefore, His power that will never diminish (cf. Rom. 1:19-20).<\/p>\n\n\n\n With regard to shem\u2019s<\/em> meaning of \u201ccharacter,\u201d we again can look to Jesus whose nature and moral quality was far above reproach. For, while on earth, He lived a perfect life, having never sinned, and was always pleasing to His Father in heaven (Jn. 8:29; Heb. 4:15). So not only did Jesus manifest Deity by His own life, thus revealing what His Father in heaven is like (cf. John 1:18; John 14:7-9), but also set forth the perfect example of how we should be as human beings in all our relationships with one another and our concern for all. For that is the godly character we are to develop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the King James Version and New American Standard, \u201cgood name\u201d is found in only two passages \u2014 with the second being Ecclesiastes 7:1:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cA good name is better than a good ointment, The need for having a good name is seen or implied in various passages of the Old and New Testaments. May we each, therefore, always strive to have that good name by submitting to the name which is above every name, the name of Jesus Christ! For then death will truly lead to that which is far better than anything we have ever, or will have ever, experienced on earth \u2014 and regardless of how much that was enjoyed! For the bliss of heaven will always be infinitely and eternally greater!<\/p>\n\n\n\n (All scripture from the New American Standard Bible, unless otherwise indicated.) \u201cLikewise urge the young men to be sensible; in all things show yourself to be an example of good deeds, with purity in doctrine, dignified, sound in speech which is beyond reproach, so that the opponent will be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us\u201d (Titus 2:6-8, NASB). -2-<\/p>\n\n\n\n From rejected to useful. That describes how much Mark changed in Paul\u2019s eyes between Acts 15 and 2 Timothy 4. Mark didn\u2019t let Paul\u2019s earlier opinion of him get in his way of serving Christ, but persisted through his own conviction and fixed what needed fixing and improved what needed improving. So should we. Go with God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2014 Anonymous<\/p>\n\n\n\n In 2 Timothy 4:11, during his second imprisonment in Rome, shortly before his death, Paul instructs, \u201c\u2026Pick up Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for service.\u201d And in writing to the Colossians, during his first Roman imprisonment, Paul declares about Mark, \u201c\u2026if he comes to you, welcome him\u201d (Col. 4:10). 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\u2013 Contents: 1) Having a Good Name (Tom Edwards)2) Acceptance (anonymous)\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2013 -1- Having a Good Name Tom Edwards It was Shakespeare who […]<\/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-467","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\/467","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=467"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/467\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":468,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/467\/revisions\/468"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=467"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=467"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=467"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
Is the immediate jewel of their souls.<\/em>
Who steals my purse steals trash\u2026<\/em>
But he that filches from me my good name,<\/em>
Robs me of that which not enriches him,<\/em>
And makes me poor indeed\u2026 \u201c<\/em> (Othello, Act 3, Scene 3).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Favor is better than silver and gold\u201d (Prov. 22:1, NASB).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They were scourged from the land\u201d (emphasis mine).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And the day of one\u2019s death is better than the day of one\u2019s birth.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2013<\/p>\n\n\n\nAcceptance<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2013<\/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> services:\u00a09:00 a.m. (Bible class); 10 a.m. & 5 p.m. (worship)
Wednesday:<\/strong>\u00a07 p.m. (Bible class)
evangelist\/editor:\u00a0<\/strong>Tom Edwards (912) 281-9917
Tom@ThomasTEdwards.com<\/a>
http:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/go<\/a> (Older version of Gospel Observer website without pictures, but back to March 1990)
http:\/\/tebeaustreetchurchofchrist.org\/<\/a>
http:\/\/ThomasTEdwards.com\/audioser.html<\/a> (audio sermons)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"