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\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).
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Contents:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1) \u201cWe Beheld His Glory\u201d (David McClister)
2) Return to the Lord (Warren E. Berkeley)
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-1-<\/p>\n\n\n\n
by David McClister<\/p>\n\n\n\n
God\u2019s presence is an indescribable glory. In Biblical scenes where God appeared to men, the word \u201cglory\u201d usually pops up in the Biblical text. When Israel complained about food, Moses told them \u201cin the morning you will see the glory of the Lord,\u201d which is exactly what happened: \u201cthey looked toward the wilderness, and behold, the glory of the Lord appeared in the cloud\u201d (Exod 16.7 and 10). One of the best descriptions of it comes in Exodus 24, where Moses described what he saw on Mt. Sinai: \u201cThe glory of the Lord rested on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days; and on the seventh day He called to Moses from the midst of the cloud. And to the eyes of the sons of Israel the appearance of the glory of the Lord was like a consuming fire on the mountain top\u201d (vv 16-17). While the word \u201cglory\u201d does not appear in the story of the burning bush (Exod 3), it is clear that Moses had seen the same thing there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Perhaps the closest anyone came to seeing God in his glory in the Old Testament was Moses. You remember the famous scene: after Moses had been near God on Mt. Sinai, Moses asked to see God\u2019s glory. God replied: \u201c\u2018You cannot see My face, for no man can see Me and live!\u2019 Then the Lord said, \u2018Behold, there is a place by Me, and you shall stand there on the rock; and it will come about, while My glory is passing by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by. Then I will take My hand away and you shall see My back, but My face shall not be seen’\u201d (Exod 33.20- 23). In a similar scene, when Solomon\u2019s temple was finished and dedicated, the Bible reports that \u201cthe priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the house of God\u201d (2 Chron 5.14). God\u2019s glory was a fearful and overpowering thing, and yet it was also strangely attractive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As impressive as those experiences must have been, none of these people saw anything near the fullness of God\u2019s glory. But God spoke of the day when his people would see his glory in an unprecedented way. The prophet Haggai said \u201cThe latter glory of this house will be greater than the former\u201d (2.9). Isaiah predicted that the wilderness (a metaphor for God\u2019s people in this context) \u201cwill blossom profusely and rejoice with rejoicing and shout of joy. The glory of Lebanon will be given to it, the majesty of Carmel and Sharon. They will see the glory of the Lord, the majesty of our God\u201d (35.2).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When we come to the New Testament, John plainly tells us \u201cthe Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father\u201d (John 1.14). The apostle Paul, using language borrowed from the Biblical creation account, said a similar thing about Jesus in 2 Corinthians 4.6: \u201cFor God, who said, \u2018Light shall shine out of darkness,\u2019 is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just exactly what about Jesus was so glorious? His words? His actions? Was John referring to what he saw at Jesus\u2019 transfiguration? The answer lies in the statements of Jesus himself. As the time for His death drew near, he said \u201cThe hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Truly, truly I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.\u201d Clearly, Jesus was speaking about his death. In John 13.31, on the way to Gethsemane where he would be taken into custody by his enemies, he said \u201cNow is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him.\u201d Furthermore, Jesus said \u201cif I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all men to myself\u201d (John 12.32). The \u201clifting up\u201d of which Jesus there spoke was not his ascension to heaven, but his being lifted up on the cross. Like the burning bush of Exodus 3, Jesus\u2019 death would be a spectacle full of the glory of God that would attract people to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So what was the glory of God that was so visible in Jesus? What was so glorious about his death? It was God\u2019s love, which was fully displayed in the death of Jesus on the cross. Jesus died because of God\u2019s love for us (John 3.16). That great display of God\u2019s love, mercy, and grace is designed to touch our hearts and draw us to God. It fulfills God\u2019s words in Jeremiah 31.3: \u201cI have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have drawn you with lovingkindness.\u201d Like Moses at the burning bush, when we see the outpouring of God\u2019s love on the cross of Jesus, it is supposed to get our attention and make us want to go near and understand it more perfectly. The gospel story is the story of how God loves us and sent Jesus to die for us. This is why Paul calls it \u201cthe glorious gospel\u201d (1 Tim 1.11; see also 2 Cor 4.4).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When John says, therefore, that \u201cwe saw his glory,\u201d John meant that he had seen, above all, the death of Jesus and had come to understand that it was a proclamation of God\u2019s great love. The death of Jesus, announced in the gospel, was the fulfillment of Isaiah\u2019s prediction that people would see the glory of the Lord. John also added that the glory he saw in the death of Jesus was \u201cfull of grace and truth.\u201d This is exactly what God tried to convey to Moses. You remember that scene where Moses asked to see the glory of God? This was God\u2019s first response to that request: \u201cI Myself will make all My goodness pass before you, and will proclaim the name of the Lord before you; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show compassion on whom I will show compassion\u201d (Exod 33.19). In other words, God was saying to Moses, \u201cThe most glorious thing about me is my love, mercy, grace, goodness, and compassion.\u201d And that is what was on full display in the cross of Jesus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Via Focus Online, <\/em>November 23, 2015 -2-<\/p>\n\n\n\n by Warren E. Berkeley<\/p>\n\n\n\n Built in to the message of the prophets was the appeal to repent. These men were sent by God to expose sin and urge the guilty to repent. Often the appeal was framed as a challenge to return to the Lord (Isaiah 6:10; Jeremiah 3:1; Malachi 3:7). For instance, Joel\u2019s appeal to Judah was for the people to repent of their sins. \u201cSo rend your heart,\u201d and \u201creturn to the Lord your God\u201d (Joel 2:13). Through the distribution of His judgments (locusts, drought, desolation), God intended to admonish His people to come out of their sin and back to Him. It was His loving purpose to prompt a change in their direction. The essential definition of repentance has not changed through the dispensations. We can, therefore, use Joel\u2019s statement as the basis for our understanding of returning to the Lord. And this study can find application for those who have been baptized but have left their God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Repentance is a change in direction. The simple word \u201cturn\u201d shows that to be so. Those guilty of sin (before or after baptism) need to turn; a change of direction is needed. If you\u2019ve been letting the world influence your thinking, your speech, your conduct, your dress or attitude, you need to change your direction. If you\u2019ve abandoned the assembly, harbored ill-will in your heart, accepted false teaching, helped false teaching advance, participated in party strife or refused to grow, God seeks a change in your direction. Repentance is a change in your direction, turning from your sin to the Lord (1 Thessalonians 1:9-10).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Repentance occurs in the heart. Observe in verse 12 of Joel 2, \u201cwith all your heart.\u201d Everything we do before God ought to be done with a whole heart. Repentance, to be complete and genuine, must come from a whole heart: a heart of reverence for God, love for God; a heart influenced by the cross of Christ. Repentance should be the product of a heart of mature responsibility toward everything that is holy and right. The conviction of sin from the Word should be let in, so that repentance finds its true and good expression.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Repentance is not just a ritual. \u201cSo rend your heart, and not your garments\u2026.\u201d It was customary among the Jews to express their emotions in very public, visible ways. To this day in middle eastern cultures, when a family member dies, there may be public weeping and wailing; throwing dust in the air; beating the breast and the rendering of garments. The problem to be noted here is, the emotion must not be ritualized and confused with true repentance. The fact that someone may cry in public or come down an aisle doesn\u2019t assure wholehearted repentance. Repentance is a personal decision to leave sin behind and come to God. It is a decision of heart, productive of good fruit. It may be accompanied by some open expression, but the essence of the matter lies in the heart and the results in life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Repentance is made possible by a gracious God. \u201cReturn to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love\u2026.\u201d If you are alive to hear the Word, be convicted and repent, thank God that you have such a blessed opportunity. Thank Him for the precious blood of Christ. \u201cThe Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.\u201d If you are alive today, you can repent. Thank God for the time He has given you to return to Him, but don\u2019t presume upon His grace and providence. \u201cHe relents from doing harm,\u201d but the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night. Repent while there is time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you are reading this as one convicted of your sin, now is the time to repent. If you just plan to repent someday, that isn\u2019t good enough. Ask God to relent, turn from your sin and enjoy peace with Him through the Lord Jesus Christ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2014 Via The Beacon, <\/em>February 18, 2014 1) Hear <\/strong>the gospel, for that is how faith comes (Rom. 10:17; John 20:30,31). \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) \u201cWe Beheld His Glory\u201d (David McClister)2) Return to the Lord (Warren E. Berkeley)\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2013 -1- \u201cWe Beheld His Glory\u201d by […]<\/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-885","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\/885","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=885"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/885\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":886,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/885\/revisions\/886"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=885"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=885"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=885"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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<\/p>\n\n\n\nReturn to the Lord<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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2) Believe <\/strong>in the deity of Christ <\/strong>(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 <\/strong>(Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16; Rom. 6:3,4; Gal. 3:26,27; 1 Pet. 3:21)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0
6) Continue in the faith; <\/strong>for, if not, salvation can be lost (Heb. 10:36-39; Rev. 2:10; 2 Pet. 2:20-22).
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<\/strong>Tebeau Street
CHURCH OF CHRIST
1402 Tebeau Street, Waycross, GA\u00a0 31501
Sunday<\/strong> services: 9:00 AM (Bible class); 10 AM & 5 PM (worship)
Wednesday: <\/strong>7 PM (Bible class)
evangelist\/editor:<\/strong> Tom Edwards (912) 281-9917
Tom@ThomasTEdwards.com<\/a>
http:\/\/ThomasTEdwards.com\/go<\/a> (older version of Gospel Observer website, but with bulletins going back to March 4, 1990)
http:\/\/ThomasTEdwards.com\/audioser.html<\/a> (audio sermons)
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