____________________________________________________ THE GOSPEL OBSERVER "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). ____________________________________________________ April 30, 2000 ____________________________________________________ The Gospels Are New Testament Canon by Bob W. Lovelace The foundation for the Gospels is the promise of the Spirit: John 14:26; 15:26; 16:13. We need look no further. To understand the fulfillment of the promise of the Spirit and the work of New Testament prophets will answer those guilty of denying that the Gospels belong to the New Testament canon. The promise of the Spirit was not with regard to the Old Testament! It concerned the gospel of Christ that was to be preached to all the world. The Apostles were to wait in Jerusalem until they received the promise of the Spirit: ``And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: [47] And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. [48] And ye are witnesses of these things. [49] And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high'' (Luke 24:46-49). With that promise (verse 49 above) repentance and remission of sins were to be preached ``in His name'' among all nations beginning in Jerusalem. In order that they might do that the Holy Spirit would: 1. ``He shall teach you all things,'' John 14:26. 2. ``And bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said to you,'' John 14:26. 3. ``Will testify of Me,'' John 15:26. 4. ``Guide you into all truth,'' John 16:13. 5. ``Tell you things to come,'' John 16:13. Each of these show the direct connection between Jesus' teaching and the Apostolic teaching and writing found in the New Testament. The things Jesus taught are the same things recorded in the Gospels as a result of this promise of the Spirit. The ``remembrance'' of the things Jesus said is recorded in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. To ``testify'' of Christ includes telling who He was and what He did. Upon receiving the Promise they would be His witnesses. ``But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth'' (Acts 1:8). They received the Promise of the Spirit as recorded in Acts 2 on the day of Pentecost. Luke tells us in Acts 2:4, ``And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.'' Anything written as a result of the work of the Spirit from that day onward belongs in which canon? The New Testament canon. As we consider Luke's statement in Acts 1:1, his intent in writing Luke was to present ``all that Jesus began both to do and teach.'' It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see that this is not a lesson concerning the Mosaic Law. But notice carefully what Luke says in Luke 1:1-3, ``Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us, [2] Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eye-witnesses, and ministers of the word; [3] It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus.'' He says that those who were from the beginning eyewitnesses and ministers of the word had ALREADY delivered these things when he determined to write his Gospel of Luke. The eyewitness had already delivered these things to the saints! They were able to ``deliver'' these things as a result of having received the promise of the Spirit. These were not ``delivered'' to and for the Jews under the Mosaic Law. I'm amazed that some preachers do not even know when the Gospels were written. Obviously some do not yet know WHY they were written. With regard to Luke and his writing, we know that Luke was not an Apostle as was Matthew and John. However, he still wrote by inspiration. ``All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: [17] That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works'' (2 Timothy 3:16-17). This means that both Luke and Mark were New Testament prophets and belong to that foundation upon which we are built. Just as Paul says, ``And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone'' (Ephesians 2:20; 3:5). It could not be otherwise. Theophilus was not getting a lesson on Judaism and the Mosaic Law! One would be just as justified in teaching one the gospel from Luke as from the book of Acts. They were both written by the same New Testament prophet. Jesus had said in John 14:26 that the Promise of the Spirit would enable Matthew to write his Gospel. The same applies to the apostle John. The Gospel of Matthew ends with the great commission to make disciples of all nations: Matthew 28:18-20: ``And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. [19] Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: [20] Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.'' That's not an Old Covenant lesson for the Jews! How many times have we emphasized ``make disciples of all nations'' and ``go into all the world'' as we preach the commission Jesus gave to His apostles, and explain that the gospel is God's power for salvation to everyone. Mark's Gospel ends as does Matthew's with the commission: Mark 16:15-16: ``And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. [16] He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.'' The gospel to ``every creature'' includes the Gentiles! What gospel is that? The gospel of the kingdom of Christ which is the power of God unto salvation for all men (Romans 1:16-17). This is not an Old Covenant lesson for the Jews. I know of no one in the church personally who is foolish enough to say it is. Here Mark tells us in Mark 16:20, ``And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.'' You can't read that and date Mark's gospel before Pentecost! In the very close of his gospel we see the fulfillment of the Promise given in John 14:26. Mark wrote this after they went forth from Jerusalem with the gospel. Mark is not going back to the Mosaic Law for anything! He is with the saints as a New Testament prophet and doing the work that God through the Spirit enabled him to do for us. His work was the Gospel of Christ! Who'd believe that he wrote his Gospel as a lesson for the Jews under the Law. The necessary inference here at the close of his gospel is that those baptized entered the everlasting kingdom of Christ. That's not an Old Covenant lesson for the Jews. How many times I've used Mark 16:15-16 to teach that one must be baptized I could not number. You and I can easily distinguish between things Jesus said that dealt directly with the Mosaic Law and the things of His kingdom. The Apostle John wrote the Gospel of John, as did the others, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit as promised. Again, that Promise in John 14:26; 15:26;16:13 was not with regard to the Old Covenant. This Gospel as well as the others was written that the reader might believe Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and believing have life in His name. John 20:30-31 gives that stated purpose. As Jesus prayed in the garden He did not pray for just His apostles. He prayed also for those who would believe through their word. John tells in John 17:20 that He said, ``Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word.'' John's very Gospel is included in Jesus prayer here. It is part of ``their word'' that produces belief in Christ! It is the power of God unto salvation for all men everywhere. The Gospel of John is the power of God unto salvation because it is the gospel of Christ! Saints are sanctified by the truth John wrote (John 17:17). I'm not ashamed of it, are you? Important Points To Study and Remember: 1. The Foundation for the Gospels Is the Promise of the Spirit: John 14:26; 15:26; 16:13. 2. Anything written as a result of the work of the Spirit from Pentecost onward belongs in the New Testament Canon. 3. The Promise of the Spirit enabled Matthew and John to write their Gospels (John 14:26; 15:26; 16:13). 4. Luke and Mark were New Testament prophets (Eph. 2:20). 5. Luke tells us eyewitnesses and ministers of the word had ALREADY delivered these things to the saints at the time he determined to write his Gospel (Luke 1:1-3). 6. Mark tells us at the end of his Gospel, ``And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen'' (Mark 16:20). Mark's Gospel was written after Pentecost! -- Via The Exhorter, February 7, 1999 ___________________________________________ Purposeful Preaching by Robert F. Turner Nathan's subject was adultery, murder, and kindred lusts; but he spoke of a little ewe lamb which a rich man took from the bosom of its owner (2 Sam. 12). The problem was that of application--getting the audience to apply to self the standard by which others were readily condemned. Nathan's audience deplored ``sin'' and could list many sins. Nathan's courage as a preacher was little tested by a rip-snorting sermon on ``Adultery''; but when he told the King, ``Thou art the man''--aye, here was his moment of truth. John (the Immerser) could decry the awful sins of the times and call upon people to ``REPENT!''--out there in the wilderness--and King Herod be unmoved. But John said unto Herod, ``it is not lawful for thee to have thy brother's wife'' (Mk. 6:18). Several years ago one of ``our'' ultra-liberal preachers criticized John's direct ``approach''--suggesting John need not have ``lost his head.'' In a sense he was right about that. John could have spoken in generalities, kept his head, and perhaps his ``job''--but he would have failed his appointed purpose, lost his soul. Nathan and John used different ways of reaching their targets, and different means of presenting truth are needed today. But both presented and applied the truth. When they were finished the audience knew what was wrong and felt the sting of rebuke. Today preachers speak of ``sectarianism'' without explaining that this spirit lives in the ``party'' concept of the church. They cry for ``unity'' but refuse open discussion of issues that divide, with God's word the final authority. This is hypocrisy. Tell the people they must Do Bible Things In Bible Ways--and they will love you. Tell them a church-sponsored skating party is not a Bible Thing, and church support of human institutions is not a Bible Way; and you may lose your ``job,'' but you will have served your purpose as a preacher. Oh John!! Nathan!! Your kind are sorely needed in this generation!! -- Plain Talk, July 1965 ___________________________________________ NEWS & NOTES Maria Joshi has requested prayer for her grandmother who will be undergoing surgery this coming Tuesday. Let us pray that all will go well and that she will have a quick recovery. Let us also be praying for my cousin Kathy Muraoka's father-in-law who has lung cancer. Ryan (Brady and Robin Bates' nephew) is now back home, doing somewhat better, but can still use our prayers as he continues to recover. I am in the process of making a web site for the Avondale church of Christ. If you would like to see how it's coming along, the address for the time being is as follows: http://www.zoomnet.net/~tedwards/avondale ________________________________________ Avondale CHURCH OF CHRIST P.O. Box 421 1606 Glen Willow Rd., Avondale, PA 19311 (610) 268-2088 Sunday: 10:00 A.M. Bible class 11:00 A.M. Worship 6:00 P.M. Worship Wednesday: 7:00 P.M. Bible study evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (610) 925-3567 e-mail: tedwards@zoomnet.net Gospel Observer web site: http://www.zoomnet.net/~tedwards/go ________________________________________