____________________________________________________ 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). ____________________________________________________ November 4, 2001 ____________________________________________________ I'm Not Ashamed by Andy Diestelkamp Not Ashamed of My Faith in God For many people faith in God is so personal that they are unwilling to discuss it with anybody. That was not the kind of faith that the first Christians had (Ac. 4:20; 8:1-4), nor is it the nature of my faith--of my faith in God. The so-called intellectuals of our day scoff at faith in God as unscientific. Yet God has given us ample evidence of His existence (Rom. 1:18-22). The design found in nature demands a designer (Heb. 3:4). This universe is not the product of chance. It is the theories of evolution that, though touted as fact, violate scientific laws. These theories teach that order naturally arose out of chaos, life came from non-living matter, and that intelligent beings came from non-intelligent matter. That, I'd be ashamed to believe. God is the logical answer to mankind's questions concerning our origins. God's existence violates no scientific laws. We are without excuse for not believing in Him. I'm not ashamed to affirm that God exists. Not Ashamed of Believing Jesus to be God's Son History acknowledges that there really was a Jesus of Nazareth. Many say He was a good man, a great teacher, a profound thinker, etc. However, many of these same people will deny that He was the Son of God. Jesus could not have been a good man and a chronic liar and deceiver. He intentionally led many to believe that He was the Christ (Messiah), the Son of God (Matt. 16:16,17; Mk. 15:39; Jn. 11:27; Ac. 9:20). Either He was an imposter or He was who He claimed to be. He can't be both a fraud and a good man. Through the power of His resurrection from the dead, Jesus demonstrated that He was the Christ, the Son of the living God. Those apostles who had forsaken Him during His trial later boldly preached that Jesus was both Lord and Christ (Ac. 2:36). They wrote about His miracles and teaching so others would believe (Jn. 20:30,31). Only their actual witnessing of the resurrection (2 Pet. 1:16) could have changed their cowardice to conviction! Paul, who had at one time persecuted Christians, later affirmed that He was "not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes" (Rom. 1:16). Jesus said, "If you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins" (John 8:24). Likewise, He warned against people being ashamed of Him and being unwilling to confess Him before others (Mk. 8:38; Matt. 10:32,33). I'm not ashamed to confess to you that I believe that Jesus is God's Son. Not Ashamed of God's Word as Truth Jesus declared that God's word is truth (Jn. 17:17). He promised His apostles that He would send the Spirit to guide them into all truth (Jn. 16:13). Thus divine power revealed all that is pertinent to godly living (2 Pet. 1:3). Scripture does not originate with men (2 Pet. 1:20,21). "All scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work" (2 Tim. 3:16,17). I'm not ashamed to claim Scripture as my standard of truth. "What Is Truth?" As Jesus stood on trial He said,"for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears my voice." In response, Pilate asked, "What is truth?" (Jn. 18:36,37). Unfortunately, Pilate's rhetorical question is a typical response today. Many believe there is no absolute truth. Hence, we have a culture that has trouble discerning good and evil (Heb. 5:12-14). This ambiguous approach to truth has even infiltrated the churches of our land. It is not at all uncommon to hear so-called church leaders questioning the doctrinal and moral truths of scripture. This is not new! From the beginning God's truth and authority have been challenged (Gen. 3:1-6). For thousands of years God's word has withstood the onslaught of the enemies of righteousness. It is still here. Time and again it has proven itself reliable. Jesus said, "Know the truth and the truth shall make you free" (Jn. 8:32). However, truth that is not applied to one's life is of no benefit. Truth has not been revealed for theology majors and seminary students but for the common man--for you and me. Those who decide that they can't understand the Bible underestimate God. He created us with the ability to learn and reason. He has communicated to us on our level. You and I can know God's will! The division and apostasy that has occurred over the years is a direct result of ignorance. When the blind lead the blind, both fall into the pit (Matt. 15:14). Too many have blindly followed the doctrines and creeds of men. True faith is not blind, but informed. Can you give a reasoned defense of your hope (1 Pet. 3:15)? "My Heart's Desire" Paul said, "My heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God" (Rom. 10:1-3). Paul was not content to merely ignore the differences he had with others on spiritual matters. His appeals to reason with people from scripture were received differently in each city. For example, in Thessalonica they ran him out of town, but in Berea they were more open-minded "in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so" (Ac. 17:11). The Good News It begins with bad news. God's word says that we have all sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23). Many don't think sin is very serious, but that is merely because we're used to its stench. Quite simply, sin is lawlessness (1 Jn. 3:4). It is behavior contrary to God's law. God is holy (1 Pet. 1:15,16). In Him there is no darkness at all (1 Jn. 1:5). He is pure (1 Jn. 2:3). Our sins separate us from Him (Isa. 59:2). Likewise, God is perfect in justice (Deut. 32:4). He cannot let us get away with sin and be just, any more than human judges can let people get away with murder and be just. Thankfully, however, God is also loving and gracious. While God's justice does not permit Him to arbitrarily ignore our sin, His love does not allow Him to ignore our plight. So, He gave His only Son as a sacrifice for us (Jn. 3:16). Through this willing sacrifice on the part of Jesus, God remains just and is also the justifier of those who have faith in Jesus (Rom. 3:26). So, what shall we do? To this question Christ's apostles responded by saying, "believe in the Lord Jesus and you shall be saved" (Ac. 16:31) and "repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins" (Ac. 2:38). It is essential that we crucify ourselves with Christ (Gal. 2:20). We are buried with Christ in baptism and we are raised with him through faith in the working of God to walk in newness of life (Rom. 6:3,4; Col. 2:12,13). We die to sin and live for Christ. Have you done this? -- Think on These Things, July-August-September 2001 ___________________________________________ "Where is Abel Your Brother?" (Genesis 4:9) by Billy Norris God asked this question not because He did not know where Abel was but because He did know Cain's heart. "The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good" (Prov. 15:3). Actually, God was calling Cain to account for the evil deed of killing his brother. Woe is pronounced upon those who walk in "the way of Cain" (Jude 11). Therefore we also need to look into the heart of Cain, that we may not follow his way of life. 1. Cain was religious. "Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the Lord" (Gen. 4:3). Since he was "a tiller of the ground," it would be natural for him to offer the fruit of his labors to the Lord. Even though Cain "brought an offering of the first fruit," God "did not respect Cain and his offering." "Abel brought of the firstling of his flock and of their fat. And the Lord respected Abel and his offering" (Gen. 4:4,5). Why would God respect one and not the other? References in the New Testament give the answer: "By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain..." (Heb. 11:4). Since "faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Rom. 10:17), it is evident, then, that Abel offered his sacrifice in obedience to God's word, while Cain did not. Cain's action shows that one may engage in religious activity that does not please God. For one's religion to be respected he must worship the right object -- God; he must worship the right object in the right way -- according to the instruction God has given. 2. Cain was self-willed. Though God specified a certain kind of sacrifice, Cain chose to offer something else. As a result, God did not respect his offering. God has never been pleased with the self-willed, rebellious man. God told King Saul to destroy the Amalekites and all their possessions. Saul chose rather to spare the king and the finest of the herd and flock. His rebellion cost him the favor of God, his kingdom, and his life (I Sam. 15:31). Young Samuel had a much better attitude. When the Lord called, he responded, "Speak, Lord, for your servant hears" (I Sam. 3:9,10). Christ set the pattern for us when He came not to do His own will, but the will of His Father in heaven (John 6:38). When the dark hour of the cross approached, He prayed, "Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from me; nevertheless mot My will, but Yours be done" (Luke 22:42). 3. Cain was envious. When Cain saw that Abel's offering was respected and his was not, it is evident that he was moved by envy to do physical harm to his brother. Envy can be a dreadful force for evil. Because of it, Joseph's brothers sold him into slavery (Gen. 37); Saul sought to kill David (I Sam. 18); the chief priests delivered up Jesus to Pilate that He might be crucified as a common criminal. "For he knew that they had handed Him over because of envy" (Matt. 27:18). Envy is a sin described as a work of the flesh -- along with adultery, fornication, lewdness, idolatry, murder, and drunkenness (Gal. 5:19-21). Those who harbor envy in their hearts cannot enter the kingdom of God (Gal. 5:19-21). 4. Cain showed an unjustified anger. God asked Him, "Why are you angry?" (Gen. 4:6). There is, however, an anger that is justified. When Moses came down from Mount Sinai, he found Israel worshiping the golden calf. In his anger "he took the calf which they had made, burned it in the fire, and ground it to powder; and he scattered it on the water and made the children of Israel drink it" (Ex. 32:19,20). Because of his anger, Moses saved Israel from idolatry that day. Jesus was both angered and grieved at the hardness of the peoples' heart when they sought to destroy Him because He healed a man on the Sabbath (Mark 3:1-6). Cain, however, was angry when he had no reason to be, when his anger was a product of the evil that was within himself. 5. Cain ignored God's warning. God said to him, "If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it" (Gen. 4:7). Cain was not the first to ignore the warning of God. God had told his parents in the garden that if they ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil they would surely die (Gen. 2:17). Failing to heed His warning, they ate and they died (Gen 3). The statutes of the Lord must be respected. "Moreover by them Your servant is warned, and in keeping them there is great reward" (Ps. 19:11). 6. Cain was the first murderer. Taking the life of another is a dreadful sin. Taking the life of an innocent brother because one's own evil must be even more grossly wicked. Under the law of Christ, where right or wrong can be determined by motive as well as by overt act, one can be guilty of murder even without shedding blood. "Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life" (I John 3:15). 7. Cain was an irresponsible liar. When God asked him where his brother was, he lied, "I do not know. Am I my brother's keeper?" Though he had murdered his brother, he claimed no responsibility for his brother's welfare. When God let him know assuredly that he was his brother's keeper and that he would be punished for harming him, he cried out, "My punishment is greater than I can bear" (Gen. 4:13). "The way of Cain" is the way of sin, one leading to another and then to another and then to another. "The way of Cain" also inevitably leads to inescapable punishment. So God has sounded a clear warning, "Woe to them" who go "in the way of Cain" (Jude 11). -- Via Gospel Guide, Volume XXXI, No. 6, July 1999 ___________________________________________ News & Notes We are glad to have Mrs. Gene Frost, Peggy's mother, with us, while she'll be in the area for several days. Let us also be remembering the Frames and the Thompsons while they are on the road. It was good to have Margaret Mosier with us last week; but, unfortunately, her health did not allow her to stay throughout the entire worship hour. Let us be praying for her. Joe Thompson is feeling somewhat better, after a terrible ordeal he was having last Sunday. Mae Cornette can also still use our prayers as her health hasn't been up to par. We are glad for each of you who are visiting with us this day and hope to see you again soon! ________________________________________ Avondale CHURCH OF CHRIST 1606 Glen Willow Rd., Avondale, PA 19311 (For postal service: P.O. Box 421) (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@onemain.com web site: http://home.onemain.com/~tedwards/avondale ________________________________________