____________________________________________________ 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). ____________________________________________________ January 20, 2002 ____________________________________________________ Are We Under Law? by Carroll R. Sutton Every serious Bible student should be fully aware of the fact that we are not under the law that God gave through Moses to govern Israel. Justification is not by it. At Antioch in Pisidia, Paul declared that "by Him [Jesus, CRS] all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses" (Acts 13:39). In Romans 6:14, Paul wrote: "for ye are not under the law, but under grace." Neither can we earn or merit salvation by keeping of any law. Should we therefore conclude that we are not under any law whatsoever? Should we conclude that salvation is given before and without any obedience to any law of any kind? What saith the Scriptures? Does salvation by grace exclude obedience to any law from being essential to salvation? What saith the Scriptures? The apostle Paul mentioned the fact that unto the Jews he became as a Jew, to them that were under the law, as under the law that he might gain them. He further said: "To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law of Christ) that I might gain them that are without law" (1 Cor. 9:21). Paul recognized his union with and his subjection to Christ. Yes, we are "not without law to God, but under the law to Christ." In Galatians 6:2 Paul exhorts Christians to "Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." Yes, Christ has a law and Christians should fulfill that law. James 1:25 says, "But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work this man shall be blessed in his deed." It is for all because James says, "But whoso"; and blessings are provided for those who look therein and are doers of the work. Paul asks, "Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? Nay: but by the law of faith" (Rom. 3:27). We must conclude that a person is justified by faith without the deeds of the law of works. We are under "the law of faith." Should we conclude that we are justified by faith without the deeds of the laws of faith? Where is the evidence (if there is any) that we are justified without the deeds of the law of faith? One must obey "the faith" in order to be saved. In Acts 6:7 we read that "a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith." One's faith must obey. It must work. It must act. We must be obedient to the faith, that is, to the system of faith, the gospel, the truth, the law of faith. Yes, we are under "the law of faith." The Israelites were under the Levitical priesthood and, under that priesthood, "the people received the law." The priesthood has been changed. The Lord Jesus Christ, who was of the tribe of Judah, is now our high priest. This change of priesthood (from the tribe of Levi to Judah) necessitated a change also of the law. Hebrews 7:12 says: "For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law." This change of priesthood did not abolish law entirely or completely. It brought about a change of the law. Jesus Christ has an unchangeable priesthood and was "made a surety of a better testament" (Hebrews 7:22). This "better testament" is "a better hope." Jesus is the mediator of "a better covenant" which was established upon "better promises." In making this "new covenant," the Lord said, "I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts" (Heb. 8:10). Yes, we are under an eternal priesthood; that of Jesus Christ. Under it, we have received "grace and truth," "the law of faith," "the perfect law of liberty," "the gospel of Christ." Remember that James 4:12 says, "There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgeth another?" In view of these facts let us "so speak; and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty" (Jas. 2:12). If your concept of "grace" is such that you do not believe that we are under any law, or that obedience to that law is not required in order for one to become a child of God and to be saved eternally, your concept of "grace" is not according to the Scriptures. -- The bulletin of the Church of Christ at New Georgia, September 2, 2001 ___________________________________________ A Willing Mind by Robert F. Turner Bro. Shipley told the Oaks-West church we did not want a "reluctant" teacher in a single one of our classes -- and I said to myself, "There goes our teaching program!" I was reminded of the fellow who gave no more than a dime to the Lord because he couldn't do it "scripturally;" i.e., willingly. But the classes continued, and our work is supported, because true saints have a "willing mind." God told Moses to take of Israel an offering "of every man whose heart maketh him willing" (Ex. 25:2; 35:20), and of this to build the holy tabernacle. The spiritual temple of the New Covenant is likewise built of material: people who submit their will to God's will. This initial submission includes the acceptance of obligations or duty and sometimes we must "buffet" our body (1 Cor. 9:27), lest the lure of immediate desires overshadow the more basic "will" to serve God. Perhaps Paul had this in mind when he said, "If I do this (preaching, rt) of mine own will, I have a reward: but if not of mine own will, I have a stewardship entrusted to me" (1 Cor. 9:17). Would that all preachers felt so keenly their mission in life. But submission to duty by no means satisfies the call of Christ. Elders are to rule "willingly" "of a ready mind." Of the latter, Vincent says "Willingly... Not strong enough. The word is compounded of... forward, and heart or spirit. Hence...a forward spirit; denoting not mere willingness but zeal" (On 1 Pet. 5:2). Paul waited word from Philemon about Onesimus "that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly" (Phile. 14). Paul wrote about benevolence, "If there be first a willing mind (as in 1 Pet. 5:2, "eagerness, zeal" rt) it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not" (2 Cor. 8:l2, 9:7). Reluctance to serve Christ usually means there is something above Christ on your list of priorities: something you had rather do, or want more than you want His praise. This is shortsightedness. I can't make you willing to prepare for heaven, but I can warn you that this is the only way. -- Via Plain Talk, September, 1974 ___________________________________________ Scriptural Worship by Clarence Johnson "But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth" (John 4:23-24). Worship is a very important subject to any person who would please God, for God seeks men to worship Him. Of course, we must realize that God is not a beggar, desiring the crumbs that fall from our spiritual tables, but He only seeks worship that is in spirit and truth. Spirit as used in this instance is concerned primarily with man's attitude toward God. One must bow to God with humble, contrite spirit and worship in accordance with God's word. Jesus said to the Father in John 17:17, "You word is truth." Christ made it plain that God does not accept just any and all religious service in Matt. 15:9, "And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men." Paul spoke of those who "ignorantly worship" God, saying that God demands that such persons "repent" because "He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead" (Acts 17:30-31). In Acts 18:13, the Jews accused Paul of persuading "men to worship God contrary to the law" of Moses. In what respect then, was the worship taught and practiced by the inspired apostle different from that contained in the Old Testament law? Jewish Worship Under the Law Those who worshipped God in accordance with the Law of Moses TAUGHT that law with its Sabbath observance, animal sacrifices, circumcision, etc., Mark 2:24; Luke 2:24; Acts 15:1. They observed the Passover, and other Jewish feasts as acts of worship, John 12:20. When they sang, they made melody on numerous mechanical instruments of music, Psalm 33:2; Psalm 150:3-5. They, of course, prayed to God, Luke 18:10-14. Tithes and offerings were given, Deut. 26:10-12. These gifts were in proportion to income without regard to poverty or prosperity. Study Matt. 23:23; Matt. 5:23-24. Paul's Teaching and Practice On the other hand, Paul taught that the Law of Moses had been abolished, Eph. 2:15. No one is to be judged by whether he keeps the Sabbath or other observances of Moses' Law, Col. 2:16. Animal sacrifices are no longer necessary, Christ offered one sacrifice for sins forever, Heb. 8:27. Physical circumcision avails nothing, Gal. 6:15. Christ fulfilled and became our Passover, 1 Cor. 5:7. We are to observe the Lord's supper as a memorial to Him, 1 Cor. 10:16; 11:20-26. We sing and make melody IN OUR HEARTS to the Lord, and we pray to the Father in Jesus' name, Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16-17. According to Paul's teaching, Christians' giving is to be in regard to prosperity and ability, and to be acceptable to God, it must be contributed because of love rather than from a feeling of necessity or command, 1 Cor. 16:1-2; 2 Cor. 8:8). Specific Acts of Worship It is made clear by the Lord in Matt. 15:9 that TEACHING is an act of worship. The people referred to in this verse worshipped in vain by teaching the commandments of men. If they had been teaching the will of God, that act of worship would have been acceptable. Our worship must be "in truth" -- that is, in harmony with revealed truth. According to the inspired apostle Paul, one may teach by speaking and SINGING in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16. With these, we not only teach and admonish one another, but we also praise God, Heb. 2:12. A study of the great feasts of the Mosaic dispensation quickly reveals that such feasts were considered by the Holy Spirit to be acts of worship to God. "And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast" (John 12:20). It was at this very feast that Christ instituted the "LORD'S SUPPER" and commanded, "Do this in remembrance of Me" Luke 22:19). Shortly afterward, by His sacrificial death on the cross, He fulfilled the Passover, Luke 22:16, so that we find the true worshipers of God in the New Testament dispensation meeting "on the first day of the week to break bread" (Acts 20:7) in accordance to His command. PRAYER has always been an act of reverence and respect -- worship, paid to God. One passage of Scripture will suffice to make this fact perfectly plain. "And the twenty-four elders who sat before God on their thrones fell on their faces and worshipped God, saying, `We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was and who is to come" (Rev. 11:16-17). Much could be said about Scriptural prayer, but briefly stated, acceptable prayer in these "last days" (Acts 2:16-17; Heb. 1:1-2) must, as all worship, proceed from a proper motive, James 4:3 (in spirit) and it must be in the name of -- that is in recognition of the authority of -- Christ, Matt. 28:18-20. Finally, let us take a brief look at the "CONTRIBUTION" as revealed in the New Testament. We need to be very careful, lest we think that we give to God as if He were in need, Acts 17:25. All that we have is already His, Psa. 24:1. We are His stewards, Luke 12:42-48; 16:1-13. As such, we will give account of "our" time, opportunities, abilities, and money. The Jews worshipped God at the altar with their tithes and offerings. "And you shall answer and say before the Lord your God...I have brought the firstfruits of the land which you, O Lord, have given me.' Then you shall set it before the Lord your God, and worship before the Lord your God. So you shall rejoice in every good thing which the Lord your God has given to you and your house, you and the Levite and the stranger who is among you. When you have finished laying aside all the tithes of your increase..." (Deut. 26:5-12). Likewise, Christians worship God when they fulfill their God-given responsibility in the matters of gifts and offerings. See 2 Cor. 9:7 and Acts 24:17. We should remember that to minister to brethren in need is to minister to Christ, Matt. 25:34-40, and to fail to relieve the needs of Christ's brethren is to refuse to aid Christ Himself, verses 41-45. However, let us never forget that such "gifts" do not actually provide God with anything. He is not in need. But they do serve (please) Him -- and the greatest benefit (blessing) rests on the cheerful giver, Acts 20:35; 2 Cor. 9:7. -- Via The Susquehanna Sentinel, August 12, 2001 ___________________________________________ News & Notes Joe Thompson has recently seen a doctor for stomach ailments and was put on medication for a possible ulcer. Let us pray that all will go well for Joe. Margaret Mosier has been having some back trouble for more than a week and has seen a doctor about it who prescribed some medicine that, so far, doesn't seem to be helping. Let us be praying for her. We are glad that Sandy Manganello is now back home from the hospital and doing better every day. ________________________________________ evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (610) 925-3567 e-mail: tedwards@onemain.com web site: http://home.onemain.com/~tedwards/go ________________________________________