____________________________________________________ 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 7, 2002 ____________________________________________________ The Simple Gospel Thanksgiving by Tom Roberts Being "thankful" to God is often spoken of as a "duty," and "obligation." While no objection can rightfully be registered to thanksgiving as such, we surely must not limit our understanding of it to this realm. One might as well think of watermelon as being composed only of rind, or of roses only of thorns if we fail to see the purely voluntary and "from-the-heart" side of thanksgiving. While duty and obligation define the obedient nature of the children of God, there is much more to our relationship to God than response to commands. That being "thankful" is a command is evident from the scriptures. Both the Old Testament and the New remind us not to be forgetful of God's bountiful blessings. Psalm 100:4 teaches, "...be thankful unto him and bless his name...." Colossians 3:15, after reminding us that the peace of Christ should rule our hearts, says, "...and be ye thankful." Without a doubt, we need such reminders. Like little children must be taught not to take favors from others for granted but to say "thank you," so also must we be reminded not to take God for granted. But here is the difference we must strive to see. A little child may be polite and, from the result of training in the home, say "thank you" when given something, observing etiquette alone, without feeling grateful in his heart. This is quite different from actually being thankful for the favor bestowed. As Christians study the Bible, we are taught to be thankful. This may express itself even by a perfunctory "giving of thanks" at the table. But we should progress beyond the point of merely being "polite" to God and really understand what this means. If we truly understand it, our service to the Lord will take on a fuller meaning than that of dumb service like an ox in a yoke. We will not hear brethren ask, "Do I have to attend every service?" or be in a constant state of turmoil and indecision about how much time, talent and money to allow the Lord. A proper view of "thanksgiving" will put such passages as Matthew 6:33 ("Seek ye first the kingdom of God...") into the right perspective for us all. Apostolic Example Paul said of himself that he was "chief of sinners" when he persecuted the church. Looking back on that dark part of his life and comparing it with the work of an apostle, he said, "I thank him that enabled me, even Christ Jesus our Lord, for that he counted me faithful, appointing me to his service; though I was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: howbeit I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief; and the grace of our Lord abounded exceedingly with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus" (1 Timothy 1:12-14). Brethren, Paul wasn't saying "thank you" to God perfunctorily, or because he had been taught to do so as a good Jew. He wasn't just being polite. Paul knew that he had been lost and in rebellion to God's will (however ignorantly he may have done it). But by God's grace and mercy, this "chief of sinners" (vs. 15) was forgiven and made whole. In the full realization of this bountiful gift, Paul spoke from the heart about his thankfulness. And, to make the lesson complete, Paul reminds us that "for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me as chief might Jesus Christ show forth all his longsuffering, for an ensample of them that should thereafter believe on him unto eternal life" (vs. 15, 16). The next verse (17) is somewhat reminiscent of Miriam's song of deliverance on the banks of the Red Sea after being delivered from the enemy: "Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen." Has any language ever been invented that says it any better? The reader can see Paul's heartfelt thanks in every letter as he considers the wonderful gift of God's grace. Here is our example, not just of polite words spoken in moments soon forgotten, but from hearts that are lifted up and made free from sin by the unspeakable gift of God's love. We are free! We are children of God! Our names are inscribed in God's Book of Life in Heaven! With this in view, can we dare speak of thanksgiving only as a duty and obligation? Surely we can comprehend a deeper meaning than this. Surely we can. And when we do, there will be an added dimension to our relationship to God, to our service to God, that will transcend any understanding limited only to duty and obligation. Let no one understand this to be a deprecation of duty, however. It is the base upon which obedience is built. What I am saying is that anyone who considers duty and obligation to be a full and complete understanding of our relationship with God has missed the mark. Such a one has far to go in learning of God. None can go to heaven without "doing the will" of our Father (Matthew 7:21, etc.) and obedience must be "from the heart" (Romans 6:17) which speaks of more than some allow. Let us learn to be truly thankful for all of our blessings and for the full fellowship with God. Nothing less can satisfy the will of Him from which all blessings flow nor satisfy the nature of man that is made in His image. "Be ye thankful...." -- Via The Watchman, February 2002 ___________________________________________ A Lesson of Olympic Proportions by Steve Klein The 2002 Winter Olympiad in Utah has been quite a spectacle. For the many Americans who enjoy such, the success of our fellow countrymen at these Olympics has been a special delight. A lot can be learned from athletic competition. Through the inspiration of God, the Scriptures draw on athletics to help us learn several important spiritual lessons. The fact that "the race is not to the swift" (Ecclesiastes 9:11) illustrates that "time and chance" happen to us all. The admonition to "lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us," and "run with endurance the race that is set before us" (Hebrews 12:1) teaches us the need to put forth steady continual effort in order to gain heaven in the end. And the fact that "we do not wrestle against flesh and blood" (Ephesians 6:12) helps us perceive the true might of our spiritual enemy and our need to rely upon God's strength. Among the greatest lessons athletics can teach us is the need to abide by the rules. The inspired apostle Paul observed that, "If anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules" (2 Timothy 2:5). In the Salt Lake Olympics, more than one competitor has been disqualified because they did not compete according to the rules. The disqualified athlete may have trained as hard or harder than other athletes. He may possess more ability, more skill, and even more luck than the others. But it all counts for nothing if he does not follow the rules. What a tremendous lesson this is for those who would run the race for the "crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give" (cf. 2 Timothy 4:8). A person may be "good" and even confess his love and devotion for Jesus Christ, but if he has not or will not "repent" and "be baptized for the remission of sins," he is not running according to the rules (Acts 2:38). He may worship God enthusiastically in song, and yet if he adds a mechanical instrument of music, he's not abiding by the rules (Ephesians 5:19). He may give much to the Lord's cause, but because he does not give cheerfully or as he has been prospered, he is disqualified. The Lord has given us a number of rules for our race. Let us ever strive to compete "according to the rules." -- Via The Bulletin of the Church of Christ at New Georgia, February 24, 2002 ___________________________________________ Questions Our Neighbors Ask Can A Christian Fall Away And Be Lost? by Charles Spence "Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God" (Hebrews 3:12). The book of Hebrews is a magnificent book. Found on almost every page is an encouraging word addressed to Christians in general and Jewish Christians in particular. Hebrews is a book of exhortations put forth in poetic eloquence. The melting heart of concern of the Holy Spirit bursts forth through the language of the writer of Hebrews. The general theme is "Go on unto perfection" (Hebrews 6:1). The book exhorts the child of God to grow unto spiritual maturity. There is a danger, however, in failing to heed the exhortation of the Holy Spirit -- apostasy. The threat of apostasy was real. In the book of Hebrews, the Holy Spirit went to great lengths to warn Christians of the seriousness of falling away. Observe, "Therefore we should give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation" (Hebrews 2:1-3)? The Hebrew writer was telling his audience that they could be neglectful of the great salvation that is in Christ. For this very reason, Paul exhorts the brethren in Philippi to "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling" (Philippians 2:12). Paul, in other words, was telling those brethren to see their salvation through to completion. He goes on to say, "For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure" (Philippians 2:13). When a child of God no longer works out his salvation, God's work is hindered. This puts the Christian in jeopardy of falling. This is negligence of the worse kind because it makes it hard for the child of God to escape condemnation (Hebrews 2:3). In the context of Hebrews chapter 3, there is a contrast made between Moses and Christ. Concerning the house of Christ (v. 6), the writer says, "Whose house we are IF we hold fast the confidence and rejoicing steadfast until the end." As long as the child of God "holds fast," he will be a part of the household of Christ. The writer exemplifies the danger of letting go of the confidence and the rejoicing by referring to Israel in the day of temptation in the wilderness (Hebrews 3:8). God said, "Therefore I was angry with that generation, and said, `They always go astray in their heart, and they have not known my ways. So I swore in my wrath, they shall not enter my rest"' (Hebrews 3:12). The exhortation in the book of Hebrews is to Christians. The exhortation is real because the danger is real. Some people believe that once a person is saved, that person can never be lost. Why would a biblical writer, inspired by the Holy Spirit, write with such eloquence, passion, and conviction, with no uncertain terms and ambiguity, that apostasy was a real possibility? The fact is that apostasy was a real possibility and concern. For this very reason, the Holy Spirit further warns, "For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted of the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God and put Him to an open shame" (Hebrews 6:4-6). For the faithful child of God, there is great expectation and hope (Hebrews 6:9). Once saved, there are things that the child of God must do to keep and maintain his salvation. As had previously been mentioned, one thing he must do is heed the things that he has heard or he will drift away. Let us all be concerned enough about the real threat of apostasy that we exercise diligence in keeping our spiritual heads about us. -- via Christianity Magazine, August, 1999 ___________________________________________ News & Notes Let us be praying for a complete and speedy recovery for Steve Wolfgang of Danville, Kentucky. He had recently been in ICU to receive 4 units of blood. It appears that a small hiatal hernia, over a period of several months, had caused this loss, which resulted in a serious anemic state. His hemoglobin -- which had dropped so extremely low that the doctors were amazed he had even been able to walk -- is now improving. So Steve is feeling much better -- and in his own words, "...feeling very much like I dodged a bullet." He will be rechecked in a couple weeks to see how his therapy for increasing iron in his blood has been coming along. This Friday (7:30 PM) begins the Gospel Meeting at the Exton church of Christ (Exton, PA) with Edward A. Smith (from Flint, Michigan) preaching. April 12-14. There will also be a gospel meeting at the Susquehanna church of Christ in Marietta, Pennsylvania, April 21-26. Gary Eubanks (from Piscataway, New Jersey) will be the speaker. ________________________________________ evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (610) 925-3567 e-mail: tedwards@onemain.com web site: http://home.onemain.com/~tedwards/go ________________________________________