____________________________________________________ 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). ____________________________________________________ March 7, 2004 ____________________________________________________ Contents: 1) Speech Seasoned with Salt...and Pepper (Al Diestelkamp) 2) The Deity is in the Details (Steve Klein) 3) "He Who Is Not Against Us Is On Our Side" (Clarence R. Johnson) 4) Mankind's Nature & God's Provision (Gilbert Alexander) ____________________________________________________ -1- Speech Seasoned with Salt...and Pepper by Al Diestelkamp The apostle Paul wrote, "Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one" (Col. 4:6). I understand this to mean that our speech is not only to be truthful, but also tactful, so that it will be more palatable to the hearers. Occasionally a small child will blurt out a truthful statement which will embarrass the hearers for it's lack of tact. The words we find excusable from a child may be offensive when coming from an adult. The challenge facing Christians is to learn to speak the truth without unnecessarily offending people. How do we tell people who are fully convinced of their salvation that they are lost? The answer lies in training ourselves to speak the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, with kindness and compassion. I believe, for the most part, Christians try to be truthful and tactful in their efforts to teach others. In fact, we may at times go overboard with the "salt" to the point that the hearers fail to "taste" the truth. If we are so tactful that it obscures the truth they need to learn, we have defeated our purpose. Even though the primary application to Paul's instructions has to do with our speech toward those who are not Christians, I would certainly think that we would want to also apply it to our conversations with fellow Christians. We should try to frame our speech with Christians in the least offensive way possible. However, there comes a time when we may need a little "pepper" along with the "salt." Just because our speech is to be tactful, doesn't mean it must be bland. I'm confident that our Lord was careful that His speech was "with grace, seasoned with salt," but that doesn't mean that He never got "tough" with those who needed it. If you have doubts about that, all you have to do is read the twenty-third chapter of Matthew. Then there is the matter as to how we react to others when they disagree with us, suggesting we are wrong about some controversial issue. Are we too easily offended when one takes issue with what we believe or practice? Hopefully, they will disagree without being unkind, but we should not automatically consider it as a personal attack when someone challenges our beliefs or practices. I have seen long-time Christians become angry when they have been kindly questioned about what they consider a "settled" issue. This is especially true if it involves something that has long been practiced among brethren. It is almost like they are saying, "We've already completed the restoration of true Christianity." Let me say with as much "salt" as possible, that such an attitude smacks of arrogance and self-righteousness. As uncomfortable as it is to consider that we could be wrong about something we've believed or practiced, we need to be open to further study to see whether we are truly doing all "in the name of the Lord" (Col. 3:17). It will do no good for us to get angry or allow our feelings to be hurt by someone who challenges us. Getting back to our talking with those we believe are in error, let us make sure that in speaking "with grace, seasoned with salt," that we do not go overboard with "salt" and withhold truth from them. We also must "contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints" (Jude 3). -- Via Think on These Things, October-November-December 2003 ____________________________________________________ -2- The Deity is in the Details by Steve Klein Romans 1:4 tells us that Jesus Christ was "declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead." The resurrection of Jesus, more than perhaps any other single event, demonstrates to mankind the Deity of Jesus of Nazareth. People being raised from the dead, while not an everyday occurrence in Bible times, certainly happened occasionally. Jesus raised Lazarus, the widow's son at Nain, the daughter of Jairus, and perhaps others (John 11; Luke 7:11-15, 22; 8:49-56). None of these individuals are thought to be "gods" because they were raised from the dead. The case of Jesus is plainly different. As Jesus lies in the tomb, there is no human standing outside calling him to come forth, no one taking Him by the hand and commanding Him to arise. His body lies alone in Joseph's new tomb and the tomb is sealed and closely guarded. No human even witnesses His actual resurrection -- when the angel rolled away the stone the guards "became like dead men" (Matthew 28:4). Jesus' resurrection was accomplished directly by the power of God. The fact that "God raised up" Jesus is declared many times in the Book of Acts (2:24, 32; 3:13; 4:10; 10:40; 13:30, 37). And it is this fact that identifies Jesus as the Divine Son of God. The resurrection of Jesus Christ occurred in such a way as to leave men with physical and testimonial evidence of it. The details of this evidence give us striking proof of the authenticity of the resurrection, and thus of the Deity of Christ. Consider the following details: * The tomb was new and no one had been laid to rest there before (Matthew 27:57; Mark 15:43; Luke 23:51). There was no possibility of getting Jesus' body confused with the remains of another, or failing to remember where it had been placed in a tomb that housed many corpses. * The tomb was sealed with a large stone and guarded (Matthew 27:60-66). Grave robbers or others could not have taken the body. * The grave clothes were left neatly in the tomb. When Peter and John went into the tomb after the resurrection, they "saw the linen cloths lying there, and the handkerchief that had been around His head, not lying with the linen cloths, but folded together in a place by itself" (John 20:6-8). Who would steal a body and take the time to unwrap it and neatly fold up the clothes? Who would not take the expensive grave wrappings if they had been raised from the dead? (Perhaps Someone who knew that He would never need them again!) * The scars in Jesus' resurrected body were examined. On the very evening of the day He was raised, Jesus appeared to His disciples and "showed them His hands and His side" (John 20:20). While wounds in the hands could be observed on anyone who had been crucified, Jesus' wound in His side was somewhat unique. It offers gruesome evidence not only of His identity, but also of what His now living body had once endured. * Many saw Him alive. The number of witnesses to Jesus' resurrection makes it all the more credible. In a court of law, facts can be demonstrated on the basis of two or three reliable witnesses. Many, many more than that saw the resurrected Christ, including the apostles, Mary Magdalene, Cleopas, James, 500 brethren at once, and finally the apostle Paul. The detailed and reliable evidence we have been given for the resurrection of Jesus should make it all the easier to believe that it occurred. And believing in the resurrection of Jesus is the key to our salvation and the cause for our commitment to Him. "Knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus" (2 Corinthians 4:14). -- Via The Bulletin of the Church of Christ at New Georgia, January 18, 2004 ____________________________________________________ -3- "He Who Is Not Against Us Is On Our Side" by Clarence R. Johnson The apostle John spoke to Jesus: "`Teacher, we saw someone who does not follow us casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow us.' But Jesus said, `Do not forbid him, for no one who works a miracle in My name can soon afterward speak evil of Me. For he who is not against us is on our side'" (Mark 9:38-40). This conversation took place in the midst of Jesus' rebuke of the apostles' desire for personal greatness. It almost looks as if John was seeking to change the subject and put the heat on someone else. But he had missed the point. There are at least two related lessons we should learn from this conversation. First, those who teach and practice God's truth are not our enemies, no matter what their background. The cause of truth is greater than us and our immediate associates. Jesus had followers John didn't know. Second, we must learn that those who believe what we believe, teach what we teach, and do what we do are what we are religiously, even if they didn't attend our schools and associate with our associates to get that way. In fact, as time continues, we see more and more the importance of this last lesson. In the world today, there are numerous churches or religious organizations that claim to be the church of the New Testament on the basis that they supposedly can trace an unbroken line of succession to the churches or to the bishops of the first century. The largest of these organizations claims its bishops today are the successors of those named in the New Testament. They claim to have an unbroken list of such successors. Their list is severely suspect. But our main point of disagreement is that unless their bishops today teach and practice what Jesus and His apostles taught and practiced, their "line of succession" becomes meaningless. Scripture foretold that some bishops of New Testament days would apostatize and lead men astray, Acts 20:28-30. Another large religious body claims identity with the churches mentioned in the New Testament on the basis of supposedly being able to trace an unbroken chain of congregations extending all the way back to the first century. This cannot be done -- but if it could it would have little significance. There were congregations, even then, who had so strayed from the faith that they were in danger of losing their identity as churches of Christ. See Rev. 2:5; 3:15-16. The real test is whether we teach what was taught and do what was done under inspired leadership. If we believe what New Testament Christians believed, teach what they taught, and do what they did we are New Testament Christians. Otherwise, we fail to be meaningfully identified with them regardless of claims to apostolic or congregational succession. -- Via The Susquehanna Sentinel, March 7, 2004 ____________________________________________________ -4- Mankind's Nature & God's Provision by Gilbert Alexander God, the Creator, gave mankind the nature we have and the capabilities we have, desiring that we use our abilities to honor Him. He also provided for the needs of mankind in view of our nature. Since He perfectly knew our nature, He, in perfect wisdom, gave us fully all things that are needful, even blessing us richly far above our needs. Mankind is flesh (Gen. 2:7,19). We all are given a physical, earthly body (2 Cor. 5:1; I Cor. 15:44-49). We have minds to think with and to guide our bodies' behavior. These physical bodies are corruptible; that is, they wear out and are subject to disease, injury, and the final onslaught of death (I Cor. 15:53,54; I Pet. 1:24). We are subject to temptation (Gen. 6:3; James 1:13-15), just as Adam and Eve were (Gen. 3). Temptation to sin comes from desires of the flesh by which one is enticed to do wrong things. Because we are flesh, we need physical sustenance (I Tim. 6:8). Since God made us, He knows that we need these things (Matt. 6:11,32). We also need companionship (Gen. 2:18-24), and are sociable creatures. God has provided for our fleshly needs. "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights..." (James 1:17). He gives us "life and breath and all things" (Acts 17:24-28). From the beginning He has made provision for all physical needs and has taught us how to obtain them (Gen. 2:9; 9:2-4; Eph. 4:28). As a loving Father, He has not left us without care (Matt. 6:25-34; Acts 14:17). He has even provided ways to escape temptations of the flesh (I Cor. 10:13). Mankind also has a spirit that God formed in each person (Zech. 12:1). The body lives as the spirit dwells in it (James 2:26). The spirit does not die with the body, but departs back to God (Eccl. 12:7). Stephen prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit" (Acts 7:59). When Jesus raised the dead, their spirits returned to their bodies (Luke 8:49-56). The spirit God gave each of us is intelligent (I Cor. 2:11). The human spirit also has desires as the body does and sometimes resists the desires of the flesh (Matt. 26:41; Rom. 7:14-25). In order for one to please God, his spirit must overrule the flesh to do righteousness (I Cor. 6:20; 2 Cor. 7:1; I Cor. 5:5). This overruling is called self-control. To be strong and faithful, the spirit needs spiritual nourishment, just as the body needs physical nourishment. God has provided spiritual nourishment for mankind. He has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in Christ (Eph. 1:3). He has provided the means of spiritual understanding (Col. 1:9). He has given us spiritual knowledge in His word so that we can be nourished by the good doctrine (1 Tim. 4:6) and strengthened in the inner man (Eph. 3:14-21). He has given us assurance of an eternal dwelling place when the mortal has put on immortality (I Cor. 15:50-58), thus giving us hope and reason to live holy lives. -- Via The Bulletin of the Church of Christ at New Georgia, February 1, 2004 ____________________________________________________ MYRTLE STREET CHURCH OF CHRIST 1022 Myrtle Street Denham Springs, LA 70726 (225) 664-8208 Sunday: 9:15 AM, 10:00 AM, 4:00 PM Wednesday: 7:00 PM evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (225) 667-4520 e-mail: tedwards@onemain.com web site: http://home.onemain.com/~tedwards/go ____________________________________________________