____________________________________________________ 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). ____________________________________________________ July 4, 2004 ____________________________________________________ Contents: 1) Improving Our Spiritual Lives (Tom Edwards) 2) Unexpected Dangers of Sin (James Baker) 3) News & Notes ____________________________________________________ -1- Improving Our Spiritual Lives by Tom Edwards It has been said that the biggest room in the world is the "room for improvement." Maybe that's why some of us feel a bit lonely at times: We've become lost in all that "space" in there, that expansive "void," which can give us the feeling of beckoning "needs" that make us aware that it's time for spiritual improvement -- time for a "faith lift," as someone might say. People, however, often look for various things to fill this void -- which might not always be an improvement, and maybe only a temporary fix. But is that not often because we do not realize what we truly do need to make our lives better? It is, therefore, necessary for us to look into the "mirror" of God's word -- for it is a very special mirror that will not only show us what we are, but also what we are to be. It reveals to us our greatest need, tells us how to secure our souls, and instructs us how to spiritually enrich our lives -- for the benefit of now and throughout all eternity. But though the Holy Scripture can tell us of these things, it will profit us no more than would food for our body if we never take the time to ingest and assimilate it. In other words, just thinking about a nutritious meal -- and knowing all the ingredients -- is not what will sustain our "tabernacles" of flesh, nor can we truly enjoy how pleasing the food is by merely reading about it. As someone once said, "A recipe is not a cake." So, in a similar manner, just knowing the word of the Lord isn't what makes one a Christian. James, therefore, gives the following exhortation: "Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls. But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does" (Jms. 1:21-25). "Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do, and does not do it, to him it is sin" (4:17). As Christians, we have received a new life, a life of righteousness; but it is a life that cannot be lived if we are sinking into that former manner of sin. For to regress in that way, is to not be what the Lord wants us to be. Paul states, "Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come" (2 Cor. 5:17). And since "our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away, so that we no longer be slaves of sin" (Rom. 6:6), let us not resurrect that old self again! When we are tempted to go back into iniquity -- as the Israelites of old who so often longed to return to Egypt for the fish, cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic (Num. 11:5) -- we must not yield. For we are to continue in our new life. Let us, therefore, strive to make heaven a greater "allurement" to us than any sin could ever be. In addition, Paul shows that it is by faith and water baptism that one is put into Christ -- which answers the "how" of 2 Corinthians 5:17 -- in order that these spiritual blessings can be so (Gal. 3:26,27). Similarly, Romans 6:3,4 also reveals baptism to be "in order that...we too might walk in newness of life." So now, as new creatures with this new life, having been "born again" (John 3:3-5) and beginning as a spiritual infant, we, "like newborn babies," are to "long for the pure milk of the word," so that by it we may "grow in respect to salvation" (1 Pet. 2:2). In Ephesians 4:17-32, Paul exhorts the brethren to "...lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit...and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of truth..." He then continues by pointing out some specific things, which characterize the old self, that are to be put off; and of those qualities that should now be distinguishing the new self instead. Is not living this new life not only what being a Christian is all about, but also, therefore, one of the reasons why Jesus suffered at Calvary? This is pointed out in 2 Corinthians 5:15, in which Paul states, "and He died for all, that they who live should no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf." Through Christ, our lives can be changed for the better -- but we must be willing to comply with His word that this might be so. For anyone can change, if he or she is willing. Perhaps, though, one of the problems today toward this is seen in a statement by Leo Tolstoy that "Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself." No doubt, we must begin with ourselves. Is this not also what Jesus meant in Matthew 7:3-5, when he pointed out the need for one to first take the "log" out of his own eye, before he would attempt to take the "speck" out of his brother's? Similarly, Paul gave the following eye-opening admonition in Romans 12:1- 3: "Therefore you have no excuse, everyone of you who passes judgment, for in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. And we know that the judgment of God rightly falls upon those who practice such things. But do you suppose this, O man, when you pass judgment on those who practice such things and do the same yourself, that you will escape the judgment of God?" Though it happened about 30 years ago, I still can recall one night on Big Pier 60 at Clearwater Beach, when an elderly man came up to me to teach the Bible; but as he neared, I was soon able to detect that he seemed to be more under the power of the "spirits" than of the Spirit. He reeked of alcohol. Needless to say, his influence was not the only thing that had been impaired that evening. Paul shows the need for the individual's responsibility toward improvement: "Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work. Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart" (2 Tim. 2:21,22). God's truth can help us change for the better and elevate us from a dishonorable state to an honorable one. In other words, Jesus can give us a second chance and help us to set our lives on a better course. How true this was for the apostle Paul who declares in 1 Timothy 1:15,16 the following: "It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all. Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life." It is a great transformation that occurs in the one who will yield himself to the gospel: the sinner becomes a saint! In the secular realm, change and improvement is often striven for -- and accomplished -- but how much more needful this is in the realm of one's own spiritual relationship with God. For the Christian cannot remain idle upon the river of life, but he must continue to row against the current -- to ply with the oars of "faith" and "works" -- in order that he will not drift to the waterfall of destruction and plummet to his death. Both of these "oars" must be used together, or else the boat will not be navigated properly and will end up going in circles -- instead of reaching its safe destination (cf. James 2). In thinking of our zeal toward improving ourselves for God, it often reminds me of Pablo Casals -- that renowned cellist who was a virtuoso in his field. On his 75th birthday an interviewer asked him why he still found it necessary to practice the cello for four hours a day. "Because," Casals answered, "I think I'm making some progress." Though this man had already achieved world-wide acclaim for his musical talent, he still saw room for improvement. Shouldn't this also be true of us -- regardless of how spiritually minded we might think we are? Paul had the proper perspective on things, which also spurred him into the right conduct: "Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus" (Phil. 3:12-14). With Jesus for our ultimate example and of whose steps we are to follow (1 Pet. 2:21), and with God's perfection to be what we strive to develop in our lives (Matt. 5:48), we certainly have our work cut out for us. But let us remember, too, that as we strive to improve our spiritual lives, we will also have God helping us to do this, by working within us: "So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure (Phil. 2:12,13). Striving to improve in our relationship with the Lord is a way in which we can reach out to God; and when we do that, we know that He is there reaching down to us, in order to pull us near Him and to keep us safe in His good-keeping. ____________________________________________________ -2- Unexpected Dangers of Sin by James Baker The word of God defines sin as transgression of God's law (1 John 3:4). In other words, the law of God said to do one thing and the person does just the opposite, which places him or her in conflict with what the scripture has said. However, learn this rule about sin: It will take you farther than you plan to go and cause you to pay more than you planned to pay and make you stay longer than you thought to stay. For example, two men plan to rob a bank and end up shooting and killing someone in the process. A man desires a short affair or a one- night stand and ends up with a psycho who refuses to end the affair, and afterward begins stalking him, threatening his life and that of his family. A person plans on having only one drink and ends up drunk. In traffic an enraged driver gets out of his car to yell at another driver, and is shot dead by the driver. So you see, sin is dangerous, and one cannot plan the perfect sin because it always will turn in a direction one can never guess. -- via Words of the Week (the bulletin of the Mt. Airy church of Christ in Philadelphia, PA), for May 23, 2004. ____________________________________________________ "Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil" (Eph. 5:15,16). ____________________________________________________ -3- News & Notes Let those of us who are Christians be praying that the following people will be swiftly and completely healed: Frank Ragsdale, Joe Pine, and Luther Shuff. (Frank has now seen about 10 doctors, but the nausea and acute abdominal pains -- that have periodically flared up -- remain an enigma. Everything seems to check out fine. He was released from the hospital Friday, after having been in for 10 days; and had also been in for about a week, just a few weeks previously, for the same thing. More testing will need to be done.) If you are visiting with us today, we are glad for your presence. Please come again. ____________________________________________________ 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 ____________________________________________________