____________________________________________________ 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). ____________________________________________________ February 13, 2005 ____________________________________________________ Contents: 1) Learning the Truth (Steve Klein) 2) Just as God Forgave (Joe Fitch) ____________________________________________________ -1- Learning the Truth by Steve Klein I have had the opportunity on several occasions to attend or read religious debates. In every such debate, at least one of the disputants has been in error. Sometimes, they both have been. Yet, I know for a fact that the debaters often spend hundreds of hours studying what the Bible has to say concerning the subject at hand. Whether the topic was instrumental music in worship, the necessity of baptism, the mode of baptism, church support of institutions, miraculous spiritual gifts or Christians taking oaths, I have always been impressed with the tremendous amount of Bible study, thought and preparation done by each participant. Their laborious effort shows. Personally, I have never heard a debate in which I didn't learn many new facts, some of them from the person who was defending error. One can have a lot of facts and still not have the truth! The same holds true for preachers and Bible class teachers. Many spend a great deal of time studying and preparing, and are capable of presenting a lot of true and valuable information. Yet, many are in error on certain points. Is it because they don't study enough? Maybe, in some cases. But maybe there is more to understanding God's truth than just studying. Maybe there is more to learning the truth than just learning the facts. How do we come to know the truth of God's word? Is it through study? Yes. But something more than study is necessary. 1) Study must be coupled with the will to know the truth, and not with a desire to reinforce our opinions or defend our positions. In John 5:39-40, Jesus told the Jews, "You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life." The Jews did not discover the truth about the Christ in the Old Testament Scriptures because they were "not willing." Even though they searched the Scriptures, they remained in error because they didn't want the truth more than they wanted their own opinions and traditions. We will do no better than they as long as we cherish anything more than the truth. Proverbs 23:23 commands us to "Buy the truth, and do not sell it." 2) Study must be thorough, and truly include all of the related information in the Bible on a given subject. Psalm 119:160 states that "The entirety of Your word is truth." If I want to know the truth, I must take "the entirety" of God's word. If I dismiss or ignore certain passages of Scripture because they don't fit with my view of truth, I will not learn the truth. 3) Study must be done with the humility of one who is ignorant, not with the pride of one who already knows. In 1 Corinthians 8:1-2, the apostle Paul writes, "Now concerning things offered to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies. And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know." The person who doesn't know, but doesn't know that he doesn't know, has a lot to learn, but he is not likely to learn it. One who is proud in his knowledge does not receive instruction and correction; so, he remains in error. "He who keeps instruction is in the way of life, but he who refuses correction goes astray" (Proverbs 10:17). I am troubled that there are well-studied brethren who are wrong. Aren't you? I am keenly aware that I might be in the same shape myself, and just as blissfully ignorant of it as many others seem to be. I must study. I must study more earnestly, more honestly, more thoroughly, and more humbly. "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" (2 Timothy 2:15). -- Via The Bulletin of the Church of Christ at New Georgia, January 9, 2005 ____________________________________________________ -2- Just as God Forgave by Joe Fitch "And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you" (Eph. 4:32). This passage demands that Christians forgive each other. It also sets a strict guide for this forgiving -- "just as God in Christ forgave you." God is the perfect standard for forgiving, but what does "just as God forgave" include? God is willing to forgive. No one twisted God's arm to grant forgiveness. Nothing demanded that he forgive -- except that he willed to forgive. As God was unwilling for any to perish (2 Pet. 3:9), so he was willing to forgive all trespasses. Thus, you can count on God's mercy -- "He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 Jno. 1:9). Our standard is set! It is deeper than duty; it roots in the heart. We must be really willing to forgive. God is aggressive to forgive. In regard to forgiveness, who approached who? Man did not make the first overture. It was God who reached out to man while he was still a sinner -- still a rebel. "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Rom. 5:8). Again the standard is set for us. Jesus said: "Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift" (Mt. 5:23-24). Jesus expected the "sinned against" to aggressively pursue forgiveness -- even before offering his sacrifice. That emphasis mimics God. It is un-godlike to withhold forgiveness or to make no efforts toward forgiving one who sinned against us. "Just as God forgave" demands we make the first step. God forgives absolutely. There are not hidden clauses, no reservations in God's forgiveness. In awe, the psalmist argued, "He has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor punished us according to our iniquities. For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us" (Psa. 103:10). How far has he removed sins? --"as far as the east is from the west." God forgives -- and completely disposes of sin "Just as God forgave" sets a high bar! Our forgiveness must absolutely absolve our brother -- completely erase all charges against him. God forgives permanently. Sins forgiven never rise again. Jeremiah prophesied of God's covenant for the last days. It is quoted and applied in Hebrews. "This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the LORD: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them." God's "last days" covenant was written in hearts rather than stone -- as was his first covenant. Note the addendum: "then He adds, "Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more" (Heb. 10:16-17). How long is forgiveness? Remembered no more! No reprieve for a year? -- forever gone! "Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin" (v. 18). No need for more sacrifice for those sins; they are forgiven! They are done with forever. Other sins may plague -- and separate from God, but God forgiven sins never are brought up again. Forgiveness is permanent! No strings attached. There is no other variety! "Just as God forgave" demands we forever loose the charges against a brother. We expect such from God; we must extend the same to a brother. God forgives conditionally. All God's expansive mercy does not argue against conditions for forgiveness. God always placed repentance before forgiveness. There has never been unilateral forgiveness -- God acting without man doing anything. God always first required sinners to " turn to God, and do works befitting repentance" (Acts 26:20). God did much to induce repentance, but no forgiveness was ever granted before or without repentance. That is how God forgives! -- the only way God forgives! What did Jesus say of those who refused to repent and come to him? "you will die in your sins" (John 8:24) -- unforgiven. He also said of them: "where I go you cannot come" (8:21) -- lost. "Just as God forgave" says we are also to seek -- expect -- require repentance so forgiveness may follow. Some expect Christians to be more benevolent -- more merciful than God. God does not forgive without repentance; neither does he require others to do so. Jesus said: "Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, 'I repent,' you shall forgive him" (Lk. 17:3-4). Notice, "if he repents." In no way does this excuse using repentance as an excuse for an unmerciful heart -- it is not a scapegoat for not seeking to forgive. No one learned any such thing from God! Remember, "just as God forgave" demands "willing" and "aggressive" overtures to forgive. "Just as God forgave" also is never a model for ignoring evil conduct -- and then calling it forgiveness. -- Via Gospel Spotlight, Dec. 2002 ____________________________________________________ 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 ____________________________________________________