____________________________________________________ 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). ____________________________________________________ June 11, 2006 ____________________________________________________ Contents: 1) What Did Paul Find at Corinth? (Robert Turner) 2) Choosing a Companion (Bill Hall) 3) "Sin No More, Lest a Worst Thing Come Upon You" (Clarence Johnson) ____________________________________________________ -1- What Did Paul Find at Corinth? by Robert Turner It was on his second great journey that the apostle Paul came to Corinth. What did he find during the year and six months that he remained in that important commercial center? First, he found a Jew and his wife who were tentmakers by trade. Paul abode with Aquila and Priscilla because he was of the same craft. He worked with them in making tents (Acts 18:2,3). Second, he found a synagogue of the Jews. It was the custom of the Jews to build places of worship called synagogues wherever there might be enough Jews to justify the erection of such a house. Paul went into the synagogue each Sabbath to reason with the people and to try to persuade them to follow Jesus (Acts 18:4). Third, he found strong opposition. When the people who assembled at the synagogue opposed and blasphemed, he said, "Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles" (Acts 18:6). Fourth, he found some who were willing to obey the gospel. Crispus, chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house, and many of the Corinthians heard, believed, and were baptized (Acts 18:8). Fifth, he found encouragement. Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia. Their arrival gave new impetus to Paul's efforts. Furthermore, the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision and said, "Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace: For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city" (Acts 18:5,9,10). Later Developments After Paul took his leave of the newly-established Corinthian church, Apollos went there from Ephesus and was a great help to the new converts (Acts 18:27,28). Many problems arose in the months that followed. A factional spirit was in evidence, discipline was neglected, brethren became involved in lawsuits against one another, dissension arose over eating meats sacrificed to idols, the Lord's supper was perverted, some began denying the resurrection of the dead, and there were abuses in connection with the exercise of spiritual endowments. Paul wrote a letter (1 Cor.) designed to correct, instruct, and edify the church at Corinth. That letter was penned during the time that Paul was at Ephesus on his third journey. From Macedonia another letter (2 Cor.) was written by Paul to the Corinthians. In it he expressed uncertainty as to what he might find when he returned to Corinth. "For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults: And lest when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed" (2 Cor. 12:20,21). What He Might Find Note what Paul was fearful that he might find if he paid another visit to the brethren at Corinth: (1) Debates. This refers to strife, wrangling, or contentions growing out of enmity. It is sad when God's people are found wrangling rather than working; contending against each other rather than contending for the faith. (2) Envyings. "Jealousy" is the word used here in some translations. Paul told the Corinthians in the first letter that envying, strife, and divisions were proof that they were carnal or fleshly (1 Cor. 3:3). (3) Wraths. This term points to hot anger or keen indignation. There were heated animosities growing out of the opposing factions in the church. (4) Strifes. Thayer defines the word as meaning a courting of distinction, the desire to put one's self forward, or a partisan spirit. "Disputes" is a good synonym. (5) Backbitings. The reference is to evil speaking especially slandering someone behind his back. (6) Whisperings. This applies to secret gossip that is repeated in hushed tones to defame someone. (7) Swellings. Vine says the word denotes "a puffing up, swelling up with pride." Some preachers are troubled with this kind of swelling. (8) Tumults. The thought is that of disorder, confusion, and disturbance. One can catch a glimpse of the commotions in the Corinthian church by reading Paul's first letter. It would be humiliating to Paul to find such evils as these in the church at Corinth. It would be more disheartening if he visited them and found that they had not yet repented of other sins to which their attention had been called previously. What would Paul find in your community or mine, particularly among members of the church, if he could pay us a visit today? Would he commend, or rebuke? -- Via Truth Magazine XXII: 17, pp. 285-286, April 27, 1978 ____________________________________________________ -2- Choosing a Companion by Bill Hall A happy home being with a wise choice of a marriage partner. We therefore submit the following questions as a guide for our young people as they seek out their companion for life. 1. Is this person eligible for marriage? There are those who have a right to marry according to the laws of our state, but who do not have a right to marry according to the law of God. God's authority is supreme, and the Christian must abide by His law whenever there is a conflict between His law and governmental law. God's law is that only those who are divorced for the cause of fornication have a right to remarry. "And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery, and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery" (Matthew 19:9). If one's marriage partner is guilty of marital infidelity, he can put that partner away for that cause, and marry another. If the divorce is for any other cause, he is ineligible for marriage. 2. Is this person a Christian? Many problems can arise when a Christian is married to a non-Christian, especially when it is the wife who is the Christian. Before any young lady marries a non-Christian, she should consider the following problems which often face the Christian in a mixed marriage. a. Problems in attending services. She should ask herself, "What will I do if my husband some Lord's day drives away in the car, leaving me with no transportation to the services?" "What will I do if my husband announces that his company is moving us to some city where no church of the Lord meets?" Many women have faced these problems. b. Problems in giving. The young lady loves the Lord and His work, and wants to give liberally in support of it. Her husband, however, does not share her convictions. He feels that a dollar is plenty to give. c. Problems in training children. Some have succeeded in bringing up their children to be Christians without the help of their companions. Eunice succeeded with Timothy. But the influence of a father is great, and many are the women who have not been able to overcome this influence to see their children become Christians. d. Problems in overcoming the influence of one's companion. Marrying with the hope of reforming one's companion is a dangerous thing. Often the companion is lifted to a higher standard, but seldom to the standard of a Christian. Instead, as the non-Christian's standards are raised, the Christian's standards are lowered, so that the two meet somewhere in between. The young lady should realize that the man she marries will be the greatest influence of an earthly nature on her life, and she should ask herself, "Will this man help me to go to heaven?" e. Emotional problems. Recently a godly woman, having just received word of her husband's death in an automobile accident, cried, "Why couldn't it have been me or one of the children, for my husband was not ready to die?" Is the reader thinking she will convert her husband after marriage? She may be able to do so, but statistics show that her chances are not very good. The risk is too great. The only safe course is for Christians to marry Christians. 3. Does this person possess strength of character? Many boys and girls seem to want to do right, but are just too easily influenced by their associates or by the circumstances which surround them. Such weakness of character does not make for a good marriage partner. If one wants a happy home, he should choose a companion who is dependable, whose word can be trusted, who has the strength to do right, even when all around him are doing wrong. After all, if that young man or woman lies to his parents or employer, he will some day lie to you. If he is excessively jealous and possessive during courtship, he will manifest the same weaknesses after marriage. If he is quick-tempered -- or flirty -- or a "show-off" -- or a spendthrift -- or a "tightwad" -- now, he will be after marriage. One cannot marry a moral weakling, and expect a happy home. Yes, there will be faults and eccentricities that must be accepted and tolerated in any happy relationship between two people. But there are certain conditions that are practically intolerable, and we hope that this article will help some young person avoid such. ____________________________________________________ -3- "Sin No More, Lest a Worse Thing Come Upon You" by Clarence Johnson The apostle John tells us in the 5th chapter of his account of the gospel that Jesus miraculously, instantly healed a man who had been lame for 38 years. Jesus told the man to take up his bed and walk. But in verse 9, John tells us that the miracle occurred on the Sabbath. "The Jews therefore said to him who was cured, 'It is the Sabbath; it is not lawful for you to carry your bed.' He answered them, 'He who made me well said to me, "Take up your bed and walk."' Then they asked him, 'Who is the Man who said to you, "Take up your bed and walk"'? But the one who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, a multitude being in that place. Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, 'See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.' The man departed and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well. For this reason the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to kill Him, because He had done these things on the Sabbath" (John 5:10- 16). The Law of Moses had forbidden the Israelite people to work on the Sabbath, but it had not meant that they were to do nothing at all on that day. God, during the creation week worked for six days, then ceased from His week's work on the 7th day. So, the Israelites were to do their customary work for six days, and rest from that kind of work on the Sabbath. The Sabbath was not meant to be a burden to them, but a blessing. Jesus showed that acts of love and mercy were not a Sabbath violation. Over the centuries, the Rabbis had added their own rules and regulations to God's original Sabbath law and the Jewish religious leaders persecuted Jesus because He did not honor those additions. As we look at our text, one more subject must be noted. Of course, the man whom Jesus healed was a sinner. All men are, Rom. 3:10,23. Jesus did NOT say that his sins had caused his lameness -- but that continuing in sin would cause something much worse. As we learn from several passages, "the wages of sin is death" (Rom. 6:23; Gen. 2:17; Ezek. 18:4,20; James 1:15). -- Via The Susquehanna Sentinel, January 8, 2006 ____________________________________________________ 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 ____________________________________________________