____________________________________________________ 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). ____________________________________________________ September 17, 2006 ____________________________________________________ Contents: 1) "Life Is At Stake" (Randy Harshbarger) 2) The Tutor Brought Us To The Master (Harry Osborne) 3) News & Notes ____________________________________________________ -1- "Life Is At Stake" by Randy Harshbarger In 2 Timothy 2:2 the Apostle Paul instructs the younger preacher Timothy by saying, "And the things which thou hast heard from me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also." Timothy had been entrusted by Paul with the important task of teaching, charging, and exhorting various churches in order to turn them from moral and religious apostasy (cf. Timothy's work in Corinth, 1 Cor. 4:17). While the responsibility to preach was great, Timothy also had to encourage other faithful men who could be entrusted with the truth, to go forth and engage in the good work of preaching the gospel. Of course, Paul's instructions to Timothy impress upon us the need for men to come forth and commit themselves to the proclamation of God's word. In fact, this is needed more than ever, as we continue to observe the passing of stalwart soldiers of the cross; men who gave themselves to the Lord's work for years and years, but now they are no longer with us. Someone must step forward to fill in the gaps. Those who are younger must come forth and preach the gospel in an uncompromising way. No one knows what the future may hold as the times in which we live are troubled and perilous. Surely we can see the need to stand for the truth, that we and our children will be fortified in the faith. May future generations be encouraged because of our stand now, to stay with the Lord and His word in times to come. We find this lesson forcefully presented, as a change in the leadership of ancient Israel takes place in Deuteronomy chapters 31 and 32. For many years, Moses had been leading God's people, but the time for change had arrived. Moses commissions Joshua, God's chosen replacement. Joshua could lead Israel with courage because the Lord was with him. Moses said, "Set you hearts unto all the words, which I testify among you this day, which ye shall command your children to observe to do...because it is your life..." (Deut. 32:46-47). Amid the changing scenes of life, Moses tells Joshua and God's children that they must continue to unite upon God's word. Their lives to a certain extent physically, but especially spiritually, were linked inseparably to the hearing and obeying of God's word. Past and present generations must unite together upon God's word. May we ever remember that God's word must always take the place of the works of men. What we have came from God, inspired and profitable. A message of grace? Yes, but also a message of faith and obedience. The gospel is the one thing that young and old alike can place their trust in as they meet the challenges of life. Moses said, "It is your life." We derive faith and hope from God's message while living; we take comfort in it in times of death. Of course, the message of Jesus is greater than the message of Moses. We find terror at Sinai, but tenderness at the cross. Moses speaks in thunderings, but Jesus pleads with tears. Yet, we must not mistake tenderness for weakness, or gentleness for a lack of authority. Jesus is the greatest lawgiver, the greatest prophet, and the only Savior the world will ever know. Can we see the need to stay with the Lord and what He tells us to do? Uniting upon God's word gives life meaning and value. And, in order to have hope for a better world to come, we must involve our "lives" each day with God's message. "It is your life," Moses said. All we are, all we shall be, or ever hope to be is bound up in God's will for our lives. Peace with God (Rom. 5:1), our growth as Christians (2 Pet. 1), true enjoyment of life depends upon our loyalty to God. And, consider the awful possibilities that await those who refuse to yield to God. How shall we escape if we turn away? Regardless of how many men preach the gospel, regardless of how long this old earth stands, may we ever remember that God will never send one greater than Jesus; and no message will ever do what the gospel does. With the passing of Moses, an older generation passes too. Joshua and a new generation rise to fill in the ranks. But the new generation must hold on to the same message from God that was so dear to an older generation. So it is, that we who are younger must be committed to the preaching of God's word, and then entrust it to others before we too pass from the scene. Is your life safe and secure? Can you see the promised land? May God help us all to see that life is at stake! -- Via Guardian of Truth XXIX: 8, p. 231, April 18, 1985 ____________________________________________________ -2- The Tutor Brought Us To The Master by Harry Osborne Did you ever take your child to the dentist and then demand that he back off and let you fix the cavity? Would you take a child to a surgeon and demand that he let you use the scalpel? Why not? Because the dentist and surgeon are specially trained and talented for that purpose. Your place in helping your child in such situations is to bring the child to the one who is able to remedy the problem. In New Testament times, there was a servant called a paidagogos by the Greeks. The paidagogos had a similarly limited job regarding the education of a child. This servant was charged with leading a child to the teacher. The paidagogos was to train and discipline the child, but the imparting of knowledge was the responsibility of the teacher. When he delivered the child to the teacher, his duty was fulfilled. Paul uses this word in Galatians 3:24-25 (translated as "instructor," "schoolmaster" and "tutor" in different versions) when speaking of the law which came through Moses. Notice the way he expresses the purpose and place of the old law in this context: "Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ" (Gal. 3:24-27). The old law is not viewed as a continuing teacher of God's will for man, but as the trainer and disciplinarian that brought man to the master teacher -- Jesus Christ. Since Christ has come into the world and taught us the complete will of God, it must follow that we are not bound by the regulations of the old law today. It served its purpose in directing man to Christ through principle and prophecy. It is now Christ who directs through His word (Heb. 1:1-2). Abrogation of the Old Law The bulk of 2 Corinthians 3 deals with the same point. The writer declares that the old law was always intended to "pass away." He rebukes those who did not understand this saying, "but their minds were hardened: for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remains, it not being revealed to them that it is done away in Christ" (2 Cor. 3:14). In Colossians 2:14, the same writer speaks of the time at which that old law was taken away. Regarding the Lord's handling of the old law, the text says, "having blotted out the bond written in ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us: and he hath taken it out of the way, nailing it to the cross." The book of Hebrews goes into great detail in dealing with this point. In chapters five through seven, the writer proves that we now have a different priesthood than that which existed under the law of Moses. Therefore, he concludes, "For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also a change of the law" (Heb. 7:12). The eighth chapter of the book shows a new covenant has taken the place of the old just as Jeremiah 31:31-34 had prophesied. Application of the Principle Thus, the Bible plainly shows that the old law which came through Moses is no longer binding upon us, since we have now come to the teacher -- Christ. We must listen to the teaching of Christ in order to learn what God expects of us today. Turning back to the old law for instruction is as out of place as taking our children to a surgeon and the trying to do the surgery ourselves. We would be charged with medical malpractice for such an action. Can we not see that the one who tries to use the Old Testament to authorize religious practice today is just as guilty of scriptural malpractice? Many religious practices today are justified upon the basis that they were practiced in Old Testament times. The observance of the sabbath by a variety of Sabbatarian groups (Seventh-day Adventists, Seventh Day Baptists, the Worldwide Church of God, etc.). The Catholic and Orthodox churches continue the practice of burning incense as a part of their worship. And, of course, instrumental music in worship is practiced by almost every denominational church today. All of them justify their practice in part by an appeal to the Old Testament where the use of instrumental music was authorized. Whether they appeal directly to the use of instruments in the temple or to the practice of David, both show a dependence on the Old Testament for authority in religious practice today. Where would such reasoning end? It is interesting, however, to ask a staunch Southern Baptist, who so justifies instrumental music, if he is willing to apply his logic to the Catholic practice of burning incense. When asked to accept incense burning, he suddenly sees a problem with other aspects of Old Testament worship. But if the Old Testament can be used properly to establish the legitimacy of instrumental music, why not include incense burning as well? And how about animal sacrifice, would that not be all right since it was also practiced in the Old Testament? How about polygamy like David practiced? If Old Testament practices are authorized for people today, all of these practices and many more would be a part of the practice of faithful Christians. The practices stand or fall together. Conclusion Are we to follow that old law to govern our religious practices? No, we are to find Christ's will and follow it as our authority in all things (Col. 3:16-17). It is the word of Christ which will judge us in the last day, not Moses' words (Jn. 12:48). This was the point taught to those on the mount of transfiguration (Matt. 17:1-8). The point was clearly made to the disciples present that Jesus was the sole communicator of God's will, replacing Moses and the prophets. Peter did not forget the lesson, but later proclaimed this truth, noting that Moses and others spoke of the change of law (Acts 3:22-24). Therefore, in every aspect of our life, we must seek the instruction of Jesus Christ. He is the teacher in whom we should place total trust and confidence. He has all authority and has declared all that we need to know (Matt. 28:18-20; 2 Pet. 1:3). We must diligently seek His will (2 Tim.2:15). -- Via The Gospel Defender, January 15, 2006 ____________________________________________________ -3- News & Notes Let those of us who are Christians be praying for Clarence Johnson, who preaches for the Susquehanna church of Christ in Marietta, Pennsylvania. Clarence was diagnosed with leukemia a couple years ago, so various illnesses are now more of a concern. Recently, Clarence was hospitalized for dehydration; and then he was diagnosed with also having a serious pneumonia, which led to his being put into an induced coma in order that his body can receive complete rest. On Sunday (9/17), his health had slightly improved; but, as of the writing of this (9/20), there has been no change. He is still in ICU and in the induced coma. But, on the bright side, his condition has not become worse. Let us pray for a complete and soon recovery for him. While visiting with my mother in Pennsylvania recently, I was glad to fill-in for Clarence for the Sunday morning and evening sermons. It was good to see the brethren there again, and the new ones that are also now with the group, along with the several visitors who were present. I also appreciate the brethren at Myrtle Street and R.J. Evans filling in for me in my absence. Bill Holt did a class on Prayer. Billy Watts had a sermon on "Drifting." Bernard Farmer presented a lesson on the Lord's Supper, and R.J. (who normally preaches in Gonzales) preached a lesson about being persecuted for teaching the truth. From what I heard, they all did a fine job. We also want to continue praying for Luther Shuff and Joe Pine, due to their health problems. ____________________________________________________ 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 ____________________________________________________