____________________________________________________ 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). ____________________________________________________ October 8, 2006 ____________________________________________________ Contents: 1) "Calling on the Name of the Lord" (Larry Ray Hafley) 2) The Greatest You Will Ever Be (Matthew 18:1) (Tony Ripley) 3) News & Notes ____________________________________________________ -1- "Calling on the Name of the Lord" by Larry Ray Hafley The profound, prophetic promise of Joel was pronounced by the apostle Peter, "And it shall come to pass that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Acts 2:21; Joel 2:32). Paul repeated it in Romans 10:13. Any object of the prophets and subject of the apostles dealing with salvation is worthy of conscientious consideration and evaluation. For that reason, we shall study this timely text. The Time What period of time is it when men shall call on the name of the Lord and be saved? (1) It was not during Joel's day for he said, "And it shall come to pass afterward" (Joel 2:28). (2) It was not during the personal ministry of Jesus on earth. Jesus, after His resurrection but before His ascension, said that repentance and remission of sins in His name was yet to be preached; but He implied that it was to commence soon (Lk. 24:47-49). (3) The time is now: "Today is the day of salvation" (2 Cor. 6:2). It has been since the day of Pentecost in Acts 2; Peter said, "This is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel" (Acts 2:16-21). Jesus told the apostles they would preach salvation in His name when they received "power from on high" (Lk. 24:46-49; Acts 1:8); that is, "after the Holy Ghost is come upon you." In Acts 2, the Spirit and the power came. But power to do what? Power to preach remission of sins in the name of Jesus the Christ. So, Acts 2 marks "the beginning at Jerusalem" (cf. Lk. 24:47; Acts 11:15). Since then (not before), and until the last trump shall signal the end of this present world, the time for calling on His name extends. The People Who are the people included in this sublime and glorious invitation? Some of God's covenants with men have been exclusive. (1) Not everyone, for example, was included in the covenant of circumcision or the sabbath (Ex. 31:17; Deut. 5:3). (2) The Jews were the ones to hear the message of the "limited commission," as it has been called, not the Gentiles or Samaritans (Matt. 10:5). (3) However, all men may call on the name of the Lord and be saved -- "For whosoever shall call...." That was Paul's emphasis in Romans when he cited our text, "For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him" (Rom. 10:12). "Every creature," "all nations," "whosoever will" -- these and other similar utterances reveal that all men everywhere are amenable to the gospel appeal. The scriptural summons is as broad as God's grace, as deep as His love and as high as His mercy. The Action What action is intended by the words "call on the name of the Lord"? (1) It does not mean that nothing is to be done. To call on the name of the Lord implies something. Salvation is conditioned upon one's calling; hence, there is something one must do to be saved. (2) It does not mean to say, "Lord, Lord," to cry to Him without obeying His word. Jesus said, "And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?" (Lk. 6:46). It is true that calling on the name of the Lord will save, but, "Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven" (Matt. 7:21). Thus, whatever calling on His name is, it is not done by saying, "Lord, Lord." According to Jesus, the one who obeys Him is the one who calls on His name. (3) Since Peter first announced that "whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved," it is proper that we allow him to explain what he meant. When his audience believed, they cried out, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" They knew that whosoever would call on the Lord's name would be saved; now, they desire to know what to do to call on His name. So, Peter says, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost" (Acts 2:38). This harmonizes with what the believing, penitent Saul was told, "And now why tarriest thou? Arise, and be baptized and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord" (Acts 22:16). Since there is no salvation in any other name under heaven (Acts 4:12), we must appeal to His authority, submit to His will, and obey His word (Matt. 28:18-20; Mk. 16:15,16). Have you been baptized in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit for the remission of sins, calling on His name? The Result What is the result, the consequence, of calling on His name? (1) The aim is not carnal or worldly. It will not procure or assure physical health or social and economic stability. (2) The effect will not insure against future sin and ruin (1 Cor. 9:27; Gal. 5:4,7; Heb. 10:26-29; 2 Pet. 2:20-22). (3) The purpose of the calling is that one "shall be saved." Oh, what a glorious thought. What a wonderful knowledge! Every sin, every stain and blot on the soul is washed away by the blood of Christ in the power of His holy name. "Shall be saved" is equivalent to "the remission of sins," or "that your sins may be blotted out" (Cf. Acts 2:21, 38; 3:19). Jesus said, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved" (Mk. 16:16). Jesus said, "remission of sins" was to be preached "in His name" (Lk. 24:47). Thus, the one who believes on His name and repents and is baptized in His name "for the remission of sins," "shall be saved" (Cf. Acts 2:21, 38; 10:43). What inexpressible joy should flood the souls of all who are saved. Are you saved? Have you called on His name as He directs? Before time gasps and dies, before that awesome Judgment day shall find us before the bar of God, will you not call on the name of the Lord and be saved? Do not pillow your head tonight before you resolve your soul's salvation. Call on the living, loving name of the Lord and be saved while you have the time and opportunity. -- Via Guardian of Truth XXIX: 3, pp. 70, 84, February 7, 1985 ____________________________________________________ -2- The Greatest You Will Ever Be (Matthew 18:1) by Tony Ripley The highest compliment that can be given to man is the acknowledgment that he is a Christian. One fact that God's people must learn is that being a disciple of the Lord is the greatest we will ever be. The apostles wrestled with this concept in their day and with some, confusion still prevails today. We must be aware that the only position higher than the one we hold now as children of God is to be the Christ himself. We are His disciples and there is no higher office to attain. Some may argue that heaven is a higher level, but heaven is not a position one holds. It is a reward for those who maintain the place of the faithful disciple. In Matthew 19, after Jesus spoke with the wealthy young ruler, he stated that it would be easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. This of course relates to the man who trusts in his riches over his service to the Lord. It is not riches which will keep a man from entering the kingdom, but attitude. The disciples replied to Jesus with a question (19:25), "Who then can be saved?" When the disciples of Christ stop looking for a higher plain to reach other than loyal servantship, then the statement, "The first shall be last, and the last shall be first," will be understood. Jesus used a parable in Matthew 20 to clearly set forth the truth that being a disciple is the greatest we will ever be. Those who were hired at the beginning of the day received the same reward as those that had begun at the end of the day. The fact that they had all entered into the vineyard to work for a specified amount was all they would receive because there was nothing higher to attain. Those who questioned the householder in complaint were indicative of people who do not understand this concept. Their attitudes were not right and their understanding suspect. The people of God must come to an understanding that being a servant of the Lord is the greatest level because there is no level higher to place as our goal. It is enough. And those who look for higher levels to reach have yet to understand the awesome position of which they are a part. Some claim that there are higher levels in the local church such as elders, deacons, preachers, and then the ordinary or general Christians. But this is a concept originated in the hearts of men, not God. When a man qualifies to be appointed as a shepherd of the Lord's people according to the conditions of 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1, he has not climbed to another level, but rather has testified to his godly life. There is nothing extra-ordinary about a man who is the husband of one wife and has committed his heart to her for a life long arrangement. It is considered strange when he rejects his vow and looks elsewhere for another. There is nothing extra-ordinary about a disciple who has believing children. It is considered strange when this same disciple does not bring his children up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. There is nothing extra-ordinary about a disciple who "holds the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience." But it is bizarre when a disciple chooses not to do this. Being qualified to serve as an elder or deacon does not elevate a man to a higher level. It is simply a testimony to his serious and sober attitude to the greatest position he will ever reach. Some have been deceived into believing that becoming a preacher provides opportunity for elevation to a higher level. Sometimes it is the fault of the preacher, and sometimes it is the mind-set of the brethren. Yet, teaching the gospel is just a task of the disciple of Christ. It provides no room for the man seeking professional ambitions and it does not make me more holy or godly because I have chosen to take on this task. In fact, it really is not of great importance that people know I'm a preacher, but rather that I am a disciple of Christ which is the greatest I will ever be. At the risk of sounding repetitive, there is no higher level to attain. There is nothing extra-ordinary about a disciple of the Lord spreading the Good News. The servant of the Lord who understands his position as a joint heir looks for opportunities to tell others about the true riches of Christ. However, it is odd for a true disciple to reject these opportunities and forfeit the chance to plant the seed into a fertile heart. In primary terms, it is not the task that one endeavors in that elevates him to a higher plain, it is simply the normal response of the disciple who understands the great blessing and responsibility of being a child of God. On the other hand, those disciples who forfeit and reject their tasks, in clearer terms, repel themselves to a lower level called "ye of little faith." -- In Gospel Power, Anderson, Alabama, 5/23/99 ____________________________________________________ -3- News & Notes Luther Shuff's foot operation to remove cancer, along with the plastic surgery that immediately follows, has been rescheduled for this Tuesday (10/10). Let those of us who are Christians continue praying for him. Let us also be remembering R.J. Evans in prayer, who preaches for the Southside church of Christ in Gonzales, Louisiana. He had been in the hospital recently and diagnosed with a large mass of cancer between his large and small intestines; but due to having pneumonia, at the time, his surgery has been scheduled for this Friday (10/13). He also has three gall stones, but will be having his gall bladder removed when undergoing his surgery this week. R.J. is in good spirits and had not even known he had the gall stones and pneumonia. For he experienced no symptoms from them. ____________________________________________________ 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 ____________________________________________________