. ____________________________________________________ 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). ____________________________________________________ May 17, 2009 ____________________________________________________ Contents: 1) People Change (Donnie V. Rader) 2) "Ezra Served Jehovah" (Patrick Farish) 3) "As Long as I Love..." (Keven A. Sulc) ____________________________________________________ -1- People Change by Donnie V. Rader When General Motors came out with the new aerodynamic style Chevy Caprice (1990) I said that I would never have one of those "ugly" things. When cellular phones started getting popular, I thought it was dumb to carry your phone with you. Not more than two years ago I sat in a restaurant and noticed a man answering his phone while he ate. My comment to Joan was, "That's crazy!" I used to think golf was silly. In fact, when "pressed" into going last year, I reminded those I was with that President Teddy Roosevelt said this was a game for those who are "sissy." Just the other day I stood on the golf course talking on my cellular phone. When I finished the ninth hole, I loaded my clubs in the back of my '92 Caprice and drove home. My point? People change. Sometimes for the better and sometimes for the worse. We need to be reminded that people do change. The Ability To Change The fact that people can change is a wonderful thing -- a reason to be thankful. Contrary to the concept that says, "That's just my nature -- I can't help it," we do have a choice. Any passage that points to the free moral agency of man says that man has the ability to change (Ezek. 18; Rom. 6). Since man can change, he doesn't have to continue as he is. He has a choice. So, we must conclude that people are like they are because that's the way they want to be. Those who are ungodly, weak, or unfaithful are so, not because they can't help it, but because they choose to be. Those who are godly, strong, and faithful are so because they changed. Change is the idea of repentance. It involves a change of mind. Jesus spoke of a son who had said he wouldn't do what his father said, but later he repented and went (Matt. 21:28-29). The people repented at the preaching of Jonah (Matt. 12:41). The book of Jonah describes that as turning from evil (Jonah 3:10). What a blessing! I can change my life. Sinners Can Change People who are in sin can change, even the worst of sinners. The apostle Paul is a classic example. He was a zealous enemy of the cause of Christ. He persecuted Christians (Acts 8:1-4; 9:1-3). He described himself as the "chief of sinners" (1 Tim. 1:15). Later we see him as an apostle preaching and teaching the very things he fought. He changed (Acts 9:22, 26; 1 Tim. 1; Phil. 1). Some of the very ones who had stood at Pilot's Praetorium and cried, "Crucify him, Crucify him" repented and were baptized by the authority of the very one they put to death (Acts 2:21-41). Those who comprised the church at Corinth made giant changes. They were fornicators, prostitutes, adulterers, and even homosexuals. But, they changed (1 Cor. 6:9-11). Today, we look at the homosexual, the drunkard, the drug addict, and the thief with great disdain. We think it of little benefit to even invite them to church, much less say anything to them about obedience to the gospel. After all, they wouldn't be interested. Besides, we wonder if we really want to associate with those people anyway. But, God, through his word, can change these people (Rom. 1:16). We may shake our heads in frustration at those who are weak or unfaithful thinking that their "service" isn't worth a plug nickel. Then, we remember cases of those who changed and serve God better than they ever have. Thank God for change! The apostle Peter was already a disciple of the Lord when he denied he knew the Lord. Later, he acted the part of a hypocrite at Antioch (Gal. 2:11-14). However, later he is found urging God's people to be diligent and strong (1 Pet. 1:15; 3:15; 2 Pet. 1:5-10). He changed! The Righteous Can Change It is likewise true that those who are righteous can change. Just because someone is faithful and diligent in his service to God doesn't mean that he will always be. There is the ever present danger that one can drift away and depart. The Hebrew writer warned, "Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away" (Heb. 2:1). Our hearts are saddened -- even sickened -- when we learn of one who was once faithful and dedicated to the Lord but who doesn't even attend worship anymore. What's sad is that specific cases could be compounded. It is equally disappointing when we see those we have had confidence in getting weaker and tolerating things they would have once abhorred. The point to be learned is that we must take heed lest it happen to us. Paul said, "Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall" (1 Cor. 10:12). That means it could happen to any one of us! -- Via Guardian of Truth XL: No. 19, p. 6-7, October 3, 1996 ____________________________________________________ -2- "Ezra Served Jehovah" by Patrick Farish In the long ago, Ezra served Jehovah. One of the books of the Old Testament bears his name; and in it he is called "a ready scribe in the law of Moses" (7:6). There are many valuable lessons we could learn from Ezra; but our attention is caught by this statement, "For Ezra had set his heart to seek the law of Jehovah, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and ordinances" (Ezra 7:10). The Bible reveals the importance of the heart, saying "out of it are the issues of life" (Proverbs 4:23), and "out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh" (Matthew 12:34). The things man does and says come from his heart. It is essential that the one who would please God "keep (his) heart with all diligence"; and Jesus indicates that we are able to do that, by saying lay up treasure in heaven, not on earth, "for where thy treasure is, there will thy heart be also" (Matthew 6:21). Ezra is a splendid example of one properly "keep(ing his) heart." He did not drift along aimlessly, hoping everything would turn out right but making no particular effort to cause it to happen. He, rather, "set his heart," and we see people doing that even today. Some want to excel in athletics, so they deny themselves, and demand of themselves, unmercifully: they have set their heart. Some want to be doctors, or lawyers, and they spend great portions of their youthful life in grinding study, and even go deeply in debt to finance such: they have set their heart. The pianist spends long and tedious hours at the keyboard, hours others are spending in leisure: why? The "heart" has been "set." The passion of Ezra was, "the law of Jehovah." So, he wanted to know it and live it and share it with others: not lackadaisically but intensely, for "Ezra had set his heart." "Ezra had set his heart to seek the law," and such a determination will bring one to "meditate day and night" on that law, as it did the blessed man of the first Psalm; and to say, "Oh how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day" (Psalm 119:97). "Ezra had set his heart ... to do" the law of Jehovah, and this is an enormously significant commitment. Jesus made knowing the truth dependent on determining to do the truth, when He said "If any man willeth to do his will, he shall know of the teaching, whether it is of God or whether I speak from myself" (John 7:17, consult Matthew 5:6). Ezra's determination to DO the law of Jehovah gave wings to his seeking that law. "Ezra had set his heart . . . to teach" the law of Jehovah also; and the books of Ezra and Nehemiah testify to the faithful accomplishment of his determination. The fact that Ezra had set his heart, not merely to teach but to teach the law of Jehovah, would give him stability when the storms of public opinion beat against him. His should be the determination of EVERYONE who would speak to another of Jesus; it was echoed by Paul. Galatians 1:10: "For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still pleasing men, I should not be a servant of Christ." People try to evade responsibility by saying "it is in the stars," or "the devil made me do it"; but Ezra knew better. To accomplish the thing that was worthwhile, Ezra "set his heart"; and so must we. -- Via The Bulletin of the Church of Christ at New Georgia, January 25, 2009 ____________________________________________________ -3- "As Long as I Love..." by Keven A. Sulc There are many concepts and beliefs that are held regarding salvation. We must never just accept something because it is commonly accepted or taught by religious teachers but see what the Scriptures say lest we be deceived. Let us examine the concept of "As long as I love Jesus, it doesn't matter what I do in my life." The young man who said this to me several years ago was attempting to justify a sin in his life. As I have discussed religion with people in the 13 years since this statement was made, it has become clear that this doctrine is very popular in most religious groups. But what does the Bible teach? Can a person lie, curse, commit immoralities, or do anything he wants to do and still be righteous in God's sight, providing he "loves" Jesus? Salvation would indeed be easy if it were true. We would not have to be concerned with commandments! Ah . . . I think we have found why this concept is so prevalent. But is this a concept of wisdom that really leads to salvation? I find it hard to believe that any honest Bible student would accept any doctrine that says salvation has nothing to do with what we do in our life. "Are we not saved by the grace of God," you ask? Certainly (Ephesians 2:8). But I ask you, "May we sin so that the grace of God abounds on us?" Paul answers "No!" in Romans 6:1. If you examine the complete context of Ephesians 2 (and any passage which speaks of salvation), you learn that the means of our salvation is a gift from God, namely, the cross of Christ, but that it is conditioned upon and for the purpose of our walking in the good works that are of Christ and not in the works of disobedience (e.g. read all of Ephesians 2:1-10, not just verse 8). "But I love Jesus," you say, "isn't that all He wants?" What do you mean by love? "Love" has been redefined in the "Christianity" of today to simply mean you have some sort of subjective inward emotion that makes you feel "close" to God. Biblically, there is more to it. Think about it. If we say we love someone, but it is only a feeling, is it really love? Not as defined by 1 Corinthians 13. Jesus Himself said, "If you love me, you will keep my commandments" (John 14:15). If we really love Jesus, it does matter what we do in our lives. -- Via The Berean, Vol. 5, No. 6, August 1996 ____________________________________________________ CHURCH OF CHRIST 201 Rushing Road (at the Hampton Inn) Denham Springs, LA 70726 Sunday: 9:15 AM, 10:00 AM, 4:00 PM evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (225) 667-4520 tedwards@onemain.com http://home.onemain.com/~tedwards/go DIRECTIONS: Take the Denham Springs exit (exit 10) off of I-12. At the end of the exit ramp, turn north. Go about a stone's throw to Rushing Road. (You'll see a Starbucks, Circle K, and two other gas stations; with each on each corner.) Turn left on Rushing Road, and go less then 0.3 of a mile. Hampton Inn will be on the right. We assemble in its meeting room, which is very close to the reception counter. ____________________________________________________