. ____________________________________________________ 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 31, 2009 ____________________________________________________ Contents: 1) Jesus the Proper Influence (Gary N. Patton) 2) "The Sure Mercies of David" (Titus Edwards) 3) Getting By With It (Robert F. Turner) ____________________________________________________ -1- Jesus the Proper Influence by Gary N. Patton When we have a great respect for someone, that one can have a great influence on us. Especially do we see this clearly illustrated in the teacher-student relationship. If our children have a strong love or attachment to a teacher, whatever that teacher does or says will have a strong influence on what the child accepts or rejects. This type of relationship can also be seen in those who are religiously minded. If we have a great love or respect for someone, whatever they may say can influence our feelings and actions. So often we hear people say, "Well if Bro. So and So says it's so, it's so." This kind of statement indicates the strong influence many men can have on the belief and actions of other people. Often, the deep respect we may have for someone else is well deserved. They have gained it through diligent study and service. But we must remember we are all human beings and capable of making mistakes. If our faith is built on the teaching of men, we may find ourselves on shaky ground, and our faith shaken because of a change in teaching or conduct of the teacher we have respected so long. With this idea in mind, it is important we examine ourselves (2 Corinthians 13:5) and see if our life and faith is dictated by the teaching of some man or men rather than by Jesus Christ. In Matthew 28:19,20 Jesus said, "Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost; teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you...." If we have the proper respect for Jesus as our teacher here on earth, His Word will be our rule of faith in this life and not man's. In fact, Paul points out in Colossians 3 the different areas in which the teaching of Christ can influence our life. He begins by saying, "If ye then be risen with Christ...." If we are in Christ, that is we have been buried with Him in baptism and raised to a new life, then we will "seek those things which are above...." He continues by pointing out that if we are seeking those things he teaches, it will influence our affections, verse 2. We will love those things which are above, spiritual things, rather than the material things of this earth, because our "life is hid in Christ in God." Not only will it have an influence on our affections but also on our heart. "Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence (evil desires) and covetousness, which is idolatry; for which things sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience," v.5. Since the heart of man is that with which he knows, thinks,feels emotion and wills to do, these all would apply to man's heart, for "as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he." The teaching of Jesus will guide us to fight against such things. The teaching of Jesus can influence our speech (verses 8,9). We are told to put off anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth and lie not. If our respect for the teaching of Jesus is as it should be, our attitude will also be influenced (verse 12-17). We will, among many things listed, manifest kindness, meekness, forgiveness, letting the Word of God rule in our hearts. In verses 18-21 of this same chapter, he points out that the teaching of Christ directs the home. Wives, husbands and children are all given their responsibilities to one another in the home. Finally he points out, in verses 22-25, that the words of Christ's teaching will influence us at work. We are told that we must work honestly and diligently for our employer, "in singleness of heart, fearing God." Truly, if we have the proper respect and love for our Lord, His words will influence us in every way. Why not always turn to Him as the foundation and strength of our faith. He will not fail or disappoint us as man can. His promises and rewards are everlasting. His Word is truth. -- Via The East Florence Contender, Florence, Alabama. ____________________________________________________ -2- "The Sure Mercies of David" by Titus Edwards Talk about hitting the nail on the head! Paul surely does when he connects Jesus to David in the sermon he delivered to the Jews in the synagogue at Antioch in Pisidia (Acts 13:14-41). Great speakers tailor their lessons to their audiences. So watch a master preacher at work. Paul declares that in Jesus' resurrection from the dead, to be our ever-reigning King, the words of Isaiah have been fulfilled, when he said, "I will give you the sure mercies of David" (13:34, quoting Isaiah 55:3). The ASV and NAS have "the holy and sure blessings of David." I like the NIV rendering; "the holy and sure blessings promised to David." The "mercies"/"blessings" here refer to the promise made to David that one of his family would sit on the throne forever (2 Sam. 7:12-13; Rom. 1:3-4; Acts 2:29-32; Ps. 132:11-12). How favored was David because of this promise! These promises (mercies/blessings) were indeed sure, as being true and unfailing. God had promised -- he would fulfill it! The Jews understood this promise as referring to the Messiah, and indeed it did. It is obvious from the Isaiah passage (55:1, 4) that the Messiah is under consideration. Let us back up and look at the context of this passage to see how Paul is using it in his sermon. The "sure mercies of David," quoted from Isaiah 55:3, is the second of three Old Testament quotes that Paul uses together in verses 33-35. The first quote (v. 33), "Thou art my son, this day have I begotten thee" is taken from Psalm 2:7. It speaks of Jesus' resurrection, which was proof of his being the Son of God (Rom. 1:3-4). The third quote (v. 35), "Thou shalt not suffer thine Holy One to see corruption" is taken from Psalm 16:10. Paul affirms that this passage could not have been referring literally to David, for he died and his body decayed. It must refer to the one whom God raised from the dead, who was of the seed of David -- the Messiah. All three of these quotations are used by Paul to confirm his assertion "that the promise which was made unto the fathers, God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus" (vv. 32-33). Earlier in the sermon, Paul had stated a number of things in Jewish history that God had done. That prepares the way for him to tell of what God has done in raising Jesus from the dead. As God had "raised up unto them David to be their king . . . Of this man's seed hath God according to his promise raised unto Israel a Savior, Jesus" (vv. 22-23). Paul tells of Jesus' coming and of his death. "And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a sepulcher. But God raised him from the dead" (vv. 29-30). The resurrection of Jesus is mentioned four times from verses 30-37. There are witnesses of Jesus' resurrection (v. 31). The resurrection of Jesus is the fulfillment of these prophecies (vv. 33-35). The resurrection is the glad tidings that is being declared unto them (v. 32). The resurrection is the fulfillment of the promise made unto the fathers (vv. 32-33). In the resurrection of Jesus, God has given the Jews "the sure mercies of David" (v. 34). No sermon would be complete without an application. Look at the application Paul gives to this sermon. "Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses" (vv. 38-39). Jesus arose from the dead to live forever, reigning as our King and Savior. And because of that, we can be forgiven of all of our sins! What a great promise! -- Via Guardian of Truth XLI: 4 p. 5, February 20, 1997 ____________________________________________________ -3- Getting By With It By Robert F. Turner "He got by with it!" That colloquial expression means that he was caught. He thinks he "got by with it," but this is never true. The one who makes the statement knows better, and has already changed his opinion of the one who tried to "get by with it." There is very little we really "get by with" -- even in this life. I believe man's capacity for greatness is a divine endowment (we are made in his image). But we are molding our individual character day by day by our response to the experiences of life -- drawing closer or pulling further away from what our Maker would have us be. And make no mistake about it! We are what we are, not what we like to kid ourselves into thinking we are (1 John 3:7). When a man gives in to temptation, no matter how well the matter is concealed from others, his own makeup is affected. A thousand victims have a thousand shoulders upon which to bear their burden, but the man who tries to "get by with it" must take the total wrong upon himself. He is guilty before God and, even if he cares little for that, he has whittled a bit more from the stature of the man he could have been. This amoral, godless generation tells us there is no standard for determining a "good" or "bad" man, but in practice they repudiate their theory. They recognize and do not want to do business with the "bad" man. One cannot fool all of the people all of the time. Proverbs 11:3f reads, "The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of the treacherous shall destroy them." We can build into our character that which will sustain us in adverse times, or we can cut ourselves loose from solid mooring and drown in our own folly. And we fool God none of the time. All creatures stand before God "naked and opened" (Heb. 4:13). (The last word means literally, "to bend back the neck" of a victim to be slain or exposed.) How can we expect to "get by" with anything when we are so exposed to him who judges righteously? -- Via Plain Talk, December 1972 ____________________________________________________ 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. ____________________________________________________