. ____________________________________________________ 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 13, 2009 ____________________________________________________ Contents: 1) Signs, Wonders and Miracles (Bill Moseley) 2) The Second Coming of Jesus (Bryan Gibson) 3) Is Love to Blame? (Steve Klein) ____________________________________________________ -1- Signs, Wonders and Miracles by Bill Moseley A theme of many Bible studies has been the miracles of Jesus. This ought to be done periodically, since his miracles were a great part of his work. Lessons are taught, and hopefully learned, from those great moments in the life of the Savior. Yet, often neglected is a study of the terms which are used to describe those great works. Our purpose here is to briefly set forth the meaning behind the words that are commonly used to describe those mighty acts; i.e. "signs, wonders, miracles." The only place they are found in a common verse is Hebrews 2:4, and yet they are found individually in many places in the New Testament. Too often we have improperly generalized all of them under the most common of the terms (miracles), and have sort of "lumped them all together." But let us look at them individually, referring you, in the interest of space, to your concordance for locations of the words. First we consider the word "sign." It is semeion and is defined as "a sign, mark, indication, token" (W. E. Vine). Signs were usually intended to demonstrate to the observer something more than the sign itself. Their value was in displaying and confirming the power of the one who would do the sign as evidence that he was something out of the ordinary. For example, the Jews came asking Jesus for a "sign" (Matt. 12:38). They would take such a sign to mean that Jesus was indeed extraordinary, with the emphasis being upon Jesus and not the sign itself. He then said they would receive but one sign, that of "the prophet Jonah." When they saw that, they would know that he indeed was who he claimed to be. So signs were sort of a "pointer" looking to demonstrate something outside of themselves. Next we look at the term "wonders" (teras). Here is "something strange, causing the beholder to marvel" (Vine). In the New Testament this word is always in the plural and is used almost exclusively in connection with "signs." In "wonders," the supernatural act itself is looked upon as something that startles and produces amazement. The "wonder" itself is the center of attention, and not necessarily that to which it points. Herein is the fundamental difference between a "sign" and a "wonder." The thought conveyed by this word is often blended with the idea of "to marvel," from the verb thaumazo. This is the word Paul used in Galatians 1:6 in speaking of his amazement at the rapid departure of the Galatians from the gospel. Teras "denotes terrible appearances which elicit fright and horror, and which contradict the ordered unity of nature" (Dictionary of New Testament Theology, Brown, p. 633). Finally we consider "miracles" (dunamis). Here is "power, inherent ability, used of works of a supernatural origin and character, such as could not be produced by natural agents and means" (Vine). The idea of power predominates in this term. In fact, the noun "power" (Matt. 26:64), or "ability" (Matt. 25:15) are both derived from this same word, as is the word "might" or "mighty." Without this power, such great works could not be called the "power (dunamis) of God." Hence, when we use the word "miracle," the thought should have to do with the power behind the act itself. "But," one may ask, "do not all these refer to the same thing?" We might answer affirmatively, if we do so in a broad sense. Yet we must also understand that they never refer to different kinds of miracles, but miracles as they are viewed from various perspectives. They all stress supernatural works done by Jesus and his apostles. A proper understanding of these things will help us when dealing with the miracles of Jesus. Consider each miracle done by the Lord along with the thoughts here presented; perhaps they will mean more to us. -- Via Putting the Brethren in Remembrance, March 2004 ____________________________________________________ -2- The Second Coming of Jesus by Bryan Gibson Here's the mistake many make when studying this subject, in particular the events surrounding His second coming. They start with highly figurative passages, like those in the Book of Revelation, propose some theory heavily based on speculation, and then try to fit every other passage in the New Testament into their theory. There is a better way. Start with the plain statements of Scripture, get a clear understanding of them, and then proceed to the more difficult passages. Make sure then that your understanding of the more difficult passages does not conflict with the plain statements. Here's what we find when we study those plain statements: It is foolish to make predictions about the time of His return, because He will come as "a thief in the night" (1 Thessalonians 5:2; 2 Peter 3:10). Understanding that a thief does not warn us ahead of time (Luke 12:39), we need to heed the following admonition: "Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming" (Matthew 25:13). His coming, or appearance in the clouds, will be obvious to everyone, because it will be signaled by a shout, the voice of the archangel, and the trumpet of God (1 Thessalonians 4:16; 1 Corinthians 15:51-52). At the time of His return, which is described as the "last day," there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the righteous and the unrighteous (Acts 24:15; John 6:39-40,44,54; 12:48). Jesus will speak and "ALL who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth..." (John 5:28-29). The righteous who have died will meet Jesus in the air, followed by the righteous who are still alive (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). This will of course involve a separation of the righteous from the unrighteous (Matthew 25:32-33; 13:49). The righteous, who will be given spiritual or incorruptible bodies (1 Corinthians 15:35-54), will then go to heaven to "always be with the Lord" (1 Thessalonians 4:17; see also John 12:16; 14:3; 17:24). The unrighteous, on the other hand, will be cast into the lake which burns with fire and brimstone (Revelation 21:8), an eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels (Matthew 25:41). They will be "punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power" (2 Thessalonians 1:9). "The heavens will pass away with a great noise...both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up" (2 Peter 3:10). The saved will dwell in a "new heaven and a new earth" (2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21:1). -- Via the weekly bulletin of the Southeast church of Christ, January 11, 2009 ____________________________________________________ -3- Is Love to Blame? by Steve Klein Have you ever known parents who claimed that they loved their children too much to spank them? Ever known someone who tried to justify having sex outside of marriage because they loved the person? Ever known a Christian who would not rebuke and correct religious error because they loved others too much to hurt their feelings in this way? I submit that in each of these cases, love is being blamed for something that it has nothing to do with. The Bible plainly teaches that love motivates us to do exactly the opposite of what was described in each of the preceding examples. * Love will cause us to discipline our children. "He who spares his rod hates his son, But he who loves him disciplines him promptly" (Proverbs 13:24). * Love demands that we abstain from sexual immorality. If we love someone, we are not going to participate with them in an act that will condemn their soul! If we do, we are being selfish, not loving. In Ephesians 5:2-3, God's word explains that walking in love involves avoiding fornication: "And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. But fornication . . . let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints" (Ephesians 5:2-3). * Love will move of us to rebuke sin and correct error. Love will not allow us to stand idly by and watch those we care about lose their souls by committing sin or believing doctrinal error. Jesus said, "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten" (Revelation 3:19). The apostle Paul had strongly rebuked the Corinthians. In 2 Corinthians 2:4 he explains why: "For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you, with many tears, not that you should be grieved, but that you might know the love which I have so abundantly for you." The right kind of love will never cause us to do the wrong kind of thing. Love "does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth" (1 Corinthians 13:6). Real love will never be used to justify sin; rather, it will be used to help us identify what is right and good. The Lord's will is "that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent" (Philippians 1:9-10). Love always seeks the most lasting good for the one who is being loved. Momentary pain or pleasure is not love's greatest concern. Love is focused on the eternal welfare of the one who is loved. "My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth" (1 John 3:18). -- Via The Bulletin of the Church of Christ at New Georgia, August 23, 2009 ____________________________________________________ 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. ____________________________________________________