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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" (Matt. 28:19,20).
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April 25, 2010
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Contents:
1) Let's Be Honest (Norm Webb, Jr.)
2) 10 Reasons for Bible Study (David J. Riggs)
3) "I Am Debtor" (Jarrod Jacobs)
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-1-
Let's Be Honest
by Norm Webb, Jr.
Let's be honest, most people don't enjoy lying. Dishonesty is not
typically a valued characteristic. I have never heard of anyone who
wanted to be known as a liar. Let's be honest about something
else, we have all done it, lie that is, and as we did it, we knew it
was wrong. Being consistently honest is a challenge, because
lying is so convenient, so undetected, so seemingly rewarding. It
can help us advance with minimal effort and escape trouble with a flip
of the tongue. Omit information, blur the facts, exaggerate the truth,
add some spin and you gain the crowd, protect yourself, please a
friend, get what you want. After a while, dishonesty can become second
nature. We still dont like it, so we adjust our conscience to go off
only when lying is really harmful to ourselves or someone else. Little
lies are unfiltered because they seem harmless. Before long, you are
what you hate (because NO ONE likes to be lied to), but you don't
really recognize that.
How does someone be consistently honest? When opportunity to fudge,
blur, omit, or spin, knocks, how do you lock the door?
First, to develop honesty, consider values, not just rules. Don't
misunderstand, God has rules about dishonesty that He expects us to
obey: "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor" (Exodus
20:13); "Do not lie to one another, since you have laid aside the old
self with its evil practices" (Colossians 3:9). God loathes the liar
and the lying tongue and sets such a person in the same category as one
who murders (Proverbs 6:16-19). However, instead of asking, "What rules
did I break with my dishonesty," we should ask, "What kind of person do
I want to be?" "When I am dishonest in any way, am I being like Christ?
Am I emulating my heavenly Father?" When we do this, we become more
concerned about our character than just following the rules. When we
just follow the rules, we may attempt to break them if we don't think
we will get caught. When you are concerned about your character, you
will want to do right even when no one else is looking.
Second, recognize that dishonesty has vertical and not just horizontal
effects. While we often may think that dishonesty only impacts our
relationship with others, if they find out, we must realize that it
significantly effects our relationship with God. When God gave Israel
their law, He connected their treatment of one another to their
treatment of Him. "Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, "When a person
sins and acts unfaithfully against the LORD, and deceives his
companion...he sins and becomes guilty" (Leviticus 6:1-f ). God labels
dishonesty as an abomination (Proverbs 11:1) and clearly states that
the liar will have no place in His presence, but is doomed to a life of
torment (Revelation 21:8). God doesn't want to be around liars. Only
the one who "walks with integrity... and speaks truth in his heart" may
dwell in God's tent and on His holy hill (Psalm 15:2). So when we treat
one another with dishonesty, God takes it personally.
Third, realize how much of your life honesty encompasses. Honesty
includes not padding your work hours, not exaggerating tax deductions,
not cheating on a test, speaking up when lies or half-truths are being
circulated, giving back excess change and returning borrowed items
(Psalm 37:21). Allowing someone to think that something is true, when
you are fully aware if its falsity, is dishonest. I was surprised to
notice how many times God condemns false weights and measurements in
the Old Testament, "Differing weights and differing measures, both of
them are abominable to the Lord" (Proverbs 20:10). God even conditions
Israel's continuation in the promised land to the honesty of weight and
measurement standards (Deuteronomy 25:13-16; see also Leviticus
19:35-36; Proverbs 11:1). This is one reason Jesus was so angry
with the merchants in the Temple. It has become a "robbers' den"
(Matthew 21:13), where exchange rates and standards had been tampered
with. Jesus condemned the Pharisees and scribes for assigning
conditions to the completion of their vows on the alleged significance
of an item (Matthew 23:16-22). They had priced their honesty and
put it on sale. Honesty is involved in so many aspects of our
lives and we need to own up to that.
Fourth, think about who dishonesty affects. Dishonesty affects more
than just those with whom you are dishonest. The ripples spread out
much further. In a 2008 summary by the Josephson Institute, it states
that 83% of high school students have lied to their parents about
something significant. 64% said they cheated on a test. The irony is
that 26% of the students admitted that they lied on the survey. The
clincher, 93% of the students said they were satisfied with their
personal ethics and character. Frightening, right? Guess who sets the
bar for these kids. Grownups, parents, grandparents, teachers, etc.
Your dishonesty has huge fall outs. You want the next generation to be
honest, then you be honest.
Finally, own up and repent. When you are dishonest, be honest with
yourself (1 John 1:9). Set it straight with the person with whom you
were dishonest (Deuteronomy 25:13-16). Then reflect on the situation
and determine how it will be handled differently next time. Vow to be
different and lock the door on dishonesty. Remember, you are not just
trying to go by the rules, you are developing a character that will
determine your eternity.
-- via Friendly Visitor; Athens, Alabama
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-2-
10 Reasons for Bible Study
by David J. Riggs
1. The Bible yields food for the soul. It has the milk necessary for
the spiritual growth of the babe, and meat to sustain the older, mature
Christian (1 Peter 2:1-2; Hebrews 5:12-14).
2. A knowledge of the truth, and obedience to it, is necessary to be
made free from sin (John 8:31-32; 1 Peter 1:22).
3. The Bible reveals God's view of man. It enables the student to see
himself as God sees him, for the Bible is God's mirror of the soul
(James 1:22-25).
4. A working knowledge of the Bible arms one against the difficulties
and hardships of life. It has a message to cover every condition and
problem. It can be used in every emergency from the cradle to the grave
(Romans 15:4).
5. The knowledgeable Christian is able to comfort and edify the
discouraged and brokenhearted (Colossians 4:6; 1 Thessalonians 4:14).
6. The Scriptures contain all good works that are pleasing to God and
give all things that pertain to life and godliness (2 Timothy 3:16-17;
2 Peter 1:3).
7. One must study the Bible to have the approval of God, to be a ready
workman, and to handle correctly the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15; 1
Peter 3:15).
8. A knowledge of the Bible is the only safeguard against fatal error
(Acts 17:11; 1 John 4:1).
9. The Scriptures are able to build us up and to give us a home in
Heaven (Acts 20:32; 2 Timothy 3:15).
10. The Bible will be our standard of judgment in the last day (John
12:48; Revelation 20:12).
-- Via The Old Paths, December 24, 2006, Volume 13, Issue 44
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-3-
"I Am Debtor"
by Jarrod Jacobs
When the apostle Paul wrote to the Romans, he said, "I am debtor both
to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the
unwise" (Rom. 1:14). What did that mean? How could he have been a
"debtor" to them when he had not seen them, yet (Rom. 1:13, 15:22)? Put
simply, being "debtor" meant that Paul was under an obligation to
preach the gospel to the Romans (Vine's p. 279). In the same sense that
Paul said, "woe is unto me if I preach not the gospel" (I Cor. 9:16),
so also he felt that urgency toward the Romans, and planned on
preaching there soon. As we study the Bible, we also learn that we are
"debtors" today. How are we "debtors"?
Romans 8:12 says that we are debtors to Christ to mortify (or put to
death) the deeds of the body, and not live after the flesh. Paul shows
that when we do this, we will be alive spiritually (v. 13). Paul's
letter to the Romans leaves no doubt that if we wish to be joint-heirs
with Christ (v. 17), then we become debtors to "mortify the deeds of
the body," and live for Christ. If we wish to please God, we must put
off "our old man" of sin by being baptized for the remission of sins
(Rom. 6:3-6, 16-18; Col. 2:11-12, 3:9; Mk. 16:16).
As Paul was fighting the false doctrine of the Judaizers in Galatia, he
said, "For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is
a debtor to do the whole law. Christ is become of no effect unto you,
whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace"
(Gal. 5:3-4). This is a lesson many of our friends in the
denominational world need to learn. When people try to justify their
actions in worship by Old Testament teachings, they become debtors to
do all the Law. This is also a lesson those of us in the church need to
learn. The Old Testament teaches us by revealing examples worthy of
imitation, as well as revealing examples of folks whose actions we
ought not imitate (Rom. 15:4). However, if we cling to the Old
Testament as the word by which we authorize our actions today, Paul
said without hesitation that we can and will fall from grace because we
have left the law of Christ and have become indebted to the Law of
Moses.
We are also debtors to God! Think about it, God sent Jesus to die for
us (Rom. 5:8; Jn. 3:16). While we can never repay His great sacrifice,
we are under an obligation to God to live our lives in His service (Lk.
17:10; II Cor. 5:14-15; Rom. 12:1-2). Friend, give your life to God
instead of wasting your life with Satan (Mk. 16:16; Jas. 4:7-8)?
-- Via The Old Paths, December 24, 2006, Volume 13, Issue 44
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The Steps That Lead to Eternal Salvation
1) Hear the gospel,
for that is how faith comes (Rom. 10:17; John 20:30,31).
2) Believe in the
deity of Christ (John 8:24; John 3:18).
3) Repent of sins
(Luke 13:5; Acts 17:30).
4) Confess faith in Christ
(Rom. 10:9,10; Acts 8:36-38).
5) Be baptized in water
for the remission of sins (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16; Rom. 6:3,4;
Gal. 3:26,27; 1 Pet. 3:21).
6) Continue in the faith;
for,
if
not,
salvation
can
be
lost
(Heb.
10:36-39;
Rev.
2:10;
2
Pet.
2:20-22).
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CHURCH OF CHRIST
201 Rushing Road (at the Hampton Inn), Denham Springs, Louisiana
70726
Sunday services: 9:15 AM (Bible class); 10 AM & 4 PM (worship)
evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (225) 667-4520
tedwards@onemain.com
tedwards1109@gmail.com
http://home.onemain.com/~tedwards/go (Gospel Observer website)
http://home.onemain.com/~tedwards/audioser.html (audio sermons)
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.
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