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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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November 21, 2010
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Contents:

1) 1 Peter 1:17-19 (Tom Edwards)
2) Learning to be Content (Bryan Gibson)
3) News & Notes
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1 Peter 1:17-19
by Tom Edwards

In 1 Peter 1:17-19, Peter writes, "If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one's work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth; knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers,  but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ."

What a wonderful blessing it is, as Christians, to be able to call upon God as our "Father"; and it is truly the sacrifice of Christ that makes that possible.  

Some folks, however, such as many Jehovah's Witnesses, express that we should call the Father by His real name, "Jehovah," instead of using merely a title as "Father."   But this certainly isn't what Peter shows.  Nor is it what Jesus teaches in the model prayer He gives in Matthew 6:9-13.  For notice in that passage how He instructs His followers to begin a prayer.  He says, "Pray then in this way, 'Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name.'"

How, therefore, can man say we should use God's real name, when the Lord Jesus does not command or indicate that; but, rather, chooses this title of "Father" when we are addressing Him in prayer?

The real name for God in the Hebrew comes from the Tetragrammaton, a Hebrew word which is only 4 consonants and no vowels.  So we don't know whether it should be "Jehovah," "Yahweh" (which some say is more probable than "Jehovah"), or some other rendering.  Whatever it used to be, it was a name so sacred that only the high priest would say it -- and that in a low whisper on just one day out of the entire year (the Day of Atonement), when he went into the Most Holy place of the temple, where God's presence is said to have dwelt.  When the Jews would come to the reading of it in the Scriptures, they would simply use the word "Adonai" instead, which is the Hebrew for "Lord."  So, today, no one knows how that actual word is to be pronounced -- and, therefore, what vowels to use in it.  In the Old Testament, the Tetragrammaton is often translated as "LORD" in small caps.  

But, lest one becomes troubled over this, if the Lord wanted us to use His real name -- instead of a title -- would He then not only have commanded us to do so in the New Testament, but also have shown us what that personal name is?  

Interestingly, this personal name for God, the Tetragrammaton, was used not only for the Father, but also for the Son.  For example, in Zechariah 2:10,11, the Lord speaks of the Lord sending Him -- and both Lords are from the Tetragrammaton.  

In addition, it is easy to see that by using titles, such as God, Lord, and Father, it does not detract from showing respect to the Lord.   Rather, we use these terms to exalt Him above all -- and even in the term Father, we think of God as being the greatest of all fathers.  And, actually, even in the Tetragrammaton, according to Strong, it means "self-existent or eternal."  So, therefore, it, too, rather than just a name, also expresses his greatness -- and we often do address God as being eternal.  

Another point Peter makes about God is that He is One who "impartially judges according to each one's work..." (1 Pet. 1:17).   This impartial nature of God is seen throughout the Scriptures.  Even during that Mosaical Period, for example, when the Jews were the special people of God, it was sometimes that they were destroyed for their lack of obedience -- whereas the heathens were spared because of their repentance toward God, as we see in the case of the city of Nineveh in Jonah's day.  

After giving Peter the vision, which indicated God's desire for salvation to be taken to the Gentile people, Peter came to the right conclusion in Acts 10:34,35, when he states, "...'I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality,  but in every nation the man who fears Him and does what is right is welcome to Him."   In Romans 2:11, Galatians 2:6, and Ephesians 6:9, Paul also shows that God is not one given to using favoritism.

So, we must remember that in being Christians that does not give us a license to sin, for we will be held accountable of those wrongs -- just as a non-Christian would.  As Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 5:10, "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad."

Therefore, since God is not one who shows partiality, Peter exhorts the brethren to "conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth."  Paul also states a similar thing in 2 Corinthians 7:1, by saying, "Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God."

The fear of the Lord is a good thing to have.  It is not to be equated with being afraid, and it can help us to overcome sin.  Both of these points can be seen in Exodus 20:20.  Solomon says in Proverbs 16:6 that "...by the fear of the Lord one keeps away from evil."  And God says, concerning His people, in  Jeremiah 32:40, "...I will put the fear of Me in their hearts so that they will not turn away from Me."

No wonder the Bible teaches that "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge..." (Prov. 1:7) and "the beginning of wisdom..." (Psa. 111:10).  How helpful it is to lead us in the wiser direction.  

The fear of the Lord also helps us to "hate evil" (Prov. 8:13); and it "prolongs life" (Prov. 10:27).  It also gives "strong confidence" (Prov. 14:26) and is a "fountain of life, that one may avoid the snares of death" (v. 27).   Solomon also states, "Better is a little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and turmoil with it"; and some folks have simply made "the fear of the Lord" as their "treasure" (Isa. 33:6).  For "The fear of the Lord leads to life, so that one may sleep satisfied, untouched by evil" (Prov. 19:23).  And even in spite of the persecution, the church that feared the Lord could also have comfort at the same time (Acts 9:31).  

As we see in these passages, having the proper fear of the Lord helps us to keep on the right track.  And something else that should give motivation toward that is in realizing what our Lord was willing to do for us.  As Peter shows, God "redeemed us" -- not "with perishable things of silver and gold," but "with precious blood...the blood of Christ" (1 Pet. 1:18,19).  All the wealth in the universe cannot buy the forgiveness of sins.  For it requires something of much greater value than that; and what greater value could there ever be than that perfect life of Jesus Christ, God's Son, who paid that greatest of all prices by giving of His own life on a cruel cross, so that sins could be atoned for.

Paul shows that Jesus paid this great price with His own blood, not only so we could be redeemed, but also so that we could live a new life unto God.  In Titus 2:14, for instance, Paul says of the Lord, "who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds."  Notice especially this last part -- "zealous for good deeds" -- which also corresponds with 2 Corinthians 5:15, "and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf."

May that always be true of us who are Christians, to not merely live for ourselves; but, rather, for our Lord who was willing to give His all for us.  

So may we never  take for granted -- or make a vain thing out of -- that wonderful sacrifice Jesus made for us, so that we could be purchased by His blood, be able to call upon God as our Father, and reverentially submit to Him every day by our faith and obedience.  For that is the way we show our love to the Lord and make our faith a saving faith.  
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Learning to Be Content
by Bryan Gibson

The following is Paul's "thank you note" to the church at Philippi, written while imprisoned in Rome. Read it carefully, because it contains some very important lessons.  

(10) "But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity. (11) Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: (12) I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. (13) I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (14) Nevertheless you have done well that you shared in my distress. (15) Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only. (16) For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities. (17) Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account. (18) Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet- smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God. (19) And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. (20) Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen" (Philippians 4:10-20).  

Zero in on verses 11-12 for just a minute, especially the latter part of v. 11: ". . .for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content." Let's use this passage and a few others to discover his keys to contentment.  

He was thankful for their care (v. 10), for sharing in his distress (v. 14), for the aid they sent him on previous occasions (vv. 15-16), for doing something "well-pleasing to God" (vv. 17-18), for the fact that his and their needs were supplied by God (v. 19). This is one of the big keys to contentment, because it's hard to be thankful and discontented at the same time.  "Count your many blessings, name them one by one." It won't make our hardships disappear, but it will make them seem a lot less significant.  

He did what he had earlier admonished these brethren to do -- he looked out "for the interests of others" (Philippians 2:3-4). He was too concerned about their welfare to spend much time thinking about his own (Philippians 1:27-28; 2:19-24; 2:25-28). Yes, he was thankful for the gift they sent him, but he was more thankful for the spirituality they had demonstrated in sending the gift (vv. 17-18). We can learn to be content, too, but we'll first have to learn to quit thinking about ourselves all the time. Get busy looking out for others, and we'll soon forget our own woes.  

Material things were not his top priority; so much so that he didn't even like to "speak in regard to need" (v. 11). Look at v. 17 again: "Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account." It's much easier to be content when the "one thing" that matters most is laying hold of eternal life (Philippians 3:12-14).  

In regard to material things, he focused more on necessities than luxuries -- "you sent aid once and again for my necessities" (v. 16); "God shall supply all your need" (v. 19). There's nothing wrong with abounding, or being full (v. 18), but there is something wrong when this is expected, when having an abundance is taken for granted. Don't forget what Jesus taught us to pray: "give us this day our daily bread" (Matthew 6:11). Do that and it will actually increase our gratitude, especially when God chooses to bless us beyond what He has promised.  

Paul trusted in God's provisions -- both spiritual and material. After talking about how he had learned contentment, he quickly deflected the credit -- "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (v. 13). God provided for Paul's needs, and will do the same for all His children. "And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus" (v. 19).  

-- Via The Bulletin of the Church of Christ at New Georgia, October 10, 2010
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News & Notes

Let those of us who are Christians continue remembering Agnes Shuff in prayer who has been on hospice care for several weeks and not feeling well.  

Congratulations to David Comer and Skyla Holt who were recently united in marriage!  Let us pray that the Lord will continue to bless them in their marriage, all the days of their life.
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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 a little less than 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.  Just walk pass the check-in counter; turn right at the hall.  The first and second doors on the left lead to where we meet.