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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 21, 2013
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Contents:      

1) 1 Timothy 5:19-25 (Tom Edwards)
2) News & Notes
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1 Timothy 5:19-25
by Tom Edwards

After giving instruction concerning elderly and young widows, Paul then has more to say about an elder.  The apostle declares: "Do not receive an accusation against an elder except on the basis of two or three witnesses.  Those who continue in sin, rebuke in the presence of all, so that the rest also will be fearful of sinning" (1 Tim. 5:19,20).  This principle of plurality was also so during the Mosaical Period: "A single witness shall not rise up against a man on account of any iniquity or any sin which he has committed; on the evidence of two or three witnesses a matter shall be confirmed" (Deut. 19:15).  Concerning witnesses during the Old Covenant, Jesus states, "Even in your law it has been written that the testimony of two men is true" (Jn. 8:17).  Consider also the Lord's instruction in Matthew 18:15-17 with regard to the use of witnesses: "...if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone.  If he hears you, you have gained your brother.  But if he will not hear you, take with you one or two more, that 'by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established'" (NKJV). Out of 25 different Bible versions I looked this up in, all but two (the NASB and GW) include the idea of a personal sin committed by one brother against another -- rather than just a brother who sins.  So if a Christian is sinned against, this instruction shows how it should be taken care of.  

In the case of the elder, it would appear that his testimony would be more valid than that of any other one person.  But a plurality of witnesses can make a charge against him.  

Paul then says that "Those who continue in sin, rebuke in the presence of all...," which, of course, is still referring to the elders.  

Paul also shows why they are to be rebuked before all: "so that the rest also will be fearful of sinning."  Matters of this nature, when dealt with properly, should help to strengthen the proper respect and faithfulness that one has toward God and His word.  In Acts 5:1-11, for example, Ananias and Sapphira were struck down by God for having lied about their giving.  The man and his wife were buried side by side, and the account concludes by saying that "...great fear came over the whole church, and over all who heard of these things."  What an indelible impression that must have made!  Instilled within these saints was the need to be truthful unto men and unto God -- and more of the realization that sin is not something to be taken lightly.  

In 1 Timothy 5:21, Paul then instructs of the impartial nature that Timothy is to have -- and which, of course, is to be true of all of us, as well.  The apostle states: "I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of His chosen angels, to maintain these principles without bias, doing nothing in a spirit of partiality."  James had also exhorted the brethren toward impartiality in James 2:1-9 and warns in that last verse, "But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors."  One reason why we are to be impartial is because it is the way that God is; and we are to, therefore, strive to be like him.  In Romans 2:11, for instance, Paul points out that "...there is no partiality with God."  This was also the same conclusion Peter reached in Acts 10:34 and further expressed it in the next verse, by saying, "but in every nation the man who fears Him and does what is right, is welcome to Him" (v. 35).  What a wonderful message that was for those who heard.  For Peter declared this in the house of Cornelius, who had gathered together many people in order to hear the gospel proclaimed; and they became the first Gentile converts to Christ.  During the Mosaical Age, the Gentiles were viewed as being an unclean people whom the Jews were not even to associate with (cf. Acts 10:28; 11:2,3; Jn. 8:28); but now, during the Gospel Age, God had shown Peter of the proper regard he should have toward them, which was to be the same as toward any race or nationality.

Paul then gives another warning, by saying, "Do not lay hands upon anyone too hastily and thereby share responsibility for the sins of others; keep yourself free from sin" (1 Tim. 5:22).  First of all, we know that this laying on of hands is not speaking of the bestowing of miraculous gifts.  For only the apostles could do that (cf. Acts 8:12-19).  There are a couple different thoughts concerning 1 Timothy 5:22:  1) We have seen that the laying on of hands was also done to send one off on a mission, to show their approval of that one of whom they would pray God's blessing in the work.  Therefore, one thought is that individuals were not to be too hasty in appointing an elder -- such as before it was actually determined if he truly met all the qualifications.  For appointing the wrong man might lead to some bad results.  2)  Another thought, however, is that this would apply to the accusations made against an elder and the "hands of discipline," which were not to be made too hastily, lest he possibly be wrongfully accused.  Of course, both of these principles can be inferred from elsewhere in the Scripture. 

In 1 Timothy 5:23, Paul then gives Timothy a prescription for his infirmities.  He states, "No longer drink water exclusively, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments" (NASB).  It appears from this that Timothy had been a total abstainer, since he is now being told to take "a little wine" for some personal health problems.  In the KJV, this verse states, "Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities."  Some people have assumed by this rendering that the water was bad, so Paul is telling Timothy to never drink water, but only wine.  Various other Bible versions, however, give the idea of no longer drinking ONLY water.  So Paul is not saying that Timothy could never drink water; but, rather, that it wasn't the only thing he was to drink.  The NKJV, for example, renders it as, "No longer drink only water...."  We can also infer from the verse itself -- even when the word "exclusively" or "only" is not there -- that Timothy would not be using wine all the time as a substitute for water, for he was to take only a "little" wine.  So if Timothy did drink as much wine as he would normally drink water, how could one call that just a "little"?

What else do we learn from this verse?  We can also infer from it that miracles were not performed for just any reason -- even to make one well.  For the apostle Paul could work miracles, but he didn't perform one on Timothy to cure him.  This was also the case with Trophimus.  2 Timothy 4:20 reads, "Erastus remained at Corinth, but Trophimus I left sick at Miletus."  So Paul had been right there with him, but did not miraculously heal him.  Paul also had his "thorn in the flesh" (2 Cor. 12:7), which was probably some physical infirmity that he prayed three times for the Lord to remove; but God's answer was, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness" (v. 9).  Paul, therefore, went on to say in the same verse, "Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me."

Miracles were used to confirm God's word, as Mark 16:20 shows: "And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them, and confirmed the word by the signs that followed."  Notice that, according to this verse, it was the Lord who worked with the apostles and confirmed the word by miracles.  Of course, He was doing this through the apostles.  Peter also made this quite clear when the lame man was begging alms in Acts 3:6.  Peter tells him, "I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene -- walk!"  The account then goes on to say: "And all the people saw him walking and praising God; and they were taking note of him as being the one who used to sit at the Beautiful Gate of the temple to beg alms, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.  And while he was clinging to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them at the so-called portico of Solomon, full of amazement.  But when Peter saw this, he replied to the people, 'Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this, or why do you gaze at us, as if by our own power or piety we had made him walk?  The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified His servant Jesus, the one whom you delivered up, and disowned in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release Him.  But you disowned the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, but put to death the Prince of life, the one whom God raised from the dead, a fact to which we are witnesses.  And on the basis of faith in His name, it is the name of Jesus which has strengthened this man whom you see and know; and the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect health in the presence of you all" (Acts 3:9-16).  

1 Timothy 5 then closes with Paul saying, "The sins of some men are quite evident, going before them to judgment; for others, their sins follow after.  Likewise also, deeds that are good are quite evident, and those which are otherwise cannot be concealed" (vv. 24,25).  This passage teaches the principle that all of our deeds -- whether good or bad, known or not known by others --  are all known by God and cannot be hidden from His sight.  In Numbers 32:23, Moses warned the sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad, by saying, "But if you will not do so, behold, you have sinned against the LORD, and be sure your sin will find you out."  Solomon writes, "He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, But he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion" (Prov. 28:13).   Sin, of course, can never be hidden from God: "If we had forgotten the name of our God, Or extended our hands to a strange god; Would not God find this out? For He knows the secrets of the heart" (Psa. 44:20,21).  Achan tried to hide his sin, but to no avail: "But the sons of Israel acted unfaithfully in regard to the things under the ban, for Achan, the son of Carmi...from the tribe of Judah, took some of the things under the ban, therefore the anger of the LORD burned against the sons of Israel" (Josh. 7:1).  "So Achan answered Joshua and said, 'Truly, I have sinned against the LORD, the God of Israel, and this is what I did: when I saw among the spoil a beautiful mantle from Shinar and two hundred shekels of silver and a bar of gold fifty shekels in weight, then I coveted them and took them; and behold, they are concealed in the earth inside my tent with the silver underneath it'" (vv. 20-22).  Before Achan had made this confession, he was the one out of all Israel who had been selected (through the intervention of God) to give an account (vv. 14-19).  Paul points out, "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" (2 Cor. 5:10).  And Romans 2:16 shows that this will be "on the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge the secrets of men through Christ Jesus."  For it is Jesus whom the Father has entrusted with that duty in the Judgment Day (cf. Jn. 5:21,22,27).  May we, therefore, each be ready when that day comes!       
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News & Notes

Let those of us who are Christians be remembering the following people in prayer:

Next week, Pam MacDonald will be having two major surgeries on her back.  The second one will be performed the day after the first one.  

Virginia Fontenot is now undergoing chemo therapy and having a difficult time with it.  She said that one of the bad side effects has been the feeling of her throat closing off.  She is also very weak physically.

Bill Barfield (Virginia's brother) was recently moved to a Regency Hospital.  He has now been continuously in a few different hospitals for more than a year.  But it was here at Regency that Bill was able to stand on his own for the first time since about March 2012.  So it would be good if he could remain there and continue receiving their treatments until he is able to return home, but Medicare will approve of only three weeks.  Prayer, therefore, has been requested that Medicare will allow for Bill to be there as long as needed.  

* Let us also be remembering the following in prayer: Linda Blevins who has been diagnosed with bilateral renal artery stenosis and will be undergoing some more tests in May; Tom Smitherman (Lee's father) who has been diagnosed with an aggressive prostate cancer; Cheryl Crews who has some chronic ailments; Shirley Young who suffers from fibromyalgia; and Jean Calloway who had been in the hospital for several days, but is now back home -- though still with health problems.
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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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Park Forest

CHURCH OF CHRIST
9923 Sunny Cline Dr., Baton Rouge, LA  70817
Sunday services: 9:00 AM (Bible class); 10 AM & 6 PM (worship)
Tuesday: 7 PM (Bible class)
evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (225) 667-4520
Tom@ThomasTEdwards.com
http://ThomasTEdwards.com/go (Gospel Observer website)
http://ThomasTEdwards.com/audioser.html (audio sermons)