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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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September 22, 2013
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Contents:

1) The Light of the World (Tom Edwards)
2) Paul's Fellowlabourers...in The Book of Life (Jerry Curry)
3) News & Notes
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The Light of the World
by Tom Edwards

When living in Kentucky, I once went with some friends to explore Carter Caves in Olive Hill.  While deep within one of its many caverns, our tour guide then turned out the lights so that we could each experience what total darkness really is.  Not even the palm of my hand could be seen when held just a few inches from my eyes.  Definitely, I had never been in any place darker.  

Though we often probably take it for granted, how helpful and amazing light really is.  

In the Bible, sin and ignorance are sometimes portrayed as darkness.  Jesus, for instance, speaks of those who will not come to the light because they "...loved the darkness rather than the light; for their deeds were evil.  For everyone who does evil hates the light, and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed" (Jn. 3:19,20).  John shows that those who claim to "have fellowship" with God, "yet walk in the darkness," "...lie and do not practice the truth" (1 Jn. 1:6).  Some Christians, for a while, walk in the light; but then allow the allurement of sinful things to draw them away from the Lord and forsake Him.  Solomon speaks of those who "leave the paths of uprightness...to walk in the ways of darkness" (Prov. 2:13).

Though physical light is a great benefit for us, even more important than that is the light of God's word.  For the gospel provides us with the way out of the entrapment of spiritual ignorance and sin.  

Man, on his own, would never have been able to arrive at that place of spiritual blessing in Christ.  As Paul states, "...the world though its wisdom did not come to know God" (1 Cor. 1:21).  Even the most intelligent among us would only be groping about unsuccessfully in trying to do so.  For the Bible also shows that even when man might think that he has the right course for his life all figured out, he could still be terribly mistaken.  Twice, Solomon points this out in Proverbs, word for word:  "There is a way which seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death" (Prov. 14:12 and 16:25).  

But praise be to God that He saw fit to provide our world with the light of His truth!  And Jesus Himself is the embodiment of that.  In one of His "I am" declarations, He says, "...'I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me" (Jn. 14:6).  

In another one of the "I am" passages, Jesus refers to Himself as being "the light of the world"; and He goes on to declare that "he who follows Me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the light of life" (Jn. 8:12).  

In one of the Old Testament prophecies that the Lord fulfilled, Jesus brought not merely a glimmer of hope, but an abundant radiance of it.  Matthew writes, "THE LAND OF ZEBULUN AND THE LAND OF NAPHTALI, BY THE WAY OF THE SEA, BEYOND THE JORDAN, GALILEE OF THE GENTILES --  THE PEOPLE WHO WERE SITTING IN DARKNESS SAW A GREAT LIGHT, AND TO THOSE WHO WERE SITTING IN THE LAND AND SHADOW OF DEATH, UPON THEM A LIGHT DAWNED" (Matt. 4:15,16).

It is in that light of truth that we are to walk.  And in doing so, we then have "fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus" to cleanse us "from all sin" (1 Jn. 1:7).  

In addition, as we walk in the light of God's word, we then will also be reflecting that light in our own lives and, thus, helping to make the world a better place.  For just think of how a Christian is to live.  Though some non-Christians might find fault with some of the moral principles the child of God strives to live by, should not even the atheist be able to see a better way of living (at least for the most part from the atheist's viewpoint) in not doing those things the gospel commands against (such as stealing, murder, etc.) and doing those things that one is instructed (such as to love your neighbor, to do good unto all men, etc.).  

Reflecting that light of Christ in our own lives is what God wants us to do -- and so that others can benefit from that, too.  For Jesus commands His follower to "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven" (Matt. 5:16).  Going along with this is what Paul instructed the Philippians: "Do all things without grumbling or disputing; that you may prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may have cause to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain" (Phil. 2:14-16).  

Should not the wonderful transformation that has occurred in the life of a child of God truly be a motivating factor toward maintaining one's light for the Lord?  "for you were formerly darkness, but now you are light in the Lord...."  So because of that, "walk as children of light" (Eph. 5:8).  And think, too, of where we who are saints had formerly been, along with where we now are: "giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.  For He delivered us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins" (Col 1:12-14).  

God's people are special to Him: "But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God's OWN POSSESSION, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;  for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD; you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY" (1 Pet. 2:9,10).  

How thankful we can be that the light of the world, Jesus, came to our realm of darkness and made it possible that we each can be set free from that darkness, be brought into His marvelous light, and strive to shine forth that light in our own lives.  And if we continue to do this while on earth, heaven will one day be our eternal home, a place where there is no need for "the sun or of the moon to shine upon it, for the glory of God has illumined it, and its lamp is the Lamb.  And the nations shall walk by its light..." (Rev. 21:23,24).
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Paul's Fellowlabourers...in The Book of Life
by Jerry Curry

Paul writes to the church at Philippi and commends his fellow laborers whose names were in the book of life. "And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life" (Philippians 4:3).  This is a great commendation for Clement and others included as coworkers of Paul.  Many of us remember when we were back in school and would look for our names on the academic honor roll when it was posted.  As was mentioned in our Bible study last Sunday morning, having one's name on an academic honor roll is nice, but pales in comparison to having our name enrolled in the Lamb's Book of Life.  Let's notice some other passages that reference this book of life.  

"And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.  And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.  And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire.  This is the second death.  And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire" (Revelation 20:11-15).  John was privileged to see and record for our generation the final judgment of God. Judgment comes to the small and great alike as they stand before God.  Please note in verse fifteen that John records that "whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire."  This reflects obvious importance on our names being written in the book of life.  

"Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.  And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him" (Malachi 3:16-17).  Those who feared the Lord, in contrast to those rebuked by Malachi for their profane service and worship, had their names written in a book of remembrance and God says "And they shall be mine."

The disciples return rejoicing that the demons had been subjected to them.  "And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils [demons, NASB] are subject unto us through thy name" (Luke 10:17).  Jesus responds in verse 20,  "Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven."  Jesus emphasizes the significance again of one's name being written in the book of life.  

"He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels" (Revelation 3:5).  After John reproves the church at Sardis as a dead church, he commends those who had maintained their purity and faithfulness and assures them that their names would not be removed from the book of life.  

John writes in Revelation 21:27 about those who would and would not enter into the joys of heaven.  "And there shall in no wise enter into it anything that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life."

Let us serve God faithfully and keep our garments white as snow; to assure that our names will continually be written in the book of life.

-- Via The Bulletin of the Church of Christ at New Georgia, July 28, 2013
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News & Notes

Let those of us who are Christians continue praying for Michelle Fleeman, who is now suffering from the side effects of medicine, as well as for the others whom we have been mentioning with health problems (and most of them being long-term): Bill Barfield, Virginia Fontenot, Jean Calloway, Shirley Young, Peggy Lefort, Cheryl Crews, and Terry and Pam MacDonald.  
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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)