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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" (Matthew 28:19-20, NASB).
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January 12, 2020
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Contents:
1) Proclaim His Excellence (Colby Junkin)
2) Right Attitudes for Faithfulness (Warren Berkley)
3) News & Notes
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-1-
Proclaim His Excellence
Colby Junkin
The greatest blessing ever bestowed upon mankind was salvation from
the dreadful sickness of sin. It was sin that drove man away from
the precious and intimate relationship that they had with God
(Genesis 3:6-8). It was sin that took the greatest characters of the
Bible and humiliated them for their weaknesses (2 Samuel 12:13;
16:5-14). It was sin, man’s complete abandonment of God’s will, that
led entire nations into utter ruin and captivity (2 Kings 17:7-19;
21:10-15). It was sin and its selfish pride that motivated the
Pharisees to hate a lowly Nazarene (John 11:57; Philippians 2:7). It
was sin that placed the Son of God upon the cross (2 Corinthians
5:21). It was sin that I have committed that caused my Jesus to die.
When we think about these things and the consequences of our sins,
we should be motivated to better worship, praise, and honor of our
King. The forgiveness that we obtain through God’s grace and the
blood of Christ should move us to greater service and devotion to
God. Our entire lives should be surrounded with constant reminders
of the blessings that God has freely bestowed. We should be
eternally thankful to our Creator.
In the second chapter of first Peter, Peter opened with similar
ideas (2:1-3). If we have tasted the kindness of the Lord and
understood the richness of His Word, then we should be stimulated to
put off the life of this world by putting on Jesus Christ. Our lives
on earth are temporary and but a vapor, but those who do the will of
the Father will live forever (James 4:14; 1 John 2:17). Our
weaknesses and sins that once controlled our hearts and minds should
be repented of and driven completely out of our lives. We should not
only raise our children “in the discipline and instruction of the
Lord,” but we ourselves should be trained by the glories revealed in
the Bible.
Peter continued to strengthen his readers by compelling them to see
the greater glories revealed in the church of our Lord. Peter
instructed the Christians to remember that they “are being built up
as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual
sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (2:4). These
tasks, as spiritual priests, take us from the realm of this earth
and exalt us to a greater and higher plane. Paul spoke of this place
in the book of Ephesians and called it “the heavenly places”
(Ephesians 1:3, 20; 2:6; 3:10; 6:12). It is as if our entire lives
are elevated from the physical pressures of this life, and we are
given the opportunity to see heaven in the distance as we press
onward to making our goal. We must learn to imitate the faith and
heart of Abraham who confessed to be a stranger and pilgrim on this
earth and by faith searched for the better country above (Hebrews
11:13-16).
Peter would ultimately conclude his thoughts with giving Old
Testament descriptions to the New Testament Christian. Every
individual Christian has been called to be a part of “a chosen race,
a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own
possession” (2:9a). A Christian has been called by the gospel to
live a life pleasing to God (2 Thessalonians 2:14; Ephesians 5:10).
A calling that went forth from Jerusalem and can now be found in
every part of the earth. This calling is not limited to nationality,
race, sex, or culture, but rather it is open to all who will listen
and obey. As Peter continued to say, “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” (2:10). Is there any greater
blessing extended to mankind?
Finally, it is when we understand all of these great blessings that
our hearts cannot contain our joy, but rather in praise we “proclaim
the excellencies of Him who has called us out darkness into His
marvelous light” (2:9b). We pour out our hearts in praise and
exaltation to our Lord. As Peter said, “and though you have not seen
Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in
Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory”
(1:8). Our lives have completely evolved from living day-to-day and
being filled with selfish desires, to living for eternity and giving
all praise to our God. Is your life given to proclaiming the
excellencies of God, or are you still living in the darkness of sin?
— Via articles from the River Bend church of Christ, May 12, 2019
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Right Attitudes for Faithfulness
Warren Berkley
It is clear to every Bible student, you cannot be faithful to the
Lord if your attitude is not in keeping with the teachings of Christ
(Phil. 2:5; Col. 3:17). Attitude has to do with the content of your
mind, your disposition and the control you exercise over your
emotions.
The simple truth is, the New Testament is loaded with teaching,
examples, prohibitions and warnings about attitude. This spiritually
healthy instruction should be the basis of our discipline over our
mind. Your attitude toward God is basic. All other phases of
attitude are rooted in your attitude toward God. We must hold Him in
the highest esteem, revere Him, worship Him and obey Him with
wholehearted love and trust (Eccl. 5:1,2; Matt. 22:37; Rom. 12:1,2;
Prov. 1:7).
Once your attitude toward God begins to weaken, all other phases of
attitude will likely deteriorate. Let us be aware of this and
constantly monitor our attitude toward God, seeking to enrich our
relationship with Him. Your attitude toward Christ is a component of
your attitude toward God. If God is your father, you will love His
Son (Jno. 8:42). If you love God and want to obey Him, you will have
a favorable and grateful acceptance of His Son, Jesus Christ. You
will regard Him as the perfect expression of Deity and humanity, the
spotless Son of God who died in order for you to be free from sin
and enjoy eternal life. Likewise, you will read and study about His
attitude with the highest esteem, seeking to imitate Him in all your
behavior.
Your attitude toward others develops out of your reverence for
Deity. If you believe in God and follow His Son, your behavior
toward others will be based on that. You will seek to do all God has
said about how to treat people. You will study and follow the
compassion of Christ, as well as His boldness in seeking to save the
lost. His relationship to others becomes your pattern (see 1 Pet.
2:18-25).
Your attitude toward other members of God's family will be suitable,
in keeping with all that is written about such relationships. Peter
teaches God's people to "love one another fervently with a pure
heart" (1 Pet. 1:22), and John taught extensively that "we should
love one another" (1 John 3:11). "Be kind to one another,
tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ also
forgave you" (Eph. 4:32).
Our attitude must endeavor to follow the pattern of unselfish
humility demonstrated by our Lord (Phil. 2:1-5). Your attitude
toward sin will be fitting. To remain right with God, it is
necessary to maintain an abhorrence of sin (Rom. 12:9). If you court
the favor of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God (Jas.
4:4). It is essential to arm yourself with "the same mind" or
attitude Jesus had against sin and error (1 Pet. 4:10).
Your attitude toward life should be realistic and godly, not bitter
and angry. If you murmur and complain about your life, and this
becomes your habitual attitude - you cannot be what you should be!
And when you get to this low state, you need to stop and recognize
that the devil has seduced and maneuvered you into this state of
constant anger and resentment. While you remain in this mood you
cannot develop the love described in 1 Cor. 13:4-7, and you cannot
grow and taste the kindness of the Lord (1 Pet. 2:1-3).
In the "beatitudes" (Matt. 5:3-12), the Lord addresses every phase
or direction of attitude: Your attitude toward God (poor in spirit
& hungering and thirsting after righteousness), your attitude
toward yourself (meek), your attitude toward others (merciful), your
attitude toward those who oppose you (vss. 10-13), and your attitude
toward sin (mourn and purity in heart). Growth and faithfulness
depends upon the constant development of these qualities.
-- Via The Beacon, January 5, 2020
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-3-
News & Notes
Folks to be praying for:
Pat Joyner is feeling and sounding better. Tomorrow she will
be transferred to the Rehab hospital near the airport.
Baxter Cribbs is healing from the hernia surgery he had last
week and doing well. On the 24th, he will be seeing his
surgeon for a follow-up.
Myrna Jordan and Melotine Davis have not been feeling
well lately.
Doyle Rittenhouse’s back is somewhat better, but he now has
the virus that his wife Joyce still has. She also has
a bad cough along with her bronchitis. They have been seeing
the doctors and will do so again this Wednesday.
Let us also continue to pray for the following: John Bladen,
Kelly Stoneheart, Ann Vandevander, the Medlock family, Jim Lively,
Jan Bartlett, Rick Cuthbertson, Brook & Kaydance Richardson,
Rex & Frankie Hadley, and Kerry Williams.
WordPress version:
https://thegospelobserver.wordpress.com/2020/01/12/the-gospel-observer-january-12-2019/
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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, living
for the Lord; for, if not, salvation can be lost (Heb.
10:36-39; Rev. 2:10; 2 Pet. 2:20-22).
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Tebeau Street
CHURCH OF CHRIST
1402 Tebeau Street, Waycross, GA 31501
Sunday services: 9:00
a.m. (Bible class); 10 a.m. & 5 p.m. (worship)
Wednesday: 7
p.m. (Bible class)
evangelist/editor: Tom
Edwards (912) 281-9917
Tom@ThomasTEdwards.com
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http://thomastedwards.com/go
(Older version of Gospel Observer website without
pictures, but back to March 1990)
http://tebeaustreetchurchofchrist.org/
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