--------------------
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).
--------------------
May 16, 1990
--------------------
Contents:
1) What Might Have Been (Barney Keith)
2) Not Given to Much Wine (via Searching the Scriptures)
3) How Can I Know Who is Right? (Greg Gwin)
--------------------
-1-
What Might Have Been
by Barney Keith
How painful is the thought expressed by one of the great poets, John
Greenleaf Whittier:
"For of all sad words of tongue or pen,
The saddest are these: `It might have been!"'
Many a person has thrown away his life in drug addiction, (including
alcohol). Numerous are those who have thrown away their marriages by
becoming involved with others. Parents have often lost their children
by neglecting them, or even granting them excessive freedom. Many are
those who have thrown away a good name by some ungodly behavior.
Do you not suppose that a vast majority of these later in life have
shed tears of bitter remorse as they have thought of "what might have
been"? It is too late, however, for all has been lost.
This bitter lament is found also in the Bible. It was expressed by the
"weeping prophet," Jeremiah (8:20) as he sadly exclaimed, "THE HARVEST
IS PART, THE SUMMER IS ENDED, AND WE ARE NOT SAVED." God had given His
people ample time to repent and turn from their idolatrous, immoral
ways. They had not shown any inclination to respond appropriately to
His offers of mercy. When God was no longer willing to tolerate their
wickedness, the Babylonian captivity became His means of teaching them
a 70-year lesson. No doubt there were times in Babylon when they
mourned and wept over "what might have been" if they had only listened
to the voices of the prophets who had warned them.
Such lessons ought not to fall on deaf ears today. That individual who
has stopped serving the Lord faithfully will one day realize what he
has given up. It may be too late then to do anything about it. My
dear wayward brother or sister, before the "harvest is past" and the
"summer is ended," you ought to take advantage of a merciful God's
offer of pardon by repentance, confession and prayer. Better that, by
far, than to stand condemned in the judgment and have to think of "what
might have been."
That individual, too, who has never obeyed the gospel should ponder
seriously what hell is like (according to God's word) and submit
himself to the rule of Christ in faith, repentance, confession and
baptism before it is too late to do so. Far better this than to be
separated eternally from God and think of "what might have been."
--------------------
-2-
Not Given To "Much" Wine
Question: In 1 Tim. 3:8 Paul said that deacons are not to be given to
"much" wine. Does this imply that the consumption of alcoholic
beverages in moderation is approved?
Answer: Looking at the passage we raise the question: Is the apostle
saying that the deacon is not to be drunk? We believe that he is.
That being so, we raise yet another question: Can you not urge a man to
avoid drunkenness without approving moderate drinking? SURE YOU
CAN!
Telling a man -- "Don't get bombed out on whiskey!" -- does not intend
approval that drinking whiskey in moderation is acceptable.
Or..."Don't be a drug addict!" (which is the same as saying -- "Don't
be given to much drugs") is certainly not approval for the occasional
use of cocaine. "Don't be a slave to sin" certainly does not approve of
sin in "moderation."
---------------------
"Do not be given to wine" > "Do not use drugs" (1 Tim. 3:3)
IS
THE SAME AS
"Do not be given to much wine" > "Do not be a drug addict" (1
Tim. 3:8)
---------------------
And while we are on the subject...take a peak at Ecclesiastes 7:17
which says, "Do not be excessively wicked." Am I to believe that such
lends approval to wickedness in "moderation?" Deacons (and I believe
all Christians) are not to be given to "much" wine i.e., they are not
to be drunkards. But such does not imply acceptability of moderate
drinking anymore than Ecclesiastes 7:17 implies acceptability of
moderate sinning!
-- via Searching the Scriptures
--------------------
-3-
How Can I Know Who is Right?
by Greg Gwin
An extremely confusing situation exists in our religious world
today. There are literally hundreds of different groups, all
teaching diverse and conflicting doctrines. It doesn't take much to
realize that something is seriously wrong. It is a simple fact that not
all of these folks can be right about what they teach. It then becomes
a very important question for us to ask: "How can I know who is right?"
In seeking the answer to this question, we must have the proper regard
for the following concepts:
1. We are searching for God's answer, not man's. Many will be sadly
disappointed in judgment when they find their worship has been "in
vain," because they have followed "the commandments of men" rather than
the will of God (Matthew 15:9).
2. God's truth is revealed solely and exclusively in the inspired word
of the Bible. Despite the claims of many people today, no one has
received spiritual truth in any other way. "...thy word is truth" (John
17:17).
3. Not only is truth found in God's word, but we also have the
confidence that every bit of truth we need is contained therein. The
Scriptures teach us all we need to be "complete, furnished completely
unto every good work" (2 Timothy 3:16,17).
4. The Bible teaches that there are many false teachers in the world,
and that we should "believe not every spirit, but try the spirits
whether they are of God" (1 John 4:1).
5. Finally, we must be determined to accept God's word, and nothing
else. "If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have
received, let him be accursed" (Galatians 1:9).
Understanding then how important it is to "know who is right" in
matters of religion, we become aware of the need to carefully consider
what we believe and practice. While situation seems confusing at first,
if we will apply these principles, we can find the answer to the vital
question: "Who is right?" Don't forget, Jesus said that truth is
discernible: "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you
free" (John 8:32). To this end may God bless us all.
--------------------
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).
--------------------
First published for the Tri-state church of Christ in Ashland,
Kentucky, at 713 13th Street.
evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards
tedwards1109@gmail.com
--------------------