____________________________________________________ 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). ____________________________________________________ November 1, 1998 ____________________________________________________ Urgency by J. Wiley Adams The Lord's business has always been urgent. Time waits for no one and all are moving toward death and the judgment rapidly and each day brings us that much closer to our final destiny. For some time now I have been chagrined at the lukewarm and insipid attitude among members of the Lord's body, the church. In the book of Revelation chapter 3:14-22 we read of the church at Laodicea. This church was characterized by the spirit of indifference and lukewarmness. They made the Lord sick. He was ready to spew them out of his mouth. They were neither hot nor cold. Instead of the sense of haste and urgency in the Lord's work we have something that I will call ``ho-hum religion.'' This means that it does not matter to us all that much. Many have become bored with serving God and have let the world take hold of them. The more God's people are enamored with the world the less they are interested in spiritual things. The Devil has many devices and among them is the tactic of just getting us to do nothing much. A little religion should suffice for anyone, some seem to be saying. The quest for recreation, things of this life, making a living, and the tendency to ungodly living is the order of the day. I am talking about the church and not the world. Jesus, in the sermon on the mount, stated the order of our priorities. Matthew 6:33 says, ``But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.'' This would be hard to misunderstand. The kingdom of God and righteousness is first. Not man's but God's righteousness. Things are a natural result of serving the Lord. These things will be added to you. This means that God will provide for his faithful people. How he does this is not the point. We understand that God moves through his Providence today and not through miracles. God will provide for His own (Jehovah-jirah). We need to remember this. The problem revolves around our values and what is more important to us in this life. When we have the proper objective, it is only then that we can put lives in perspective. We are caught up in the trappings of materialism, sensualism, and worldliness. This saps our spirituality from us and we are left only with the dregs of this life minus the thing we need most of all. We need the Lord for without Him we can do nothing. Through Christ we can do all things. ___________________________________________ Backsliding by Johnie Paul Edwards Backsliding is a Biblical expression. Jeremiah uses the word in reference to Israel. ``Return, O backsliding children, saith Jehovah thy God...'' (Jeremiah 3:14). The word backsliding means ``to slide back; to lapse morally.'' Christians must always be on their guard against sliding backwards or lapsing morally. Jesus said, ``Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak'' (Matt. 26:41). The Hebrew writer said, ``Take heed, brethren, lest haply there shall be in any one of you an evil heart of unbelief, in falling away from the living God'' (Heb. 3:12). Paul told the Corinthians to take heed lest they fall (1 Cor. 10:12). We must make our calling and election sure (2 Pet. 1:10). In Acts 8:18-22 we find Simon backsliding. He had heard Philip preach good tidings and was baptized (Acts 8:12-13). Yet, when he saw the laying on of the apostles' hands he offered them money. His heart was not right before God. Peter said, ``Thy silver perish with thee, because thou hast thought to obtain the gift of God with money. Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right before God. Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray the Lord, if perhaps the thought of thy heart shall be forgiven thee. For I see that thou art in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity'' (Acts 8:20-23). Other examples of backsliding are: the Galatians (Gal. 5:4), Demas (2 Tim. 4:10), and the Ephesians (Rev. 2:4-5). The state of the backslider is worse than the first. Notice the things Peter says in 2 Peter 2:20-21. ``For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein and overcome, the last state is become worse with them than the first. For it were better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after knowing it, to turn back from the holy commandment delivered unto them.'' We can prevent backsliding by abounding in the ``Christian graces'' (2 Pet. 1:5-10). The true Christian will not slide back, but will ``grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord...'' (2 Pet. 3:18). ___________________________________________ Power by Johnie Edwards The Hebrew writer said, ``For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart'' (Heb. 4:12). The power of the word can be seen in that: 1) The Gospel Is God's Power To Save. Paul told the Romans. ``For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation...'' (Rom. 1:16). The pure gospel saves when heard, believed and obeyed! (Jas. 1:21). 2) Converting Power Is In The Word. The Psalmist said, ``The Law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul...'' (Psa. 19:7). The Bible is so complete that we need nothing else in conversion. Cases of conversion in the New Testament furnish us with good examples of how conversion takes place. We see men hearing, believing and obeying (Ac. 18:8). 3) Drawing Power: Men are drawn to God by the preaching of the word of God. John teaches that men must be drawn to God to be saved. John explains how this drawing takes place. ``And they shall all be taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me'' (Jn. 6:44-45). There is no other drawing power other than the Word of God! Have you let the Word of God affect you? ___________________________________________ One is Saved By Many Things by Tom Edwards Here are just some: 1. God saves (1 Tim. 4:10). 2. Jesus saves (Matt. 1:21). 3. The blood of Jesus saves (Rom. 5:9). 4. The gospel saves (1 Cor. 15:1,2). 5. One is saved by grace (Eph. 2:8). 6. One is saved by faith (Rom. 5:1). 7. One is saved by works (James 2:24). 8. One is saved by hope (Rom. 8:24). 9. Baptism saves (1 Pet. 3:21). 10. We save ourselves (Acts 2:40, KJV). Note: To say one is saved by grace, faith, works, baptism, or the blood of Jesus is all scripturally true; but to say one is saved by anyone of these topics to the exclusion of all the rest is false. This, though, is exactly what many are doing today when they teach that salvation is by ``faith only,'' ``grace only,'' or by the ``blood of Jesus only.'' Though Jesus died for everyone (Heb. 2:9; 1 John 2:2), not everyone is saved by that atonement because there are various conditions that must first be met: faith, repentance, and baptism are necessary in order to become a child of God. This involves obedient action, which, when carried out in accordance with God's word, will allow one to benefit from the sacrifice of Christ. Therefore, whenever the Bible speaks of one's being saved by faith, faith is used as a synecdoche (wherein a part stands for the whole) or comprehensively (in which it is to be inferred that the other necessary actions are also included, such as repentance and baptism, etc.). Let us not overlook all the things that God's word says one is saved by. Man might show one thing, but God shows several things--not only that which is on His part, but that which is on man's part as well. ___________________________________________ A CHURCH GARDEN Three Rows of Squash 1. Squash indifference 2. Squash unnecessary criticism 3. Squash gossip Four Rows of Turnips 1. Turn up for meetings. 2. Turn up with a smile. 3. Turn up with a visitor. 4. Turn up with a Bible. Five Rows of Lettuce 1. Let us love one another. 2. Let us welcome strangers. 3. Let us be faithful to duty. 4. Let us truly worship God. 5. Let us give liberally. -- selected ________________________________________ Tri-State CHURCH OF CHRIST 1314 Montgomery Avenue, Ashland, Kentucky 41101 Sunday: 10:00 A.M. Bible class 10:50 A.M. Worship 6:30 P.M. Worship Wednesday: 7:30 P.M. Bible study evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (606) 325-9742 e-mail: tedwards@zoomnet.net Gospel Observer web site: http://www.zoomnet.net/~tedwards/go ________________________________________