____________________________________________________ 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). ____________________________________________________ April 11, 1993 ____________________________________________________ Fulfilled Prophecy by Tom Roberts Though the Old Testament and New Testament are two separate parts of the entire Bible, they are welded inseparably together in such a fashion that either is unfinished and incomplete without the other. The Old Testament points to a Messiah without seeing the promise executed. The New Testament introduces a Messiah in the person of Jesus of Nazareth but the inauguration of this Messiah is cloaked in mystery without the illumination from the past. Jesus, divorced from the prophetic imperative, would have had no mandate for his manifestation to Israel. However, given the rationale that fulfilled prophecy was a lawful essential to the identity of the Christ, it is no surprise to note that the New Testament age opened with a sense of anticipation and closed with a sense of consummation: He who had been foretold had come to Israel. Fulfilled prophecy is the death knell to modernism and every system of doubt. Far removed from speculation and conjecture, prophecy foresees the future with a surety that acknowledges the existence of God. ``For no prophecy ever came by the will of man: but men spake from God, being moved by the Holy Spirit'' (2 Pet. 1:21). While one might dare to argue with the declarations of the Bible about the existence of God (e.g., Gen. 1:1), one can scarcely argue with prophecy. Deity is an indisputable fact when One has the power to see the end of a thing from its beginning, an ability inconsistent with mortal man. Of course, there are proofs about the deity of Jesus in addition to that of fulfilled prophecy. The testimony of John the Baptist regarding his witness of the Holy Spirit (Jn. 1:34), the voice from Heaven (Matt. 3:17), the transfiguration (Matt. 17:1-6), the teaching of Jesus, the work of Jesus (miracles, signs, wonders), and the resurrection, to name a few. But nothing ties the covenants together with more purpose and design than fulfilled prophecy. It shows the intent of God to bring a Messiah; it shows the selection of Messiah to be determinate and not accidental; it shows the power of God to guide world events to fruition; it welds revelation into one continuous whole. In the Book of Acts, Luke presents fulfilled prophecy as a testimony that Jesus is not self-deluded, confused nor an impostor, springing unannounced by God to an unprepared nation, but as the Messiah, indeed, foretold from creation (Gen. 3:15). Pointing like the finger of God, prophecy forever identifies and certifies Jesus as the Chosen of God, sent to save the world. Fulfilled Prophecy in Acts Betrayal of Judas: Acts 1:16,20 (Psa. 69:25; 109:8) Kingdom of Christ: Acts 2:16 (Joel 2:28ff) Resurrection of Christ: Acts 2:25-32 (Psa. 16:8ff); 13:32-39 (Psa. 2:7; Isa. 55:3; Psa. 16:10); 24:14, 15 (``law,'' and ``prophets'') Lordship of Messiah: Acts 2:34-36 (Psa. 110:1) Suffering and Rejection: Acts 3:12-18; 26:22-23 (``Moses'') Christ as Lawgiver and Prophet: Acts 3:19-24 (Deut. 18:15) Fulfilled Covenant--Promised to Fathers: Acts 3:25,26 (Gen. 12:3; 22:18; etc.); 13:32,33 (Ibid.) Rejected Cornerstone: Acts 4:11 (Psa. 118:22) Conspiracy of rulers: Acts 4:23-28 (Psa. 2:1,2) Scheme of Redemption: Acts 7:1-53 (Gen., Exod., Deut., Josh., Isa., Amos) Suffering Servant: Acts 8:32-35 (Isa. 53) Bringing in Gentiles: Acts 10:1-43; 11:18 (``all the prophets''); 13:44-48 (Isa. 49:6); 15:7-15 (Amos 9:11,12) Seed of David: Acts 13:16-24 (2 Sam. 7:12f) Warning against rejecting Messiah: Acts 13:40-41 (Hab. 1:5) Rejection of Jesus: Acts 13:27-29 (``voices of the prophets'') Rejection of Gospel: Acts 28:25-28 (Isa. 6:9,10) Jesus is Christ: Acts 18:28 (``scriptures'') Hope of Israel: Acts 28:20-23 (``Moses and the prophets'') Would to God that modern Jews would take the time to read the book of Acts and search the Old Testament scriptures that are so eloquent in their declaration of the Messiah. Jesus, and only Jesus, is the embodiment of the vision given to the prophets. It is a tragedy of the greatest dimension that his people (according to the flesh) have rejected their Messiah. But we who are Gentiles glorify God every day for the mercy shown to us in allowing us to become descendants of Abraham by faith (Gal. 3:26-29). It is by grace that we are the true ``Israel of God'' (Rom. 9:6-8). The book of Acts is Luke's record of apostolic preaching which has prophecy and its fulfillment as God's attestation of Jesus as the Messiah of promise. This volume, perhaps more than any other, spans the time between the covenants to make of them one complete statement and to give fleshly reality to the Messianic concept. This, among the other themes of this great book, is but one measure of the blessings we receive in our study of this wonderful text. -- Via Guardian of Truth, 1/21/93 ___________________________________________ "For you showed sympathy to the prisoners, and accepted joyfully the seizure of your property, knowing that you have for yourselves a better possession and an abiding one" (Hebrews 10:34). ___________________________________________ TO DISPLAY OR NOT TO DISPLAY? by Alan Jones They both were women. They both were royalty. They both were fair to look upon. They both were called upon to display themselves before reveling men on feast days. But, that's where the similarities end. One woman refused to display herself and lost her position as queen. The other danced and ``pleased'' the king, causing him to cut off the head of a righteous man. One woman has served through the centuries as an example of purity and modesty; the other as an example of lasciviousness. Queen Vashti, wife of the Persian King Ahasuerus, was commanded to show off her beauty in front of the nobles and princes of the Medo-Persian Empire--all of which were drunken. She refused to come and was deposed from her throne (Esther 1:9-12, 19). The daughter of Herodias danced before King Herod, his lords, the high captains, and the chief men of Galilee. Herod was so ``pleased'' with her lasciviousness, he swore that she could have anything she wanted, up to half the kingdom. After a conference with her mother, she asked for the head of John the Baptist on a platter. Herod reluctantly and sorrowfully kept his oath (Mk. 6:21-29). Today, all women have the same choice--to display or not to display. ``Daughters of Herodias'' are all around us in the world--especially now that it's summertime. More than tans are being flashed. Bodies are being placed on public display. Where are the ``Vashti's''? Surely they can be found among those professing to be God's children. But, alas, so many times, this is not the case! Christians, both women and men, should dress ``modestly, with shamefacedness and sobriety'' (1 Tim. 2:9). Ask yourself just one question, ``If in a pinch, with no time to change clothes, would I be ashamed to wear the clothes that I wear in other public places to worship services? If the answer is yes--soul searching is in order. To display or not to display? To be a ``Vashti'' or a ``Daughter of Herodias''? Only YOU can decide! -- Via ``Good News'' ___________________________________________ SELECTED QUOTES Faults are thick where love is thin. ``We see our reflections in other people. If we are cross and irritable and bad-tempered, we will probably find other people equally unpleasant. If we are critical and fault-finding, the chances are that we will find other people the same. If we are suspicious and distrustful, the likelihood is that others will be so to us. If we wish others to love us, we must first love them'' (William Barclay). My Lord knows the way through the wilderness. All I have to do is follow. ___________________________________________ GOD REQUIRES EFFORTS--NOT RESULTS! ``It won't do any good!'' This is the usual response made by many of us when we are asked to invite someone to hear the gospel preached or when we consider trying to talk to someone about religion. This is wrong!! It will do good. It can do no other than good because it is what God requires. The reason behind this erroneous response is that we think God requires ``results'' from us in the form of numbers and such like. The only thing required of us is...EFFORT--and lots of it! Paul said of the establishment and growth of the church at Corinth, ``I planted, Apollos watered and God gave the increase'' (I Cor. 3:6). Planting and watering are the duties of God's children...Increase is God's business. If we are diligent about our work, God is faithful in His. Far too often we get discouraged when God does not give us the increase we expect. Thus, we become lax in our efforts to plant and water the seed, the Word of God. But to cure this evil, Paul, by the Spirit, wrote ``And let us not be weary in well-doing for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not'' (Gal. 6:9). And the next time you have opportunity to sow some seed, water seed, don't think of it in terms of wasted efforts just because you think it won't do any good. Work and teach and invite others and encourage everyone with whom you come in contact to be what the Lord would have them be. Remember, ``Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord'' (I Cor. 15:58). -- (Selected from Kanawha Bulletin) ________________________________________ 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 ________________________________________