____________________________________________________ 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). ____________________________________________________ May 23, 1993 ____________________________________________________ It Keeps Me Alive by Tom Edwards What is it that keeps you alive physically? Is it not a multiplicity of factors? Food, water, air, and the sun are just some of the sources to which we can attribute our continual existence. Let us view these thoughts analogously with what the Bible declares can save one's soul. As we will see, there are actually many factors involved in a person's salvation that--though they are sometimes summed up with one phrase, such as the term ``believe''--are each necessary in order to acquire forgiveness of past sins. First of all, would it be wrong for me to say that food keeps me alive? Since you are a fellow human being who is pretty much like myself in this area, you realize the need man has to eat. Food does keep one alive. But even if I wrote a six hundred-page dissertation on food and its ability to sustain life, it would be wrong if I said that one can attribute his ongoing earthly life to ``food only.'' And closely related to this topic is another that I could also write about: water. Yes, man's life will be cut short from the land of the living rather quickly if it were not for this liquid life-sustainer. Though man can go many days without food, he can only go a few without water. It is vital for the continuation of human life--but could I say that the survival of man's life is dependent upon ``water only''? Or what if I wrote a five hundred-page document in which every other page is emphasizing how that the air we breath keeps us alive? I could illustrate this book and add all the latest scientific data that colorfully delineates how air is assimilated by man--but could I say that man's life is sustained by ``air only''? And then again, I might want to write a work on the importance of the sun and show that without it no life on earth could exist. It keeps us alive. This smaller star, though the closest one to us at 93 million miles away, means the difference between life and death--but could I say that the continuation of man's life is based entirely upon the ``sun only''? So what's my point, you might ask. I have said all this to show that though a person might say that one's life is sustained by food, by water, by the air, or by the sun, is one thing; but to say our life is dependent upon merely any one of these things ``only''--and to the exclusion of the rest--would be wrong. This has been said to better illustrate my closing remark. For we are living in a time when many people believe that one is saved by ``faith only'' or ``grace only'' or the ``blood of Jesus only,'' etc. Though the Bible shows that man is saved by faith (John 3:16), by the blood of Jesus (1 Pet. 1:18,19), by grace (Titus 3:7), by works (Jms. 2:17-26), by baptism (Acts 22:16; 1 Pet. 3:21), etc., it never says one is saved by any one of these things ``only'' (and to the exclusion of all the rest). For man is saved by grace, but not by ``grace only''; rather, that grace must be coupled with faith (Eph. 2:8,9), and that faith must be joined with works/obedience (Jms 2:17-26), which includes repentance, confession, and baptism (Acts 2:38; Rom. 10:9,10; Mark 16:16; Gal. 3:26,27). Just as man's physical existence is sustained by many things, even so is our salvation in Christ. As we look into God's word, never does it teach that man must do ONLY ONE THING to be saved--rather, there are various requirements that must first be met in order for one to be cleansed of all past sins. Jesus states in Luke 6:46, ``And why call ye me, `Lord, Lord,' and do not the THINGS which I say?'' (emphasis mine, TTE). Let us look into the Scriptures to learn of these ``THINGS,'' that we may know and put into practice these truths that will keep us alive unto God in the spiritual realm. ___________________________________________ A SERMON LOUDER THAN WORDS by Tom Edwards We have probably each heard that old cliche, ``actions speak louder than words.'' How true this is, and something we should be very mindful of, for our lives are like books that reveal a new chapter each day; and we should, therefore, be concerned with what type of story we are writing. One of the songs we sing at church, The World's Bible, also expresses this thought. The second stanza reads as follows: ``We are the only Bible the careless world will read. We are the sinner's gospel. We are the scoffer's creed. We are the Lord's last message, given in deed and word. What if the type is crooked? What if the print is blurred?'' Paul, writing to the Corinthians, declares, ``You are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read by all men; being manifested that you are a letter of Christ, cared for by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone, but on tablets of human hearts'' (2 Cor. 3:2,3). The story has been told about a young English evangelist who was working in China during the summer of 1916. His four brothers were in the British army and at that time in combat. Near his office two German businessmen had recently moved into a Chinese dwelling. They had come there because of the unfriendly atmosphere where they had previously been. One morning one of the German men went for a hike into the hills, and failed to return. His worried friend could not speak Chinese, and was at a loss to know what to do. The news finally reached the young, English evangelist, who knew that all the surrounding hills had been infested with mines for a defense against the expected approach of the army of the rival war lord. This, however, did not deter him; rather, he bravely went in search of the lost man and continued until he found the lifeless body. That night several of the Chinese believers were discussing the event. ``Brethren,'' said one of them, ``our missionary is a good preacher, we are all agreed; but he never has preached, and never will preach a sermon like the one he has preached today. Though we should forget every word he has ever said, we can never forget this thing he has done. He has made the gospel live before us.'' In order for every chapter of our lives to be a good story, we need to turn to the One who is referred to as the ``author and perfecter'' of the Christian's faith. May we help you in doing this by sharing God's word with you, whether through home studies, Bible film slides, correspondence courses, or some other means? If so, please let us know. _______________________________________________ A FRIEND OF GOD by Tom Edwards We have probably all had friends from time to time who have disappointed us; and, perhaps, we were the ones guilty of such. We make promises which we intend to keep, but sometimes become so caught up in other activities that we soon forget. It is also very likely that you have experienced times when it seemed as if no one cared. Though there are probably those who always do care, isn't it especially comforting to know that there is one who can be described as ``sticking closer than a brother''? Jesus Christ will never leave or forsake you. The only disruption that can ever occur in your relationship with Him is one you would cause--not Him. Having you as part of His eternal family is what God greatly desires. Hebrews 2:11,12 reads, ``For both He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one Father; for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren, saying, `I will proclaim Thy name to My brethren....''' The Lord's attitude toward those who conform their lives to His word is seen in John 15:14: ``You are My friends, if you do what I command you.'' What greater friend can one have than God Himself? Are you a friend of God? Have you received His love by submitting to the gospel of Jesus Christ? If you believe in Jesus as being the Son of God, will repent of your sins, confess your faith in Christ, and benefit from the blood of Jesus by being baptized in water for the remission of sins (Mark 16:16; Rom. 10:9,10; Acts 2:38), then you can rise up to walk in newness of life--and begin your new life as a friend of God (Rom. 6:3,4). ___________________________________________ AN UNMERITED LOVE by Tom Edwards I heard of a case in Israel in which a man by the name of Zadok had shot his ex-wife Francie thirteen times with a machine gun because he had suspected her of being unfaithful. Fortunately, this woman survived; but her ex-husband was incarcerated. While still in prison and awaiting his trial for attempted murder, Zadok was visited by his ex-wife who expressed her continual love for him and manifested a willingness to forgive and restore their relationship. Because of this merciful attitude she showed, the couple ended up ``marrying each other again.'' In this story, we are each similar to the man who shot his ex-wife, for each person who has reached an age of accountability has sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23). Every sinner deserves nothing better than punishment, but it is God's desire to show His mercy and forgive the transgressors of all their debt. The Lord's yearning to do this is so great that He sent His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, into this world in order to make a way of salvation attainable for every sinner. The woman in our story, therefore, symbolizes God's great love toward us. Her constant love for this man who treated her so cruelly and unmercifully, prompted her with a willingness to forgive and be compassionate. As the Bible tells us, it was while we were yet sinners--enemies of the cross--that Jesus gave His life freely as a ransom for all. Truly this is an unmerited love. ___________________________________________ "In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins" (1 John 4:10). ________________________________________ 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 ________________________________________