____________________________________________________ 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 14, 1995 ____________________________________________________ JUSTIFICATION CONDITIONED ON FAITH by Jerry F. Bassett Based on Romans 5:1-2, our last article dealt with the fact that God's justification of man is by grace through faith. Simply put, this points to the fact God has given his only begotten Son as a sacrifice for our sins, and all who believe in him enjoy the benefits of his sacrifice. They are guilty, but acquitted; sinful, but forgiven. But what is faith, and what, if anything does it require of man? For the answer, let us look to a man whose faith the Bible often treats as exemplary. We speak, of course, about the patriarch Abraham. Concerning this great man, Paul wrote, ``For what does the Scripture say? `Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness''' (Romans 4:3). Paul went on to observe, ``Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace, but as debt'' (Romans 4:4). This simply says that what is given to one by grace is not, and cannot be, merited by works. What one merits is what he has earned, and what he earns is not a gift. It would not then be a matter of grace. But, salvation by grace ''...is the gift of God...'' which means man's faith is ''...not of works, lest anyone should boast'' (Ephesians 2:8b,9). Does this mean that faith excludes all works? Not necessarily. According to Ephesians 2:9, it only excludes those of which man can boast, that is, his own works, those by which he would attempt to merit justification. This is where the example of Abraham helps us immensely. In citing this man's faith, Paul pointed to one who trusted God and demonstrated it by always doing exactly as God instructed. In this, Abraham was a perfect example of the fact that faith is trust demonstrated by obedience. For this reason, James could cite Abraham as an example of justification by works (James 2:22-24). These were not works of Abraham's devising. Rather, they were things God required of him as a means of demonstrating complete trust (Hebrews 11:17-19). Thus, while Abraham's justification was not by his own works, it was by works God imposed on him. -- Via God Hath Spoken, Volume 5, Number 8 ___________________________________________ DON'T FORGET YOUR FREE SUBSCRIPTION RENEWAL Must receive before May 31, 1995 ___________________________________________ Do You Want A Reward? by Steve Klein If someone came to your house today and said that they had a one million dollar ``reward'' to give away, no doubt your first question would be, ``What do I have TO DO to get it?'' The word translated ``reward'' in our Bibles primarily means ``wages'' or ``hire.'' It is what you receive for doing something. ``Each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor'' (1 Corinthians 3:8b). I really wonder how some folks ever expect to receive the reward of heaven. There are many people who believe you don't have to ``do anything'' to be saved. Others believe you have to do something, but they haven't done it. Still others have done what they need to do to be saved initially, but they have not continued to work for their reward. John warns Christians to ``Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked for but that we may receive a full reward'' (2 John 8). Yes, it is possible to ``lose'' the reward. ``Once saved'' DOES NOT necessarily mean one is ``always saved.'' The point is that, if heaven is a ``reward,'' then surely we must do something to receive it. And make no mistake, the Bible clearly teaches that heaven is a reward. Heaven is A Reward for Enduring Persecution. ``Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you for My sake. Rejoice and be exceeding glad, for great is your reward in heaven....'' (Matthew 5:11-12a). Heaven is A Reward for Showing Compassion to the Needy. ``For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in My name, because you belong to Christ, assuredly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward'' (Mark 9:41). Heaven is A Reward for Loving Others. ``But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Highest...'' (Luke 6:35). Jesus is coming back one day. He has promised, ``And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work'' (Revelation 22:12). Will you have done what is necessary to receive your reward? -- Via The Exhorter, April 2, 1995 ___________________________________________ Christ, the Savior by Tom Edwards A few weeks ago I heard the following comment that seemed to express what many believe today in Calvinistic circles: that salvation is TOTALLY up to God, and that if He cannot save all whom He wants to then He would be a "powerless" God. Consider how this thought is couched in the words of Mick, and my response to his remark: (This was originally posted publicly in a religious conference of Fidonet.) Mick's Statement: A Savior who doesn't save is no Savior at all. My Response: Is Christ not a ``King'' because there are those who do not submit to His rule? Is He not still a King to even these or is He to be a King only over those who are His ``elect''? If He is to be a King only over His elect, then I guess all those who are not of the elect are not subject to His laws--and where there is no law, there is no sin; so even the non-elect will all go to heaven because they were never subject to Christ's laws and could, therefore, never violate any of them--right? (I say this sarcastically, but to make a valid point.) What will mankind be judged by in the Judgment Day? Jesus says, ''...the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day'' (Jn. 12:48). All people--the elect and the non-elect will be judged by Christ's word, so His word pertains to all; and He is, therefore, a King of kings--even over those who do not let Him reign in their lives as a King. Thus, Christ is still a King regardless of people's rejection or acceptance toward Him. Their rejection does not reflect on His Kingship. And if Christ were only a ``King'' for those who are of His ``elect,'' it would seem that then He would not be a ``King of kings,'' but only a ``King of some of the kings--those kings who had belonged to the elect.'' (And He would not be a ``Lord of lords,'' etc.) Did Christ fail at being God because there are those who reject Him as being God? Is He only God to the ``elect''? Don't you believe that there will be many lost souls in the Judgment Day who believed in the deity of Christ, but never repented of their sins? (Jn. 12:42,43; Jn. 8:31,44). Christ is still God even though many reject Him. Was Christ not a good teacher because there were many who would not accept His message? Was He not a good teacher because He made many people angry by His message? Christ was still a good teacher--regardless of the reaction of those whom He taught. This is all to say that Jesus is an excellent Savior (having made the only atonement that could forgive sin by His own death)--even though the world is filled with many who will not accept Him. Their rejection of Him as being the Savior of the world does not diminish from the fact that He is the Savior. There is ``power in the blood,'' but it is only those who believe and obey who will benefit by it. ________________________________________ 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 ________________________________________