____________________________________________________ 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 28, 1995 ____________________________________________________ Then Jesus Died In Vain by Johnie Edwards To do a thing in vain is to do it without any profit. Could the death of Jesus have been in vain? It is possible. Paul told the Galatians: ``I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain'' (Gal. 2:21). If certain conditions are so, as we are often told, then Jesus died in vain. Let's notice some: (1) IF THE LAW OF MOSES IS BINDING: The reading of Galatians 2:21 shows that if the law of Moses is binding and men can be made righteous by it, then Jesus died in vain. Man cannot be made righteous by the law of Moses. Paul said, ``For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ; for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith'' (Rom. 1:16-17). If you are trying to keep the law of Moses, Jesus died in vain. (2) IF THE CHURCH IS NOT IMPORTANT: It is often thought that the church is not important to one's salvation. If this is so, then Jesus died in vain. For Jesus taught, ``I will build my church'' (Matt. 16:18). The New Testament reveals that Jesus ``purchased the church with his own blood'' (Ac. 20:28). Paul said that Christ is the ``saviour of the body'' (Eph. 5:23). When you realize that ``Christ also loved the church and gave himself for it'' (Eph. 5:25); you can see that the church really is important. The Bible says that the ``saved were added to the church'' (Ac. 2:47). As you view the church, did Jesus die in vain? (3) IF THERE BE NO RESURRECTION: Many deny the resurrection. There were some in the New Testament times ``Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some'' (2 Tim. 2:18). A careful reading of 1 Corinthians 15:12-20 shows that if there be no resurrection, ``Christ is not risen; preaching is vain; your faith is vain; the preaching of the apostles was false; those who died in Christ are yet in their sins; and we are of all men most miserable.'' The resurrection is important to the faith of a child of God. For, if there be no resurrection, we are just wasting our time being a Christian and Jesus died in vain. What are your thoughts about the resurrection? (4) IF YOU ARE LOST: Jesus died that you might be saved. ``For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost'' (Lk. 19:10). The Hebrew writer said that Jesus ``should taste death for every man'' (Heb. 2:9). If you do not obey the gospel and are lost in eternity, so far as you are concerned, Jesus died in vain. Obey, lest Jesus died in vain. -- Via The Harvester, February 20, 1994 ___________________________________________ Things Found With Baptism by Weldon Warnock The importance of Baptism can be seen by the company it keeps in the scriptures. Let's note some things that are found with Baptism! (1) BIBLE PREACHING OR TEACHING: ``Go ye therefore, and TEACH all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: TEACHING them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you...'' (Matt. 28:19-20). (2) BELIEF: ``And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that BELIEVETH and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned'' (Mark 16:15-16). (3) REPENTANCE: ``Then Peter said unto them, REPENT, and be baptized, every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost'' (Acts 2:38). (4) REMISSION OF SINS: ``Then Peter said unto them, Repent and be baptized, every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the REMISSION OF SINS, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost'' (Acts 2:38). ``And that repentance and REMISSION OF SINS should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem'' (Luke 24:47). (5) NEWNESS OF LIFE: ``Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death; that like as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in NEWNESS OF LIFE'' (Romans 6:3-4). (6) SALVATION: ``The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now SAVE us, (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ'' (1 Peter 3:21). -- Via The Harvester, February 12, 1995 ___________________________________________ FOR THE RIGHT REASON by Chuck Bartlett Take notice of the two following verses which Jesus uttered: ``Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven'' (Matt. 5:16). ``Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven'' (Matt. 6:1). Both statements have similar thoughts, yet seem totally at odds with each other. On the one hand, man is told to let his actions be seen of men, while the other hand, it seems to suggest that their actions should not be seen of men. The valuable lesson is easily understood, but forgotten by so many. Christ expects people to do things for the Lord for the right reasons. Too often man is more interested in gaining the praise of men, or their sympathies, rather than aiming to serve God (Matt. 6:16). Imagine having the disposition of doing for the Father only if man recognizes what I am doing! When man has this type of attitude, you can be sure that ``faithfulness'' will be short lived. As soon as man fails to be impressed, the motivation to serve God is gone. How shallow can a person get? Man is to let his light shine before men by going about living the Christian life. It isn't the Christian life to first find people to show off to. When our goal is to do for the Lord, others can't help but be affected. Those who seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness (Matt. 6:33), will be shining lights in a world of darkness. The question for you is, why do you do what you do? Make sure what you do is right, and for the right reason. -- Via The Jordan Journal, May 3, 1995 ___________________________________________ ``AN EXCLUSIVE BODY'' by Warren Berkley We often speak of the ``exclusiveness of the New Testament church.'' Here's what we mean. IT IS: 1. The only body purchased with the blood (Acts 20:28). 2. The only body with Christ as its head (Eph. 1:22,23). 3. The only body with Christ as its foundation (Eph. 2:20). 4. The only body with perfect and everlasting laws (Jas. 1:25; Matt. 24:35). 5. The only agency in which men can glorify God (Eph. 3:21). 6. The only body in which salvation is promised to lost men (Eph. 2:16; 5:23). ARE YOU A MEMBER OF THIS BODY? -- Via The Old Path II, April 9, 1995 ___________________________________________ "Seek the Lord while He may be found...." (Isa. 55:6). ___________________________________________ Subscription Renewal Note: If you miss the deadline to renew your free subscription to The Gospel Observer and would like to continue receiving this bulletin, just contact us anytime to let us know you would like to be put back on the mailing list. We would be happy to re-enroll you. Thank you for having been a part of our readership. -- Tom ___________________________________________ HOW WE LIVE A pioneer preacher was called to conduct the funeral for a man who never entered the church building while he lived. As the pallbearers neared the meetinghouse door, the old preacher stood in the doorway and beckoned saying: ``Gentlemen, I have never taken an undue advantage of any living person, and I'm not going to begin imposing on the dead. If this man were living he would not enter this building. Put him down right there and let's respect him enough to finish his earthly pilgrimage as he lived it.'' The service was conducted from the doorway, with the casket resting on the church-house lawn. Perhaps the preacher was a bit ``hard,'' but he certainly had a point. Better think on dying and about eternity while we live. -- Via Pause-Ponder-Profit ___________________________________________ Don't forget your Free Subscription Renewal All will be deleted from the mailing list who do not notify us before May 31. ________________________________________ 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 ________________________________________