____________________________________________________ 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 5, 1995 ____________________________________________________ Shall We Overcome? by Steve Klein God's children today are living in a time when the inspiring affirmation expressed in the phrase "We shall overcome" has been changed. It is now in the form of a question--"Shall we overcome?" Or sometimes it takes the form of a completely negative statement--"We cannot overcome!" The power of evil is so strong. There is so much temptation to be faced as we live in the world. Each day, our human weaknesses become more apparent, as does the hideous strength of Satan our adversary (cf. Ephesians 6:11-12, 1 Peter 5:8). We turn for strength and assurance to spiritual leaders, only to be told that we "have to" sin. As in the days of old, when Moses chose "leaders" among the children of Israel to go and spy out the promised land, some have seemingly returned to report that "we are not able" to overcome (Numbers 13:1-3, 31). All of this is distressing and depressing to sincere children of God. If, to quote a favorite football coach of mine, "the fun is in the winning," then (apparently) there is no fun and no joy in being a Christian, for there is no winning. Helen Keller wrote that "the marvelous richness of human experience would lose something of rewarding joy if there were no limitations to overcome." We are painfully aware of our limitations and shortcomings, but the great news of the Bible is that God's children CAN overcome, and that many rewards and great joy will be theirs when they do. In his first epistle, John writes in language which assures us of this truth. He writes to young men who are strong and in whom the word of God abides and he tells them "you have overcome the wicked one" (1 John 2:14). John assures us that "whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world; our faith" (1 John 5:4). In chapters two and three of Revelation, we are presented with seven churches; members in each of these churches had something to overcome. Jesus promised Great rewards if they would do so. Among other things, the one who overcame would be given "to eat from the tree of life" (2:7), and would "not be hurt by the second death (2:11, cf. 2:17; 2:26; 3:5; 3:12; 3:21). We, as they, can overcome the power of Satan "by the blood of the Lamb" (Revelation 12:11). We do not have to give in to temptation, for God will not allow us to be tempted above what we are "able" to bear (cf. 1 Corinthians 10:13). If we do give in, we do not have to wallow defeatedly in sin, we may approach our heavenly Father and receive forgiveness through Jesus Christ! "My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world" (1 John 2:1). -- Via The Exhorter, September 24, 1995 ___________________________________________ "WHEN YOU READ..." by Bill Robinson, Jr. When I hear folks complain that the Bible is not relevant or that it is too difficult to understand, it makes me wonder: How often are they reading it? How much time do they spend studying it? What are they doing between their Bible reading and study times? God's word will never become relevant to these people if they do not regularly read, study and apply it to their own lives. The apostle Paul writing to the church at Ephesus reminded them, "how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets" (Ephesians 3:3,4). In other words, what God concealed or kept hidden through the ages in Christ (a mystery) was disclosed and uncovered (revealed) through men (apostles and prophets) as the Holy Spirit directed them. Therefore, today when we read this revelation of God contained in the Bible, we can know and understand God's plan for our lives. Jesus declares, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled" (Matthew 5:6). The difficulties some have in both reading and understanding the relevance of the Bible show what they are doing between their Bible study times. Jesus' language is clear, but one must hunger and thirst for righteousness before he can be filled. However, one who is trying to fill his soul with the things of this world cannot hunger and thirst for righteousness. We try to limit our children's intake of "junk food" between meals so they will be hungry enough to eat the more nutritious food. If all we ever ate was junk food there would be no end to our physical health problems except an early death. Can we not apply this to our spiritual health? For example, if we never feed on God's word or, at best, do so infrequently, can we not expect some complications to our spiritual health-- e.g. negligence, non-interest, stress, guilt, weakness, etc. Our spiritual values can only increase as we learn to read, study, and apply God's word to our lives. What we value we will commit our energy and time to achieve. Is that not what Jesus was teaching in Matthew 6:21: "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also"? We do no harm to the words or teaching of Jesus if we loosely translate the passage: "What a man values there you will find his interest and desires." How do we value the word of God? For there is where we find its relevance to our lives. Let me close with the following passage. Applying the same attitude in reading the Bible as noted in this quotation, perhaps will stir our interest and desire ("hunger and thirst") for righteousness that we might be filled. If we consider men and women generally, and apart from their professions and occupations, there is only one situation I can think of in which they almost pull themselves up by their bootstraps, making an effort to read better than they usually do. When they are in love and are reading a love letter, they read for all they are worth. They read every word three ways; they read between the lines and in the margins; they read the whole in terms of the parts, and each part in terms of the whole; they grow sensitive to context and ambiguity, to insinuation and implication; they perceive the color of words, the odor of phrases, and the weight of sentences. They may even take the punctuation into account. Then, if never before or after, they read. (Mortimer J. Adler, HOW TO READ A BOOK, pg. 14, 1940 edition) Let's strive to read the Bible for all its worth! "Give attention to reading..." (1 Timothy 4:16). -- Via Power Talk, October 22, 1995 ___________________________________________ What Point Were People Saved? by Phillip Mullins How can you know the point at which you contact salvation? The Book of Acts has the answers. It is a history of how the first Christians became followers of Christ. God uses Acts to teach us about conversion. By looking at the examples in the book of Acts, we can see the precise point when God saved a person. Acts 2 and the Audience at Pentecost When the people asked in verse 37, "...Men and brethren, what shall we do?", it was a question that followed their acceptance of the fact that Jesus was indeed the Lord and the Christ (vs. 36). They were then told by Peter, "...Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." The remission of sins is a wonderful description of salvation. It is sin that separates us from God and to have them remitted or removed means to be free to enjoy a full relationship with God. Salvation occurred here when the people believed on Christ, repented of their sins, and were baptized. Acts 8 and the Ethiopian Treasurer After this seeker of the true God heard about Jesus from Philip he asked, "..See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?" (vs. 36). Philip then told him he could if he believed and the treasurer made the great confession, "...I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God" (vs. 37). At this point they stopped the chariot and the treasurer was baptized. Since the treasurer related baptism to accepting the message about Jesus and since he was baptized immediately, clearly baptism was an essential step to salvation. This treasurer believed, confessed his belief, and was baptized. Acts 22 and Paul In this chapter the apostle Paul recounts his conversion experience first reported in Acts 9. After hearing from Jesus directly, he was told to go to Damascus for further instructions. When Ananias came to Paul he said, "And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord" (vs. 16). Evidently Paul believed at this point, but baptism was still necessary to remove his sins (Romans 6;3; 1 Peter 3:21). Summary At what point do you think you were saved? After belief only? After confessing Christ only? Salvation takes place when a person believes on Jesus, confesses their faith in Him, repents of their sins, and is baptized. This is God's plan and only those who have taken all these steps have reached the point of being saved. -- The Manslick Road Speaker ___________________________________________ Are you ready for the Judgment Day? ________________________________________ 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 ________________________________________