____________________________________________________ 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). ____________________________________________________ July 20, 1997 ____________________________________________________ God Gives The Increase by Jeff S. Smith It is no great revelation that our world is carnally-minded rather than spiritually-minded. This is nothing new, for it has always been this way. Still, it is evident that carnality is increasing its influence in the streets of America. Carnality is growing because the devil is craftier than we give him credit for being. Satan has carried the day by carnalizing spirituality. ``For when one says, `I am of Paul,' and another, `I am of Apollos,' are you not carnal (1 Corinthians 3:4)?'' Even in the shadow of the incarnation, the devil was carnalizing spirituality by engendering division among God's children (1 Corinthians 1:10-13). Christianity was becoming a cult of personality in the minds and conduct of its adherents. Hence, the saints at Corinth were sowing the seeds of denominationalism. They were creating an Apollonian convention for those who preferred Apollos, a Petrine convention for those behind Peter and a Pauline convention for those who liked Paul best. The three preachers, not desiring such ill-placed glory, sent them back to Christ and their brethren who held that line firmly. Paul reproved them: Who are we, ``but ministers through whom you believed.'' Preachers and teachers are merely servants, sowing the gospel seed wherever they find soil. ``I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase,'' Paul said (3:6). His prayer was that the Christians be united in the Lord, not divided in their preferences for certain men's personalities (4:6). There are a few dangers inherent in this passage. The writer deals with the work of teaching the gospel to others. While noting the vital importance of the work that men do to sow the seed of truth, he strikes the lectern, as it were, in proclaiming that the increase of souls in the kingdom is due to God. The first danger is in thinking too highly of the abilities of men to win souls. Sometimes we blame ourselves when our numbers do not grow and the fact is, the community is rejecting the old Jerusalem gospel, not us in particular. We get discouraged and the good attempts that we once made fade into memory, complacency and idleness. I wonder at the solitude and despair of Elijah or the unpopularity and disdain suffered by Jeremiah. Our lot surely is not as grievous as theirs. These men were encouraged by God to carry on with their work, and so, we too, in the face of rejection, go on. Even if it seems that the seed we sow continually falls on poor soil, that is, in unreceptive hearts, we continue to sow in hopes of it falling on a good and honest heart (Matthew 13:18-23). One success makes up for a lot of failures. And the one abiding consolation is that such pain has been shared by your brethren since time began. Noah was a preacher of righteousness who labored over the ark for a century and was able to preserve only seven other precious souls when destruction called. Despite converting thousands out of sin, Paul failed to change the mind of Agrippa and Festus and thousands more Jews. The lesson is about perseverance--they never quit sowing the good seed, despite hardship, and neither can we. The second danger with this passage is using it as an excuse to sit back and do nothing at all. Christians excuse themselves from labor by arguing that God gives the increase. That is so, but who is it that plants and waters, but men? The increase cannot come unless the good news is proclaimed to those who need to hear it. Many churches are hoping to grow by waiting for Christians to move to the area. Their vital signs are weakening. We are to be involved in expanding the borders of the kingdom, not reconfiguring them. If such complacency overcomes an entire congregation, a pronouncement of doom is due her, for she has followed the path of Sardis, who had a name that they were alive, but were dead (Revelation 3:1). As long as the members of a local church are sowing the seed, the church is alive, despite a lack of numerical growth. The day that church stops sowing the seed, it is dead, though men would say it yet exists for it still has some members left. No, it is dead already! ``Strengthen the things which are ready to die,'' Jesus cries. The third danger is narrowing the responsibility of soul-winning to a few. It combines the trust in mere men with complacency and causes some saints to place the entire burden of soul-winning upon the preacher and the elders. Does a burden rest on their shoulders to proclaim the gospel? Of course! Is it theirs to bear alone, as the congregation at large becomes spectators? Certainly not! Imagine a church of one hundred members, one of whom is a preacher and three are elders. Should we have 96 spectators and four workers? Wouldn't the cause of the cross be furthered more effectively with 100 workers, leaving the visitors to watch? How many gospel preachers are in your workplace every day? How many elders are in your class at school? How many preachers of truth live in your neighborhood or know your family and friends as intimately as you do? When Christians leave all the teaching to others, their circle of influence is neglected and abducted by the devil. God has no voice where you will not speak; the devil employs false teachers, seduction and society to blast his message in the vacuum our idleness created. Conclusion If a church is working, but not growing, that is nothing to be ashamed of. If a church is growing but not working, that will not last forever. If a church is not working and not growing, it is time for her members to resuscitate themselves. Revive us again, the song says. Take it home with you. -- Via Gospel Power, Anderson, Alabama, 2/16/97 ___________________________________________ You May Be Surprised To Learn... by T. Doy Moyer Have you ever taken for granted certain things and believed them just because that is what you have been told? Perhaps you find yourself in that situation now, believing and doing things because that is what you were told. Religious people sometimes believe and practice something because a preacher said it, or because that is what their parents have always taught them. This can also be true of those who do not believe in God and do not accept the Bible. They have been told that He does not exist and that the Bible is not true, but have not personally looked into the matter themselves. Regardless of what one believes or practices, it is a shame when he does so only on the word of others. We wish to briefly challenge your thinking here, hoping to create in you a desire to study on your own and learn more about God's way as found in the Scriptures. With this in mind, you may be surprised to learn: 1. That the Bible does not approve of denominationalism. There are hundreds of different denominations that exist today. Each denomination has its own peculiar name and faith. This goes against the Scriptural teaching that there is ``one faith'' (Ephesians 4:4-6); ``one body," which is the church (Ephesians 1:22-23); and that believers are to be joined together ``in the same mind and in the same judgment'' (1 Corinthians 1:10-13; John 17:20-21). In the first century, disciples were called ``Christians,'' and they were not to be divided by the wearing of different doctrines. If you've been told otherwise, we plead with you to go to the Bible and find exactly what it teaches. 2. That the Bible can be understood by all. Many people do not study the Bible because they do not believe that it can be understood. However, God tells us not to be foolish, but ``understand the will of the Lord'' (Ephesians 5:17). God does not tell us to do something that cannot be done. Therefore, by reading and studying, we can understand the Bible and handle it accurately (Ephesians 3:3-4; 2 Timothy 2:15). If you have been told that we cannot understand the Bible, think again; God commands it. 3. That revelation is complete. Many teach that they are still receiving revelations from God. They assert that God told them to do certain things, apart from the Bible. Yet, the Bible itself says that this is not so. Jesus promised His apostles that the Holy Spirit, through them, would reveal all truth (John 16:13). The two alternatives are either that this happened or it did not. If it did not, then Jesus was a liar; if it did, then all truth was given by the time the last apostle died. According to Jude 3, the faith has been ``once for all delivered'' to the saints. This means that what was revealed was of perpetual validity and never needs repetition. In other words, revelation is complete. The Bible is complete, and we need not look for further revelations from God. His will is already made known. If you have been taught otherwise, we ask that you search the Scriptures to see if this is what the Bible teaches. 4. That miracles and spiritual gifts worked through men have ceased. Many claim the ability to work miracles and speak in tongues. However, their claims fall far short of what the Bible teaches. The Scriptures teach that miracles were done for the purpose of proving who Christ was and for confirming the word that was spoken (John 20:30-31; Mark 16:20; Hebrews 2:1-4). For example, when the apostles went about preaching the gospel, they needed some way to prove that what they said was from God. Thus, God worked with them confirming the word through accompanying signs. Yet, the Bible also teaches that the time would come when those spiritual gifts would cease (1 Corinthians 13:8-13). They were to cease when revelation was completed. When all truth promised by Jesus was revealed, then there would be no more need for accompanying signs. The word was confirmed, and we have the result today in the Bible. If you have been taught otherwise, search the Scriptures to see what they say about miracles and spiritual gifts. You may be surprised at what you learn. 5. That you can have your sins forgiven and be saved. Some teach that salvation is only for a few who have already been unconditionally chosen by God. However, the Bible teaches that Christ died for everyone, and that God's desire is for everyone to come to a knowledge of the truth and be saved (1 John 2:2; John 12:32; 1 Timothy 2:4; 2 Peter 3:9) This includes you. Many do not believe they can be forgiven of their sins. They think they have done such terrible things that God cannot forgive them. This is not true. No matter what you have done in the past, you can have your sins forgiven. God promised rest to all who are weary and heavy laden (Matthew 11:28-30). Jesus Christ died on the cross for all sin; His blood is powerful enough to cover any and every sin that you may have committed. We must learn to trust in the promises of God. 6. That salvation is conditional. The Bible teaches that we are saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8). Yet grace, even though something that we cannot earn, is accessed by meeting the conditions laid down by God in His word. In other words, we must obey the gospel (Romans 10:16; 6:17; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9). Christ is the author of eternal salvation to all that obey Him (Hebrews 5:9). Without obedience to God's commands, our faith is dead and we cannot be saved (James 2:14-26). 7. That heaven and hell are real places. Many do not believe in the reality of heaven and hell. Others believe that heaven is real but that hell is not a real place. However, the Bible teaches the reality of both. Heaven is a place of rest for those who were righteous before God. It is a place of everlasting life (see Hebrews 4:1-11; Revelation 21-22). But as real as heaven is, hell is also. Hell is a place of eternal punishment for those who have rejected God, a place where the worm does not die and fire is not quenched (Mark 9:48). There is a day of judgment coming (Acts 17:30-31). We will all give an account of ourselves to God (2 Corinthians 5:10). Are you ready for this day? The Bible teaches us to repent of our sins, confess Christ, and be baptized for the remission of our sins (Acts 2:38; Romans 10:9,10). We plead with you to search the Scriptures daily, and find out whether the things you have been taught are true (Acts 17:11). Take only God's word as the final authority. This is the only safe course of salvation. -- Via Gospel Power, Anderson, Alabama, 12/15/96. ___________________________________________ NEWS & NOTES Jeanette Watkins wrote concerning her son and daughter-in-law, Fred and Tammy, who recently lost their third child -- he was stillborn -- and requests prayer for the family during this traumatic time. Art Adams, son of J. Wiley Adams, was diagnosed recently with lymphoma and is now undergoing chemotherapy. His brother-in-law, Jim Deason, writes, ``The cancer had progressed to stage 3 of 5 stages before it was found. Art has preached for many years in northern Indiana (with one stint in Oglethorpe, GA)...Art and his family requests your prayers to the Father on his behalf. We believe, convincingly, that 'the effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.'" Let us be praying for these people. Feel free to visit with us anytime! We would love to have you. Bible courses are freely sent upon request. Call or write for yours today! There will be a Gospel Meeting at the Daugherty Street church of Christ in Charleston, West Virginia, August 3 - 8. I will be the speaker. If you live nearby, we hope you'll be able to come out to be with us. ________________________________________ Tri-State CHURCH OF CHRIST 713 13th Street, 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 ________________________________________