The Bulletin
of the
Church of Christ at
New Georgia
Tim Johnson, editor
June 20, 2004
In
This Issue:
"Seek
and Ye Shall Find"
by
Barney Keith
Enduring
Life's Trials
by
Gilbert Alexander
Forgiveness
by
Greg Gwin
"Seek and Ye Shall Find"
"Many false prophets have gone out into the world" (1 Jno. 4:1,2). One should not be blinded to the existence of error, but should seek TRUTH. Jesus promised that "the truth will make you free." (Jno. 8:32). Truth is the only antidote for error. This truth is accessible to all men alike. Yet there are certain basic considerations which are essential for the sincere truth seeker. Let us notice some of them.
1. THE INITIAL BATTLE IS WITH YOUR OWN WILL. If you really want the truth, you can find it. (Jno. 7:17). The desire of the Holy Spirit is that you "be not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is." (Eph. 5:17). But you must first make up your mind that your DESIRE is to know. Then you will be ready to begin the search. A "good and honest heart" is first.
2. YOU MUST HAVE A WHOLESOME, RESPECTFUL ATTITUDE TOWARD THE TRUTH. To search for it will be a waste of your time if you do not plan to accept the truth -- whatever it may be. One must LOVE and BELIEVE the truth to avoid God's condemnation. (Be sure to read 2 Thes. 2:10-12).
3. BE SURE THAT YOUR SOURCE OF INFORMATION IS RELIABLE. God's revealed Word is the only infallible source of religious truth. The Bible writers were inspired of God. They could not err, therefore, in what they spoke by the guidance of the Holy Spirit. The Scriptures are God-breathed, perfect, and all-sufficient as a guide for man in his search for forgiveness and the hope of eternal life. (2 Tim. 3:16,17).
4. RECOGNIZE THAT IT DOES NOT LIE WITHIN YOUR PROVIDENCE TO CHANGE THAT WHICH THE WORD OF GOD TEACHES. Be content with what you find in the BIBLE. It is possible for parents to be wrong. Remember, too, that even men who are called "preachers" and "rabbis" have NO AUTHORITY at all to bind upon you any tradition or commandment of men. They are just men--and nothing more. BUT, the Author of the Bible is GOD. The Holy Spirit simply revealed to humanity what was in the mind of God. The Bible alone makes know the will of God for you. Steer clear, then, of any disposition to prevent this divine revelation. It is perfect; you are not.
5. DO NOT ALLOW ANYONE TO HINDER YOUR OBEDIENCE TO THE TRUTH. A soul (yours) is too valuable. The gospel of Christ is God's power to save. (Rom. 1:16,17). Your concern must be, "What does CHRIST teach me to do to have remission of sins?" Read carefully these passages: Mk. 16:15,16; Acts 2:38; Rom. 10:10; Acts 22:;16; Rom. 6:3,4. The simple requirements of Jesus are FAITH, REPENTANCE, CONFESSION and IMMERSION for the remission of sins.
BELIEVE the truth, OBEY it to have your soul purified. 1 Pet. 1:22. Let no one dissuade you from obeying the Author of eternal salvation. Heb. 5:8,9. All who seek salvation in this way WILL find it. THE TRUTH WILL MAKE YOU FREE.
by Barney Keith
Human suffering has been around since the expulsion of Adam and Eve from the garden of Eden (Gen.3:16-19). The causes are many: sin, accidents, illnesses, wars, violation of natural laws, hatred, persecution, jealousy, betrayal of confi-dence, death, etc. All people experience it to some degree and in various ways. There is no escaping it in this life. Some people are overcome by it, some are embittered by it, and some become stronger through it. How suffering affects us is determined by our understanding it and by our response to it.
Though we may not always understand the cause of specific suffering, there is considerable understanding available to us, and it can help us immensely in our facing life's trials. A major source of suffering is the Devil's work. Remember that Job's afflictions came from Satan and were a test of Job's faith. Remember the sufferings of Elijah, Micaiah, and Jeremiah as the work of the enemies of the Lord. James said, "My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience" (James 5:10). If we consider any trial or suffering as a test of our faith, and if we determine that we will not allow it to defeat us, we can be strengthened by it; and we can learn the precious and necessary lessons of patience by it. That is why James said, "My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience" (James 1:2,3). Because of understanding, Peter and John could rejoice when they had been jailed and beaten for preaching Christ (Acts 5:41).
Sickness and death are often hard to understand, and many times people blame God or sometimes themselves. The death of Job's children was the work of Satan. It was not because of any sin of Job, nor was it his fault. The blindness of the man in John 9 was not the result of his sin or the sin of his parents, but it served a useful purpose -- that God's works be manifest. Whether sickness or death is caused by one's own misdoing or by an unknown source, one can turn that stone of trial into a stepping stone by gaining a stronger faith and greater deter-mination and patience. Rather than viewing life as a struggle that we are ultimate-ly going to lose, we ought to view life as a struggle that we must and are going to win- even in death itself.
There is only one way that we can win the struggle of life. That way is through the strength of the Lord (Eph.6:l0-20). Only by our properly preparing ourselves through humble submission and obedience to God can we expect to be victor-ious. That includes godly living and faithful worship and service to Him. If we want to be united with the faithful of all ages when our lives are finished, we must prepare to meet our God. That we will stand before Him in judgment is certain. That we can hear Him say, "Well done" is also certain. We can be "more than conquerors through Him Who loved us" (Rom.8:35-37). The decision of whether we win or lose is ours. God has made that possible. What will you do with your life?
By Gilbert Alexander
There are many things about God that our finite minds have trouble grasping. Perhaps nothing is more difficult to comprehend than His amazing capacity to forgive. When we wrong Him again and again, even repeating the same sins over and over, He patiently and lovingly offers forgiveness - for He is "not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9). The ultimate sign of this great willingness to pardon us was shown in the sending of His own Son to be a sacrifice for our sins (Ephesians 2:4,5).
For us, the challenge is to be like Him. We are commanded to be "kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you" (Ephesians 4:32). This may, in fact, be one of the most difficult commands for us to obey. The tendency for us, when wronged, is to strike back - get our revenge. But we are warned: "Avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord" (Romans 12:19).
So, there can be no revenge, but forgiveness is a BIG step beyond mere forbearance. Can you forgive your neighbor one time? Maybe twice? Three strikes and you're out! NO! "Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him" (Luke 17:3,4). Even seven times will not ultimately be enough. Peter said, "Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven" (Matthew 18:21,22).
Can you forgive? Can you pardon again and again, even for the same sin repeated over and over? If not, you have not attained unto the "divine nature" (2 Peter 1:4), and you are in spiritual danger. Think!
by Greg Gwin