February 24, 2001 Volume 2 Number 8
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Before the world was established God planned certain things and since His word does not come back void (Isa 55:11) His plans became reality. The apostle Paul writes in Eph 1:3-4, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love.” Christ has made it all possible. All spiritual blessings are made available through Him and Him alone. His sacrifice paved the way for mankind to make it to heaven. We live in time in which God’s wisdom has been revealed. Not through the creation, not through Abraham, Moses or any other O.T. faithful. Not even through Jesus Christ. Once again let us read the words of Paul in Eph 3:10-11, “to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Paul tells us that God chose to reveal His manifold (much varied) wisdom in the church. Christ accomplished this buy shedding His blood and purchasing the church with it (Acts 20:28). The church is known by many names in the N.T. The “Body” (Eph 1:22-23), being “In Christ” (Rom 12:5), the “Kingdom” (Acts 20:28; Rev 5:9-10; Mt 16:18-19), and “House” or “Household of God.” These names are descriptive of relationships. By the use of names one can understand particular relationships. To my children I am known as “Dad.” This describes our relationship. I am also a “son” to my parents and a “husband” to my wife. All of which describe relationships. Being “In Christ” describes the relationship we have to Christ as our Lord (Acts 20:21; Rom 4:24). Being in the “Body” describes a relationship we have to each and every member of that body (1Cor 12:12-21). In the church we have a relationship to the world. We are described as a “…chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people” (1Pet 2:9). As subjects of a kingdom we are to submit to the governing authority, namely Christ (Jn 18:36). And finally as members of a spiritual family we have a relationship with our Heavenly Father (Rom 8:15). These relationships are critically important. Within each of these relationships described by each name are found blessings for mankind. In Christ we find “all spiritual blessings,” (Eph 1:3) available to us. Salvation is found in the “Body” (Eph 5:23) and the church is important because it took the precious blood of our Savior to purchase it (Acts 20:28). Being in the Kingdom will enable us to go to heaven because it will be delivered to God (1Cor 15:24). And finally, by being a child of God we are entitled to receive an inheritance. (Gal 4:7). That inheritance is of course eternal salvation. Let us do a little reviewing. We noted earlier that the church is also known as the body. Eph 1:22-23 states, “And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.” It also says in Col 1:18, “And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.” No one can deny the fact that the church is the body and the body is the church. Paul writes in Eph 4:4, “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling.” Note the first four words of the verse, “There is one body.” As reasonable people we can come to only one conclusion. There is but ONE church. The one purchased by our Lord with His precious blood. The one that salvation is found through, the one that will be delivered back to God, the one that is separate from this world, the one that makes us God’s children, the one in which all spiritual blessings are found, and the one that God chose to reveal his manifold wisdom. God sees the church as very important should you look at it is the same light. Of all the many avenues in which God could have revealed his fullness and wisdom He chose this great and marvelous institution, the church of Christ, which he purchased with His blood. It is truly a blessing to have God’s Word available to us in which we can dig deep and uncover the complete picture of God’s redemption process. Next week we will consider the tragic result of man’s corruption of the truth. Please see insert for a chart of this lesson.
In speaking to other people about our faith, all of us stumble at different times. It is difficult to do it well, but all of us can do it. All it takes is a small amount of effort and a little conscious effort at trying to do it right. Brother Otis Gatewood published his book You Can Do Personal Work in 1945. In his book, he wrote a chapter called, “What We Should Not Do.” He introduced the chapter with this important thought: “If we can learn what not to do and say, half of our battle is won. The idea that the truth offends most people is not true. Our unwise statements and unbearable attitudes offend far more than truth. Most people want the truth and will welcome it if it is presented correctly” (45) Of course, brother Gatewood wrote in a very different time than our own but what he says is still mostly correct. No one wants to be wrong. None of our friends or neighbors wants to be lost. Not a single one of them desires to stand before the Judge of all the earth and be told, “Depart from me. . .” (Mt. 7:23) They want to go to heaven. Many of them want to please God and someday be with the Savior. So, why cannot we say the necessary things to help them along their way to that goal? Sometimes, as brother Gatewood says, our own foolish words and unhealthy attitudes get in the way. We can do better. Let me summarize a few of the points which are made so forcefully in this chapter of Gatewood’s little handbook on soul-saving and personal work: Don’t begin with criticism If we are not careful, we will become so accustomed to “skinning the sects” that we think the first task in teaching others is in showing our prospect where his religion is all wrong. Christ taught positively at first, then moved on to offer his criticisms at a later time (see Lk. 4:21 Mt. 23:1ff). In both of Paul’s most critical letters to churches, Romans and I Corinthians, the apostle began with commendation then worked his way toward condemnation: “First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is proclaimed throughout the whole world. For God is my witness, whom I serve in my spirit in the gospel of his Son, how unceasingly I make mention of you, always in my prayers...” (Rom. 1:8-9); “I thank my God always concerning you, for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus; that in everything ye were enriched in him, in all utterance and all knowledge; even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: so that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ” (I Cor. 1:4-7). The Lord and his apostles seemed always to be able to find some commendable thing to say about people before they began to expose their faults or answer their objections. We ought to do likewise. Don’t act superior On this point I shall quote brother Gatewood, “I don’t know a more egotistical group of people in all the earth than some of us members of the church of Christ. We think we know more than other people and anybody who is not a member of the church of Christ is just plain dumb, ignorant. or dishonest. We think we are right and everybody else wrong. Now this may be true, we do not have to be so haughty and boastful about it” (49). The Bible says that the Christian ought to “esteem others better than himself” (Phil. 2:3); and, “For I say, through the grace that was given me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly ought to think, but to think soberly, according as God that dealt to each man a measure of faith” (Rom. 12:3). We must be humble in our approach! Don’t be dogmatic If I am right about a thing, yet act so dogmatic and radical about it, I will kill the effectiveness of what I say. If I have come to be considered a person who is dogmatic about everything, who goes to extremes on most every subject, then most every statement I make will be taken with a grain of salt. Scripture says the Christian should be seen in precisely the opposite way: “Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer each one” (Col. 4:6). People should hear our words as generally pleasant, and only on those matters which are critical to the cause of Christ ought we to “lay it on the line” and “take no prisoners.” Then, folks will be ready to respect this side of our character as evidence of conviction and profound rather than more of the same dogmatism and radicalism. Don’t be ashamed to admit you do not know the answer Whether about the Bible or religion in general, there are many things which are surrounded by mystery. So, do not make the mistake of giving people the impression that you are a “know-it-all.” No one likes such a person. And, this will take the pressure off you as well. You should not be afraid to say, “I don’t know the answer to that question. But I am sure that if I spend a little time studying, that the Bible will provide the answer. Let’s talk about that next time.” Don’t always try to answer everything the other person says It is not compromising to admit that the other fellow is right when he happens to be correct about something. When someone says something that is true, commend him for it, and if possible, offer the scriptural justification for his point. It shows that you are trying to be objective and honest, and willing to admit it when he is right. Concentrate on just a few important things, not every point which the other person brings up. Many matters are not worth arguing about; some, on the other hand, are basic and fundamental to an understanding of many other things. Learn to draw a distinction between the things that matter and the things that do not. Talk about the important ones, and put off the insignificant ones till another time. If you never get around to them, what have you missed’? Don’t do all the talking The Bible warns against this human trait: “Let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath...” (Jas. l:19). Those who monopolize a conversation lose their audience! Don’t be a “motor-mouth!” Don’t use too many passages of Scripture It is much better to talk about a few Scriptures than a long list. Why? Because the mind can only retain a few things at once. If you only teach one passage, and get the message of that one across, you may prove very successful indeed. Philip concentrated on just two verses of Isaiah’s prophecy about the Messiah in his conversion of the Ethiopian treasurer (Acts 8:32-35; Isa. 53:7-8). Yet, he led him to the Lord and baptized him that same day! Don’t get angry Anger is the surest confession of defeat for a personal worker. Always remain under control, calm and considerate of others. It is a sure sign of Christian character. Brother Gatewood pointed out: “I have always found that kindness carries as much weight in the heated discussion as logical arguments (57). The Bible says that “love suffereth long and is kind” (I Cor. 13:4). Don’t get mad! Don’t go out and do any of these things. But do go out and try to speak to someone about the Lord. A Christian’s Attitude Just to be tender, just to be true; Just to be glad the whole day through; Just to be merciful, just to be mild; Just to be trusting, as a child; Just to be gentle, kind, and sweet; Just to be helpful with willing feet; Just to be cheery when things go wrong; Just to drive sadness away with a song; Whether the hour is dark or bright, Just to be loyal to God and right; Just to believe that God knows best, Just in His providence ever to rest; Just to let LOVE be our daily key – That is God's will, for YOU and ME. The Spirit Expressly Says
... Can God Lie? Because, God is, and His Divine nature demands total perfection of His character -- No, God cannot lie- Consider, the following, "in the same way God, desiring even more to show to the heirs of the promise the unchangeableness of His purpose, guaranteed with an oath, in order that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we may have strong encouragement " Heb 7:17,18 God cannot lie. If He did, that would make Him less than God. Before we accuse God of saying or doing something that He cannot do; why not ask ourselves if we are saying or doing the things He asks of us? Food For Thought “ We sometimes worship what we have achieved, rather than praising God for giving us the means of achieving it. ” “One of the best ways to get on your feet is to first get on your knees.”
We
hope you find this bulletin useful in your Bible study. 2
Sam 22:31
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