In This Issue

• RESURRECTED THE THIRD DAY
• JESUS AND THE SOCIAL GOSPEL
• TEACH US TO PRAY
• ABSENTEEISM DOES NOT KILL CHURCHES
• UPCOMING GOSPEL MEETING SCHEDULE
• MORE INFORMATION...

RESURRECTED THE THIRD DAY

Jesus was crucified on Friday. "On the next day, which followed the Day of Preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees gathered together to Pilate, and saying, ‘Sir, we remember while He was still alive, how that deceiver said, "After three days I will rise." Therefore command that the tomb be made secure until the third day, lest His disciples come by night and steal Him away, and say to the people, "He has risen from the dead." So the last deception will be worse than the first.’ Pilate said to them, ‘You have a guard; go your way, make it as secure as you know how.’ So they went and made the tomb secure; sealing the stone and setting the guard" (Matt. 27:62-66).

One interesting fact in this passage is that the terms "after three days" and on "the third day" were used interchangeably by the Jews. To us 21st century Americans, those two terms would mean two different things. To us, "after three days" would mean "on the fourth, or later." But the way they expressed time, "after three days" meant exactly the same as on "the third day." This helps us to understand why the crucifixion could take place on Friday, the resurrection on Sunday, and yet Jesus referred to that as "after three days." Friday was the first day, Saturday the second day, and Sunday the third day. As they expressed time, that period was sometimes referred to as "after three days." Of course, much more frequently, the more literal on "the third day" was used to express that time period. See Matt. 16:21; 17:22-23; 20:18-19; Mark 9:31; Luke 9:22; 18:33; 24:7, 21, 46; 1 Cor. 15:3-4.

Another interesting fact revealed in our text is the care with which the enemies of Jesus took every precaution to make sure His disciples could not possibly fake His resurrection. They carefully sealed the huge stone which covered the tomb and utilized the Roman guards to make sure no one disturbed that tomb. After Christ’s resurrection, Matthew tells us that some of the guard went "into the city and reported to the chief priests all the things that had happened. When they had assembled with the elders and taken counsel, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, saying, ‘Tell them, "His disciples came at night and stole Him away while we slept." And if this comes to the governor’s ears, we will appease him and make you secure.’ So they took the money and did as they were instructed, and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day" (Matt. 28:11-15).

No reasonable person would have believed that report. First, they would not have dared to go to sleep on guard. Such dereliction of duty meant the death penalty. Second, if they DID do so, they certainly would not have admitted it. Third, they could not possibly testify to what took place while they were sleeping, so their testimony would have been conjecture at best. Of course, the truth is that Jesus came forth from the grave on the third day as He had repeatedly promised.

--CRJ

JESUS AND THE SOCIAL GOSPEL

When Jesus heard the Pharisees questioning His disciples about His association with sinners He pointed out that "They that be whole need not a Physician, but they that are sick" (Matt. 9:12). He thus cast Himself into the role of a physician who would address the spiritual needs of His patients.

The prescription that Jesus gave for the ills of the world goes to the very heart of the disease of mankind. This is in contrast with the solutions offered by so many today. Even in the physical realm we are in bad shape if our physician does no more than treat the symptoms while the underlying cause of those symptoms, the disease itself, goes untreated.

But look at what is happening in the world today among those who profess to be disciples of Christ. They have enlisted millions of people in campaigns to zap all of the pain, distress and discomforts of mankind. They proudly proclaim that they have something for everyone. They have counselors for unwed mothers, drug addicts, divorcees, homosexuals and drunks. They have youth ministers to entertain young people and take them to retreats where they can be taught by other young radicals and kept away from being contaminated by their parents. Gymnasiums are provided to entertain the young and to meet the social needs of the elderly. They even take food to the hungry. But include Bibles or tracts in the food box? Certainly not! Who would be so unkind as to try to save a person’s soul while he is hungry? When Jesus had compassion on the multitude "He began to teach them" (Mark 6:34). Later, He fed the 5,000 with the five loaves and two fish.

The very last charge that Jesus gave His followers before leaving this earth was not: "Go feed the hungry or go minister to the social needs of the world." But it was: "Go teach" (Matt. 28:19). Why? Simply because this is the only Rx that can eliminate the ills of the world and provide the hope of eternal life.

Consider this. The New Testament contains the teachings of Christ; His personal teachings while on earth and His later instructions via inspiration of the penmen of the written word. The teachings in this book, if followed by everyone, would eliminate all of the things that cause our problems e.g. A.I.D.S., out of wedlock children, underpaid employees, hunger, murder, theft, abortion. Think about it!

On the other hand, the social gospel ignores the prescription of Jesus that would wipe out the disease, and instead, prescribes Band-Aids and painkillers designed to alleviate the symptoms. It is very popular because those who administer such a system always feel so good, receiving only praise, never rejection. This system, while giving the appearance of following Jesus, actually rejects the basic thrust of the gospel of Christ. Hence it is a very effective device of Satan since its adherents are deceived into thinking they are carrying out the Lord’s will.

We have true compassion when we are willing to risk abuse and rejection while we try to minister to the spiritual needs of mankind. It is not compassionate to fill a lost person’s stomach and say nothing to him about the gospel plan of salvation. Let us remember that the primary function of the church is to teach and preach the gospel of Christ, "the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believes" (Rom. 1:16).

--Thomas W. Franklin, Seibles Rd. bulletin, Montgomery, AL

TEACH US TO PRAY

In Luke 11:1 we read that after Jesus had finished praying His disciples said to Him, "Lord, teach us to pray just as John also taught his disciples." Jesus then gave them a model or guide to follow for learning how to pray. A careful examination of this prayer reveals that proper prayer includes:

1). To "whom" we should pray - "Our Father in heaven",

2.) Praise is given "Hallowed be Your name",

3.) Supplications are made:

a. for God's purposes - "Your kingdom come, Your will be done,"

b. for our physical needs - "Give us this day our daily bread"

c. for our spiritual needs - "Forgive us our sins as we forgive everyone who is indebted to us"

d. for our deliverance from temptation - "And do not lead us into temptation but deliver us from evil "

e. an acknowledgement of God's power and authority - "For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory..." (Matt. 6:13).

Because Jesus died for us and to take away our sins we have access to the Father through Him (Christ). "Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." (John 14:6) Therefore we pray to the father "in the name of Jesus." Ephesions 5:20 says "Giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." We must view Him as our "high priest" who intercedes for us. "... because Jesus lives forever, He has a permanent priesthood. Therefore He is able to save completely those who come to God through Him, because he always lives to intercede for them." (Heb 7:24-25) When we appeal to God in the name of His Son we can do so with the utmost confidence knowing that He will supply our needs. "For we do not have a High Priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." (Heb. 4:15-16)

--Tom L. Merritt, State College, PA bulletin

ABSENTEEISM DOES NOT KILL CHURCHES

Despite all you may have heard to the contrary, absenteeism does not kill churches. Does that sound strange coming from a preacher? Well, it’s true, and preachers certainly should tell the truth.

You see, absenteeism is not the disease but a symptom, and symptoms do not kill. "Symptom" is defined as: "a condition accompanying or resulting from a disease and serving as an aid in diagnosis."

Our disease may be lack of love, unbelief, selfishness, worldliness, lust, etc. These things in turn produce undesirable fruits in our lives.

A man is more concerned with his own pleasure than with the things of the Lord, so he is at the lake rather than in God’s house on the Lord’s Day. His trouble is not in being absent, but his real trouble is whatever caused him to be absent.

Another man does not give as he has been prospered. His real problem may actually be covetousness. He wished to keep for himself what rightfully belonged to God.

One of the reasons for our slow progress in the Lord’s church is our widespread practice of working on the symptoms rather than the disease. We harp on one’s being absent when we would do well to spend the time cultivating his love for the Lord, in enlightening him about the values of regularity of worship and the dangers of neglect, in building his faith and confidence in God. Introduce him to the joy of saving a soul!

No, absenteeism does not kill churches. But cold and selfish hearts will. Covetous hearts will. Lust will. In whatever form it comes, sin will. When we put away sin, Absenteeism will die.

--Lewis Hale, Biblical Messenger, 3/17/2002

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