[Biblemat] HILLIARD BULLETIN for August 2007
GLClair at aol.com
GLClair at aol.com
Wed Aug 1 11:39:29 CDT 2007
HILLIARD BULLETIN
Published by the church of Christ
4840 Cemetery Road – P.O. Box 96 – Hilliard, OH 43026
Phone: (614) 876-4089
ELDERS:
Owen Gary Brewer - [614] 832-2569
John Buchanan – [614] 893-3277
Preacher and Editor: Garreth L. Clair
(614) 850-7252
_glclair at aol.com_ (mailto:glclair at aol.com)
=========================================================================
Volume 9 Number 8
August 2007
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DISPUTES
The normal interaction of humans will invariably include disputes between
them over many and sundry points or items that are common to all. Perhaps we
may better point this out by showing that this has always been true of man from
the beginning of God’s creation. From a personal point of concern, I have
continued to pursue God’s way in spite of opposition several times in my life
as a preacher [i.e. teacher] of God’s Word. There have been many times as I
have presented God’s Written Word to an audience, that after the study I have
been ask to clarify [i.e. or defend] my teaching on a certain point, this is a
normal interaction with an audience under normal circumstance. In my early
years as a teacher of God’s Written Word I was impatient with those who would
question what I had taught. This impatience often led me to improperly impugn
the motives of everyone who questioned those things that I was teaching.
There are many instances where examples of disputes are revealed in the Holy
Scriptures sometimes the disputants were honest and sometimes one [i.e. or
more than one] of them was dishonest, please note the following example:
Eve and the Devil [i.e. the Devil disputed with Eve about God’s
instruction] --- 2 Cor 11:2-3, “2 For I am jealous over you with a godly
jealousy: for I espoused you to one husband, that I might present you (as) a
pure virgin to Christ. 3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent
beguiled Eve in his craftiness, your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity
and the purity that is toward Christ.” ASV
1 Tim 2:13-14, “13 For Adam was first formed, then Eve; 14 and Adam was not
beguiled, but the woman being beguiled hath fallen into transgression:” ASV
EVE LOST HER WAY BECAUSE SHE DID NOT STAND FIRM WITH THE TRUTH THAT SHE HAD
RECEIVED FROM GOD - Gen 2:16-17, “16 And Jehovah God commanded the man,
saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: 17 but of the tree of
the knowledge of good and evil, thou shall not eat of it: for in the day that
thou eatest thereof thou shall surely die.” ASV … Garreth L. Clair
THE GREATEST WORK
There is no greater work that we could undertake than that of being a
faithful Christian. There are many people today who profess to be Christians who
are really so only by name, being a Christian is a full time profession. The
true and faithful Christian is that person who lives their life as a Christian
every day [i.e. 24/7], without regret. There are many passages of Holy
Scripture that tell us faithfulness to God is a good work, a work worthy of each
person. Please notice the following truth about being faithful as a servant of
Jesus Christ:
Matthew 25:14-28, “14 For (it is) as (when) a man, going into another
country, called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.
15 And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one; to
each according to his several ability; and he went on his journey.
16 Straightway he that received the five talents went and traded with them,
and made other five talents.
17 In like manner he also that (received) the two gained other two.
18 But he that received the one went away and digged in the earth, and hid
his lord's money.
19 Now after a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and maketh a
reckoning with them.
20 And he that received the five talents came and brought other five
talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: lo, I have gained
other five talents.
21 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant: thou hast
been faithful over a few things, I will set thee over many things; enter thou
into the joy of thy lord.
22 And he also that (received) the two talents came and said, Lord, thou
deliveredst unto me two talents: lo, I have gained other two talents.
23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant: thou hast
been faithful over a few things, I will set thee over many things; enter thou
into the joy of thy lord.
24 And he also that had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew
thee that thou art a hard man, reaping where thou didst not sow, and
gathering where thou didst not scatter; 25 and I was afraid, and went away and hid
thy talent in the earth: lo, thou hast thine own. 26 But his lord answered and
said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap
where I sowed not, and gather where I did not scatter;
27 thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the bankers, and at my
coming I should have received back mine own with interest.
28 Take ye away therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him that
hath the ten talents.” ASV ... Garreth L. Clair
THE SLOUGHTFUL CHRISTIAN
NOTE:
Surely we can see the wisdom in warning and even nagging those in the church
who are not keeping up with the services on a regular basis. The problem of
being late for Gospel Meetings, Bible classes, and worship are generally a
problem for those with misplaced priorities. The following drawing was taken
from the pages of the bulletin for the church where Norman Fultz preaches in
Kansas City.
Jude 20-25,
“20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying
in the Holy Spirit,
21 keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord
Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
22 And on some have mercy, who are in doubt;
23 and some save, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy
with fear; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
24 Now unto him that is able to guard you from stumbling, and to set you
before the presence of his glory without blemish in exceeding joy,
25 to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, (be) glory,
majesty, dominion and power, before all time, and now, and for evermore. Amen.”
ASV
Indeed, we need to switch cars [i.e. change our course] when we have
priorities wrong.
glclair at aol.com
THE FOLLOWING POINT FROM JOHN 21 GIVES US AN IDEA OF HOW MUCH WE OUGHT TO
LOVE THE LORD --- John 21:15-17,
“15 So when they had broken their fast, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon,
(son) of John, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord;
thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.
“16 He saith to him again a second time, Simon, (son) of John, lovest thou
me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto
him, Tend my sheep.
17 He saith unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him,
Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto
him, Feed my
sheep.” ASV
CONSIDER THIS:
(From Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words, Copyright © 1985,
Thomas Nelson Publishers
LOVE (Agape), 2 Peter 1:7, “and in (your) godliness brotherly kindness;
and in (your) brotherly kindness love.” ASV - DEFINITION {i.e. Greek Lexicon},
LOVE (NOUN AND VERB): 2. phileo NT: 5368 is to be distinguished from agapao
in this, that phileo more nearly represents "tender affection." The two words
are used for the "love" of the Father for the Son, John 3:35 (No. 1), and
5:20 (No. 2); for the believer, 14:21 (No. 1) and 16:27 (No. 2); both, of
Christ's "love" for a certain disciple, 13:23 (No. 1), and 20:2 (No. 2). Yet the
distinction between the two verbs remains, and they are never used
indiscriminately in the same passage; if each is used with reference to the same
objects, as just mentioned, each word retains its distinctive and essential
character.
Phileo is never used in a command to men to "love" God; it is, however, used
as a warning in 1 Cor 16:22; agapao is used instead, e. g., Matt 22:37; Luke
10:27; Rom 8:28; 1 Cor 8:3; 1 Peter 1:7; 1 John 4:21. The distinction
between the two verbs finds a conspicuous instance in the narrative of John
21:15-17. The context itself indicates that agapao in the first two questions
suggests the "love" that values and esteems (cf. Rev 12:11). It is an unselfish
"love," ready to serve. The use of phileo in Peter's answers and the Lord's
third question, conveys the thought of cherishing the Object [i.e. the Lord]
above all else, of manifesting an affection characterized by constancy, from the
motive of the highest veneration. See also Trench, Syn., and Sec. Xii. Again,
to "love" (phileo) life, from an undue desire to preserve it, forgetful of
the real object of living, meets with the Lord's reproof, John 12:25. On the
contrary, to "love" life (agapao) as used in 1 Peter 3:10, is to consult the
true interests of living. Here the word phileo would be quite inappropriate.
DO WE [i.e. Christians] really love the Lord whenever we without guilt miss
the appointed assemblies, consistently come to meetings late, and generally
show by our actions [i.e. conversation – manner of life] that we put the Lord
our God and His works second or third or even further down the list of our
priorities? Please note the following verses of Scripture about priorities:
Matthew 6:32-34,
32 For after all these things do the Gentiles seek; for your heavenly Father
knoweth that ye have need of all these things.33 But seek ye first his
kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 34
Be not therefore anxious for the morrow: for the morrow will be anxious for
itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” ASV
HILLIARD BULLETIN for August 2007
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