[Biblemat] HILLIARD BULLETIN for November 2007

[GLClair at aol.com]

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 
Phone: (614)  850-7252 

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Volume 9                                        Number 11                     
                    November 2007 
=========================================================================== 

BIBLE  STUDY - Matthew 28:18-20, 
18 And Jesus came to them and spake unto  them, saying, All authority hath 
been given unto me in heaven and on earth.   
19 Go ye therefore, and make disciples of  all the nations, baptizing them 
into the name of the Father and of the Son and  of the Holy Spirit:  
20 teaching them to observe all things  whatsoever I commanded you: and lo, I 
am with you always, even unto the end of  the world.” ASV 
These are the statements  given by Jesus after his resurrection and 
appearance to his disciples for the  first time. 
In these three verses of  Scripture we have what is referred to by 
commentators as the “Great Commission”.  The title indicates that Jesus is giving a 
Great commission [i.e. assignment] to  his disciples. 
The Great Commission is  stated by Jesus in clear language, “GO YE  
THEREFORE, and MAKE DISCIPLES OF ALL  NATIONS….” 
Jesus also tells them in  these instructions, “TO BAPTIZE THEM INTO THE NAME 
OF THE FATHER AND SON AND THE  HOLY SPIRIT [i.e. by the authority of God]. 
The instructions do not  stop there, Jesus also tells them to “teach those 
baptized {i.e. that are new  Christians] to observe all things He has commanded” 
and He reminds them that  “He will always be with them EVEN until  the end of 
the world.” 
Jesus is still with His  people today, as they do His will and serve the one 
true God  faithfully. 
AN HONEST LOOK AT MARK 16:15-16 

“15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all  the world, and preach the gospel 
to the whole creation. 16 He that believeth and is  baptized shall be saved; 
but he that disbelieveth shall be condemned.”  ASV 
This passage of Scripture  is simple to understand for the honest and sincere 
seeker of truth. The passage  says that “... He that believeth and is  
baptized shall be saved.” NOT: “he that believeth shall be saved and  then baptized.
” NO: the passage does not  say “He that believeth shall be  saved.” 
WHY IN THE  WORLD: 
Would a person professing  to be religious and possessing a good knowledge of 
the English Language and  often with knowledge of the original language [i.e. 
Koine Greek] in which the  Bible was written so misapply the teaching of this 
 verse? 
I WILL TELL YOU  WHY: 
Many people are so blinded  by a false religion established by mankind that 
they cannot see the truth of a  simple Bible statement because they have been 
so conditioned through acceptance  of that which is error that they are blind 
[i.e. spiritually], just like many of  the Jewish Scholars of the 1st Century 
Jewish Religion  
cf. Matthew 15:12-14,  
“12 Then came the disciples, and said  unto him, Knowest thou that the 
Pharisees were offended, when they heard this  saying? 13 But he answered and said, 
Every plant which my heavenly Father  planted not, shall be rooted up. 14 Let 
them alone: they are blind guides.  And if the blind guide the blind , both 
shall fall into a pit.”  ASV 
CONCLUSION: 
Some folks are forever  studying and seemingly learning but are never able to 
arrive at the truth – cf.  2 Tim 3:5-7, “5 holding a form of  godliness, but 
having denied the power therefore. From these also turn away.  6 For of these 
are they that creep into houses, and take captive silly women  laden with 
sins, led away by divers lusts, 7 ever learning , and never able  to come to the 
knowledge of the truth.”  ASV 
Whenever we study the  Bible or any part of it our interest in knowing has to 
do with our desire to  know so that we will be able to have God’s approval. 
We do not study and seek  deeper meanings to Biblical passages simply for 
entertainment or for some  personal advantage over another person, indeed; we seek 
knowledge so that we may  be acceptable to our God. 
Matthew 6:33-34, “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 

KNOWING  OURSELVES 
One of the important  pieces of knowledge that each person needs to possess 
is to know themselves.  Now, knowing oneself is not as easy as one might think. 
There are many problems  that the individual must overcome before they will 
be able to objectively  examine themselves and come up with the accurate 
knowledge – to really know  self. As we contemplate an examination of self we must 
be completely honest with  ourselves about many things, a list follows: 
Our feelings toward those  that disagree with us – do I dislike them for  
that? 
Our feelings about our  sexuality – am I doing the right thing? 
Our feelings about other  races and the nationality of other people           
                            
Our feelings about our current role in our  chosen field of employment 
Our feelings about our own  health – why do I feel bad? 
Our feelings about death –  is there really a hell and heaven 
Our honest feelings about  God and the things HE expects of me – I know I 
should but I  won’t. 
The truth of the matter is; if we want to really know ourselves we must  do 
an examination of ourselves with complete honesty about every thought process  
in our mind and body.  
WHY IS THIS  IMPORTANT: 
A personal  examination of self is extremely important for the purpose of 
happiness and  assurance of heaven someday. Indeed, God wants us to know 
ourselves for through  knowledge of ourselves we can compare ourselves honestly with 
God’s Written  Instructions and know if our faith is secure – cf.   
2 Cor.  13:5, “Examine yourselves, whether  ye be in the faith; prove your 
own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that  Jesus Christ is in you, 
except ye be reprobates?”  KJV 
2 John 7-11,  “7 For many deceivers are entered into  the world, who confess 
not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a  deceiver and an 
antichrist. 8 Look  to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have 
wrought, but that we  receive a full reward. 
9 Whosoever  transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath 
not God. He that  abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father 
and the Son. 10 If  there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, 
receive him not into your  house, neither bid him God speed: 11 For he that biddeth 
him God speed is  partaker of his evil deeds.” 
CONSIDER  THIS: Is your faith secure? Note the following admonition; 2 Cor  
13:5-7, “5 Examine yourselves, whether  ye be in the faith; prove your own 
selves. Know ye not your own selves, how  that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye 
be reprobates? 6 But I trust that ye  shall know that we are not reprobates. 7 
Now I pray to God that ye do no  evil; not that we should appear approved, but 
that ye should do that which is  honest, though we be as reprobates.” KJV     
    … Garreth L. Clair – Hilliard Bulletin November  2007 

RIGHTEOUS  INDIGNATION 
The Biblical cases of  righteous indignation are several; I will deal with 
but one such case in the New  Testament in this study. 
DEFINITION:   
In some Christian doctrines, righteous indignation is considered  the only 
form 
of anger which is not sinful.   
Conversely,  it is considered sinful to fail to stand up for what is  
righteous.
[Source - wikipedia.org] 
The case I wish to examine in this study is found in three places; in  
Matthew, Mark, and John. A great lesson in love for righteousness is displayed  by 
our Lord on this occasion. Jesus is overcome by a deep and abiding loyalty to  
the Father’s rights and the responsibilities of  man. 
Matthew  21:12-13, 
“12 And Jesus entered into  the temple of  God, and cast out all them  that 
sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the  money-changers, 
and the seats of them that sold the  doves; 
13 and he saith unto them,  It is written, My house shall be called a house 
of prayer: but ye make it a den  of robbers.” ASV 
Mark  11:15-17, 
“15 And they come to  Jerusalem: and he entered into the temple, and began to 
cast out them that sold  and them that bought in the temple, and overthrew 
the tables of the  money-changers, and the seats of them that sold the  doves; 
16 and he would not suffer  that any man should carry a vessel through the  
temple. 
17 And he taught, and said  unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be 
called a house of prayer for all  the nations? but ye have made it a den of 
robbers.”  ASV 
John  2:14-16, 
“14 And he found in the  temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and 
the changers of money  sitting: 
15 and he made a scourge  of cords, and cast all out of the temple, both the 
sheep and the oxen; and he  poured out the changers' money, and overthrew 
their  table; 
16 and to them that sold  the doves he said, Take these things hence; make 
not my Father's house a house  of merchandise.” ASV 
Jesus was overcome by desire to do the  will of the Father, He exhibited a 
case of righteous indignation that is often  overlooked in Bible study. 
John 2:17, “His disciples remembered that it was  written, Zeal for thy house 
shall eat me up.”  ASV 
_glclair at aol.com_ (mailto:glclair at aol.com)    --- Hilliard Bulletin for 
November  2007




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