[Biblemat] B> Gospel Observer 3/30/08
tedwards at onemain.com
tedwards at onemain.com
Thu Apr 3 09:31:12 CDT 2008
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THE GOSPEL OBSERVER
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"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations...teaching
them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you
always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:19,20).
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March 30, 2008
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Contents:
1) The Innocence of Jesus (Bill Cavendar)
2) Peer Pressure (Bob Waldron)
3) A-C-T-S (David McPherson)
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-1-
The Innocence of Jesus
by Bill Cavendar
The Bible records six different trials that Jesus endured after
He was seized in the Garden of Gethsemane. There were three Jewish
trials: (1) Before Annas (Jn. 18:13,24); (2) Before Caiaphas, aided
by a group of priests and the Sanhedrin (Mt. 26:57-68; Mk.
14:53-65; Jn. 18:14-28); (3) Before the Sanhedrin, near the dawn of
day (Mt. 27:1-2; Mk. 15:1; Lk. 22:66-71). Then there was the first
trial before Pilate (Mt. 27:1-2; Mk. 15:1; Lk. 23:1-7; Jn.
18:28-32). Pilate acquitted Jesus; the Jews made further charges
against Him, so Pilate sent Jesus to Herod upon learning that Jesus
was of Galilee (Mt. 27:11-14; Mk. 15:2-5; Lk. 23:3-7; Jn.
18:33-38). Before Herod, Jesus was mocked but not condemned as
being guilty (Lk. 23:6-12). Before Pilate the second time, Jesus
was sentenced to death at the instigation of the Jewish rulers, and
was taken away to be crucified.
During the two trials before Pilate, Jesus was proclaimed to be
innocent seven times by Pilate, in Pilate's words and action.
Consider these, please:
1. After his first conversation with Jesus, Pilate said, "I
find no fault in this man" (Jn. 18:29-38; Lk. 23:4).
2. After Jesus returned to Pilate from Herod, Pilate said,
"Behold, I, having examined him before, have found no fault in this
man touching those things whereof ye accuse him: No, nor yet
Herod . . ." (Lk. 23:6-15).
3. After offering to release a prisoner to the Jews, and
offering to scourge Jesus and then release Him, Luke records, "And
he said unto them the third time, Why, what evil hath he done? I
have found no cause of death in him . . ." (Lk. 23:22).
4. When he washed his hands before the multitude, declaring the
innocence of Jesus, Pilate said, "I am innocent of the blood of
this just person" (Mt. 27:24).
5. After Jesus had been mocked, whipped, and the robe put on
Him, Pilate said, "Behold, I bring him forth to you, that ye may
know that I find no fault in him" (Jn. 19:4).
6. When Pilate gave permission for His crucifixion, he said,
"Take ye him, and crucify him: for I find no fault in him" (Jn.
19:6).
7. After Pilate learned of Jesus' claim to be the Son of God,
he talked with Jesus for the last time. John records, "Upon this
Pilate sought to release him..." (Jn. 19:7-12), thus declaring, in
fact, the innocence of Jesus for the seventh time.
Yet this moral coward, whose name has lived in infamy for, lo,
these many centuries, delivered up to a felon's death the only
truly innocent man who ever lived on earth, the only one who truly
and legally deserved to live and not to die.
But what of those moral cowards, men claiming to follow Him and
to believe His claims and words, what of them? What is the
difference between Pilate, the Roman, and John Doe, the Christian,
who crucifies the Son of God afresh and puts Him to an open shame
by sin, ugliness, bitterness, hatred, arrogance, transgression and
apostasy (Heb. 6:4-8; 10:26-31)? What of them?
-- Via Guardian of Truth XXIX: 3, p. 67, February 7, 1985
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-2-
Peer Pressure
by Bob Waldron
Much of God's covenant with Israel of old dealt with human
relations. Various and sundry laws pointed out how the Jew was to
conduct himself among his peers. One of these admonitions was,
"Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil" (Ex. 23:2). This was
a very important decree; it showed the danger of peer pressure and
pointed out very explicitly the dangers of being led astray by evil
men. Peer pressure was an important factor in their lives; it has
been from that time to the present. And perhaps as never before,
peer pressure is an issue we have to wrestle with.
A leading educator noted that peer pressure is the strongest
influence exerted on young people today. He stated that in most
cases it is twice as strong as the influence of home and family,
and yields a far greater influence than religion. I share this
educator's convictions. All young people want to be accepted by
their peers. And if to do so means disobeying parents and selling
out personal convictions, some are willing to do so just to be a
part of the bunch. In dealing with young folks and their problem of
peer pressure, we often quote and expound on 1 Corinthians 15:33 --
"Evil companionships corrupt good morals." I contend this is a very
important verse dealing with this subject. This admonition does
caution against the dangers of peer pressure being exerted by those
who are void of spiritual convictions and virtues. Let us continue
to warn our young people of the dangers of their associates that
rob them of their virtues.
But is all peer pressure centered in young people? Does this
pressure cease when we become adults? Well, certainly at all stages
of life there are peer pressures put on us by those with whom we
mix and mingle day by day. The Bible is not silent on this matter.
Men and women of God have always faced immense pressures in dealing
with their peers. And when God has spoken, He has always done so
with a stern warning against letting our associates rob us of our
moral integrity.
One of the most striking examples of this occurred in the life
of Peter. Peter is one of our favorite Bible characters. He was
truly one of Christ's most ardent followers. We hear him saying,
"Even if I must die with thee, yet I will not deny thee" (Matt.
26:25). We hear him declare, "Lord, with thee I am ready to go both
to prison and death" (Luke 22:33). But on that fateful night of the
arrest and mock trial of the Lord, Peter "followed afar off" (Matt.
26:53); he stood with the wrong crowd, the enemies of the Lord
(Matt. 26:69). And upon being asked of his allegiance to Christ, he
cursed, swore, and denied that he even knew Him (Matt. 26:69-74).
Peter, when alone in a crowd of unbelievers who were the enemies of
Christ, relented to peer pressure.
What a lesson for the Christian today. I contend that when we
are alone, with the wrong crowd, those with no regard for the Lord
nor spiritual values, we are at the most vulnerable moment of our
spiritual life. And so often, like Peter, the pressures from our
peers lead to our downfall.
There are numerous other examples in the New Testament on this
subject. Peer pressure played a leading role in the rejection of
Christ by the rulers of the synagogue (John 12:42, 43). The
Scriptures tell us they believed on Him, "but because of the
Pharisees they did not confess it, lest they should be put out of
the synagogue. For they loved the glory that is of men more than
the glory that is of God."
Likewise, peer pressure was the deciding factor in the heinous
crime of Herod (Matt. 14:1-12; Mark 6:23). Herod feared and
respected John, but his oath, along with "them that sat at meat
with him" (his peers) prevented him from backing down on his
promise, and resulted in the vile deed of having John the Baptist
put to death. In this we see the influence and power of wicked men
and the insidiousness of peer pressure.
But there is another side of the coin of peer pressure. Not all
the characters of the Bible collapsed under the pressure of their
associates. Many stood, often alone, in the face of severe
pressures put on them by others.
Let us ever be aware of the immense pressures put on us by our
peers, especially those with no regard for God and spiritual
values. And let us profit from the mistakes others made and
redouble our efforts to not yield to these peer pressures as they
did.
-- Via The Bulletin of the Church of Christ at New Georgia,
February 24, 2008
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-3-
A-C-T-S
by David McPherson
Christians are to "pray without ceasing" (1 Thes. 5:17). Some
have trouble doing this simply because they forget what to do in
prayer.
The acronym "A-C-T-S" is one way to remember.
A -- Adoration. Prayer is a time to adore/praise God. David
prayed, "Thine, O Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and the
glory, and the victory, and the majesty..." (1 Chron. 29:11). Don't
just ask things of God, acknowledge His awesomeness.
C -- Confession. Prayer is also a time to confess sin. John
wrote, "if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive
us our sins..." (1 Jn. 1:9). One whose iniquities have separated
him from God should exercise this privilege. Admit your wrongs!
T -- Thanksgiving. In prayer, we should express our gratitude
to God. It is "with thanksgiving" (Phil. 4:6), that our request are
to be made known to Him. Do you appreciate the good things you
have, love, and hope for? Tell God "thank you."
S -- Supplication. This is where we make our requests. There
are many things for which Christians ought to ask -- wisdom, peace,
patience, opportunities to teach, etc. Brethren, don't forget to
pray.
-- via The Beacon -- Electronic Edition -- 1/24/06
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MYRTLE STREET CHURCH OF CHRIST
1022 Myrtle Street
Denham Springs, LA 70726
(225) 664-8208
Sunday: 9:15 AM, 10:00 AM, 4:00 PM
Wednesday: 7:00 PM
evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (225) 667-4520
e-mail: tedwards at onemain.com
web site: http://home.onemain.com/~tedwards/go
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