In This Issue

• TWO WITNESSES

• CAN I WORSHIP GOD BY MYSELF?

• WHAT IS THAT SMELL?

• "I WAS WRONG"

• MORE INFORMATION...

TWO WITNESSES

Jesus said, “I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me. If I bear witness of Myself, My witness is not true. There is another who bears witness of Me, and I know that the witness which He witnesses of Me is true. You have sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth. Yet I do not receive testimony from man, but I say these things that you may be saved. He was the burning and shining lamp, and you were willing for a time to rejoice in his light. But I have a greater witness than John's; for the works which the Father has given Me to finish--the very works that I do--bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me. And the Father Himself, who sent Me, has testified of Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His form” (John 5:30-37).

Jesus did not do anything without the consent and approval of the heavenly Father. By Himself, He did nothing. His discernment was 100% correct because He was not subscribing to human judgment or human desires, but to the Divine will. He acknowledged that the Law required all things to be established by the mouth of two or three witnesses, Deut. 17:6; 19:15; Matt. 18:6. Therefore, if He had no witness but Himself, His testimony was insufficient (not true to the requirements of the Law).

But Jesus had two witnesses He wished to call to record at this time. First, there was John the Baptist, verse 33. In another passage Jesus said, “Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist…” (Matt. 11:11). “…John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is He of whom I said, 'After me comes a Man who is preferred before me, for He was before me…' And John bore witness, saying, ‘I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him…” (John 1:29-32).

Jesus’ second witness is even greater than John – God Himself, verse 38. By the miracles which the Father sent the Son to do, the Father Himself endorsed the teaching and behavior of Jesus.

- Clarence R. Johnson

CAN I WORSHIP GOD BY MYSELF?

What most people mean by this is ‘do I have to go to an assembly to worship?’ Questions have been asked and statements made concerning this subject. Statements like, “Worship is just between me and God”; “I feel uncomfortable around people, so it’s better for me to stay home”; “I can stay at home because it’s an individual thing anyway”. Questions like, “Is it really necessary to go to church”? I’m sure other things have been said, but these give us a good idea what some people think about the subject. Let’s consider some of these statements by turning to the Bible for answers.

The Bible says that “every knee should bow, every tongue should confess and everyone must work out your own salvation” (PHILIPPIANS 2:10-12). These are things the individual must certainly do. The Bible also says that each soul will go to Heaven or Hell based on deeds done that please or displeases God (EZEKIEL 18:20; MATTHEW 16:24-27; 2 CORINTHIANS 5:10). All of these verses (and I’m sure many more) certainly show that a person does have an individual relationship with God, and each person is held accountable for that relationship.

The Bible also clearly indicates a person can worship God in a private way through fasting, prayer, and Bible study. Although God allows us to do these things in our private worship and devotion to Him, this does not make it O.K. to forsake to assemble ourselves with members of the church. I think the following verses will show that while God allows us to worship Him in a private way, He commands us to come together as a body of Christ to worship Him in a public way. ACTS 2:41— after being baptized 3000 souls were added to them. Who were they? ACTS 2:47— People that were being saved were added to the church by the Lord. So the people made up the church. In I CORINTHIANS 12:12-27, the Bible tells us we have individual members of our physical body and that compares to the individual members that make-up the whole body of Christ. Someone might still say all these verses deal with a person’s individual worship. Where does the Bible say I have to come to the building to worship?

We know that individual’s make-up the Lord’s church. If these individuals can stay at home to worship, why did the apostles need to go from place to place to establish churches? Why have a church in Jerusalem? Why a church in Corinth or Ephesus? Why go to all of Judea, Galilee and Samaria (ACTS 9:31) to start individual churches? After Paul was converted in Acts 9:18, why did he try to join with the congregation at Jerusalem in ACTS 9:26?

Just like the people in the first century, we must answer this question: Why come together on the Lord’s Day? 1) To partake of the Lord’s Supper— ACTS 20:7. Can this be done at home? No!!! - I CORINTHIANS 11:17-33. 2) To give of our income to the Lord’s work— I CORINTHIANS 16:1-4. If we don’t have to assemble with the local church, then why give? How would we give? Who would we give to? Who would be the needy saints Paul is talking about in verse one? 3) To love and exhort one another and to help one another to do good works— HEBREWS 10:24-26. If everyone thought they could stay home to worship God, then why would the church need a preacher? Who would he preach to? Why have elders? Who would be their flock? Why would Jesus shed His blood to purchase the church in ACTS 20:28 if it was not necessary to be a member of the church?

The question we must answer is how, when, and where we worship God.

- Rick Mullins via Proclaimer, Pound, VA

WHAT IS THAT SMELL?

“Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. And who is sufficient for these things?” (II Corinthians 2:14-16).

Paul describes the knowledge of Christ as a fragrance in this passage. In particularly Paul is describing himself as a sweet smell pleasing to God. The reason for this sweet aroma was Paul’s faithfulness in preaching the gospel.

In a Roman procession the leader was followed by priests who dispersed incense, officers, soldiers and those who had been captured by the soldiers. The aroma of the incense represented victorious life to the soldiers and slavery or death to the ones captured. In the same way, the good news of Jesus Christ, the gospel of Christ, gives life and is a “sweet aroma” to those who accept it and obey it. On the other hand, this same message of the good news of Jesus Christ, the gospel of Christ, represents destruction and rejection to those who do not accept it and obey it. This is obviously an annoying odor much as the odor of a decaying body that is without life and not prepared for a proper burial.

What odor am I expelling? If I have not obeyed the gospel of Christ by repenting of my sins (Acts 2:38), confessing that He is the Son of God (Romans 10:10), and being baptized into Christ (Galatians 3:26-27) then I am not an appealing aroma to God. Many expel this aroma because of loyalty to grandparents, parents or others who they feel they will betray if they obey the gospel of Christ. It may be that someone who was influential to them believed that Christ was the Son of God but did not obey His commandments. Instead they obeyed another form of doctrine that is foreign to the words found in the New Testament. As a result they continue to cast an odor that is unpleasant to the Almighty God.

There are those who have obeyed the form of doctrine Romans 6:17 speaks of. However, after obeying the gospel of Jesus Christ they have failed to remain faithful to their commitment (Revelation 2:10; I Corinthians 15:58). As a result they have fallen even though they think they are standing (I Corinthians 10:12). One such as this might even be occupying the pew at all the worship services but may be worshipping in vain because their heart is not right with God. It could be that their speech is not as it should be or their priorities are not according to what God commands (Matthew 6:33). There is a possibility that it could even be a preacher who is thinking more of himself than he should and is leading others away because of them “following him” instead of the gospel of Christ (Galatians 6:3).

Today one who has obeyed the gospel of Jesus Christ must be as aware of their aroma to God just as those were in the first century who obeyed this same gospel. James tells us in the 2nd chapter that man is not justified by faith alone. Yet, today just as in the first century there seems to be some who believe that by just obeying the gospel it is enough for them to be heaven bound. Yet, it takes faith and works to receive the mercy God has promised us. If one holds the thought that they can get to heaven with a minimal effort they have failed to understand what James says in that 2nd chapter. Certainly the aroma of the ones who are trying to get by with a minimal effort is not pleasing to the God of heaven. What is the aroma that I am expelling?

- Steve Niemeier, Greenwood Bulletin, Greenwood, Indiana

"I WAS WRONG"

He wrote these words with a fountain pen before the greatest invasion in history began. The attempt to take the beaches at Normandy against Germany's entrenched defenses was a fearful risk. The effort would be massive, and if the attempt failed, he wanted someone to blame. Himself.

"Our landing has failed," he wrote, "And I have withdrawn the troops. My decision to attack at this time and place was based upon the best information available. The troops, the air, and the navy did all that bravery and devotion could do. If any blame or fault attaches to the attempt, it is mine, and mine alone" (Dwight D. Eisenhower, June 5, 1944).

Thankfully that was a message he never had to deliver. It's ironic to learn that the secret to greatness is the ability to admit failure. Three words, more difficult to pronounce than "Mephibosheth" are, "I was wrong."

It's hard in a marriage to learn that the problem with us is me. It's too easy when we abandon the Lord to blame his church. People wonder why Saul was considered a failure as leader of Israel, and the flawed but earnest David achieved greatness.

It's not that David made fewer mistakes; he admitted responsibility for them.

"For I know my transgressions," he declared. We know our brethren's transgressions. David knew his own. "And my sin is always before me" (Psalm 51:3). In contrast, our sin is constantly repressed in our memories!

How's your pronunciation of hard-to-say words?

- Stan Mitchell

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