Gospel News — Jan-Apr 2013

should rejoice likewise (Philip 1:28-29). We must not be ashamed of our doctrine but we must tell everyone all the glad news of righteousness for their salvation, for it is the testimony about our Lord Jesus Christ: "Even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed to you" (1Corinthians 1:2; Mark 8:38). That confirmation continues with us; we have never taught a doctrine contrary to the sound doctrine of Jesus Christ and the teaching of the apostles.

We cannot be popular in the world. But our will must be shown to be God's will. We might be regarded as fools or out of our minds, but we must copy the Lord Jesus who faced those accusations. By our teaching, we should continue to bear witness to God and we must work together with Him. If we maintain true doctrine, we shall be blessed (Luke 5:20). God will lead us in a triumphal procession in what is right, the truth, because we hear and understand His word.

As we wait for the promise of the Father, we should rejoice and be glad to extend our doctrine abroad with boldness. God will look upon our opponents and hear their words of contempt, with which they speak, not to offend us, but to mock the living God. He will grant us to continue to speak His word much more boldly without fear, as we ought to speak to, and dispute with, the erroneous teaching of Christendom.

Our boldness should be the sign that the Lord is with us, and to persuade others even if some are filled with jealousy (1Thes 2:2). Our unique teaching and boldness are factors which will encourage others to follow our example in doctrine and our by our practical christian life.

Be All of One Mind

Bro Francis Kotei Odiko (Subri, Ghana)

The Acts of the Apostles is the witness of the work The Acts continued after the Lord's death and resurrection as recorded after

27

the four gospels. The Acts is attributed to Luke and we read in the first chapter that he addresses one called `Theophilus': "The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach" (Acts 1:1). Who `Theophilus' was we are not certain, but this name means "Friend or lover of God" and indeed this could be a general title given to all those knowing God's truth and desiring to walk therein. After the Lord's resurrection he appeared to his disciples and charged them not to leave Jerusalem, but to "'Wait for the promise of the father which', saith he, `ye have heard of me. For John truly baptised with water, but ye shall be baptised with the Holy Spirit not many days hence'" (Acts 1:4-5).

As the disciples gathered together with the Lord after his resurrection, they naturally wondered if he would immediately establish the Kingdom of God on earth as God's son, the Messiah. However, he replied: "... It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in His own power. But ye shall receive power after the Holy Spirit is come upon you and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost parts of the earth" (Acts 1:7-8). The kingdom was not to be established then, but only in God's future appointed time. However, prior to this, they were to be given the great work of spreading the gospel message to all peoples throughout the world. We, as Gentiles, have learned of His name and what is required to walk in God's ways, because of the apostles' work of witnessing and the precious record they made. Jesus was with the disciples for forty days after his resurrection, after which he was taken to heaven to reside at the right hand of God the Father.

"And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;