It seems that the Bible is just about others. We have all heard of David, Abraham, Solomon, Adam, Eve, Lydia, Mary Magdalene, Barabbas, the thief on the cross, the rich young ruler, Peter, Paul, Andrew, James and John. It is always about someone else? Where are we mentioned in the Scriptures? Of course, our names are not found there. However, every human being is referred to indirectly in the Bible. There are some important texts where we are mentioned. I want to observe those with you today.

Genesis 1:27-28. "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. God blessed them and said unto them, Be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth, and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moves upon the earth."

God made Adam and Eve in His own image. Since we bear the image of Adam and Eve, we also bear the image of God. Every person wants to know some basic things in life. One of the most fundamental is his origin. A few years ago, a popular book and movie was titled Roots. We know our origin; our first parents; and our Creator. How restless man is without knowing these basic truths.

Genesis 6:5-7. "And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. It repented the Lord that he made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. The Lord said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air, for it repenteth me that I have made them."

We are also found in this text because the wickedness that was found in our forefathers is also found in us. Jeremiah wrote, "The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked; who can know it?" (Jer. 17:9.) Since sin has entered into our world, something has happened to the heart of man. It is so serious that the Bible teaches that the heart must be changed. We must die and be born again. There is something wrong with every person that you will meet. It is called sin. When we live wicked lives, it grieves God deeply. He sometimes regrets that He ever made man. He did destroy the wicked world in Noah’s day, and wanted to destroy it again in Moses’ day. He destroyed the wicked cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. He brought down nations who rejected Him. He even destroyed the Jewish nation that he brought up out of Egypt.

Job 14:1-2, 14. "Man that is born of a woman is of few days and full of trouble. He comes forth like a flower and is cut down; he flees also as a shadow and continues not. . . If a man dies, shall he live again?"

What was true of Job concerning a man’s life, is also true of us today. Man faces many problems in life; some more than others. Yet we all live and die. Job wanted to know if a man, any man, would live again after he died. The New Testament answers, Yes. ". . . our Savior Jesus Christ, who brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel." (2 Tim. 1:10.)

Ecclesiastes 12:6-7. "Or ever the silver cord is loosed or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern. Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was, and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it."

This whole text refers to all of us from youth to death. Rejoice and be happy in your youth, but know that God will bring us all into judgment. Life would be vain without God and the Gospel. Now we know more about the purpose of life than those who lived before Jesus’ day. As Christians, we do not say as Solomon did, Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.

Matthew 1:21. "And she shall bring forth a son and thou shalt call his name Jesus, for he shall save his people from their sins."

We know that this promise does not apply just to Jews. It includes all who follow Jesus. We are included in this verse. Jesus said to the apostles when he established a memorial for Himself, "This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins." (Matt. 26:28.) God promised that he would call some his people which were not his people.

"As he saith also in Hosea, I will call them my people which were not my people; and her beloved which was not beloved. And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, You are not my people, there shall they be called the children of the living God." (Romans 9:25-26.) These are the Gentiles who were once known as being outside the commonwealth of Israel.

Those are the people of God are not those who have a certain physical lineage. The fleshly descendants of Abraham are not the people of God, but the spiritual descendants are his people. It is a matter of the heart, not of genealogy.

Some people find themselves in passages where they are not to be included. They presumptuously think that the Lord is talking about them. Here are some examples:

"But you shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you and you shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and in Samaria and unto the uttermost part of the earth." (Acts 1:8.)

"And these signs shall follow them that believe. In my name shall they cast out devils. They shall speak with new tongues. They shall take up serpents and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them. They shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover." (Mark 16:17-18.)

"Charity never fails. But whether there be prophesies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away." (1 Cor. 13:8.)

"Now you are the body of Christ and members in particular. God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healing, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? Have all the gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But covet earnestly the best gifts, and yet show I unto you a more excellent way." (1 Cor. 12:27-31.) This passage shows that we should be careful when applying the miraculous gifts of the Spirit to ourselves. If we have them, we should surely know it. But we should not claim something that we do not have. We should not desire some gift just for some recognition from men. Love is the more excellent way.

John 17:20-23. "Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; that they all may be one, as thou, Father, art in me and I in thee, that they also may be one in us, that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them, that they may be one, even as we are one. I in them and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me."

Jesus specifically mentions others in addition to the disciples who were then following Him. Jesus prayed for us before going to Calvary. He is our mediator now. (1 Tim. 2:5.) Jesus serves as our great High Priest at the right hand of the Father.

"That Thou Will Plead For Me"

(A prayer by a lady from the 1800s)

O Thou the contrite sinner’s friend

Who loving, love us to the end

That Thou wilt plead for me

When weary in the Christian race

Far off appears my resting-place

And fainting, I mistrust thy grace

Then, Savior, plead for me

When I have erred and gone astray

Afar from thine and wisdom’s way

And see no glimmering, guiding ray

Still Savior, plead for me

When Satan, by my sins made bold

Strives from thy cross to loose my hold

Then with thy pitying arms enfold

And plead, O plead for me

When the full light of heavenly day

Reveals my sins in dread array

Say Thou hast washed them all away

Dear Savior, plead for me

Jesus prayed for us to have a fellowship that could not be divided, so that the world may believe that God sent Him. To the degree that the world rejects Jesus today and puts Him in the category as just another false world religious leader, his followers are to blame. Every divisive act, every willful self-centered decision to go our own way, every petty difference has caused the world to mock the Savior. We must decide to not cause division in the church.

Oneness, in marriage or in the church, does not happen automatically. All parties involved must choose this path and work at it. Oneness has high maintenance. There are at least two major causes of divisions. They are Satan, and outsiders and insiders trying to be one. Outsiders are Gentiles in Scripture; today they are those who have come only recently into the church fellowship. Insiders are the Jews in Scripture; today they are those who are charter members. To insiders: do not be arrogant and exalt yourself. To outsiders: do not think of yourself that way. (Sermon by Eddie Hendrix, Cawson Street Church of Christ, October 16, 2000.)

John 20:29. "Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed. Blessed are they that have not seen and yet have believed."

Many assume that Thomas and others in the first century have an advantage over us in the ease of believing in Jesus. Thomas shows that such is not necessarily true. There are advantages and disadvantages involved in both. But for them, and us we must consider the evidence and choose faith. Faith involves self-denial and personal trust in the Savior, in addition to believing the unseen. Peter wrote about those who have not seen the Savior.

". . . at the appearing of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen, you love; in whom, though now you see him not, yet believing, you rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory. Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls." (1 Peter 1:7-9.)

2 Timothy 4:8. "Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day, but not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing."

If you love the appearing of the Savior, you are included. You too will receive this crown of righteousness or life eternal.

2 Timothy 2:19. "Nevertheless the foundation of God stands sure having this seal, The Lord knows them that are his. Let everyone that names the name of Christ depart from iniquity."

The Lord has a book of life. (Phil. 4:3, Luke 10:20, Rev. 20:12.) He knows all those who belong to Him. No man can possibly know the names of those in His Book. But we can know the traits or characteristics of those who are in this book. They must know the Savior and follow His ways. They must be learners, or disciples or Jesus. These passages include us. Your name is in the book of life if you are a follower of Jesus Christ!