Truth Magazine

By Forrest D. Moyer

When Peter wrote about the traits of godliness or the fruit of the Spirit, he urged that knowledge be added to our lives. Knowledge of God’s will is and always has been one of the most vital virtues among God’s people. Jesus said, “You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32). In the long ago God said, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being My priest. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children” (Hos. 4:6). When God allowed the ten tribes to go into Assyrian captivity, it was because of a lack of knowledge properly applied. When the people of Judah were taken into Babylon, it was because of a lack of knowledge. People refused to listen to men like Jeremiah. How vital knowledge is!

What A Lack Of Knowledge Does

1. A lack of knowledge keeps us in spiritual slavery to Satan. When Jesus said, “You shall know the truth, and the truth will make you free” (John 8:32), the Jews responded, “We are Abraham’s offspring and have never been enslaved to anyone; how is it that you say, ‘You shall become free’?” Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin” (vv. 33-34). They were in spiritual bondage because of a lack of knowledge. I am sure that there are multiplied thousands on earth today who are not Christians because they do not know. They, too, are in bondage because of a lack of knowledge. What a dynamic responsibility is placed upon the Christian to carry the Lord’s words of freedom to the lost so that they might “come to the knowledge of the truth and be saved” (1 Tim. 2:4). Surely a lack of knowledge keeps us enslaved to the devil.

2. A lack of knowledge causes us to be lost. In 2 Thessalonians 2, Paul spoke of the lawless one “whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming” (v. 8). This lawless one works in complete harmony with Satan (v. 9). In Paul’s words he uses “all the deception of wickedness for those who perish” (v. 10). Why would they be deceived? Why would they perish? “Because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved” (v. 10). Because they did not have the love of the truth, “God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they might believe what is false” (v. 11). The result of their believing what is false is condemnation (v. 12). What is the cure for this condition? A love for the truth that will cause us to search for that truth, learn it, and live by it is the solution.

3. A lack of knowledge keeps us as children tossed and carried by winds and waves. One reason that Jesus gave gifts to the church – apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers – was to help us come to “the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man” (Eph. 4:11-13). As a result of this knowledge, he says, “we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves, and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming” (v. 14). So, a lack of knowledge would leave us as children. It puts us in the position of being tossed by the waves and carried about by the trickery and craftiness of scheming men. This may well explain why “millions call him (the pope) ‘holy father.”‘ It may well explain why millions are happy in denominationalism. It can well explain why thousands of brethren have no concept of Bible authority and therefore practice those things which are unauthorized. They are deceived because of a lack of knowledge.

4. A lack of knowledge keeps us from being able to teach others. This was precisely the situation described by the Hebrews writer in 5:12-14: “For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for some one to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For every one who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil. ” They had been Christians long enough to be able to teach others, but their lack of knowledge left them in the baby class where milk had to be used rather than solid food. The church is robbed of able teachers because some lack knowledge that they should have gained. Souls may be robbed of salvation because someone didn’t teach them the way of life. How tragic indeed is a lack of knowledge when that knowledge could have been gained!

5. A lack of knowledge causes us to be ashamed. We often quote 2 Timothy 2:15: “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” A failure to study means that I will have a lack of knowledge. This will cause me shame in not knowing God’s will. It will cause me shame in not being able to “give an answer for the hope that is in me.” It will cause me shame in not being able to guide my children properly. It will cause me shame in not being able to be a fountain of spiritual wisdom for my grandchildren. More than anything else, it will cause me shame when I stand before the Lord on the day of judgment. Oh, how I need to gain the knowledge of the Lord and his way!

How Knowledge Comes To Us

1. A person is not born with knowledge. It is not a gift that can be bestowed at Christmas time or as a birthday present. The Holy Spirit does not come down and zap us with knowledge. Knowledge is acquired only by the use of our own mind in that activity called study. Our minds are capable of so very much, and yet we use them so very little. Psychologists tell us that we only use 2 to 5 percent of our mental abilities. Oliver Wendell Holmes said that the average person goes to his grave with his music still in him. I am sure that this is true in our spiritual lives. We could learn so very much about God and his word and yet we do not apply ourselves. We remain spiritual pygmies when we could become spiritual giants! The only way we can know God’s word is by study. There is no other way. That study may be in form of our own reading of God’s word and information about it or by our listening to others and discussing it with them. But the truth is self-evident: we must study in order to gain knowledge.

2. God commands us to study his word in order that we may know his will. Peter tells us to be “like newborn babes” and “long for the pure milk of the word, that by it you may grow in respect to salvation” (1 Pet. 2:2). He further said, “but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Pet. 3:18). The need is evident; the order is clear: we must study the word!

3. We are inspired by some noble examples of Bible study. The attitude of Cornelius is a beautiful example of one’s desire to learn the truth. He said, “Now then, we are all here present before God to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord” (Acts 10:33). Inspiration praises the people of Berea as being “noble” because “they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily, to see whether these things were so” (Acts 17:11). Their quest for knowledge let them to the diligent effort necessary to come to know God’s will.

4. God places upon parents some heavy responsibility along this line. In speaking to the parents in Israel, he said:

“Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one! And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart; and you shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. And you shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. And you shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates (Deut. 6:4-9).

Parents today have a grave responsibility resting upon their shoulders. They are responsible for teaching children honesty, purity, dedication, and faithfulness is worship. They are responsible for guiding their children into sexual purity. We cannot leave it to the church or to the schools. So many parents have abandoned their sacred trust! We must restore to parents their allegiance to God and their children. How mighty is the call to parents to impart spiritual knowledge to children!

Truly, knowledge comes only through the learning process. It is up to us as to how much we learn and know.

Guardian of Truth XXXII: 20, pp. 619-620
October 20, 1988

By Jerry Fite

” . . . Sacrifices and offerings and whole burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein (the which were offered according to the law), then hath he said, ‘Lo, I am come to do thy will.’ He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. By which will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all” (Heb. 10:8-10).

The inspired writer impresses upon the mind of the Jews that it was God’s will to establish a second covenant in order to sanctify his people. This goal was not designed to be reached through the various sacrifices of the first covenant (Law of Moses), but by the offering of God’s son, Jesus Christ. This “one-time” offering would satisfy God for all times.

Jesus’ one offering fulfilled the many offerings and sacrifices of the Law of Moses. Notice, the writer of Hebrews points to offerings other than sacrifices for sin that were offered under the first covenant. Each one stressed a particular need in one’s relationship with God, which is provided and perfected in Christ’s sacrifice.

Let us take a brief look at the Old Testament offerings, so we may appreciate the meaning of Jesus’ one sacrifice.

Jesus satisfies the burnt offering. The burnt-offering was offered by the priest in the morning and evening of every day for the congregation (Exo. 29:38-39). An individual offered it in order that “he may be accepted before Jehovah” (Lev. 1:3). Finding acceptance before Jehovah was a constant priority for the Jews, and should be for all today. Jesus’ sacrifice provides the opportunity for all to enjoy God’s acceptance. Through Christ’s redemptive work, God accepts us “as sons,” while we stand “justified” in his presence (Gal. 4:5-7; Rom. 3:24).

Jesus satisfies the meal-offering. The Hebrew word “meal” or “meat” (KJV) emphasizes “a gift offered by an inferior to a superior.” It reminded the Jew of God’s superiority to sustain them. Therefore, offering the first-fruits of grain was a meal or meat offering (Lev. 2:14). In Christ we find all we need for spiritual sustenance. He is the bread of life that has come from heaven (Jn. 6:51). Christians rely upon his bodily resurrection as a kind of “first fruits” ensuring their own (1 Cor. 15:20).

Jesus satisfies the peace-offering. Offerings of thanksgiving for mercy shown, vows kept and offerings that were given to God freely with no particular event in mind were of the class of peace offerings. The offerer, after giving God the “fat” of the animal, would eat the sacrifice (Lev. 7:11-17). The peace offering therefore stressed fellowship with God. As a Jew walked before God, he was reminded by his blessings received, and promises solemnly uttered in the name of Jehovah that God was near. This fellowship was emphasized when both God and the offerer shared in the partaking of the sacrifice. Today, no one comes unto the Father but by Jesus (Jn. 14:6). Because of Christ’s sacrifice, we can draw near to God with confidence (Heb. 10:19-22). In Christ we enjoy fellowship with God.

Jesus satisfies the sin-offering and trespass-offering. There were distinctive sin-offerings for the priest, congregation, ruler and common people, including the poor (Lev. 4; 5:7-8). The trespass-offering was offered when one defrauded God in things pertaining to temple service or when he swindled his neighbor. With such offering, one restored what was defrauded and he added a fifth part of the value. The sin offering emphasized the person, while the trespass offering -emphasized restitution. Jesus’ one sacrifice beautifully unites the offerings for iniquity. For Jesus paid the price for all man’s sins (Matt. 26:28; 1 Cor. 6:20).

Acceptance, sustenance, fellowship, and forgiveness were tied to the offerings and sacrifices under the Law of Moses. Today, Christ has made all these possible through his one sacrifice. Indeed, we have been “blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ” (Eph. 1:3).

Guardian of Truth XXXII: 20, pp. 611-612
October 20, 1988

By Mike Willis

Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall In no wise pan from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven (Matt. 5:17-19).

One of the charges hurled against Jesus was that he did not obey the commandments of the law of Moses (Matt. 15:2), because he rejected the traditions of the fathers. The charge of disregarding the Mosaical law was also leveled against Jesus’ disciples (Acts 6:11,13). They resemble the charges presently hurled against his disciples today: “You don’t believe the Old Testament.” Jesus’ teaching regarding the Old Testament law is fundamental to understanding the relationship between the Old and New Testaments.

Jesus Believed The Old Testament Was From God

Jesus accepted the belief that the Old Testament was a divine revelation from God (cf. Matt. 15:3-6; Jn. 7:23; Acts 7:53). He recognized its permanence (Matt. 5:18; Psa. 119:144,152,160; 111:7-8). Every jot and tittle of that law were important (Matt. 5:18).

The reference to every “jot” and “tittle” shows that even the least commandments of that law had binding force upon men. Jesus rejected the modern concept that emphasizes the spirit of the law rather than the letter of the law. The concept that unimportant things of the law can be disobeyed with impunity is contrary to his express teachings. He said, “Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 5:19). He recognized that violation of the law in one point, even a small point, was a rejection of the divine lawgiver (Jas. 2:10) and brought one under the guilt of the law (Gal. 3:10). Hence, Jesus would have been labeled a “legalist” by modern grace-unity advocates and modernists.

The Law Lasted Until All Things Were Fulfilled

The New Testament writers realized the limitations of the law of Moses. Man could not be justified by obedience to the law of Moses (Acts 13:39; Rom. 3:20) or by any legal system which conditioned salvation upon perfect obedience. However, the law did serve its purpose. It brought a knowledge of sin (Rom. 3:20; 7:7). It pointed mankind to the coming Messiah (Gal. 3:24; Rom. 10:3).

Jesus came, not to abolish the law, but to fulfill it. Most denominational folks cannot harmonize this statement with the statements in Ephesians 2:14-17, 2 Corinthians; 3:11-16, and Hebrews 8:8-13 which discuss the abrogation of the Mosaical law. They resort to such non-biblical ideas as this: “Jesus abolished the ceremonial law but not the moral law.” There is no such distinction between moral and ceremonial law recognized in the Old Testament. Those who resort to such ideas misunderstand Jesus’ teaching regarding the Old Law.

Jesus recognized that the Old Testament would have binding force “till all be fulfilled” (Matt. 5:18). When all things were fulfilled, then the Old Testament would no longer have binding authority over the Jews.

Jesus Fulfilled The Law

Jesus came to fulfill the law. Several times the inspired writers designate something having happened to Jesus in order that the law may be fulfilled (Matt. 26:56; cf. Lk. 24:44; Acts 13:29; Rom. 10:4). Here are some of the ways Jesus fulfilled the law:

1. He fulfilled the prophecies of the Old Testament (Lk. 24:44). He was born of a virgin (Isa. 7:14) in Bethlehem (Mic. 5:2); he was God with us (Isa. 9:6). He performed miracles (Isa. 35). He suffered vicariously that we might be forgiven of sins (Isa. 53). He established his kingdom in the days of the Roman kings (Dan. 2:44). Indeed, Jesus fulfilled the prophecies of the Old Testament, so that when he died on the cross he could say, “It is finished” (Jn. 19:28-30).

2. He fulfilled all that was typified by the Old Testament sacrifices. The sacrifices of the Old Testament foreshadowed the one sacrifice of Christ on the cross. (For a more extended development of this theme, see “Our One Sacrifice” on p. 3 by Jerry Fite.) See chart below:

Old Testament Sacrifices BURNT OFFERINGS	New Testament Sacrifice   JESUS OUR ATONEMENT
a. Male, without blemish (Lev. 1:3).	a. Without blemish (Heb. 4:15).
b. Offered continually (Ex. 29:38-39).	b. Offered once for all (Heb. 9:28; 10:9-11).
c. To make atonement (Lev. 1:4).	c. To make atonement (Heb. 9:12).
MEAL OFFERING	JESUS OUR BREAD OF LIFE
a. Lev. 2: a gift to God in grateful acknowledgment that the offer owed everything to God.	a. Jesus our bread of life (Jn. 6:35).
PEACE OFFERINGS	JESUS IS OUR PEACE
a. Purpose: indicates a right relationship with God; expresses fellowship and thanksgiving (Lev. 7:12).	a. Jesus is our peace (Eph. 2:14).   b. We enter fellowship with God through him (1 Jn. 1:3).

Indeed, Jesus did fulfill all that was foreshadowed by the sacrifices of the Old Testament.

3. Jesus fulfilled all that was typified by the tabernacle worship. The Old Testament worship in the Tabernacle was divinely revealed by God to foreshadow the true tabernacle of which it was a type (Heb. 8:2). The tabernacle was divided into two partitions: a holy place and a most holy place. (See chart below).

Most Ark Holy of Place Covenant

Lampstand   Altar of Holy Place Incense Table of Shewbread

Golden Laver

Burnt Offering Altar

The people could not enter into either place; they could only approach the altar of burnt offering. The priest entered the holy place every day to keep the altar of incense burning. Once a year, the high priest entered into the most holy place to make atonement for sin.

Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God. But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people. The Holy Ghost, this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while was the first tablernacle was yet standing: which was a figure of the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience;. . . . It was therefore necessary that the pattern of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us (Heb. 9:6-9,23-24).

Indeed, Christ fulfilled that which was typified by the tabernacle worship.

3. Christ fulfilled the Precepts of t;e Old Testament by his own perfect obedience. The Scriptures teach the sinlessness of Jesus (Heb. 4:15; 1 Pet. 2:20-22). He demonstrated in his life the righteousness which the law required.

Consequently, we can see that Jesus did not come to destroy the law at all. He came to fulfill it and, by so doing, he established the law as being from God (Rom. 3:31). Jesus was to the law what a marriage is to an engagement, a flower is to a bud, and a completed picture is to a silhouette. When an engagement ends in marriage, a bud produces a flower, and a silhouette is finished in a picture, the engagement, bud, and silhouette are not destroyed; they accomplish their intended purpose and are left behind that the completed form might exist. In a similar way, Christ “is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth” (Rom. 10:4).

The Fulfilled Law Was Abrogated

Once the law was fulfilled, it was replaced by the law of Christ. The Old Testament law given by Moses is “done away” (2 Cor. 3:11). Jesus “abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances” (Eph. 2:15). He “blotted out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross” (Col. 2:14), thus freeing us from the obligation to observe the Sabbath or other Old Testament holy days and to recognize the distinction between clean and unclean foods (Col. 2:17). In fulfillment of the prophecy of Jeremiah (31:31-34), Jesus took the old covenant out of the way that he might establish the new covenant (Heb. 8:8-13). Because the old covenant has been removed, we see these ‘ children? If we dress like and act like children we certainly things have changed:

1. Priesthood: from Levitical priesthood to the priesthood of Christ.

2. Sacrifice: from animal sacrifices to the body of Christ.

3. Day of worship: from the Sabbath day to the first day of the week.

4. Place of worship: from the Temple to any place.

5. Items of worship: from items of Temple worship to those of N.T. (Acts 2:42).

6. Ordinances: from O.T. ordinances to N.T. ordinances (Acts 2:42 – apostolic doctrine; Acts 15:23-29).

Because of this change of law, what was binding in the Old Testament is no longer binding upon Christians today. What is taught and practiced must be authorized by the New Testament. Those who seek authority for a separate priesthood, burning of candies and incense, choral groups, mechanical instruments of music, etc. from the Old Testament err from the Scriptures and are fallen from grace (Gal. 5:4).

Conclusion

Indeed, Jesus did fulfill the law. Having fulfilled it, he made justification possible for us, not through the blood of bulls and goats, but through his own blood. We stand before God in awe of his marvelous work of redemption, conceived in the mind of God, prefigured in the Old Testament, and accomplished in Jesus Christ. Glory to God in the highest!

Guardian of Truth XXXII: 20, pp. 610, 629-630
October 20, 1988

By Fred A. Shewmaker

Many members of the church seem to accept, without question, the claims often made that prohibition was unenforceable, spawned crime and was a failure. Gospel preachers, who have some knowledge of the d evidence, have labeled the propaganda against prohibition “The Big Lie.” However, there has been a hesitancy to press the point. This is mainly due to unavailability of a ready reference source. Why should a gospel preacher subject his credibility to questioning by pressing the point, when the statistical evidence is contained in documents which are not readily available to the public? After all, much of a preacher’s effectiveness depends upon a general acceptance of his credibility.

Possibly this lack of a readily available reference will soon be a thing of the past. In the August 15, 1988 Times Reporter, local newspaper for the Dover-New Philadelphia, Ohio area, there appeared an article entitled: “Researcher challenges Prohibition critics.” The article reports that “after more than 20 years of research on Prohibition, (John C.) Burnham is about to finish a book about the period’s effect on alcohol use.”

The article also reported that Burnham, an Ohio State University professor, “says there’s no truth to the claim that it was ineffective in curbing alcohol use.” Some of us have been saying the same thing for a long time. Hopefully, professor Burnham’s book will furnish us with live ammunition so that we can reload our guns and quit shooting blanks.

Guardian of Truth XXXII: 20, p. 618
October 20, 1988