Truth Magazine

By Aude McKee

Introduction:

1. Thus far in our studies we have gone into Germany and England.

A. Last week we traced the development of the Church of England.

1. Observed that it was produced more by political and social expediencies than by religious conviction.

2. We took note of the fact that the Episcopal Church is more closely allied to Roman Catholicism than any other Protestant body.

B. This week we turn our attention to Switzerland and Scotland.

II. In this study, we shall see varying degrees of respect for Bible authority being manifested.

Discussion:

I. The Work of Zwingli (1482-1531).

A. Born in German speaking Switzerland, village of Wildhaus.

1. Received a good education.

2. In 1506 appointed a parish priest at Glarus.

3. In 1518 appointed chief pastor in the Great Minister Church in Zurich.

B. By this time Zwingli had developed the idea that the Bible was sufficient for doctrinal guidance.

1. In January, 1519, he began a homiletical exposition of the New Testament in his sermons.

2. Preaching from the Scriptures was an unheard of innovation in his day.

3. Zwingli’s teaching was responsible for the Reformed Churches.

C. Difference in Luther and Zwingli.

1. Luther used the Bible as a corrective, retaining those rites and ceremonies of the Catholic Church which were not positively anti-scriptural.

2. Zwingli used the Bible as a code of laws, rejecting everything not expressly enjoined in Scripture. His teaching included:

a. Salvation by faith alone.

b. Denial of the sacrificial quality of the mass and saintly intercession.

c. Recognition of Christ as sole head of the church.

d. Right of the clergy to marry.

e. Abolishing images, relics and organs from places of worship.

f. The observance of the Lord’s Supper as a symbolic or memorial supper.

II. Work of John Calvin (1509-1564).

A. Early life.

1. Born in Nayon, France, 25 miles NE of Paris. His father was an attorney.

2. He first began the study of law but after two years, he changed to a study of religion.

3. He was a devout student of the Bible and was influenced by the writings of Luther.

4. He became a leader among Paris Protestants but because of opposition from the king, was forced to flee to Geneva, Switzerland.

B. Calvin soon rose to power in Geneva.

1. He became a virtual dictator.

2. He endeavored to build Geneva into an ideal city through a system of “Christian Government.”

3. A Theological Seminary was established in Geneva and from that institution young men went all over Europe preaching the doctrines of Calvin.

C. To people today, Calvin is best known for his “five tenets.”

1. Hereditary Total Depravity.

2. Predestination.

3. Limited Atonement.

4. Irresistibility of Grace.

5. Perseverance of the saints.

D. Calvin lives in history as a controversial figure.

1. A contemporary once spoke of him: “Some think on Calvin heaven’s own mantle fell, While others deemed him an instrument of hell.”

2. Today, about the same attitudes are held toward what is known as “Calvinism.” Some look on it as a blessing to man and some view it as one of the curses of religion.

E. Out of John Calvin’s work, the Presbyterian Church was established. A date is hard to give, but perhaps 1540 would be as good as any.

III. The Work of John Knox.

A. Much of his early life is obscure.

1. Born in Haddington, Scotland.

2. Ordained into the priesthood of the Roman Catholic Church.

3. Later embraced reformation principles and became one of the Royal Chaplains under Edward VI.

4. After “Bloody Mary” came to power, he fled to Germany and then to Geneva.

5. He became an ardent disciple of Calvin.

B. In 1559, Knox returned to Scotland.

1. He carried Calvin’s doctrines with him.

2. Established the Presbyterian Church in Scotland.

IV. Some Facts About the Presbyterian Church.

A. There are nine divisions of Presbyterians in the United States. There are three major bodies.

1. Largest is United Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A.

2. Presbyterian Church in the U.S. (Southern).

3. Cumberland Presbyterian Church.

B. Government.

1. The Presbyterian Church receives its name from its form of government. Each congregation has its own elders (presbuteros in Greek).

2. Authority, however, is in the Presbytery.

a. A certain number of churches belong to the Presbytery.

b. Each church has elders appointed to the board (Presbytery).

3. The highest judiciary of the church is the Annual General Assembly, made up of clerical and lay delegates elected by the Presbyteries.

C. Doctrines.

1. Predestination (Quote from Westminster Confession of Faith, pp. 25-26): “By the decree of God, for the manifestation of his glory, some men and angels are predestinated unto everlasting life, and others fore-ordained to everlasting death. These angels and men, thus predestinated and foreordained, are particularly and unchangeably designed; and their number is so certain and definite that it cannot be either increased or diminished.” (See Acts 10:34-35; Rom. 2:11; Rev. 22:17; Matt. 11:28-30; John 3:16-17.)

2. Only the “elect” are saved (Ibid., pp. 27-29). “Neither are any other redeemed by Christ, effectually called, justified, adopted, sanctified, and saved, but the elect only. ” (See I John 2:2; Heb. 2:9; Tit. 2:11-12.)

3. Hereditary Total Depravity (Ibid., pp. 41-43,72). “Our first parents, being seduced by the subtlety and temptation of Satan, sinned in eating the forbidden fruit. This their sin God was pleased, according to his wise and holy counsel, to permit, having purposed to order it to his glory. By this sin they fell from their original righteousness and communion with God, and so became dead in sin, and wholly defiled in all the faculties and parts of soul and body. They being the root of all mankind, the guilt of this sin was imputed, and the same death in sin and corrupted nature conveyed to all their posterity, descending from them by ordinary generation. From this original corruption, whereby we are utterly indisposed, disabled, and made opposite to all good, and wholly inclined to all evil, do proceed all actual transgressions.” (See Matt. 18:3; 19:14; Ezek. 18:20.) “Man, by his fall into a state of sin, hath wholly lost all ability of will to any spiritual good accompanying salvation; so as a natural man, being altogether averse from that good, and dead in sin, is not able, by his own strength, to convert himself, or to prepare himself thereunto.”

4. Direct operation of the Holy Spirit (Ibid., p. 45; 76). “Man, by his fall, having made himself incapable of life by that covenant, the Lord was pleased to make a second commonly called the covenant of grace; wherein he freely offered unto sinners life and salvation by Jesus Christ, requiring of them faith in him, that they may be saved, and promising to give unto all those that are ordained unto life, his Holy Spirit to make them willing and able to believe.” “This effectual call is of God’s free and special grace alone, not from anything at all foreseen in man, who is altogether passive therein, until, being quickened and renewed by the Holy Spirit, he is thereby enabled to answer this call, and to embrace the grace offered and conveyed in it.” (A study of the New Testament will reveal that not a single person converted was enabled, to obey by a direct operation of the Holy Spirit! The Spirit convicts and converts the sinner by means of the Word – Lk. 8:11; 1 Pet. 1:22-25; Jas. 1:21; Eph. 6:17. Note: that a person can resist the Spirit – Acts 7:51; 13:46; Lk. 8:11-15.)

5. Elect people can be saved without obedience (Ibid., p. 77). “Elect infants, dying in infancy, are regenerated and saved by Christ through the Spirit, who worketh when, and where, and how he pleaseth. So also are all other elect persons, who are incapable of being outwardly called by the ministry of the word. ” (See Heb. 5:8-9; Matt. 7:21-27; 1 Pet. 4:17; 2 Thess. 1:7-9.) It is interesting to further note that they believe that the non-elect cannot be saved even though they are called by the ministry of the word” (Ibid., p. 77). “Others, not elected, although they may be called by the ministry of the word, and may have some common operations of the Spirit, yet they never truly come to Christ, and therefore cannot be saved.”

6. Perseverence of the saints (Ibid., pp. 102-103). “They whom God hath accepted in his Beloved, effectually called and sanctified by his Spirit, can neither totally nor finally fall away from the state of grace: but shall certainly persevere therein to the end, and be eternally saved.” (See 2 Pet. 2:20-22; Gal. 5:4; Heb. 6:4-6.)

7. Refer to the Lord’s Day as the “Christian Sabbath” (Ibid., pp. 130-131). “God hath particularly appointed one day in seven for a Sabbath, to be kept holy unto him: which, from the beginning of the world to the resurrection of Christ, was the last day of the week; and from the resurrection of Christ, was changed into the first day of the week, which in Scripture is called the Lord’s Day, and is to be continued to the end of the world as the Christian Sabbath.”

a. First day of the week at no time in the N.T. is referred to as “the Christian Sabbath”!

b. No teaching anywhere that the Sabbath of the Old Testament was “changed into the first day of the week.”

c. The law that bound the Sabbath (Saturday) has been nailed to the cross (Col. 2:14-17).

d. Christians must worship on the first day of the week (I Cor. 16:1-2; Heb. 10:25; Acts 20:7).

8. Baptism (Ibid., pp. 157-159). “Dipping of the person into the water is not necessary; but baptism is rightly administered by pouring or sprinkling water upon the person. Not only those that do actually profess faith in and obedience unto Christ, but also the infants of one or both believing parents are to be baptized. Although it be a great sin to contemn or neglect this ordinance, yet grace and salvation are not so inseparably annexed unto it as that no person can be regenerated or saved without it, or that all that are baptized are undoubtedly regenerated.” (See Mark 16:15-16; Acts 2:38; Col. 2:12; Rom. 6:3-4.) Thus they affirm three false doctrines: (1) that there are three baptisms, immersion, pouring, and sprinkling (Eph. 4:4); (2) that infants can be baptized; (3) that baptism is not necessary to salvation.

Conclusion

1. Our study of church history ought to generate within us a greater appreciation for the church Jesus built.

2. These facts stand out in contrast with what we have seen develop:

a. Jesus built the church; bought it with his blood (Matt. 16:18; Acts 20:28).

b. Membership in the church of Christ is brought about by being saved (Acts 2:37-47).

c. The organization, worship, and work of the church are all simple, and simply set forth in the pattern – the New Testament.

d. Every member of the church is bound only by the Word of God (I Cor. 4:6; 1 Pet. 4:11). Thus, the creeds of men have no power over Christians!

3. Why don’t you obey Christ today?

Guardian of Truth XXXII: 20, pp. 616-618
October 20, 1988

By Mark Mayberry

We speak of a “short-tempered” person, but unfortunately the English language does not have a corresponding term to describe a “long-tempered” person. However, in the New Testament Greek, one who is patient is literally “long tempered.” Patience is essential to our full development as Christians. It is characteristic of one who is filled with the Spirit (Gal. 5:22). How are we to demonstrate this quality?

Toward People

First of all, it is an attitude expressed toward people. Paul said, “I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that you walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another with love; endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph. 4:1-3). We should be patient with others even though they may be unreasonable at times. We bear with them in their faults and shortcomings. Patience produces an attitude of self-restraint which does not quickly retaliate for wrongs that are suffered. “A man’s discretion makes him slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook a transgression” (Prov. 19:11). One whose temper is set on a hair-trigger destroys peace, but the patient man will smooth over problems. From time to time, problems will inevitably arise among brethren, but patience provides us with forbearance to endure such difficulties. It cements the bond of fellowship.

Toward Events

It is an attitude expressed toward events. “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptation; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing” (Jas. 1:24). Life inevitably has its difficulties and trials. Patience enables us to stand up under pressure, and remain steadfast regardless of fife’s circumstances. At times our situation may seem dark and hopeless, but patience doesn’t admit defeat or throw up its hands in despair. It doesn’t become discouraged or bitter. It helps us react properly to the challenges of life.

The writer of Hebrews said, “Let us run with patience the race that is set before us” (Heb. 12:1). Someone has called patience “the staying power of life.” It gives us the tenacity to see things through to the end. The wise man said, “Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit” (Eccl. 7:8). Christians must strive to develop this virtue in their lives.

Guardian of Truth XXXII: 20, p. 612
October 20, 1988

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