Truth Magazine

By Mike Willis

(Editor’s Note: The following article is an edited version of a reply to Leslie Diestelkamp which appeared in the October-December 1987 issues of Think. I have tried to remove most of the personal references in order to have a positive statement as much as possible, though some personal references could not be revised without significantly changing the content of the article. Perhaps this concise statement regarding the continuous cleansing discussion will be profitable to some of our readers.)

Several have asked questions or made comments regarding the continual cleansing discussion which has appeared at various times in this journal. Perhaps this statement of my understanding of these biblical truths might be helpful to others.

1. I am a sinner in need of the grace of God for salvation (Rom. 3:23; Eph. 2:8-9). Anyone who represents Mike Willis as teaching salvation by perfect obedience either does not understand “salvation by perfect obedience,” what I believe, or willfully misrepresents me.

2. I believe a Christian can have an assurance of salvation (2 Tim. 4:6-8; 1 Jn. 5:13). My assurance of salvation is based on the forgiveness granted to me by the blood of Christ and rests on the promises of God. My assurance of salvation as an alien sinner came upon my obedience to the gospel in baptism (Mk. 16:15-16) and my assurance of forgiveness as an erring child of God comes upon meeting the conditions of repentance and confession of my sins (Acts 8:22-24). I find no assurance of salvation available to me or any other man based on perfect works (Rom. 3:23). I find no assurance of salvation to be found in the nature of the sins committed or the attitude of the sinner. I know of no passage which promises assurance to anyone who continues to practice his sin. That is the issue!

3. I do not believe that one must specify his every sin in order to be forgiven. The prodigal son made a general confession which God accepted (Lk. 15:18; cf. 18:13). The son could not be forgiven, however, until he quit his sinning.

4. I do not believe that sincerity substitutes for obedience. We have been told that sins of weakness, ignorance, and inadvertence do not separate a person from God. This stands opposed to these Scriptures: Rom. 10: 1-3; Acts 17:30; 1 Sam. 15:22; Prov. 14:12. The fact that a man is good, honest and sincere does not forgive him while he continues to practice his sins anymore than the fact that an alien sinner is good, honest and sincere saves him before and without him obeying the gospel (Mk. 16:15-16).

5. I have no divine authority to promise a man forgiveness so long as he continues in the practice of his sin. Good, honest and sincere Apollos (Acts 18:24-26) had to be taught the way of God more perfectly and change his practice to be acceptable before God. Some have written considerably regarding God’s mercy to one sinning in ignorance. I would like to see the passage which promises forgiveness to the man sinning in ignorance who has not quit the practice of his sin. Do Christian Church people stand justified, while continuing to worship with instrumental music, simply because they pray, “I have sinned”? I do not believe they do. They must quit practicing their sin in order to stand forgiven. Brother Marshall Patton was right when he assessed the continual cleansing doctrine in his debate with brother Diestelkamp: “The consequences of his position demand acceptance and fellowship with every sincere brother in error, including premillennialists, those of the Christian Church, our liberal brethren, et al. These pray the same prayer and just as often that brother Diestelkamp prays with respect to unknown sins” (GOT, 29:13, p. 17).

Grace-unity apostates have found comfort from brother Diestelkamp’s writings and have cited his articles and used his name in defence of their positions (Mark Nitz, Edward Fudge, Arnold Hardin, Bruce Edwards and others). They drew the same conclusion from brother Diestelkamp’s material as brother Patton and I have drawn. Surely brother Diestelkamp will not lightly dismiss the impression so many on both sides of the grace-unity issue have drawn from his writings. Brethren Nitz, Fudge, Hardin, and Edwards have simply applied to the institutional, sponsoring church, instrumental music, and church sponsored recreation controversies the conclusion taught by brother Diestelkamp namely, that a Christian’s continuous sins of ignorance, inadvertence, and weakness do not separate him from God. We do not believe he intends to encourage these apostates in their error and we plead with him to abandon the arguments which have given them so much comfort.

6. I teach salvation by the grace of God. The grace of God is extended to alien sinners on the conditions of faith, repentance, confession and baptism (Mk. 16:15-16; Acts 2:38; etc.). The grace of God is extended to erring Christians on the conditions of repentance and confession (Acts 8:22; 1 Jn. 1:9). Those who teach that an alien sinner is justified by “faith only” say that I am denying the grace of God when I preach the Bible conditions of salvation for the alien sinner; continual cleansing advocates say that I am denying the grace of God when I preach the divine conditions for salvation for the erring Christian. In both cases they are wrong. I am preaching the grace of God when I preach the conditions for salvation!

7. I do not believe that one becomes an “apostate” (the man of Heb. 6.4-6) upon the commission of one sin. Upon the commission of a sin, a man becomes guilty before God (Gal. 2:11-14; Acts 8:22-24). Unless he repents of this sin, he will be eternally lost. I do not specify what kind of confession he must make – detailed or general. However, he is not the man of Hebrews 6:4-6 who has rebelliously defied God.

8. I do not believe there are any venial sins. By “venial” sins, I refer to sins which one can commit without coming into condemnation. If there are categories of sin – one -category which brings one into damnation and another which does not – continual cleansing advocates should be so kind as to list which sins bring which results. I believe all sin damns (Gal. 5:19-21), unless forgiven by the blood of Christ. Any sin which does not damn is not under discussion in 1 John 1:6-2:2.

The teaching of continual cleansing advocates has come under question because they have taught that some sins do not bring one into condemnation. For example, brother Diestelkamp cited the Bible case of Abraham’s lying as an example of a sin which was committed without separating one from God (GOT, 29:12, p. 17). In a personal letter he cited an example of a man involved in gambling for many months as one not separated from God by his sin. We ask what was the essential difference in their sins which did not damn and Peter’s sin (Gal. 2:11-14) and Ananias’ sin (Acts 5:1-11) which did damn? My good brother has overstepped the bounds of revelation when he promises men forgiveness before and without the cessation of the practice of the sin.

In conclusion, I want to re-emphasize that nothing that I have written in this article or in the past should be so interpreted as to mean that I believe that a man must specify every sin he has ever committed in order to stand justified before God. The key to this discussion is: no passage promises forgiveness for sins which a person habitually and continuously practices before and without ceasing the practice of the sin.

Guardian of Truth XXXII: 6, pp. 162, 182-183
March 17, 1988

By Tom M. Roberts

Introduction: The Sadducees plot to present Jesus with “the unanswerable question.” He uses this as an occasion to show that God is, indeed, the God of the living. This provides great comfort to Christians and great incentive to those who are not Christians to obey the gospel. Not only is our God alive; we have eternal life in Christ. (Note: Text promotes understanding that the Bible teaches by Divine implication or, as some state it, necessary inference.)

I. God is the God of the living, as evidenced by Creation.

A. Physical life stems from God.

B. Evolution is wrong on the origin of life.

C. Even the universe is personified – Ps. 19:1; 148:1ff.

D. Life reflects a living God, not inorganic matter.

E. Life sprang into existence “in the beginning” (Gen. 1:1), not after eons of non-life, through inorganic chemistry.

II. God is the God of the living, as evidenced by spiritual life.

A. There is more to man than physical life (Gen. 2:7).

B. The “whole of man” is connected to his relation ship to God (Eccl. 12:13).

C. Man is a spiritual being in a physical body. The body may decay but that which is the “persona” of man continues.

D. The eternity of man’s existence is an awesome reality.

1. Death is not a cessation of existence.

2. Death is a separation of the body and spirit (Jas. 2:26). Note: It is the body that dies, not the spirit.

E. “You” will exist eternally, either in heaven or hell.

F. Sin and death, though constant in our history, is not the purpose of our existence. God created man to live. Sin and death are aberrant behavior, a defiling of our likeness to God.

III. God is the God of the living, as evidenced by eternal life.

A. Jesus came to restore that which we lost through sin: life (John 10:10). Note: usual error on this passage.

B. This life is reflective of his being (John 1:4).

C. This life is conditional, based upon faith (John 3:36, 3:16).

D. This life speaks of both quality and eternity (1 Jn. 5:10-13).

E. It is life snatched from death: a rebirth (Jn. 3:1ff).

1 . The wages of sin is death (Rom. 6.23, 3:23).

2. Death requires blood for atonement (Lev. 17.10-11).

3. God provided the sacrifice (Gen. 22:9-14; Rom. 3.21-26).

4. Life is in Christ (John 20:30,31).

Conclusion: The wonderful continuity of faith: we serve the same God as did Abraham. We have the same life. We will live in the same city (Heb. 11:13-16). Are you living in Christ (Heb. 10:31)?

Guardian of Truth XXXII: 5, p. 146
March 3, 1988

By Forrest D. Moyer

We sometimes speak of life amid the shadows. We refer to such things as sorrow and adversity, calamity and misfortune as shadows. Yet, we need to remember that the same God who made the sunshine also made the shadows. Yea, it is the brilliancy of the sunshine that produces the contrast of the shadows. Is there a value in shadows? Yes, verily, for who could appreciate the beauty of the sunrise were it not for the shadows of the night? To awake on a foggy morning with only the shadows of the misty clouds about us causes us to yearn for the crisp dawn with sun reflecting upon the western hills. Yes, shadows have their purpose.

And it is so with the shadows of pain, sorrow and adversity. The one who comes out of such shadows as these appreciates the light so much more than the one who has known only peace and prosperity. The pain of sorrow only intensifies the joy of contentment. The bitter cup of anguish makes the taste of comfort that much sweeter. We must learn to use the shadows to come to appreciate the sunshine.

When adversity comes, the end result of it will be determined by how we accept it and how we use it. We can lie down and wallow in the shadows of self-pity or we can move toward the sunshine. The choice is really ours. For as surely as there is a night, there also follows a sunrise. We can walk toward that sunrise and away from the night. Sunset may be coming, but the sunrise we’ll see!

Guardian of Truth XXXII: 5, p. 149
March 3, 1988

By Steve Wallace

It has been long contested whether or not a Christian can participate in carnal warfare in the service of his government. I could no doubt create controversy with some by stating my views on the subject here; however, such is not my purpose in writing. The facts are that many Christians are in the armed forces as well. Some have made it a point to assure themselves of non-combatant positions, while others would be found on the front lines in the event of a war. One can meet all kinds.

Are there other questions confronting a Christian who is either in the military or thinking about a career therein besides the “War Question”? Is the question of carnal warfare the only one to be answered relevant to service in the armed forces? In our discussion of this particular issue I fear that other issues, issues just as important, may have been passed by or overlooked. They are issues which go beyond the “War Question.”

1. Being apart of a New Testament church (Heb. 10:25; 1 Cor. 12:12-27). While many are fortunate enough to land jobs which seldom cause any disruption in their working and worshiping with a local church, there are perhaps just as many with whom it is quite the opposite. It starts in basic training where the recruit often is not allowed off post for the first few weeks – and there is seldom a church on post.

After basic training a person is sent wherever the military decides and this can often mean duty overseas. While there are liberal churches in many places overseas, the same cannot be said for sound churches. Most of the Christians in the military whom I have met have been assigned to a place where no sound church exists; they simply “attend” with the liberals during their time in that place. While good has occasionally come from a situation like this as a result of the brethren taking a stand for the truth, this usually is not the case. One cannot fulfill the commandment of Hebrews 10:25 by attending or otherwise being a part of a church involved in unscriptural practices.

If one is transferred into an area where there is a sound church or if that person is a real go-getter and gets a church started, this is not the end of the problem we’re discussing! The military often involves its personnel in temporary duties that can send an individual almost anywhere for varying lengths of time. Item: One brother can make it to services only 4 to 6 times a year because his work constantly takes him places where he can’t attend. Item: Another Christian is out up to six months a year for the same reason! More common is a 2 to 4 week exercise during which the Christian’s name is always in the announcements at services as being “in the field” or “TDY” (Temporary Duty).

Thinking about a career in the military? After considering the “War Question,” I hope that you’ll consider Hebrews 10:25 and other verses which relate to a Christian’s responsibility to the local church as well.

2. An Ungodly Atmosphere. I speak now especially in reference to single males about service in the Army (i.e., this particular branch of the military). Having worked in a factory for a number of years, I know that ungodliness is not unique to any one segment of our society. However, having visited Army barracks where the single enlisted men must live, I have to say that it would be hard to imagine a more ungodly atmosphere. From the filthy pictures on the walls to the sponsored drinking parties, the Christian is virtually immersed in ungodliness. I have known only two Christians who have survived living in the Army barracks spiritually. All the rest have fallen away. But don’t just take my word about the filth these brethren are subjected to: read the following article taken from a December 1987 issue of Stars & Stripes, the military’s magazine entitled: “GI Talks About Vulgar Language in the Military.”

I am an American serviceman. I would like to address the civilian reader who is irritated by vulgar language.

Before I joined the military I almost never used vulgar language. When I went to basic training, everybody was called every bad name you could think of.

The people who trained us used vulgar language every time they opened their mouths. Now I speak it all the time.

I have heard nothing but vulgar language since I’ve been in the military. I asked my father about that, “There has been vulgar language ever since I can remember.”

My father has been in the military over 20 years.

All I can say is ignore it. We will always speak vulgar language. The military can do something about it, but will not be able to enforce it.

You can try joining to understand our point of view.

Do you believe that it is your duty to “deny ungodliness and worldly lust” as a soldier in the Lord’s army (Tit. 2:11-12)? It will be a lot easier if you don’t join the U.S. Army!

I cannot close this article without saying something about the many fine brethren I’ve men in our country’s armed forces. There are many brethren whom I have learned to love deeply: brethren who have stood for the truth, who have resisted the ungodliness they have been confronted with, brethren who have established churches when they found none in their area, and brethren who have worked to build up churches. It is the danger that military life poses to the Christian that warrant the warning given herein.

Guardian of Truth XXXII: 6, p. 165
March 17, 1988