Truth Magazine

By Wayne S. Walker

We live in a day and age where our faith is being bombarded from every side. We see atheism (or at least secular humanism) being taught in our public schools, liberal theology in the denominations, and even modernism in the church. It is necessary that we continue to study those facts and principles that will help us to strengthen our faith in God and his word. The world is unable to provide any answers to mankind’s most important questions. Who am I? Where did I come from? Why am I here? Where am I going? These are things that people are asking themselves. The only source to which we can go for satisfactory answers to these questions is our Creator and his inspired revelation.

Take, for example, Genesis 1:1-3. “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. Then God said, ‘Let there be light’; and there was light.” The first verse of the Bible is as easy to understand as, “In the evening, John watered the garden and the lawn.” It is simple, but what power is found in it. “In the beginning God. . . ” introduces us to the greatest force man can know.

I. Notice the text itself. This record contains the five necessary facts for science to operate: time – “in the beginning”; force – “God”; action – “created”; space – “the heavens”; and matter – “the earth.” The Bible cannot be used either to prove or disprove science. Neither does science necessarily prove or disprove the Bible. True science is merely a body of facts about the physical universe, and the Bible is not designed as a treatise on science, for is it subject to scientific observation, although it is scientifically accurate. It is primarily a book of history and contains a record, revealed by God, for anyone who will read, examine, and accept it.

The observations of the Bible are historical in nature rather than scientific, since they are not open to subsequent experimentation as-is true of all history. They are stated as facts of history. Our only choice to make is whether or not we believe they happened. No man was present at creation; God’s word is the only record we have. It is certainly within. reason, not like the fantastic creation myths of ancient heathen cultures, and there is no evidence to prove otherwise. All that so-called scientists have come up with, using entirely natural means, are several conflicting theories, none of which have any supportable proof. Therefore, “By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible” (Heb. 11:3).

II. Who is this “God” who is said to have created the heavens and the earth? The term translated “God” in our text is Elohim the plural form of Eloah, whose root is El. This family of words forms the general Hebrew term for God or deity. The derivation in Hebrew is not absolutely known, but many scholars believe that it is derived from a term which means “to be strong.” Robert B. Girdlestone in Synonyms of the Old Testament wrote, “This name properly represented One only Being, who revealed Himself to man as Creator, Ruler, and Lord. It was His own peculiar title, and ought to have been confined to Him. Accordingly we read, ‘in the beginning God (Elohim in the plural) created (in the, singular) the heavens and the earth.”‘

The most common form is Elohim, the plural noun. Sometimes the plural is used to designate unlimited greatness. In the Old Testament, the plural form is also used because God exists in three persons – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This is consistent with the use of plural pronouns. “Then God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness… (Gen. 1:26). Herbert C. Leupold in Exposition of Genesis wrote, “The hortative ‘Let us make’ . . . is particularly striking because it is plural. Though almost all commentators of our day reject the view that this is to be explained in connection with the truth of the Holy Trinity and treat this so-called trinitarian view as a very negligible quantity, yet rightly considered, this is the only view that can satisfy. . . . Those that hold that a reference to the Trinity is involved do not mean to say that the truth of the Holy Trinity is here fully and plainly revealed. But they do hold that God speaks out of the fulness of His powers and His attributes in a fashion which man could never employ. Behind such speaking lies the truth of the Holy Trinity which, as it grows increasingly clear in revelation, is in the light of later clear revelation discovered as a kind of obscure adumbration. The truth of the Trinity explains this passage.”

Another name for God, found 6,823 times in the Old Testament, is Jehovah. The English form Jehovah comes from the Hebrew tetragrammaton YHVH. Some prefer Yahweh, but no one knows the correct pronunciation. It is thought to be derived from a verb meaning “to be” and is sometimes translated as “the Eternal One.” This name distinctly expresses the personality of God and points to him as the one who was, is, and always will be. The origin of this name is generally related to God’s appearance to Moses at the burning bush in Exodus 3:14-16. The phrase, “I AM THAT I AM,” contains the verb form of the name Jehovah. Later God said, “I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty, but by My name LORD I was not known to them” (Exod. 6:3). The American Standard Version uniformly uses Jehovah in the Old Testament, but with a few exceptions, the King James Version uses “LORD.”

III. This God whose name is Jehovah is affirmed to be the Creator. He created the universe. “For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them. . . . ” (Exod. 20:22). He created the earth and all life upon it, because it is said, “The earth is the LORD’s and all its fulness, The world and those who dwell therein. For He has founded it upon the seas, And established it upon the waters” (Psa. 24:1-2). Furthermore, he created man. “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being” (Gen. 2:7). God also sustains the life of man upon the earth. The apostle Paul said of God, “For in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring'” (Acts 17:28).

The creation of God was “fiat” creation. “Fiat” is a Latin word that literally means, “Let it be done,” and is defined as “an order issued by legal authority; decree.” God created by his word. He said, “Let there be light” and there was light! I might walk into a room, say, “Let there be light,” and turn on a light switch – and there will be light. But if I walk into a deep dark cave where never man has been and say, “Let there be light,” there will be no light! God’s creation “ex nihilo,” which means that is was out of nothing. “By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, And all the host of them by the breath of His mouth” (Psa. 33:6). Man can take material already in existence and make something else from it. But only God can create where nothing beforehand.

IV. How is this Creator God revealed unto us? One way is by means of the heavens which he made. “The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork” (Psa. 19:1 ff). Every effect must have an adequate cause. Design demands a designer. The heavens above bear the imprint of their First Cause, their Grand Designer. It is through contemplating the existence of the universe that we conclude that there must be a God and that his is powerful enough to make all that we know. “Ever since the creation of the world his invisible nature, namely, his eternal power and deity, has been clearly perceived in the things that have been made. So that they are without excuse” (Rom. 1:20, RSV).

However, the natural creation does not reveal unto us the will of our Creator. For this, God must give us a special revelation. Today, God makes his will known to us through his Son. “God, who at various times and in different way spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son” (Heb. 1:1-2). The Son sent the Holy Spirit to inspire his apostles and prophets to record his will for us in written form (Eph. 3:3-5). The product of their efforts, the Holy Scriptures, contains the will of God for all mankind today. “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Tim. 3:16-17).

V. Those who live upon this earth created by God must have faith in him. “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Heb. 11:6). Again, the source of this faith must be the written revelation of God, his word. “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Rom. 10:17). And this faith must be more than a mere intellectual assent to God’s existence. It must be an active trust. “You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only” (Jas. 2:24).

Conclusion

God is the Creator. We are his creation. It is our responsibility to seek after him and believe in him. As we consider the universe around us, the earth upon which we live, and the God who made them, we are moved to say, “Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee, How Great Thou Art!” Do you know the God who is revealed in the Bible? “And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent” (Jn. 17:3). Have you obeyed his word? Are you his spiritual child? The Bible tells us how to become one. We encourage you to read it, study it, and follow it. It is the only means by which you can have a right relationship with the God who made you.

Guaridna of Truth XXXII: 1, pp. 8-9
January 7, 1988

By Doug Seaton

This article is being written for the purpose of waking some of us out of sleep and reminding us of God’s purpose for us in the world. The most valuable possessions in the world are souls. Jesus said, “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matt. 16:26) Once we recognize the value of our souls and the value of the souls of others, we will want to do all we can to save souls.

Winning souls is thrilling, adds true meaning to life, and starts a fire burning Satan can’t extinguish. The reason many churches are dying is many Christians forgot how to win souls to Christ. Many have not experienced the joy found in winning souls. If you are interested in the most effective method of soul-winning in the world please read carefully and apply the things you read from God’s word.

Leading souls to Jesus Christ is simple. It takes love for God, love for the souls of others, and love for our own soul. This love will cause us to examine the Scriptures and find the secrets of soul-winning. Notice how Andrew led a soul to Christ. “Again the next day after John stood and two of his disciples,- and looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God! And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. . . One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first findeth his own brother Shnon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is being interpreted, the Christ. And he brought him to Jesus” (John 1:35-42). Andrew led his brother to Christ by his enthusiasm in finding Christ, his joy in discipleship, his determination to find his brother, and his urgency in bringing him to Jesus.

Enthusiastic converts to Christ are the best soul-winners in all of the world. This enthusiasm can’t be taught in “how to” seminars. This enthusiasm comes from putting on Christ, being born again, or in other words from being saved. The convert truly being born again and knowing Christ is his Savior can’t help but be excited.

This enthusiasm causes one to be a joyful disciple. It’s refreshing to see new converts joyfully give up a life of sin and ask, “What else does Christ want me to do?” A disciple is a follower or one learning. Disciples want to work and the best time to begin working for Christ is immediately upon one’s conversion. There are plenty of people to teach the contacts and friends of new converts so send them out and let them do all they can and, if needed, let others help in the teaching. If you are not a new convert just think about your own conversion to Christ as you work to tell others about salvation in Jesus Christ. Remember we are not “selling” the local church, we are “selling” Christ. People coming to Christ will of course see the need to be faithful, active members of his body, the church. They will want to work and worship with others of like precious faith. When folks are converted to Christ, churches in local communities will flourish.

Andrew didn’t wait for his brother to ask about Christ; he went out to find him. Too many are waiting in their offices for sinners to come and find them. Too many churches put an ad in the paper and look for the building to be full. We aren’t selling cars; people generally will not come to us, we must go to them. The personal touch works. You can’t see another’s joy and enthusiasm in mass media advertising. “And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!” (Rom. 10:15) Too many Christians expect the preacher to find the lost and too many preachers have limited their teaching to the walls of a building. The Gospel message is a message to be taken to the world (Matt. 28:18-20; Mk. 16:15-16). A lot of men would do well to put down the denominational commentaries and take up the sword of the spirit which is the word of God, and seek some sinners.

As Andrew found his brother, he compelled him to come to Jesus. Notice he “brought him to Jesus.” Peter saw the urgency in Andrew’s face and heard the urgency in his voice. We know this because the text shows us that Peter did come to Christ. As we seek that which is lost we need to remember the words of Paul, “Redeeming the time, because the days are evil” (Eph. 5:16). Notice also the admonition of Paul in 2 Corinthians 6:2. “For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succored thee: behold, now is the accepted time,- behold now is the day of salvation. ” All need to get busy now teaching others about Jesus Christ.

Like Andrew we will rejoice and those coming to Christ will rejoice as we lead others to Jesus Christ. Are you presently doing your best in leading others to Christ? Have you joyfully told your friends, family members, and fellow workers, what Christ means to you? Have you studied God’s word with them? Remember the power is in the gospel and the daily lives of Christians is often what causes lost souls to look at the Bible which can save their souls (Rom. 1:16; Matt. 5:13-16). Start today to lead a soul to Christ!

Guardian of Truth XXXII: 1, pp. 3-4
January 7, 1988

By Johnie Edwards

Folks have all kind of ideas as to how faith is produced in their hearts. Some believe that they have to pray for faith and then God gives them faith as a result of prayer. The Bible does not teach this! One fellow was heard to say as he played golf, “God I will believe if I hit a hole-in-one.” He did and then he believed! Some base their faith on feelings or some kind of experience they have in life and the list goes on. Did you ever study the Bible to see how faith comes? Let’s take a look.

(1) Faith comes by hearing the word of God. Paul told the Romans, “So them faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Rom. 10:17). On the day of Pentecost the gospel of Jesus Christ was preached and the Scriptures say, “Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?” (Acts 2:37) These people were motivated by what they heard!

(2) The jailor at Philippi had to hear. The jailor asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house” (Acts 16:30-31). Now take your Bible and please read Acts 16:32. “And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.” Ever wonder why they spoke the word of God to these folks? So they could believe, that is why! After hearing the word of God they obeyed it (Acts 16:3334).

(3) The reason for miracles and signs. Do you really know why our Lord and the apostles performed signs and miracles? It was to convince the hearer that the people were speaking the message of God. “And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name” (Jn. 20:30-31). As we read of these signs and miracles the Lord performed, it produces faith in our lives. But we must read and study the Bible in order to believe. Paul said, “Whereby, when read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ” (Eph. 3:4).

Guardian of Truth XXXII: 1, p. 4
January 7, 1988

By Garreth L. Clair

In Matthew 16:13-19 we may read of the promise of Jesus to his disciples to build his church. There is no question, after reading these passages, that it was the intention of Jesus to build a church. The greatest problem to mankind today is to determine if he really did and, if he did, which one is it? One of the reasons many religious people today do not understand the church or what it is, is actually a failure to rightly divide/apply Scripture (2 Tim. 2:15). There are many people today who sing, talk, pray, and discuss the church, but they do not really understand it. Perhaps one way to determine what the church of Christ really is is to determine what it is not. In order to do that, we will, of necessity, have to compare the teaching of some to what the Bible says about the subject. Notice the following points:

1. The church of Christ is not a material building constructed of perishable materials such as brick, wood, etc. (Acts 7:48; 17:24). Fear may come upon the church (Acts 5:11); from this fact it is clear that the people are under consideration. The church has ears to hear (Acts 11: 22). Again, people are under consideration not a building. From these facts, we are forced to the conclusion that the church of Christ is not a building of anything material but is composed of people.

2. The church revealed in the Bible is not a continuation of the Jewish tabernacle, temple, or synagogue. It is not enough to simply dismiss these institutions with a movement of the hand, we must explain their existence and their purpose as well as their demise. Indeed, the Bible points out that in entering Judaism one simply was born into it, but into the Christian era (i.e, into the church of Christ) one must be born again (John 3:3-5). These facts help us to understand the three terms.

A. The tabernacle was a place of worship first used by the Israelites after they came out of Egyptian bondage. The tabernacle was to fill the needs of the Israelites and their worship until the permanent temple was erected (see a good concordance and search under tabernacle for further information).

B. The temple finally erected in Jerusalem by Solomon, David’s son, was a permanent place of worship for the Israelites who were to worship according to the dictates received from God on Mount Sinai (I Chron. 6: 10; etc.). The temple was, finally destroyed completely by Titus as was prophesied by Jesus in Matthew 24 (see also Harpers Bible Dictionary, p. 735, seventh edition). As one may observe from the comments in Harpers, the Jewish worship came to an end at its destruction; therefore there was no continuation of the temple and the items in the temple that made the Jewish worship acceptable to God.

C. The Jewish synagogue has existed since the Babylonian exile in the sixth century B.C. (The Dictionary of Religious Terms by Donald Kauffman, pp. 405 column 2, 1967 Fleming H. Revell, Publishers).

All of these institutions were specifically utilized for Jewish worship which came into existence on Mount Sinai according to the book of Exodus. Since the law of Moses has been blotted out and nailed to the cross of Christ (Col. 2:14), it follows that the institutions utilized under that law are no longer useful to the man who would please God.

3. The church is not a purely social organization to be used for the betterment of society, or for social change, not even for social activities among its members. Although many good social actions follow the deeds of dedicated Christians who may make up the local ekkiesia in a given community, their primary function is spiritual. The social benefits are simply by-products of a spirit of Christ possessed by the membership. When the building where the church meets in a given community is misused for social functions, the nature of the church in its function and ownership is misunderstood.

4. The church is not a political organization any more than it is a social organization. Those who make up the local assembly in a given locality are encouraged to be good citizens in their community and in their country, but the purpose for the church’s existence is not to change the political status of a nation or of the world as such, but to change the life of the individuals who inhabit this globe (Matt. 28:18-20). From this, we know that the church is not a political institution at all.

5. The church is not a denomination as may be observed from the following facts:

A. Protestant denominationalism came into existence as a result of dissatisfaction with the existing Roman Catholic Church. Protestant denominationalism had its beginning with the rebellion of Martin Luther in Germany about 1520.

B. All Protestant denominations have come into existence since Martin Luther’s efforts at reformation began. Please notice the following origins and originators of certain denominations;

(1) Of course the Roman Catholic Church is the first false religious organization having come into existence about 606 A.D., Boniface III becoming the first “universal bishop.”

(2) In 1520, Martin Luther founded the Lutheran Church.

(3) In about 1534 Henry VIII founded the Church of England which became in America the Episcopalian Church.

(4) In 1536 John Calvin founded the Presbyterian Church.

(5) In 1550 Robert Browne founded the Congregational Church.

(6) In 1607 John Smythe founded the Baptist Church.

(7) In 1739 John Wesley founded the Methodist Church.

(8) About 1830 Joseph Smith founded the Mormon Church.

(9) About 1830 William Miller founded the Adventists.

(10) About 1866 Mary Baker Eddy founded Christian Science.

(11) About 1872 Charles T. Russell founded the Jehovah’s Witnesses.

(12) About 1907 a merger of several smaller groups formed the Nazarene Church.

We could go on and on with this list until we would have named literally hundreds of different religious bodies, yet not one of them is the church you may read about in the Bible. Why? Because the church of Christ is not a denomination; it was not founded by man and is the only church found in the Bible.

After establishing some facts relative to what the church is not, let us examine the Bible to determine what the Church is.

1. The church is a spiritual institution composed of saved people (Acts 2:37-47; 1 Cor. 10:17; Eph. 1:10; 4:4-5; Col. 3:11).

2. The church of Christ is an assembly (from the Greek words from which our English word church comes). The original word ekklesia (English dress), translated church occurs 23 times in Acts, 62 times in Paul’s letters, 2 times in Hebrews, once in James, 3 times in the third epistle of John, and 20 times in the book of Revelation. Jesus did not invent this word (ekklesia). He found the word in common use, as John the immerser proselyted and employed what was at hand.

Among the Greeks, ekklesia was the assembly of the citizens of a free city-state gathered by a herald blowing a horn through the streets. In this sense, the word is used one time in the New Testament (Acts 19:39). The town clerk advised Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen to submit their case to the Greek ekklesia.

Among the Jews, ekkiesia was the congregation of Israel assembled before the tabernacle in the wilderness by the blowing of a silver trumpet. In this sense the word is used 2 times in the New Testament (Acts 7:38; Heb. 2:12). Stephen, rehearsing the history of Israel, says, Christ was in the ekklesia in the wilderness. The Hebrew scribe quotes a prophetic Psalm of David where the sense is “congregation” (Psa. 22:20). Israel in the land of Canaan is never called an ekklesia, not even in the Septuagint.

Both with the Greeks And the Jews the word ecclesia denoted an assembly of the people, not a committee or a council and it never refers to a structure made with hands.

The word as it refers to Christians means either, a “local assembly” or the “universal church” (i.e. the body of Christ, the catholic church, etc.). As we look to the teaching of the Bible in this regard we may see how the words are used and translated in their contexts. Notice the following:

A. In the following passages the word is used to describe a local assembly (i.e. congregation): Acts 5:11; 8:1,3; 9:31; 15:22; 20:28; Rom. 16:1; 1 Cor. 1:2; 4:17, etc.

B. In the following passages reference is generally applied to the universal church: Matt. 16:18; Eph. 1:22; 3:10,21; 5:23,24,25,27,29; Col. 1: 18,24; 1 Tim. 3:15, etc.

Since this is the only way the Greek term ecclesia is used, it behooves us to avoid misusing the term to apply it to buildings, schools, homes, etc. The church of Christ is a building not made with hands, a building composed of saved people. When we fail to appreciate these features of the church we simply are failing to appreciate the relationship which we sustain to Christ who has purchased it with his own blood (Acts 20:28).

3. In the third place the church of Christ is an institution that Christ, its founder, adds the saved to (Acts 2:47). That being true, only the truly saved belong to it. In its local sense anyone may palm themselves off as a member, but in the universal sense only the saved belong to it. This difference is understood when we have properly understood the differences between the church in its local sense and the church in its universal sense.

Guardian of Truth XXXII: 1, pp. 10-11
January 7, 1988