Truth Magazine

By Raymond E. Harris

An instance of reconciliation always brings joy to the heart of the godly. The terms “reconcile,” “reconciled,” seed of “reconciliation” and “reconciling” are found a total of 13 times in the New Testament. The passages speak of four areas of reconciliation.

Brother To Brother

In Matthew 5:24, Jesus explained that it was futile to attempt to worship God if we were at enmity with a brother, Hence, he stresses the importance of being reconciled immediately. If there arises dissension between two brethren, both have a responsibility, and should desire, to achieve reconciliation at the earliest moment. In the passage mentioned above Jesus is simply saying, they must “make up.” There had been mutual hostility. Now there must be concession on the part of each, that they might be reconciled and at peace again.

It should be noted that this is the only passage in the New Testament using a term denoting mutual hostility and mutual concession. In every other passage dealing with reconciliation, a term is used denoting one-sided hostility, demanding one-sided change. In other words, in such a dispute the innocent party has nothing to repent of and need not make concessions. Only the guilty has to adjust his course of action!

Wife To Husband

In 1 Corinthians 7:11, Paul explains that a woman who departs from her husband (when he has not committed adultery) has but two choices. She must remain unmarried or “be reconciled” to her husband. The word “reconciled” in that passage is used as a verb denoting action. The very nature of the term here indicates that the woman having departed, must make the concession or adjustment and come back.

Jew And Gentile

In Ephesians 2, Paul explains that by abolishing the law of Moses, the wall between the Jews and the Gentiles had been broken down. Hence, for the first time in 1,500 years, there could be a reconciliation between the seed of Abraham and other people. In Ephesians 2:16, we learn that this reconciliation was made possible by the cross of Christ. As Jews and Gentiles obeyed the gospel and were baptized into Christ, they adjusted their lives, came into fellowship with God and so in the one body, the church, they had fellowship one with another.

Man To God

Even though we are pleased to see brethren, marriage partners and nations reconciled, it is infinitely more important to see people reconciled to God. The person who has never been a Christian, and unfaithful church members, need to be reconciled to God. Until our sins are removed, we are separated from God. In Isaiah 59:2, the prophet explains, “Your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.” We remind you that God has never sinned against man. God has never separated himself and left man. No, God is not at fault. The problem is always with man. Man sins, he departs, he alienates himself from his Creator, the loving heavenly Father. It is not up to God to make concessions to bring about a reconciliation.

However, the Bible makes it plain that our heavenly Parent so desired a reconciliation that he went to great lengths to work out a system whereby peace could be restored and there could be an honorable reconciliation. In 2 Corinthians 5:18-20, the apostle Paul wrote, “And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us (Christians R.E.H.) to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given us the ministry of reconciliation; to wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the Word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.” Yes, dear friend, God so wants you to be reconciled! He allowed Jesus to die in your stead. He has given mankind the gospel and the church. God has done his part – won’t you do yours?

If you have never been a Christian, believe in God and Jesus (Heb. 11:6), repent or turn from your sins (Acts 17:30), confess that Jesus is the Son of God (Matt. 10:32), and be baptized for the remission of your sins (Acts 2:38). These are God’s terms of reconciliation for you. God loves you! He calls you in this way! Won’t you come?

If you are a child of God, but have become unfaithful, and drifted back into the world, God also wants you to be reconciled. How is this effected? You must consider the goodness of God, be sorry for past sins, and truly repent of them (Acts 8;22). You must confess your sins to God and to your brethren, and pray earnestly for God’s forgiveness (Jas. 5:16; 1 Jn. 1:9).

Brethren and friends, life is short and judgment is certain – “Be ye reconciled to God.”

Guardian of Truth XXXI: 18, p. 559
September 17, 1987

By Larry Ray Hafley

The expression, “the beauty of holiness,” appears several times in the Bible (1 Chron. 16:29; 2 Chron. 20:21; Psa. 29:2). Though the meaning may not be the same, there is beauty in holiness. There is ugliness in unrighteousness.

Our world sees no evil in alluring apparel. Television advertisements are notorious for dressing up ungodliness and making it appear appealing. The liquor industry is especially adept at camouflaging the monster of alcohol and making it seem harmless and desirable. Sin does not cavort in nakedness. No, it wears a fine dress. Sin does not frown and snarl. Rather, it smiles and laughs and promises you joy and happiness. Sin does not mention tomorrow. It only thinks of today, of this moment. Sin does not regard consequences. It sees only the pleasure of the moment. Sin does not make its entrance with flashing lights and a siren. It comes in with candlelight and soft music. Sin does not shout and order you to act. It whispers and reassures. Sin does not introduce itself. It never tells you its real name. It gives you an alias. It wears a nickname. Drug addiction and alcoholic sins are merely “chemical dependency problems.” Whores are never, named; they simply had an affair.

The nature of sin could not be otherwise. Eve saw that the tree in the garden was good for food and pleasant to the eyes. She did not pause, reflect or think beyond the enticement. And that is the way of sin.

Joseph exemplified the beauty of holiness. Yes, he was tempted. But he regarded consequences. Strictly speaking, the consequences for doing right went against him on earth, but the beauty of holiness has blossoms that never fade in heaven (Gen. 39).

Moses is another in whom we may see the beauty of holiness. “By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward. By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible” (Heb. 11:24-27).

There is pleasure in sin. Moses knew it. You and I know it. But Moses knew that the pleasures of sin are temporary. They cannot last. Sometimes, you and I do not recognize that fact. Moses considered the consequences, the reward. Again, from an earthly standpoint, Moses suffered. He rejected the pleasures and treasures of Egypt for the beauty of holiness. There is nothing that the world and the devil can give you that will not be taken from you the second you die. “Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise” (Heb. 10:35,36).

Sin and unrighteousness pay wages (Rom. 6:23; 2 Pet. 2:15). They have never missed a pay day. They always deliver. Of course, they do not pay off as expected. They offer sugar, but. you must eat ashes. They promise sighs of comfort, but they bring cries of pain. When one reaches for the soft bunny rabbit of temptation, he grabs the porcupine of sin.

The beauty of holiness is beneath the skin. It abides and resides within. “But though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day” (2 Cor. 4:16). Are the ornaments of your heart those of a meek and quiet spirit which, in the sight of God, are of great price? Or are you dressed in the filthy rags of ungodliness? Are you an old hag of unrighteousness or are you a picture of the beauty of holiness? Inquire within.

Guardian of Truth XXXI: 18, p. 557
September 17, 1987

By Ron Halbrook

Religious liberals won another victory in September 1985 with the election of E.L. Browning as Presiding Bishop of the 2.8 million-member Episcopal denomination. He holds the post through 1997. His liberalism is typical of the disregard for God’s Word which has caused so much moral and spiritual decay in our world. His views throw the Bible out the window. The news is filled with reports of religious leaders upholding theories directly opposed to Scripture.

1. “I would hope we are not frozen in any kind of set belief about homosexuality,” says Browning, who believes that practicing homosexuals may serve as ministers (Time Magazine, 23 Sept. 1985, p. 67). God rained fire upon Sodom and Gomorrah in order to teach all mankind of “the vengeance of eternal fire” against homosexuality (Jude 7). Men who practice this sin put God out of their mind and God gives them up to suffer a horrible fate – “that recompense of their error which was meet” (Rom. 1:26-27). Such sin can be forgiven if we obey the gospel of Christ if we truly repent and are baptized so that his blood can cleanse us (Acts 2:23; 22:16).

2. Browning believes that women can be public ministers of the Word. But God said concerning the assembly of men and women before Him, “I suffer not a women to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence” (I Tim. 2:9). Men are to lead all phases and activities of the worship assembly. The liberal attitude pays no attention to such instructions from God. If what God said about homosexuality can be thrown out the window, why not throw out what he said about men rather than women leading in worship?

3. Browning wants passages of Scripture which speak of God as our Father to be rewritten and read publicly in “non-sexist” language. God chose to reveal himself in the figure of a “Father,” and his beloved Son taught men to pray, “Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name” (Matt. 6:9). It is silliness gone to seed when people accuse God’s Word of demeaning women – and arrogance gone to seed when people change God’s Word to fit their theories! Revelation 22:18-19 warns us not to add anything to or take anything away from the Word of God. When liberals throw the Bible out the window, Revelation 22:18-19 has to go out too.

The root of all these problems is that men have taken the sinful liberty to make their own religions, churches, and doctrines rather than following what the Bible teaches. The bad news is that many people, even religious people, reject the Good News of Christ in favor of their own opinions and theories. The Good News is that Jesus will save us if we turn to him and turn away from the opinions and theories of men.

Guardian of Truth XXXI: 18, p. 548
September 17, 1987

By T. Doy Moyer

There always stands a challenge for the child of God to manifest a correct attitude toward truth. Sometimes it is difficult because we are used to certain things being the way they are, and despise any thought of change. Then there are others who do not like tradition of any kind, and they would always like to see “new things.” However, when we look at teachings or practices in terms of “old” or “new,” we miss the point. Acceptance of any practice or teaching ought not to be on the grounds of “old” or “new,” but whether or not it be true! Consider these three attitudes found in Acts 17.

Shortly after Paul and Silas were preaching in Philippi, they came to Thessalonica where, as usual, they stirred up the crowds. Many of the Jews became jealous and began to seek Paul and Silas. Notice what they said in v. 6, “These men who have upset the world have come here also” (NAS). It does not seem like it occurred to the Jews to think about why they turned the world upside down. They weren’t very interested in considering Jesus. To them, He was “new” and they wanted to stick with “the old paths.” They did not want to see change at all. If only they would have “searched the scriptures,” they would have found that Jesus was not “new.” In fact, he had been prophesied about hundreds of years before!

Unhappily, this very same attitude characterizes many today. When something “new” is introduced, they immediately move into an uproar and condemn anything that moves. If only they would take the time to search the Scriptures, perhaps they would find that a particular “new” concept really isn’t “new after all. Perhaps we have just neglected something for all these years (perish the thought). Or many will disguise it all by saying, “We’ve already tried that!” and keep others from trying. Let’s be careful to search for truth and not for “tradition” (Col. 2:8).

Then, there is the other extreme. Later in Acts 17, we find Paul in Athens where he was provoked to preach to these idolaters. Evidently, it was not too difficult at first because we find them saying, “May we know what this new teaching is, which is spoken by thee” (ASV). Then, Luke records in v. 21, “now all the Athenians and the strangers sojourning there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell or to hear some new thing.” This is an extremely dangerous attitude! They only cared to hear something if it was new. If it had any hint of “tradition” to it, they did not want it.

Is this not reminiscent Of those today who are “carried to and fro by every wind of doctrine” (Eph. 4:14)? They are unstable, without enough faith to keep anchored (cf. Jas. 1:6); and this puts one in a perilous position because of the likelihood that he will teach error (2 Pet. 3:16). They oppose tradition of any kind and therefore are constantly trying to introduce “new things.” People like this are not content to stay within the doctrine of Christ. They want to progress to keep up with the times. Thus, they come up with their “accommodative religion.” Brethren, let us keep from adopting this attitude wherein we become unstable and carried by “new things.” (Read Proverbs 24:21-22.)

We have seen two extremes that are still quite common today; and, as is so often the case, truth lies in the balance between the extremes. Let us examine the correct attitude. After Paul and Silas left Thessalonica, they went to Berea. Notice the first observation concerning the Bereans, “Now these were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, examining the scriptures daily, whether these things were so” (Acts 17: 11). They did not accept the truth because it was new or old, nor because the “preacher said so.” They searched for themselves and asked the question, “is it true?” This is the way we must think! Yes, times change and people change, but the truth never changes! What was truth in the first century is still truth today. We must hold on to the traditions delivered by God (2 Thess. 2:15; 3:6). It does not matter how “old” they are. And if we find some truth that we have neglected, we need to obey it, regardless of how “new” it might be to us (Jas. 4:17). Let us not go to either extreme. Examine everything “old” or “new” to find out if it is true. If it is, let’s do it; if it’s not, let’s cast it away so that our life and worship will not be vain. Which attitude most characterizes you?

Guardian of Truth XXXI: 18, p. 553
September 17, 1987