Truth Magazine

By Bill Robinson, Jr.

An esteemed friend, who is neither cynical or grumpy, astutely observes that most folks (including many Christians) are more interested in having a pep rally than they are in having sound preaching when it comes to gospel meetings. Looking at the titles in a religious book store these days one soon learns that my friend’s perception may not be all that blurred.

I have read a good number of books by popular authors of the so-called positive mental attitude (PMA) philosophy. Some of the material is good but I seldom if ever recommend it because a vast majority of it leaves the impression one can manipulate God through prayer or one can think himself into spirituality by positive thinking. Furthermore, a lot of what I read is nothing more than an attempt to deify man and humanize God (Rom. 1:20-22).

Frankly, I am a little alarmed when brethren start quoting Swindoll, Wiersbe and other popular denominational writers of our day more than the Bible. Furthermore, it is disturbing to think that some brethren would miss an assembling of the church in order to hear a Zig Ziglar, Norman Vincent Peale or Charles Swindoll seminar. In fact it is down right disgusting to hear some brethren talk in such glowing terms and accolades about how such blatant false teachers as Ziglar, Wiersbe, Swindoll, Peale, etc. are motivational; especially, when they look down their noses at good faithful, godly men who for the pure love of truth have sacrificed to preach and defend it.

Answer for yourself brethren, do the Wiersbes, Swindolls, Ziglars and Peales of this world fit the class of men Paul was talking about when he wrote, “Brethren, be ye imitators together of me, and mark them that so walk even as ye have us for an ensample”? Or do they fit in the category of those who “are the enemy of the cross of Christ: whose end is perdition, whose god is the belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things” (Phil. 3:17-19)?

If we fail to live by the principle that nothing but the preaching of the gospel will save men from their sins then we are sure to die by it (Rom. 1:16)! It was the preaching of the gospel which brought the church into existence in the First Century (Acts 2:16-47). It was by the preaching of the word that obedient penitent believers were added unto the Lord in the First Century (Acts 11:22ff). Furthermore, it was through the preaching of the gospel in the First Century that men surrendered their will to the Lord being baptized for the remission of sins and went on their way rejoicing (Acts 8:26-38; 16:30-34). The meaning of the cross of Christ and His glorious resurrection provided the motivation – such a message was presented “not with excellency of speech or of wisdom” (1 Cor. 2:1).

Brethren, it is high time we got more emotional over the message instead of the messenger! When, and if, we do then we will be motivated to properly imitate those men whom the apostle encouraged – namely, those who love the message and who have willingly sacrificed to preach and defend it as it is “the power of God.” We do not need pep rallies to psyche us up about the religion of Christ – we need commitment to get involved in the religion of Christ, reviving in our hearts a genuine love for plain gospel preaching!

Guardian of Truth XXXI: 16, p. 494
August 20, 1987

By Raymond E. Harris

Man’s interest in wisdom dates back to Adam and Eve. The serpent used the promise of wisdom to tempt Eve. In Genesis 3:5-6, the serpent urged Eve to eat the forbidden fruit by promising: “Then your eyes shall be opened and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.” As Eve pondered the situation, she determined that the fruit of the tree was “to be desired to make one wise.” And they both ate thereof.

However, we must hasten to draw a clear distinction between wisdom and education. Obviously both a parrot and a fool can be educated. Webster, tells us that “wisdom” is “the ability to judge soundly and deal shrewdly with facts.” In other words wisdom is the good sound “common sense” to use our knowledge and ability in the best possible way.

In the New Testament, in James 3:13, it is written: “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom.” In that verse, James stresses that it is wise to be “good. ” That is obviously true at all levels.

1. The “good,” well-behaved child will be blessed by the good will of parents.

2. The “good,” well-behaved student will be blessed by the good will of teachers.

3. The “good,” well-behaved Christian will be blessed by the good will of God.

And conversely the Bible warns, “The way of the transgressor is hard” (Prov. 13:15).

Also, it is to be noted that in James 3:13 wisdom is coupled with meekness. Surely we would all have to agree with such a declaration. The arrogant, high-minded, conceited person may be very intelligent but seldom displays much real wisdom. Rather, we would suggest that even the most brilliant, are counted wise when they are humbled by how little we humans really know and understand.

A Wise Man Receives Counsel

As man craves to be wise, it seems he often plays the fool. Mother Eve played the fool when she for a moment questioned the integrity of God and proceeded to eat the “forbidden fruit.” Likewise, it is anything but wise to live a life of disobedience, evil and wickedness. Truly, “The way of the transgressor is hard.”

But, just who is a wise man? We suggest that a wise man is one who hearkens to counsel. In the long ago, Solomon wrote, “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise” (Prov. 12:15). Hence, most of us have observed that no one can tell a fool anything! Also, the Scriptures caution that we need to be wise in selecting our counsel. You will remember that David said, “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly” (Psa. 1:1).

Indeed, it is sad when the egotistic and self-centered are so foolish as to try to direct their own steps (Jer. 10:23) or turn to the ungodly for advice.

1. It is indeed a wise man who will turn to the word of God and allow the Almighty to lead him to the green pastures and still waters of life.

2. It is a wise Christian (elder, preacher, church member) who continues through life with an open mind and an objectivity that allows him to ever learn and grow, so long as he lives out the days of his life.

Conversely, it is indeed a fool who is so presumptuous that he develops an all knowing, self-righteous attitude that causes him to close his eyes, stop his ears and harden his heart against all that would challenge his personal prejudices.

A Wise Man Guards His Tongue

Regarding wise men Solomon said, “In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise” (Prov. 10: 19). The same writer continues in the same vein as he further explains, “Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.”

Then in the New Testament, in James 1:19-20, it is written: “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: for the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.”

It is sad that foolish mankind has generally so abused the blessing of speech. Of all creation, only mankind has the mental and physical capability to speak and clearly and distinctly communicate. One would think that we would be grateful recipients of this blessing and use our ability to speak, to educate, praise, commend and encourage one another. Such are the words of the wise!

However, it is obvious that many ungratefully and foolishly use their lips to curse, gossip, blaspheme, rail and lie! Beware those who spew forth nasty words, filthy stories, flattery and deceit. Truly, “. . he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile” (1 Pet. 3:10).

The Master has warned, “. . . by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned” (Matt. 12:37).

A Wise Man Flees From Evil

Did you ever hear someone you considered “wise” say, perhaps in jest, “I’ll try anything once.” Really, the remark is the height of foolishness. A moment’s reflection is all that is necessary to realize that the remark portrays anything but wisdom. Who really wants to try murder, bank robbery, rape, cancer, blindness or Hell?

In fact, we would like to stress that the “wise” are those who fear and depart from evil. The writers of the Bible go to great lengths to impress their readers with the awfulness of sin. All sin is primarily against God. And so, everyone must answer to God for his. sins.

To short sighted man, sin seems to offer so much, when in fact the reverse is true. “The way of the transgressor is hard.” The Apostle Peter warned, “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. Seeing then that all these things will be dissolved, what manner of person ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness” (2 Pet. 3:10-11).

Long ago Solomon wrote, “A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil” (Prov. 14:16). And David added, “Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish” (Psa. 1:5-6).

Who is a wise man? The wise, realize the wages of sin is death (spiritual separation from God) and flee evil!

A Wise Man Is Prepared

A wise person is a prepared person. We propose to sustain the foregoing proposition by considering one main passage of Scripture.

Matthew 7:24-27: “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of mine, and does them I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock, and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these sayings of mine, and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall” (NKJV).

In this passage it is obvious that Jesus is talking about more than the building of literal houses. His main concern is whether or not people will hear and heed his teaching.

The Master knew the storms, floods and winds of life would beat upon every generation of mankind. He knew that only the wise – the prepared would be able to survive. Also, he knew that it is not in man that walketh to direct his own steps. Hence, the only way to be prepared for the onslaughts of life is to build on the Lord Jesus Christ.

The wise know that trials, disappointments, tragedies and despairs will stalk them sooner or later. Therefore, the wise will hear and heed the commandments and doctrines of Jesus. Those who become Christians, must commit their very lives and souls to Jesus. Those who day by day strive to be at peace with God, their fellow man and themselves will find the ways of life much simpler to navigate.

Truly it is a wise man who puts his trust in Jesus and prepares himself for the struggles of life by donning the whole armor of God.

A Wise Man Obeys God

As we consider the characteristics of the wise, we address ourselves to the most important of all. We are convinced that the one who is truly wise will hear and obey the Lord.

In James 1:22, the inspired man wrote: “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” From the foregoing verse it is obvious that knowing the word of God is not sufficient. One may be well versed in the Scriptures and still refuse to do the will of God. An awareness of the contents of the Bible does not automatically bring forgiveness and salvation.

Obviously one must know the will of God before he can do the will of God; but, the doing is as vital as knowing.

In Hebrews 5:9 it is written: “And having been perfected, he (Jesus, REH) became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey him.” From this passage we see that the bottom line to going to heaven depends upon personal submission and obedience to Jesus. We must:

1. Believe that Jesus is God’s son (John 3:18).

2. Repent (turn from, quit) of our sins (Lk. 13:3; Acts 2:38; Acts 17:30).

3. Confess that Jesus is God’s Son (Matt. 10:32; Rom. 10:10).

4. Be baptized (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; Romans 6:3-5).

The Master warned: “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my father which is in heaven” (Matt. 7:21).

And, the wise man of old put it well when he wrote: “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil” (Eccl. 12:13).

Guardian of Truth XXXI: 16, pp. 488-489
August 20, 1987

By Hiram Hutto

(Editor’s Note: The following excellent article by brother Hiram Hutto appeared in the 30 June 1987 issue of Sentry Magazine without editorial comment or review. We reproduce it here as one of the clearest statements on the “continuous cleansing” issue yet written and commend it to our readers.)

First of all, it should be pointed out that the question is self-contradictory. How? It speaks about the blood continually cleansing. 1 John 1:7 tells us that his blood cleanseth us from sin. So, if the blood is continually cleansing, it is continually cleansing from sin, which means that there is sin present that needs cleansing. That being true, the person who is being continually cleansed must be continually sinning. Now, how can a person be called a faithful saint (both terms) while at the same time he is continually sinning? Clearly, the question contradicts itself.

Further, to imply that a Christian is one who continually sins is to contradict the Bible. It says that a Christian does not practice sin (1 John 3:9, NASB; the same tense and idea is in 3:6 and 5:18). If a person who is continually sinning isn’t practicing sin, what on earth would he have to do to practice it? Again, when Paul asks, “Shall we continue in sin?”, he answers “God forbid” (Rom. 6:1). According to the position we are examining, he should have said, “Not only may we continue in sin, but we will be faithful saints while so doing”! The fact is, this passage and others show that sin is not the norm for the Christian, it is the exception.

What is frequently meant by such questions as heads this article is: Is the faithful saint automatically cleansed of sins of ignorance and/or weakness. 1 John 1:7 is cited to prove that he is. Not only does I John 1:7 not teach that doctrine, the passage says absolutely nothing per se about sins of weakness or ignorance. It says the blood of Jesus cleanses us “from all sin.” Whatever the passage says about sins of ignorance and weakness, it says the same thing about sins of rebellion and disobedience. It says “all sin.” But someone might respond (and the idea is current), the person under consideration in 1 John I is said to “walk in the light” and a person who is walking in the light will not be guilty of sins of rebellion and disobedience, only sins of weakness and/or ignorance. Who said so? Did God? If so, where? Obviously, a person who is guilty of rebellion and disobedience is not “in the light” at the point at which he is guilty of rebellion or disobedience, but no sin is “in the light.” After all, “God is light and in him is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5), and if sin is not darkness, what is? There is no sin (rebellion, disobedience, or whatever) in the light.

Consider another point. In Hebrews 3:2 God says that Moses was “faithful in all his house”; yet at Meribah God said that Moses “did not believe in me” (Num. 20:12) and that he “rebelled against my rod” (v. 24). Although, in general, Moses was described as faithful, he certainly was not faithful there, neither did God approve nor automatically forgive him. Instead, God was wroth (Deut. 3:27) and would not hear Moses, but rebuked him. I cannot conceive of anyone’s thinking that he was faithful in the point where God said he did not believe, and that he was rebellious. To say otherwise is to say that a person can be full of faith (faithful) in a point where he is lacking in faith. A person might be faithful in a number of areas, and yet be unfaithful at some particular point, and as it was in Moses’ case, a very vital point. Surely nobody would claim that Moses died still impenitent and rebellious about the matter but God forgave him anyway. The idea that the only kinds of sins that a faithful Christian (one who walks in the light) commits are sins of ignorance and weakness is not taught in the Bible, nor does it teach that God automatically forgives those (or any other) sins.

To say that a person is automatically cleansed, like the windshield wiper (or that he benefits; i.e., is forgiven, even as he sins), sounds too much like the Baptist preacher who said that he could seduce some woman but God would work it out for his good (benefit). It reminds me of the Baptist who affirmed in a debate with me that a child of God could get drunk, that he could die drunk, and would go to heaven anyway; that a child of God could lie, that he could die with a lie on his tongue (as did Ananias and Sapphira), and he would go to heaven anyway; that a child of God could commit adultery, that he could get killed in the act, and the child of God could commit adultery with a person who was not a child of God, that both of them get killed in the act, and the child of God would go to heaven but the one who was not a child of God would go to Hell. Frankly, it surprised me when he affirmed this publicly and openly, but it shocked me to learn that some brethren evidently believe it and some teach that which logically leads to the same conclusion. I did not believe it then, and I do not believe it now.

The Bible clearly teaches that a child of God can sin. John says, “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us” (1 John 1:8). But it just as clearly teaches that a child of God does not have to sin. In fact, John wrote his first epistle so that his readers would “sin not” (2:1). If a Christian cannot keep from sinning, he has to sin, and John wasted his letter. Such a claim impugns the wisdom of God. And Peter says, “If ye do these things, ye shall never stumble” (2 Pet. 1:10) that a child of God can not fall (note the important difference between “cannot” [impossible] and “can not” [possible not to]). He doesn’t have to fall. If a Christian must sin (“man, because he is man, sins” is as false when taught by “conservative” brethren, as it is when taught by Edward Fudge or John Calvin), why does God hold him responsible for doing something he could not keep from doing anyway?.Such does away with man’s being a creature of choice. Man sins all right enough, not because he must sin, but because he chooses to sin, and therefore is guilty. The idea that a faithful Christian saint is continually cleansed because he is continually sinning is not in the Bible.

Some have even claimed that when a person unknowingly violates God’s law, God automatically forgives him (like the windshield wiper), then later when man learns that he has broken God’s law he must repent, etc. Why should he repent? What does he have to repent of? After all, if God forgave him at the time he sinned, the sin isn’t on his record; he doesn’t need to repent. What he should do, if the argument is correct, is thank God for having already forgiven him without repentance and before he ever learned about it! Still others claim that a person who unwittingly violates God’s law is not then guilty (they need to read Lev. 4:13,22,27) but when he later learns that he has violated God’s law, if he does not then repent, he is guilty. Among the many problems with this argument is, it changes God’s definition of sin. God said, “Sin is the transgression of the law” (1 John 3:4). This doctrine says, “No, this is wrong.

Sin is not the transgression of the law. Sin is the awareness of the transgression of the law.” But the Bible doesn’t teach that either.

Yes, Christians sin, and God has made provisions for them when they do, but he has made no provisions for them to live in sin. When John states that the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin, he does what is frequently done in the Scriptures – he is simply stating a truth without giving all the details of the matter. Just as Jesus said, “Father, forgive them” (Luke 23:34), he did not give any conditions for forgiveness, and it was several days later when Peter told them what those conditions were (Acts 2:36-38). So the blood cleanses us from all sin (v. 7), but it is verse 9 that mentions one of the conditions man must meet for that forgiveness; it does not mention all of them for it says nothing about repentance. That is learned, elsewhere. The passage also says that we must confess our sins. It does not say we are to confess that we are sinners, nor does it say that if we confess that we are sinners, God will forgive. That may or may not be true, but 1 John 1:7-9 does not say so. It says that we are to confess our sins to be forgiven. Instead of teaching one to be confident of his salvation and feel secure about it because the blood of Christ will automatically or continually cleanse our sins, we need to teach people as Peter did Simon, “Repent . . . of this thy wickedness, and pray the Lord, if perhaps the thought of thy heart shall be forgiven thee” (Acts 8:22).

No, the faithful saint is not continually cleansed by the blood of Christ because a faithful saint is not continually sinning. But a saint may be often cleansed by the blood, just as often as he meets the conditions given by God.

Guardian of Truth XXXI: 16, pp. 491-492
August 20, 1987

By Harold Fite

One would think that we as Americans, having lived in this country since birth, would have no difficulty in communicating with one another. But strange as it may seem, the opposite is true. We have a difficult time “getting it across.”

One of the great problems in marriage is lack of communication between husband and wife. Parents and children do not really know one another because of a break-down in communication. Loss of life has resulted from poor communication or none at all. The recent shelling of U.S.S. Stark by Iraq is a prime example. In the sports arena, a high percentage of “busted” plays occur because someone didn’t get the message. Those in the market place are constantly stressing “get it right,” but like our tax forms, verbiage in the office memos makes it difficult to understand them. Doctors and lawyers have created for themselves a language which the average person cannot understand. Many fail to recognize that we talk to “express” not to “impress.”

Why do we have this difficulty in communicating? While verbiage may be the cause in some instances, in my opinion the real culprit is the failure to listen! In communicating with a person, listening plays an important part. We spent 80 percent of our time communicating, and 45 percent of this time is spent in listening. But most of us, however, listen at an efficiency of less than 25 percent. In schools students spend 60-70 percent of their classroom time in listening. In business, listening is cited as being the most critical managerial skill. Seminars and classes in college are now dealing with the art of listening.

Listening is more than just hearing: (1) there must be the interpreting of what is heard, which leads to an understanding; (2) evaluation, when you weigh the information and decide how you will use it; (3) reaction, based on what you heard, and how you evaluated it – you react.

Poor listening can be attributed to prejudice, being overly emotional, and various other distractions. And we all must accept the simple fact that we cannot do a good job of listening while we are talking!

Now let’s put all of this in the framework of the spiritual. In a recent Gallup study conducted for the Christian Broadcasting Network, when asked how God communicated today, one in three (36 percent) said God has spoken directly to them, and 11 percent said they believe God speaks out loud to people. Nearly half of all Americans (48 percent) said they believe God speaks through one’s internal feelings and impressions, and 49 percent said God also speaks through the Bible.

The problem with many is that they haven’t been listening! The writer to the Hebrews said, “God, having of old time spoken unto the fathers in the prophets by divers portions and in divers manners, hath at the end of these days spoken unto us in his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom also he made the worlds” (Heb. 1:1,2).

In olden times God spoke through the prophets (Ezek. 38:17), his method varying with the messenger and the message. By mouth he spoke to Adam (Gen. 3); through an angel he spoke to Lot (Gen. 19); he used a dream, a bush and an ass to speak to Jacob, Moses, and Balaam respectively, and wrote a message on the wall for Belshazza (Dan. 5). But in this dispensation of time God speaks to us through his Son. He doesn’t communicate with us directly, or through dreams, feelings, or other human beings – but only through his Son. On the mount of transfiguration God said, “This is by beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him” (Matt. 17:5).

The reasons for not hearing Jesus are the same in the spiritual realm as in the secular. Prejudice closes the mind to truth. When people have a preconceived idea of how things should be, there is the tendency to close the mind to anything contrary to it. The Jews had a preconceived idea of what the Messiah would be. When he didn’t fit their concept they rejected him. Jesus said, “For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest haply they should perceive with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should turn again, and I should heal them” (Matt. 13:15).

Being overly emotional negates one’s reasoning powers. When a person says he has the baptism of the Spirit, can speak in tongues, feels that he is saved, and wouldn’t trade his feelings for a stack of Bibles, you might as well save your breath to cool your coffee, for that person is not going to listen while in that state.

Poor listening in business and the social realm may cost jobs, money, and friendships, but to fail to listen to God has eternal repercussions. Jesus said, “Take heed therefore how you hear” (Luke 18:8).

How does God communicate with us today? Through his word as it is articulated through Christ. Are you listening?

Guardian of Truth XXXI: 16, p. 487
August 20, 1987