Truth Magazine

By Wayne Greeson

Patterns are an important part of our lives in many ways. When a contractor builds a house, he follows a pattern known as a “blueprint.” When a mechanic repairs your car, he uses a pattern known as an auto repair manual. When a mother sews a dress for her small daughter, she follows a “dress pattern.” And when your favorite cake is made, the cook followed a pattern called a “recipe.”

In each case there is a standard pattern to be followed to achieve the desired results or the correct end product. The pattern must be followed or the end product will not be faithful to the original pattern and the results could be disastrous. The house not built to pattern may leak or worse, it may collapse; the car not repaired by the manual may run like a “lemon” or not run at all; the dress not made by the pattern may look more like a clown outfit; and the cake not made by the recipe could wind up unfit for the family dog. Many people who have the common sense to recognize the need to faithfully follow patterns in their everyday lives, fail to recognize the most important pattern of all . . . the Bible. God has always provided a pattern for His people to serve as a guide to worship and service acceptable to Him.

In the Old Testament, God led the children of Israel out of the slavery of Egypt down to the foot of Mt. Sinai. There God called Moses up the mountain and gave him a “pattern” of laws and a “pattern” for a place of worship for the Jews. As God gave Moses this divine pattern, He also gave a warning: “According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so ye shall make it” (Ex. 25:9). And He repeated this warning: “And look that thou make them after their pattern, which was shown thee in the mount” (Ex. 25:40).

Following God’s pattern, the Jews constructed the tabernacle, a tent, and fashioned all the articles for worship to be placed within and without the tabernacle, the brazen altar, the laver, the golden candlestick, and table of shewbread, the altar of incense and the ark of the covenant. For over 500 years the tabernacle served as the place of worship for the Jews.

Not all the Jews heeded God’s warning through Moses to follow His pattern. Two priests determined to disregard God’s pattern of worship and follow their own worship. Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron “offered strange fire before the Lord, which he command ed them not” (Lev. 10:1). The consequences of violating God’s divine order were immediate and dire, “And there went out fire from the Lord, and devoured them, and they died before the Lord” (Lev. 10:2). God’s drastic punishment of these two men was for our benefit to teach us to treat His pattern with respect and obedience.

When David became king of the Jews, he planned to build a permanent place of worship, a temple, in the city of Jerusalem. While David was not allowed by the Lord to actually build the temple, David did make all the plans and preparations for the construction of the temple which he passed on to his son Solomon to complete. As David commissioned Solomon to build the temple, he explained the source of the blueprints, “‘All this,’ said David, ‘the Lord made me understand in writing by his hand upon me, even all the works of this pattern'” (1 Chron. 28:19). David urged Solomon to follow God’s pattern in the commands of His Law as well as building His temple.

Despite God’s warnings, again the Jews failed to faithfully respect and keep God’s pattern. Towards the end of his life Solomon drifted away from God and His commandments. Following Solomon under the kingdoms of Israel and Judah, more Jewish kings were unfaithful rather than faithful to the Lord. Because of the apostasy of the Jews, God allowed them to be taken into captivity and the temple to be destroyed.

While in captivity in Babylon, God sent a special vision of the temple to the prophet Ezekiel. In the vision Ezekiel saw a man with a measuring rod measuring God’s temple and all the articles in it. Why? What was the meaning of the vision? “Thou son of man, shew the house to the house of Israel, that they may be ashamed of their iniquities: and let them measure the pattern” (Ezek. 43:10).

Just as God gave the Jews it pattern through Moses and David, He has given us a p4ttern of work and worship through Christ and His apostles. The Old Testament, the tabernacle and the temple were only “a copy and a shadow of heavenly things” that are now provided for us by Christ under the New Testament.

The pattern Christians have to follow is complete and sufficient. It is complete as it has “given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness” (2 Pet. 1:3). It is sufficient as it “is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Tim. 3:16-17).

As God warned the Jews not to violate or tamper with His pattern, He warns us also.

1. We must obey God’spattern. It is necessary to obey “that form (pattern) of doctrine which was first delivered to you” (Rom. 6:17). To fail to obey His pattern leads to sin and spiritual death (Rom. 6:18-23).

2. We must walk by God’s pattern. The inspired apostles, led by the Holy Spirit are an “ensample” or pattern for us to learn from, imitate and walk after (Phil. 3:17; 2 Thess. 3:9).

3. We must keep God’s pattern. “Hold fast the form (pattern) of sound words, which thou hast heard of me. . .” Paul instructed (2 Tim. 1: 13).

4. We must make all things by God’s pattern. As Moses was warned to follow the pattern of God in all things, so God warns us in the New Testament “. . . for ‘See,’ sayeth He, ‘that thou make all things according to the pattern . . .'” (Heb. 8:5).

Will you heed the warning?

Guardian of Truth XXXI: 6, pp. 165, 182
March 19, 1987

By Don Willis

“Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the Lord. What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good? Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile. Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it” (Psa. 34:11-14). Peter quoted this Psalm,”. . For 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. 3:10-11). The footnote on “refrain” reads “control.” Mr. Vine said the Greek word pauo means to stop!

An uncontrolled tongue is an evil, and will bring hostile results to the speaker. Gossip is defined as “a person who chatters and repeats idle talk and rumors about others” (Webster). Looking at the etymology of gossip, one finds a religious background in it (gossip). My point: gossip comes from the same root as gospel (godspel), which meant “telling the good story.” Gossip is using one’s tongue, instead of telling the good story, to chatter worthless and often hurtful rumors of no benefit.

A Christian must wisely use his time and his tongue to the glory of God! Personal evangelism involves this proper use of the tongue.

“One day a woman came to the preacher and confessed, ‘I have gossiped about my neighbor. One day I saw her stagger about the yard, so I told a few friends that she had been drunk. Now I find that her staggering was caused by a leg injury. How may I undo this gossip I started?’

“The minister excused himself for a moment, returned with a pillow, and asked the woman to follow him to the side porch. There he took out his pocket knife, cut a big hole in the pillow, and emptied the feathers over the porch rading. A small breeze soon scattered tiny feathers all about the yard, among the shrubs, flowers, even up in the trees. A few floated across the street, heading for unknown destinations.

“The minister turned to the woman. ‘Will you go out now and gather up every one of the feathers?’

“The woman looked stunned. ‘Why, that would be impossible.’

I “Exactly,’ replied the preacher sorrowfully. ‘So it is with your gossip.'”

This amply illustrates why the Lord told one to keep the tongue. Evil attracts much more attention than good! Satan delights when God’s children utilize themselves in Satan’s works.

I was just thinking, since we are going to use our tongues for some purpose, wouldn’t it be much better to gospel than to gossip? Think about it. Gospeling brings delight to God, peace to self and our fellow man.

Guardian of Truth XXXI: 6, p. 174
March 19, 1987

By Jimmy Tuten

Introduction:

A. In the old city of Jerusalem there is a street called the “way of sorrow.” Spanning this street is an arch known as the “Ecce Homo Arch.” The immediate vicinity is believed to be the site of the Practorium, the section of the governor’s palace where soldiers kept guard (Mk. 15:16). This would be the Hall of Judgment where Jesus was taken during His trial (Matt. 26:66).

1. Pilate found no fault with Jesus and tried to deliver Him out of the Jews hands. Out of fear he yielded to pressure and presented Jesus to the mob with the, expression, “Behold the man.”

2. So it is that the arch (Ecce Homo) is the spot where Jesus, wearing the crown of thorns and purple robe, was presented to the multitudes.

3. Ecce homo is Latin for “behold the man!”

B. Regardless of whether Pilate uttered the words in pity, contempt, perplexity, disgust, or all combined, the world is called upon to behold the man! There is a sense of sorrow and spiritual beauty attached to the words. Let us behold Him. . .

Body:

I. God’s Supreme Demonstration of Love In Sacrifice (Jn. 3:16; Rom. 5:8; 1 Jn. 4:9-11).

A. “Christ and him crucified” (1 Cor. 2:1-5). A horrible story of human suffering, a beautiful story in terms of the perfect sacrifice for forgiveness of sins.

B. No event is more basic to the gospel – does not mean the crucifixion is the only event or lesson to be taught. But it is the heart of all else! Remove it and all else (facts, commands, and promises of the gospel) collapse (1 Cor. 15).

C. This is a message that is offensive to the spirit of pride in worldly pomp and power (common to Jew seeking earthly kingdom) as to the spirit of intellectual pride (common to the Gentile seeking philosophical answers), but a message which is God’s wisdom and power to save (1 Cor. 1:23-24).

II. God’s Supreme Example Of Enmity Between Himself and Satan.

A. No two things are more opposed.- God and Satan, righteousness and sin, right and wrong, truth and error.

B. Love of sin and love of God cannot abide together (1 Jn. 2:15-17; Jas. 4:4; 2 Pet. 2:22).

C. There is no kinship between Jesus and the world of sin (Jn. 15:18-19).

1. Jesus disavowed sin!

2. World of sin disavowed Jesus by crucifying Him and even now rejects Him!

D. Man must be born again – die to the old and be “raised to walk in newness of life” which involves separation from sin, not by leaving the world, but by leaving sin behind (Jn. 3:3-5; Rom. 6:4; Col. 3; 2 Cor. 6:17-18).

E. The horror of my sins – Christ suffered on my account, in my place and because of my sins (Isa. 53:4-7; Phil. 2:5-8).

1. In the cross (as we look at Jesus) we see the reality of every horrible sin, so much so that none of us has yet conceived the magnitude of this tragedy.

2. In the cross we see the Son of God torn from the Father’s bosom, abused, disgraced, and crucified for my sins.

III. God’s Proof of Victory Following Suffering.

A. One reason the Jews rejected Jew is because they overlooked the important part of the prophet’s message. the suffering Messiah! And that preceding victory (Psa. 2; 22; 1 Pet. 1:11).

B. Many today do the same in that they see Him as a great man and just leave Him in the grave as a great one, but dead (Phil. 2:8-11; Rev. 1: 17-18). They do not see the victory!

C. The victorious Savior can say to us “fear not” (Rev. 1: 17).

1. Nothing can cut us off. from Him but we ourselves (Rom. 8:35ff).

2. Compare the present suffering with the glory to follow (Rom. 8:17-18).

D. Security from the fear of death – cannot know our origin, nature, duty, happiness or destiny except from God (not known through natural powers, Eccl. 1:2-3, 12-13).

1. To know Jesus is to know God and thus find full meaning of life (Jn. 1: 18; 1 Cor. 15:58). Life and labor have meaning and hope!

2. Fear of death? Death a dark mystery? Separation from all life? The end? NO indeed (1 Cor. 15:35-45; Eccl. 12:7).

E. Security from the fear of the guilt of sin (2 Cor. 5: 10; Heb. 9:27-29; 1 Jn. 5:1-3).

IV. God’s Provision of the Way Home.

A. The death of Christ removed the veil before the most holy place, opening the way into the very presence of God (Heb. 9:8; 10: 19-22).

B. “I am the way” (Jn. 14:1-6).

1. We are strangers looking for a place to live eternally (Heb. 11:8-16).

2. We must however, enter into the narrow way (Matt. 7:13-14).

Conclusion:

1. Friends, we must study the cross instead of rushing by in the frenzy for there we see the man, Jesus!

2. No judgment too harsh if we look upon the man, Jesus and refuse His loving gift of salvation.

3. Jesus calls us o’er the tumult of our life’s wild restless sea. Day by day His sweet voice soundeth, saying, “Christian, follow me.”

4. Invitation: 275

Guardian of Truth XXXI: 6, pp. 178-179
March 19, 1987

 

By Irvin Himmel

Editor Charles A. Holt has a ten-page article in the January issue of his Examiner on “Proof of Confusion: Our Corrupted Speech.” This tirade leads the reader through a maze of word games.

What Not To Preach

“Subjects Not Preached” is one of the sub-headings in Editor Holt’s long article. He declares that the apostles and early disciples never preached nor taught on such subjects as the following:

(1) The identity of the Church

(2) The Marks of the True Church

(3) How to Become a Member of the Church

(4) The Worship of the Church

(5) The Organization of the Church

(6) Why I Am a Member of the Church of Christ

(7) How to Grow a Church

(8) How to Start a Church (and they never “started a church”)

(9) Building a Strong Church

(10) The New Testament Church

(11) Church Membership

(12) Church Government

(13) The Authority of the Church

(14) The Mission of the Church

(15) What Church Membership Means

(16) Membership – Its Responsibilities

(17) Salvation and Church Membership

(18) The Undenominational Character of the Church

(19) The Scriptural Name of the Church

(20) Church Finances

(21) The Sufficiency of the Church of Christ

(22) The Autonomy of the Local Church

(23) The Church and the Christian Individual

According to Editor Holt, “To preach on these subjects, the preacher has to do it in piece-meal fashion, a part of a verse here and another verse there. It is to ‘ransack’ the Scriptures, often lifting passages out of context. The basic error is the assumption that such subjects are dealt with at all.”

Example of N.B. Hardeman

After all his castigations and rebukes for our corrupted speech, Holt comes to “The Simple Solution.” He recommends that we “‘preach the word’as it is given in the NT. ” Then he points to the examples of N.B. Hardeman and Foy E. Wallace, Jr.

“N.B. Hardeman was a great preacher in my book,” says Holt. “I thank God that I was able to sit at his feet and listen to him preach and teach the word.” He continues, “Brother Hardeman delivered the message as it is in the Book, simple, yet powerful.”

I, along with hundreds of others still living, sat at the feet of N.B. Hardeman. Frankly, I was never as enamored with Hardeman as were some, and I make no claim of having been one of his better students. But this one thing I know, and Editor Holt knows it too, N.B. Hardeman preached repeatedly on just such subjects as Holt lists as proof of our corrupted speech – subjects which Holt pronounces a “ransacking” of the Scriptures.

In volume 2 of his Tabernacle Sermons, Hardeman preached on subjects such as the following:

The Church – Its Identity

The Church – Its Work

The Church – Its Worship

Why I Am a Member of the Church of Christ

In volume 4 of his Tabernacle Sermons, he preached on subjects which Editor Holt lists as “Subjects Not Preached” by the apostles and early disciples, and of which he says, “The basic error is the assumption that such subjects are dealt with at all.” Hardeman had a lesson on “The Blood-Bought Institution of the New Testament” (note that word “institution”). He preached another sermon on “The Church, ” and in it he told his hearers how to become “members” (note the word which he used).

Hardeman On Organization

In volume 5 of his Tabernacle Sermons, Hardeman again preached on such forbidden subjects as:

The Identity of the Church

The Mission and Work of the Church

Church Organization

In discussing “Church Organization,” Hardeman said, “I am assuming, therefore, that you agree that in the New Testament the church was organized and that there were certain qualifications necessary for all officials.” After discussing deacons, he said, “Another class of officials is called elders, bishops, overseers, pastors, or shepherds and teachers. These various names all designate the same class of officers.” Hardeman did not hesitate to use such terms as “officials” and “officers” and to preach that “in the New Testament the church was organized.”

Editor Holt contends that elders have no “authority,” and nowhere does the New Testament tell us “that their word was final in matters of expediency and judgment” (Examiner, Mar., 1986, p. 10). Hardeman said, “The ultimate decision in all matters of expediency must be left, to the elders, but they are unwise if they do not learn what the wish of the congregation is and then they should respect its wishes” (Tabernacle Sermons, Vol. 5, p. 133).

Hardeman on the Restoration Movement

We are chided by Editor Holt for speaking of “Movements.” He lists a number of these and includes “The Restoration Movement. ” He comments, “You have heard about this one I am sure. Some preachers specialize as experts concerning this movement. They preach on it, write about it, and feature it as something of vital importance to Christians in their relationship to God” (Examiner, Jan., 1987, pp. 8,9).

What is the solution? We need men like N.B. Hardeman! Yet Hardeman preached on the “Aims and Purposes of the Restoration Movement.” Holt says Thomas and Alexander Campbell “never attempted to ‘restore’ the NT church . . . . Hardeman stated that Thomas and Alexander Campbell “decided to cut loose from everything having a human name or human creed and go back to Jerusalem, not for the purpose of trying to reform anything, but for the definite purpose of trying to restore the church of the New Testament” (Tabernacle Sermons, Vol. 5, p. 111).

It seems to me that Hardeman offers little comfort to the positions of Editor Holt, and if the solution to our confusion is to preach like Hardeman, Holt is the fellow who is the most confused of all!

The “Editor” (that word is not found in God’s word) voices opposition to our using the word “Christianity.” He says, “Christianity is not a Bible thing and it is not a Bible name. It is loose talk and gives a very confusing message.” Will he next throw out the word “Bible” on that same basis? It is not used in the Holy Scriptures, and many others books are described by it, such as the Fisherman’s Bible.

By the way, Hardeman freely used that word “Christianity” Which Holt finds objectionable. One of his well-known sermons was entitled, “Christianity – A New Religion” (Tabernacle Sermons, Vol. 5, pp. 71-79).

Hardeman on Examples

Editor Holt offers further proof of our confusion and impure speech that we teach approved examples to be authoritative. His rather pontifical ruling is, “An Apostolic example is never binding! Never! Nowhere in the NT is there the slightest evidence that one is binding” (Examiner, Jan., 1987, p. 14). He wants us to conclude that our preaching and writing about examples, when they are binding and when they are not, only creates confusion. If we only had preachers like N.B. Hardeman, we would solve this whole mess!

But N.B. Hardeman preached that “if you can find an example approved and inspired of God, that concrete example comes to us with all the power and force of divine authority. That is God’s way of teaching.” Hardeman reasoned, “How does God teach us? First, by a direct statement. Second, by approved example. Third, by a necessary inference.” Hardeman went on to explain why we should follow the example of partaking of the Lord’s supper on the first day of the week and why the example of the washing of feet is not to be followed (Tabernacle Sermons, Vol. 4, pp. 52-54). If Holt would study Hardeman’s sermon on “Teaching the Word of God,” he would learn why the Thursday night example of the Lord’s supper is rejected as authoritative for the practice of the church. That example, like the washing of feet, wag given before the church was organized; after the church was established, there is no example of partaking of the Lord’s supper on Thursday night.

If preaching the word as N.B. Hardeman preached it is indeed the solution to confusion, will Editor Holt use his Examiner to declare those great themes on which Hardeman could wax eloquent? If he does, his paper will change directions completely.

Guardian of Truth XXXI: 6, pp. 172-173
March 19, 1987