Truth Magazine

By Jimmy Tuten

Introduction:

A. The “way of salvation” is a two-part series showing what one must do to be saved.

B. The Bible teaches that there is one way of salvation and that one way is Christ, the church (Jn. 14:1-6; Col. 1:18,24). It is called:

1. The “way of holiness” (Isa. 35:8).

2. The straight gate, narrow way (Matt. 7:13-14).

3. A race (Heb. 12:1).

4. A walk (Eph. 4:1, in love; 5:2, in light; 8, 16, circumspectly).

C. In the last lesson we learned the how of getting into the “way of holiness,” and found that certain things are necessary to lead us unto Christ, but only one act can put into Christ (Baptism).

1. To become a Christian one must believe, repent of his sins, confess his faith in Christ and be baptized (Mk. 16:16; Acts 2:38; 8:37).

2. In this lesson we learn what happens when one is baptized.

Body:

I. One is baptized into Christ, the way, the Church (see chart below).

A. Baptism is into Christ (Rom. 6:3), and into the Body, the Church (1 Cor. 12:13; Col. 1:18,24). Therefore one is added to the Church when he is baptized (Acts 2:38,47; 1 Cor. 12:18).

B. The Church is a company of baptized believers. (There is no such thing as getting into a so-called “visible” church one way and then into an “invisible” church another way. The only thing invisible about the church is its head [Christ], and that because He is in heaven sitting at the right hand of God [Acts 2:30-33]. The concept held by many is that by “faith only” one gets into an invisible Church, but must comply with terms not found in the Bible in order to “join” a church of your choice. But whatever Christ is the head of that is what you are baptized into [Acts 2:47; 1 Cor. 12:18, 13].)

C. One publication of “Articles of Faith” (Baptist publication) says: “It is most likely that in the apostolic age when there was but one Lord, one faith, and one baptism, and no differing denominations existed (italics mine, jt), the baptism of a convert by that very act constituted him a member of the Church, and at once endowed him with all rights and privileges of full membership. In that sense, baptism was the door into the Church. Now it is different; while the churches are desirous of receiving members, they are cautious that they do not receive unworthy persons. The churches therefore, have the candidates come before them, give their experiences, and then their reception is decided by a vote of the members” (Hiscox’s Manual, p. 22).

D. Look at the things that are admitted.

1 . That what made one a member of the Lord’s Church in New Testament times, will not make one now.

2. What the Baptist Church does in receiving membership is different from that of the New Testament Church.

3. Membership is decided by a vote of the members rather than the Bible way of obedience to the gospel adding one to the church.

4. The truth is that since the Baptist Church teaches salvation by “faith only” and membership into the Baptist Church by a vote of its people, they take a person who is already a member of the Lord’s church (i.e., if “faith only” saves, for the saved are added to the Church, Acts 2:47) and place him in a denominational church. They take him from the Lord’s Church and put him in the Baptist Church! One is saved by faith and baptism (Mk. 16:16), and as such is placed in the body by the Lord (Acts 2:47; 1 Cor. 12:13,18).

E. Being a member of the Lord’s Church means that one is in the way that leads to life eternal:

1. The Church is the body and all Christians are members of that body (1 Cor. 12:20,27).

2. The Church is the household of God and Christians are children in that family (1 Tim. 3:15; Eph. 2:19).

3. The Church is the Kingdom of God and Christians are citizens in it (Jn. 3:5; Eph. 2:19).

4. The Church is the Temple of God and Christians are living stones therein (Eph. 2:19-22; 1 Pet. 2:5).

II. Reaching our destination as strangers and pilgrims is conditional (Heb. 11:13; 1 Pet. 2:11).

A. Read and study carefully Matt. 28:19-20; 1 Pet. 2:2; Heb. 6: 1; 12:1-3. Observe that having come into the Way of Salvation one must continue therein faithful even unto death (Rev. 2:10). We have the power of God to help (Phil. 1:6).

1. We hope for eternal life (Rom. 8:23-25). This is the receiving of the “end of your faith” (1 Pet. 1:9).

2. The doctrine of “one cannot fall after becoming a Christian” is the doctrine of eternal security of the believer. The Bible does not teach this (1 Cor. 9:27; Gal. 5:14; Heb. 4:1).

B. Look at what can happen as you travel the spiritual highway that leads to heaven:

1. You can neglect the great salvation and be lost eternally (Heb. 2:1-2).

2. You can become unfaithful and go to hell (Rev. 2: 10).

3. Worldliness can overtake you and cause you to go back into the world (1 Jn. 2:15-17; 2 Tim. 4:10).

4. You can backslide (2 Pet. 2:20-22).

5. You can become fruitless (Jn. 15:1-8).

C. Should you fallfrom the Way you cannot be saved in that condition and must repent and confess your sins in order that the blood of Christ would remove your sin (1 Jn. 1:7-9; Acts 8:20-24). There is no forgiveness “even as you sin.” You must cease sin and repent of it (Rev. 2:5,16,25, etc.). Salvation is conditional!

Conclusion:

1. Thus the way of Salvation is demonstrated. We are drifting to eternity’s shore on the sea of time. Our hearts “like muffled drums are beating funeral marches to the grave.” There is no more solemn truth than “no sooner does man begin to live that he does not begin to die.”

2. The body decays day by day, but the Lord stands ready to prepare the soul. By grace are we saved by faith (Eph. 2:8).

Guardian of Truth XXX: 10, pp. 298-299
May 15, 1986

By Edward O. Bragwell, Sr.

Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. Therefore it Is also contained in the Scripture, “Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, elect, precious, and he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.” Therefore, to you who believe, He Is precious; but to those who are disobedient, “The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone,” and “A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense.” They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed (1 Pet. 2:5-9 [NKJVI).

A paper mill came to Counts, Tennessee. After going by it for the first time, I remarked to my brother-in-law about the awful smell. “Doesn’t smell bad to me,” he replied, “Smells like money.” You see, he had a good job with the paper company. That made a difference hard to argue with. We looked at the thing from two different perspectives.

God’s precious, chosen, living stone, Jesus Christ, has never been precious to everyone. To the disobedient, He has always been a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense.(1) Why should the church (“also . . . living stones”) think that it should be any different with it?(2) Yet, some brethren almost go into shock at the least rejection by society at large. They look for ways to change the church to make it more acceptable to their neighbors. They will do nearly anything to make the gospel more palatable to those whom they want to reach. They cannot accept that the gospel, just as it is, does not appeal to everyone. They automatically assume that if it is not producing converts, then it is the fault of the sower rather than the soil. Not necessarily, brother.

We must reconcile ourselves to a basic Bible truth. The gospel teaches that it will offend many people regardless of who preaches it or how it is preached! Surely, Jesus and His chosen apostles knew what to preach and how to preach it. Yet, people rejected their message in mass. What makes us think that we can improve upon their message, manner, or results?

God has deliberately chosen the foolish and weak things of this world to further His good purpose. Because of this “not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called.”(3) In fact, God’s chosen things — His Son, His word, His church — are just down right offensive to society at large in many ways.

Foolishness

There is ample documentary evidence in the gospel records to support the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. If one has a philosophy that denies the possibility of a resurrection, he is not likely to objectively consider the evidence supporting the resurrection of Jesus.

Those of us who believe the gospel evidence must preach it and practice its demands regardless of how others look at it. We must keep our faith in the gospel, teach its plan-of salvation, serve the Lord according to its teaching and live the life-style it demands — even if the world at large does think it all a bunch of foolishness. If we are perverting the gospel, in word or deed, then changes are in order. Such changes must be to conform to Divine wisdom rather than the human wisdom of those who may think the things of the gospel foolish.

Weak

The Lord’s church always looks weak to those who measure by carnal standards. To a world that measures kingdoms’ strength by political influence and military might, the kingdom of God looks awfully weak.(4) Its spiritual and non-political nature does not make it attractive to the carnal mind. If one thinks that financial and social influences are strength, he will think of the church as a weakling. By any carnal standard one measures the membership — whether numerical size, personal charisma (whatever that is), or social standing — the church is going to look weak. Carnally-minded brethren in their efforts to make the church strong really weaken it. What they think to be the church’s weakness is really its strength. In trying to remove the offense from the church, they really are making it offensive to God and Christians who have grown beyond the carnal frame of mind.(5)

I once worked with a church whose leadership measured strength by carnal standards. At the time, thee e were no clues in their practice as to where they would eventually go. The worship, work, and organization were according to the New Testament pattern. Today their practice clearly reflects their ultra-liberalism. Yet, thirty years ago the seed was there in their view of strength and weakness. They felt that, if they could afford as good a building as the “other churches” in town, the community would accept them more — they got the building. If they could just have a preacher that was as well-educated and as good a mixer as the “other preachers” in town then more would accept “the gospel” – eventually they got their preacher. If they could make “our teaching methods” less negative (“different persuasions”) that would gain more members – they reached that goal. If the pulpit and bulletin would just be more positive then we would not turn so many people off, we heard.

Do you know what scares me about remembering all of that? I will just tell you. I am hearing said, almost word for word, some of the things that I heard from those brethren from a few brethren now who think of themselves as conservative.

(I am always positive in my preaching and writing. It is just that sometimes I am positive that some things are wrong and need to be dealt with.)

Hard

People with little or no faith think of the Lord with His teaching and ways as being too hard. His sayings are hard.(6) His requirements are hard. His restrictions are hard. These find little, if anything easy about being a Christian. Consequently many do not attempt being Christians, because they think it is just more than one should be asked to do. It is just too hard. Others, not wanting to go to hell, attempt the task. They have just enough religion to be miserable. They go ahead and “perform their duty” as the Bible teaches but constantly complain about what a hard life Christians like them must live. To such brethren, it will always be a hard way to go.

Yet, there are others who because of their love and devotion for Christ, coupled with a healthy fear of God’s wrath, willingly take up the yoke and follow Christ. They do all the same things that the first group find to be so hard – but to them the yoke is easy and the burden light. To them no command is burdensome.(7)

Dull

If one measures the Lord’s people by the standards of religious activity and fervor spread out before the world today, they come out looking like a pitiful, lifeless, dull bunch. The general public gets its concepts of religion from TV, radio, papers and the sensational churches of today. Brethren see all of this then look at us and decide that we need some kind of life-reviving shot in the arm. They begin to measure our worship by its entertainment, emotional and/or artistic value. They begin to measure our zeal and enthusiasm by the emotionalism and promotionalism. of the professional TV evangelists(?) and/or some fanatical cult. They begin to look for ways to get brethren out of their rut and jumping around with more “signs of life.” We can get into a rut. We can become unenthusiastic. We need our zeal stirred at times. However, I suspect a lot of the calls for more liveliness in our religious activities today to be coming from those influenced more by the carnal standard of sensationalism than by a careful evaluation of our behavior in the light of the Bible.

In reading the New Testament, I don’t get the idea that periods of worship were periods of hand-clapping, footstomping, hip, hip, hooray sessions befitting a school pep rally. Yet, I have been in religious gatherings and have heard some preaching that came mighty close to that pattern.

I get the idea from the New Testament that worship periods were orderly, sober periods of reflection, praise and renewing of the mind.(8) The enthusiasm and zeal being more quietly expressed than I am hearing urged and seeing in some quarters today. If one has studied enough to understand the significance of eating the Lord’s Supper, singing, praying, teaching and giving, it will not become dull. This will not be dull even when not performed to high artistic standards led by a bubbling personality. It will not be dull even if the same people do it the same way, at the same time, week in and week out.

Inadequate

To one who expects the church to “minister to the whole man,” the New Testament church is inadequate. He expects the church to help the community with its social, economic and civil needs. He will think that the church is falling down on the job, if it does not. Any church that fails in this area, to him is inadequate.

To one who understands the New Testament teaching on the spiritual nature of the church and whose chief aim is to prepare for the world to come,(9) the church and its “program” is perfectly adequate.(10)

As God’s chosen people, we do not try to be offensive nor are we afraid to be. We understand that we and the world look at the same things from different perspectives. We need not panic every time someone criticizes our way of doing things or turns and walks with us no more. We must not rework God’s plan to make the church less offensive to those around us.

Even God’s chosen people sometimes become discouraged (Elijah did). Let us understand that while offensive to many, what we do and what we are is precious to God and good brethren. Let us understand that God’s way will be glorified in the end.(11) Let us look honestly at any unhappiness we might have with the church. It may be because we need to change our standard of measurement. We may be measuring its performance by carnal standards.

Yes, in most congregations, there is room for improvement. Things need changing. They need to be changed to make them less offensive to Christ and not to make them any less offensive to the community around them.

The same Stone that is so precious to “you who believe” is to “those who are disobedient” a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense.” Shall we try to reshape the Stone to remove the offense? Or shall we let the world know that it needs to shape up to the image of the Stone?

Endnotes

1. Matt. 15:13,14; John 6:26,60-66.

2. Eph. 1:23 (Church is the fulness of Christ); John 15:18-25.

3. 1 Cor. 1:18-31; 3:1-16.

4. John 18:36; 2 Cor. 10:4-6.

5. 1 Cor. 3:1-3.

6. John 6:60-66.

7. Matt. 11:28-30; 1 John 5:3-5.

8. Rom. 12:1,2; 1 Cor. 14.

9. 2 Cor. 4:17-5:12.

10. Eph. 4:11-16.

11. 1 Pet. 2:12.

Guardian of Truth XXX: 10, pp. 306-307
May 15, 1986

By Irvin Himmel

Decorated But Devoid Of Discretion

As a jewel of gold in a swine’s snout, so is a fair woman which is without discretion (Prov. 11:22).

This pithy comparison grabs one’s attention. It is provocative of thought. The point of the proverb is grasped readily.

Beauty

Many women have a strong interest in physical beauty. Charm schools do a big business. The ambition of a lot of teenage girls is to learn charm and poise, to improve their appearance, and maybe even get to be a beauty queen, a model, or a popular actress.

Companies which make and sell cosmetics are finding a large market for their products. Females buy eyeshadow, false eyelashes, preparations to tone the skin and remove blemishes and wrinkles, shampoos that are supposed to give luster, vitality, and softness to the hair, rinses to change the color of the hair, preparations to color the cheeks, lips, and nails, weight reducing equipment, special foods that are supposed to help keep the figure trim, foundation garments to conceal bulges and to accent femininity, and a variety of other beauty aids. Who knows how many millions of dollars American women spend annually to upgrade their physical appearance!

True beauty is a precious possession. The proverb admits that beauty is like a jewel of gold. But it should be remembered that physically beauty will not endure long. A lovely face may be marred permanently in an accident. Sickness, suffering, and old age are destroyers of comeliness in appearance. Bodies once considered gorgeous and vivacious are now rotting in the grave. Some girls who are as pretty as a peach in their teens will look quite homely by the time they are forty. And if physical beauty is not diminished sooner, it will be gone when death overtakes the mortal body.

Genuine physical beauty, like all other temporal blessings, must be considered as a gift from God. However, no one should be honored for having a fair countenance, good health, or a strong body; and no one should be despised because of lack of beauty, or for bodily weakness, or for physical deformity.

Things More Important Than Beauty

It is commendable that a woman wants to appear neat and presentable, but outward beauty is not nearly as important as the following:

(1) Honor. “A gracious woman retaineth honor. . . ” (Prov. 11:16). Many women, even in their youth, exchange honor for shame, virtue for disgrace, and moral principle for fleshly lusts. A woman who has true graciousness deserves and will receive honor.

(2) Meek and quiet spirit. Cosmetics and ornaments may add to physical charm, but the heart is where real beauty must be found. Peter encouraged women who were Christians to let their adorning be “the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price” (1 Pet. 3:3,4). It was in this manner that godly women of ancient days adorned themselves. Thousands of modern women give no attention whatever to this highly important kind of adorning.

(3) Fear of God. “Favor is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised” (Prov. 31:30). A lot of men are drawn to beautiful women, even if they are women of loose morals. How deceitful is physical charm! Solomon warned his son about this kind of woman who would entice him into an illicit relation. “Lust not after her beauty in thine heart; neither let her take thee with her eyelids” (Prov. 6:25). How different today’s society would be if more women feared God!

(4) Discretion. This word (as used in our text) means taste, perception, intelligence, judgment, or understanding (see Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance). It refers especially to moral taste. A woman may appear as a gorgeous doll and be devoid of the understanding and judgment which would make her a vessel of honor before God.

Hog Jewelry

Swine are associated with uncleanness, rudeness, and shamelessness. Coarse in appearance, a pig is only a brute beast. Nothing could be more incongruous than putting a gold ring or decorative ornament in a swine’s snout. The animal will go right on wallowing and rooting in the mire.

A woman may be outwardly beautiful, but without discretion she is like a jewel of gold in a hog’s snout. Beauty without perception of what is right in God’s sight is utterly worthless. To the female who disregards modesty and principle, beauty is no more than hog jewelry.

Guardian of Truth XXX: 10, p. 301
May 15, 1986

By Kenneth Thomas

Several times in the last few years, some brother in Christ has attempted to entice me to overlook some doctrinal problem. existing in a local congregation of the Lord’s people, due to the fact as they have expressed it, “There have always been problems in the churches of Christ, and there always will be. Don’t you know that you will never find a perfect congregation? Why, just look at the church at Corinth, they were addressed as belonging to God and Christ even though so many problems existed there . . . and consider the churches in Asia addressed in the Revelation letter. . .”

Can’t one see what such statements are designed to do? It is an attempt to whitewash, to overlook and not deal with existing problems among Christ’s people today for whatever the reason may be. It could be that the one making a statement like the above is completely sincere (I believe some sincere brethren have so spoken to me) and just haven’t thought out the consequences of such a statement.

When Paul addressed the “church of God” at Corinth, he commended the good that was present among them and proceeded to speak of the problems which were to be addressed and dealt with. He wrote a second epistle and said, “For to this end I also wrote, that I might put you to the test, whether you are obedient in all things” (2 Cor. 2:9, NKJV). Of course we all know that one can only act on what knowledge one has at any given time. They were instructed as to the nature of the problems and were consequently expected by God to deal with them after a reasonable period of time if they expected to be considered as “obedient in all things,” hence faithful to Christ (Jas. 2:10; 2 Jn. 9-11; Gal. 1:6-9; Tit. 3:10; 1 Thess. 5:21; 1 Jn. 4:1-2).

We can learn the answer more completely by looking at other Bible examples such as the writings of John to the churches of Asia. John said to the church at Ephesus after commending the good that remained there, “Nevertheless I have somewhat (one thing) against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from whence you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your candlestick from its place, unless you repent” (Rev. 2:4-5). Their identity as belonging to Christ was in jeopardy if they did not correct this one thing! See also Revelation 2:21.

I have an idea (and with good reason) that the above heading characterizes some of my brethren who serve as gospel preachers, elders and deacons in some local churches of the Lord. They fear man. They don’t want to lose their income and wish to be well thought of by all. They are men pleasers who do not really have their brethren’s best spiritual interest at heart. The wise man said, “He who rebukes a man will find more favor afterward than he who flatters with the tongue” (Prov. 28:23). Jude speaks of people who will “flatter people to gain advantage” (Jude 16). “We have brethren today who do the same. The Hebrew writer wrote, “for whom the Lord loves he chastens, and scourges every son whom he receives” (Heb. 12:5-6). The way the Lord chastens and scourges today is through the rebuke and admonition given by brethren who love us enough to attempt to convert us when we stray. As the Hebrew writer also stated, this chastening isn’t joyful when received, but afterwards it “yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it” (Heb. 12:11, NKJV). See also James 5:19-20; Ephesians 6:1-2.

Luther was a great man with much courage and conviction. Sadly he died before he could come to a knowledge of the truth but he led folks a step in the right direction and was willing to lay his own life on the line to defend what he understood to be the truth of Christ. I wish we had more members of the body of Christ today with the same resolve as Luther had, especially among elders and preachers. Luther’s great statement I am about to quote sure sounds differently than some of my brethren. He said, “If I profess with the loudest voice and the clearest exposition every portion of the truth of God except precisely that little point which the world and the devil are at that moment attacking (emp. mine ket), I am not confessing Christ, however boldly I may be professing Christ.”

I have been preaching Christ for over 25 years now and in that period of time have observed some things I think should be considered by thinking brethren. First, let me say over that period of time, I have known and still know of many faithful saints as well as elders, deacons and preachers who stand fast for the truth and live for Christ with a dedication which cannot be questioned. What I shall say in the negative therefore is not intended as an indictment of all individuals or congregations who consider themselves conservative.

It seems to me from observation that 0 too many institutionally conservative brethren consider every individual and congregation of brethren who stand opposed to “institutionalism” and the sponsoring eldership and the social gospel, “conservative” regardless of the other problems known to exist with the same lack of scriptural authority. Why? I must admit I really do not know.

Example: Some supposedly “conservative, sound” congregations have men serving as elders and deacons when many in the congregation and the men themselves know that they aren’t scripturally qualified according to 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1. I am aware that some things relative to the qualifications call for judgment and must be decided on the congregational level. I am not thinking of such in the above statement. I speak of out and out qualifications not present in the men who are serving and have served. The most blatant example I can think of is an elder, a close personal friend of this writer who served for years knowing that he was unable to convict and convince the gainsayer, to stop the mouths of the subverters and watch out for wolves desirous of scattering the flock (Tit. 1:9-11; Acts 20:28-32). He told me, and these are his own words, “Ken, I knew when I was asked to served that I was not qualified; but the preacher, brother _________ said that if I didn’t agree to serve we would not have an eldership and the ‘liberals’ would end up with the church building. So I decided to serve and I have just done the best that I knew how.” I said, both privately and publicly, that was the poorest reason I had ever heard to ask a brother to jeopardize his soul to serve when he knows he is not qualified and to organize a congregation unscripturally just to save some brick and mortar; souls are such more important. . . . They should have been given the building under those circumstances and the faithful start over. Paul long ago settled the matter of the end justifying the means. He said, “God forbid, or may it never be” (Rom. 3:7-8; Gal. 2:17).

An individual or a congregation does not have to break all of the commandments of the Lord to be law breakers (Jas. 2: 10), and the “law of liberty” is a law and we will be judged by the law of Christ (Jas. 2:9-12; 1:21-25). So “one thing” unrepented of and unforgiven makes one guilty before Christ.

Another Example. What would you think of a preacher and the congregation who would baptize a person knowing that he was a Free Mason of the 32 degree variety and not command repentance from such error? Well, how about if after months he is still actively involved and is still used in the local congregation to lead singing, prayer, serve at the Lord’s table and was appointed to a committee to see into some of the functions of the local congregation on their behalf9 Question: Would you still consider the preacher and the other brethren who know of this as “conservative”?

How many acts of disobedience were the following guilty of before coming under God’s condemnation?

1. Adam and Eve (Gen. 2:1-18).

2. Cain (Gen. 4:1-7a).

3. Nadab and Abihu (Lev. 10:14).

4. Uzzah (2 Sam. 6:6-8).

5. Moses and Aaron (Num. 20:9-12).

6. King Saul (1 Sam. 15).

7. Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-10).

Having said all of the foregoing, no, I do not believe in sinless perfection nor salvation by works of human merit. I’m sure that Christ will make allowances for our inability to have perfect knowledge and make perfect application to our lives of everything we should know and be. I have no idea how much or what it may be, so no list will be forthcoming, but without the grace of God being supplied none of us would be pleasing to Christ. As someone said, “we need mercy not justice.” Justice would condemn us all. It is only by mercy (forgiveness through blood) that any of us stands acceptable before Christ. But brethren, we dare not call congregations “sound” or “conservative” if they persist knowingly in religious error, nor simply because they are institutionally conservative. There are other ways of perverting the organization and work of the churches of our Lord, all of which must be avoided as much as humanly possible.

Guardian of Truth XXX: 10, pp. 304-305
May 15, 1986