Truth Magazine

By Tom Roberts

Introduction: Throughout the Bible, much emphasis is put on blood and its connection to man’s salvation through sacrifices.

A. First mention: Gen. 4:1-5 (Note – Heb. 11:4; Rom. 10:17) – Cain and Abel.

B. Rev. 5:5-6 – on the opposite end of Bible.

C. Countless times in between: daily, weekly, monthly and yearly sacrifices. Rivers of blood from altars. Heb. 10:1-3 – “Continual offerings.”

D. Outstanding example: Ex. 12:1-14 – Passover (1 Cor. 5:7b – Jesus Christ, our Passover).

E. Mt. 26:26-29 – blood of the covenant (1 Cor. 11:25).

Why this emphasis on blood? Why not emphasize prayer, money, lineage, tribes? However, there is a connection between blood and our salvation.

I. Life is connected with blood; sin with death.

A. Gen. 9:4; Lev. 17:10-11,14.

B. Man is a living being – blood is the source of life. II. Sin brings about death (Rom. 3:23; 6:23).

II. Sin brings about death (Rom. 3:23; 6:23).

A. The soul that sins shall die (Ezek. 18:4,20; Isa. 59:1-2).

B. I sinned; I must die; my blood must be shed.

1. Life and blood speak of man’s original condition before God.

2. Sin and death speak of man’s condition after the Fall.

C. Unless something can be done to spare me, my life (blood) is forfeited for my sins.

III. A way of escape foretold.

A. Gen. 4:1-5 – the sacrifice of Abel accepted; Cain’s rejected.

1. Cain may not have realized that his bloodless sacrifice destroyed a future symbolism; however, he acted without faith (Rom. 10:17).

2. Abel may not have realized that his bloody sacrifice met the future symbolism; however, he acted by faith (Heb. 11:4).

B. It is the way of a substitute.

1. Gen. 25:1-19.

2. Abraham might not have known the future symbolism of Christ being offered for our sins but he acted from faith (Heb. 11:17ff).

3. Isaac’s life was saved by the substitute ram, a bloody offering.

IV. Christ and His Death (Blood) is our substitute; His life given for ours.

A. Rom. 3:25-26.

B. Rom. 5:9,10.

C. Eph. 1:7; 2:13.

D. Heb. 9:7-14, 22-26.

E. 1 Jn. 1:7.

V. Baptism in the plan of redemption.

A. We must contact the blood that was shed for us to have life.

B. This is done when we are buried in baptism (Rom. 6:1-7).

Conclusion: Knowing why God demands a bloody sacrifice magnifies His grace, points out the sinfulness of sin and our inability to solve our dilemma by our own efforts.

Guardian of Truth XXX: 6, p. 170
March 20, 1986

By Author Unknown

Vital to the smooth operation of any local establishment of the Lord’s church is a devoted person who has no title, holds no office, and has no authority save that of an ordinary Christian. Yet this person holds the power to disrupt or to expedite the most carefully laid plans and the most important works of the church. This quiet but influential person is an elder’s wife.

Elder’s wives come in a variety of shapes, sizes, colors and textures. She can usually be found long after the services are over, sitting in a parked car by herself . . . waiting, or in an empty, unheated auditorium after the crowd has gone . . . waiting. She gets a lot of Bible reading done this way, and she knows where all the songs are in the hymn book.

She knows the loneliness of long evenings at home while her husband is out trying to correct other people’s troubles. She is alone because her children are usually old enough to be occupied with their own pursuits, if they have not left home altogether. So she occupies her time with busy work and waits.

An elder’s wife must be as staunch as a rock, as busy as a beaver, as quiet as a mouse, as biblically informed as a preacher, as flexible as a rubber band, and as patient as a mother of triplets.

She must know how to change her plans without notice, how to keep a meal hot and tasty for two hours after it was ready to serve, how to hold her temper (and her tongue) when people criticize her husband, and, most of all, how to use time profitably while she waits for her husband to get out of a prolonged conference.

Hers is the frustration of knowing little and being able to tell even less, when people expect her to know all and tell it. She knows the heartache of watching her man wrestling with a problem not of his own making and which he cannot discuss . . . even with her. Hers is the responsibility of setting an example of faithful Christian wifeliness, not because anyone wants or intends to follow it but simply because her husband is an elder. She has the burden of knowing that, of all the positions and offices in the Lord’s church, her husband occupies one of the two or three whose qualifications depend on the character and caliber of his wife as well as of himself.

An elder’s wife likes a peaceful church, worship services, Bible classes, pot-lucks, children, younger women, going visiting with her husband, opportunities to serve, company, a night when her husband has nowhere to go, getting to go home when church is over, short business meetings, people who don’t cause trouble.

An elder’s wife worries about what people think of her husband, what people think of her, what people think about her husband because of her, whether her children are faithful as she taught them to be, church members who aren’t faithful, whether the roast in the oven at home is going to burn before her husband gets out of that unscheduled meeting which was called for “not more than five minutes” a half-hour ago.

Her life is hard, but she wouldn’t have it any other way. She loves the Lord with all her heart and feels the warm glow of satisfaction that comes from knowing that she dedicated not only herself, but even her home, her husband and her family to the service of God and the betterment of His kingdom. She knows that she has a reward in heaven, and she is willing to do more of that which she has already learned to do so well . . . wait.

And even if there were no heavenly crown to look forward to, all the trials of body and spirit become trivial by comparison when a man of God, exhausted from long hours of tending the Master’s flock, comes home late at night, takes her in his arms, and says, “I just couldn’t make it without you!”

– Submitted by Donald Willis

Guardian of Truth XXX: 7, pp. 193, 196
April 3, 1986

By Irvin Himmel

Introduction

Proverbs is a book of practical wisdom. Succinct sayings condense this wisdom so that is stirs interest and sticks in the memory. There is a blending of wit that makes wisdom sparkle.

John R. Sampey correctly notes that “wisdom” in this book “includes intellectual insight, practical conduct, and piety.” I like to think of Proverbs as a book of down-to-earth heavenly wisdom.

J. Sidlow Baxter describes the general message of the book as Prudence through Precept. ” A.F. Walls calls it “a book of discipline” which touches on every department of life.

Robert L. Alden compares the book of Proverbs to medicine – often needed but not in large doses. “The ‘stuff of Proverbs has already been distilled so that its advice comes to us in highly concentrated form. These sage tidbits have been boiled down, trimmed, honed, polished, and sharpened to where a little goes a long way.”

The technicalities of the book of Proverbs (literary forms, date of writing, authorship, etc.) have not been my concern in the material appearing in Guardian of Truth. I have selected a sampling of what the book offers. The particular proverbs on which I have written deal with a variety of subjects. My aim has been to probe these pointed gems of wisdom, outlining and illustrating ways in which they are applicable today.

Although I have done precious little preaching on Proverbs, the book is rich with sermon starters. Perhaps some who read Guardian of Truth will be challenged by its contents to take a fresh look at an Old Testament book which provides seed ready for sowing.

The book of Proverbs is refreshingly different. Its approach demands reflection. Its thoughts are crisp. Its spiritual tone enriches. Its instructions are useful. Its communication is profound. Charmed by its colorful comparisons and contrasts, one is led to drink of its prudence.

Knowledge Begins With Reverence

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction” (Prov. 1:7).

This gem from the gold mine of Proverbs sometimes is considered the motto for the entire book.

Fear of Jehovah

To the minds of some individuals the word “fear” denotes dread, terror, alarm, or fright. They think of that which disquiets or horrifies. This is not the kind of fear which God wants us to have.

The fear which God teaches us to have toward Him is awe 12:13). or reverence, adoration and respect. This holy fear is linked closely with love.

As a young preacher, I once sat in a class of older men on Sunday morning and witnessed a heated discussion between two brethren on the subject of fear and love. One affirmed that mature Christians serve God out of love, not fear; the other argued that fear is the strongest motive for service. Neither bothered to define “fear.” The fear that perfect love casts out (1 Jn. 4:18) is not reverence, but rather the fear that hath torment, that is, dread of horror.

To love God with all the heart, soul, strength, and mind necessitates reverence and respect. This is the “fear of the Lord” that brings blessings to us. “O fear the Lord, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him” (Psa. 34:9).

Fear and trust go together. “O Israel, trust thou in the Lord: he is their help and their shield. . . Ye that fear the Lord, trust in the Lord: he is their help and their shield” (Psa. 115:11).

Reverential fear should be displayed in worship. David said, “But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple” (Psa. 5:7).

Fear is shown in keeping God’s commandments. “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man” (Eccl. 12:13).

Fear is essential to acceptance with God. Peter said, “Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him” (Acts 10:34,35).

People transgress when there is “no fear of God before their eyes” (Rom. 3:18).

The fear of God molds one’s character. As William Gurnall expressed it, “As the sculpture is on the seal, so will the print of the wax be; if the fear of God be deeply engraven on thy heart, there is no doubt but it will make a suitable impression on the duty thou performest.”

Peter packed a lot of thought into a few words when he wrote, “Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king” (1 Pet. 2:17). To be a Christian one must be a God-fearing individual.

Beginning of Knowledge

The Hebrew word translated “beginning” may mean “the principal part” (marginal note). It is true that the fear of the Lord is the chief part of knowledge. One who has never learned to fear God, no matter what else he has learned, is very much an ignoramus.

The word rendered in English as “beginning” may also mean the starting point or initial step. Indeed, the foundation of true knowledge is the fear of God. Knowledge which is not built on that fear is worthless. Parents ought to teach their children to fear the Lord before they send them off to school to learn reading, writing, and arithmetic. And the best way to teach this godly fear is by example.

“Of all things that are to be known this is most evident, that God is to be feared, to be reverenced, served, and worshiped; this is so the beginning of knowledge that those know nothing who do not know this” (Matthew Henry).

Scoffing Fools

Our English word “fool” translates a number of different Hebrew words, so it does not always have the same shade of meaning.

A “fool” may mean a boaster or one who makes a show (Psa. 75:4). It may mean a stupid or silly person (Prov. 1:22,32). It may mean a wicked person (Prov. 17:7). It may mean a thickheaded person (Eccl. 2:19; 10:3).

In Proverbs 1:7, “fool” means one who is evil or perverse. This is the type of fool who is mean enough to despise wisdom and instruction. He does not wish to be told about his conduct, therefore he scorns wisdom and instruction. His love of darkness prompts him to hate the light. He is the fool of all fools!

Realizing that the fear of Jehovah is the beginning of knowledge, let us walk in the fear of the Lord (Acts 9:31). Let us pass the time of our sojourning here in fear (1 Pet. 1: 17). Let us perfect holiness in the fear of God (2 Cor. 7: 1). Let us submit ourselves one to another in the fear of God (Eph. 5:21).

Guardian of Truth XXX: 6, pp. 176-177
March 20, 1986

By David McClister

In the previous article of this short series we noted that Jesus was very much concerned about the kind of influence He left before others, and He even refrained from activities in which He could have engaged simply because He was careful not to leave a wrong impression. Some stumbled in spite of Jesus’ perfect walk, but that was not at all intentional on Jesus’ part.

The third type of behavior we wish to examine in the light of Jesus’ example (the two already studied are morally questionable behavior and causing others to sin) also has to do with Jesus’ relations with others.

Would Jesus Live Day-To-Day Thinking Only Of Himself?

One of the most obvious features of the life of Christ was its lack of selfishness. Christ lived a life of giving to others, not of taking for self. He constantly thought about His fellow-man and his well-being, and He put that concern above the concern He had for Himself. It was this very quality which enabled Him to endure the cross for the sins of the world.

But this unselfish quality was not apparent only in the great things Christ did. We see it in everything He did. In Matthew 4, when He was tempted by Satan, He was prodded to think only of Himself (and His physical hunger), and to think of His own pride (and thus receive the kingdoms of the world). But in this hour, when He was not vulnerable, He still refused to think only of Himself. Had He thought of Himself and given in to Satan’s requests even in the least, it would have made it impossible for Him to be our Savior. Jesus is my Savior because He thought of me and my sin problem more than He thought of Himself; because He sacrificed His own comfort for the sake of my well-being. It might have seemed harmless to make just a small cake of bread for Himself, but to do even that would have meant that He was thinking of Himself first. Jesus was triumphant and He is Savior and Lord because He always thought of others. He lived for the sinner, not for self.

There is a single word which describes this attitude of Jesus perfectly. It is the Word love (in the sense of the Greek word agape). Everything Jesus did was motivated by His great love for the lost. In fact, it was the very reason He was sent (Jn. 3:16). What is this love Agape is that attitude (it is not primarily an emotion) which causes us to took for the good of others above our own good. It is that characteristic which causes us to sacrifice our pleasure for the welfare of another. This great love was a quality which lay deep in the heart of Christ and which consequently affected everything He did. It was nothing superficial, to be sure. If we are to be copiers of the example of Christ, then we must instill this same love for our fellow-man deep within us and allow it to govern our every thought and move.

The apostle Paul has given us the grandest description of true love to be found.

Love suffereth long, and is kind; love envietb not; love vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not its own, is not provoked, taketh no account of evil; rejoiceth not in unrighteousness, but rejoiceth with the truth; beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things (1 Cor. 13:4-7).

Note how the lack of any kind of selfishness pervades every characteristic of love which Paul mentions. It is this love which Jesus demands of all of His followers (Jn. 13:34-35). No one can say that he is a disciple of the Lord if he does not love his brethren or his fellow-man; if he will not sacrifice his own interests for the good of others, and do this every hour of every day (for such is the example of Christ). Love is not a once-ina-while thing; it works in all things all the time, and it is restlessly active (see 1 Jn. 3:13-18). Our Lord Himself said that unselfish love for all men is what makes a man like God (Matt. 5:43-48).

The point is clear. Jesus never thought only of Himself, and we, therefore, should put away all selfishness and replace it with love.

Conclusion

If we are going to be followers of Jesus, then we must follow His example in all things, It is not a matter of following 90 percent of His example, or even 99 percent of it. The Lord desires that our obedience be just as complete as we can possibly make it. The rich young man learned this truth the hard way (Matt. 19:16-22). If we truly follow Him, we will keep ourselves pure, set the right example before others, and exercise love towards all.

Guardian of Truth XXX: 6, p. 172
March 20, 1986