Truth Magazine

By Bill Cavender

Dear Brethren ________ and _________,

Your letters to me, which were published in the 4 July 1985 issue of Guardian of Truth, were greatly appreciated. Thank you for “pressing your thoughts and conveying some of your problems to me. Many of the events and problems in your lives at this time are common to most young preachers and, in fact, to older ones as well, in many cases. All too often older people turn a deaf ear to the thoughts of the young, and older brethren are many times far too prone to dismiss, without consideration, the problems, hurts, feelings, discouragements, temptations and judgments of younger brethren and preachers. We all have a great deal to learn from each other-if we will listen. Churches and families have been greatly hurt at times because a “generation gap” and a “communication gap” were allowed to develop between older and younger brethren, and between parents and their children. Several years ago, I was in a meeting with a church where some excellent and talented younger men were appealing to the elders for training classes, for special Bible classes to study various topics, and for opportunities to use their talents and to be teachers of classes, and to do some preaching when the local preacher was away. The elders turned a deaf ear to these appeals; the preacher was evidently too lazy or unconcerned to work with these young men as he was involved in secular projects of his own, and frustration and discouragement resulted. After a while there was a division in that congregation and over half the church left, began meeting separately, and have grown in number and in spirituality. My impressions were and my opinion is that the elders simply did not know how to lead people in Christ, how to use and develop the talents of souls entrusted to their care and oversight, and how to listen to others, especially younger people, and profit by what they might say.

Being well over twenty-five years older than both of you and the father of four grown sons (three married, one still single), and the grandfather of three grandchildren, I have found that some of the best lessons I have learned in more recent years have been from my own sons, as well as from other young people whom I have met and worked with in local church work and in my travels in meeting work. I find, and have found, many, many upright, excellent, noble young people and young families, in all parts of the country, who are intent on living soberly, righteously and godly in this present world and in serving God in their homes, work and/or businesses, and professions. I only wish there were more of such young people than there are. Yet all these young people, even though not preachers as such, are having problems similar to yours and oftentimes are having difficulties in finding their places and work in God’s kingdom where they can serve well, develop themselves spiritually, and be happy as Christians.

“There is no age . . . in which people . . . do not have their hurts and heartaches, problems and perplexities . . . All of us have to learn to trust in God (Prov. 3:5-6), press on, walk by faith, deal with our problems and set-backs and successes as best we can . . . do(ing) our best to serve God and be faithful to Him as His children in His kingdom. . . .”

Our younger brethren have come up in difficult times. An almost completely materialistic society,- an emphasis on things which money can buy as a means to happiness, rather than contentment of heart and peace of mind by doing God’s will; a “sexual revolution” in which nudity, immorality, pre-marital sex, extra-martial sex, so-called situation ethics and homosexuality are condoned, winked-at and glorified as being acceptable and proper behavior in the sight of God and man, in opposition to the purity, virtue, modesty, decency and lifetime commitment in marriage which God’s word teaches; wars, hatreds, genocides, mass killings of the unborn through abortions; strains and stresses between nations and individuals instead of peace and love of our fellow human beings; lying, hypocrisy, dishonesty and political chicanery in high places have caused deep, widespread doubt, distrust, and disillusionment with the very foundations of orderly society, law and government; major and steady increases in crime and violence have made many despair of their basic rights to life, liberty, happiness and ownership of property; education which is skeptical, humanistic and godless, debasing humans made in God’s image to descendants and offspring of animals; glorifying science and human wisdom as the answers to our needs and leaving the masses and multitudes without a knowledge of God and without a conscience against evil; these, and other components of this present evil world (Gal. 1:4; Tit. 2:11-12), have caused the young to doubt, to waste their precious, God-given lives in futility and vanity, and to have no certain objectives and goals in life.

Besides those conditions and circumstances without, have been the conditions within the kingdom of Christ which have been so hurtful and so far-reaching in their disastrous results. Youngsters of my own children’s ages have been subject to all the problems, heartaches, stresses and divisions which occurred among the brethren-and are often still occurring (sometimes foolishly and needlessly). The terrible tragedies of the forties, fifties and even into the sixties, of divisions in the churches over institutionalism, centralization of power and money in certain churches and elders, liberalism in doctrine and a spirit of apology toward err; all the ostracisms, strifes, alienations, broken friendships and fellowships, divided friends and families; the present, continual tendency and drift of liberal, institutional churches to become more liberal in doctrine and practice, and modernistic in attitude toward God’s word, and more friendly to and closely associated with denominations, especially the Christian Churches and Disciples of Christ; the drift of “conservative,” “faithful” churches into a shell of isolation and opinionism, magnifying opinions and so-called “conscientious scruples” into doctrine and matters of the faith with all their resulting suspicions, arguments, divisiveness and alienations; worldiness (social drinking, dancing, mixed swimming, filthy movies and television, immodest and indecent dress, etc.), and indifference, a lack of real concern for lost souls and a lack of sincere spirituality, dominate in many “faithful” churches; a lack of high-quality, scripturally qualified leadership in elders, deacons, and preachers, and real work and aggressiveness to save souls; all these and many other internal factors have been discouraging to young people and many have not obeyed the gospel or have become unfaithful to Christ, skeptical, and even doubting the worth of salvation, the church, and of worship of God and work in His kingdom. Young people have told me various times of a “double standard” they see: piety and sincerity at the meetinghouse, but worldiness and inconsistent conduct and language at home among their parents and among older brethren; admonitions, warnings and even dis-fellowship of some brethren by elders and preachers, yet others go freely on in unfaithfulness and indifference with never a reprimand; use of some people in public services and class teaching whose habits and conduct are questionable, yet refusal to use others at all because of some fault or weakness they might have; a double standard in preaching where we preachers really “bear down” on some subjects but ignore sins and subjects which are equally as prevalent and damning.

I write all the above, brethren, to let you know that I think I am somewhat aware of the thinking and problems of young people, the perplexities of the times in which we are living, and the difficulties you face. Many of the afore-mentioned matters are, in my judgment, the reasons why we think as we think and do as we do, but it is still forever true that “the way of a man is not in himself.- it is not in man that walketh to direct his own steps” (Jer. 10:23) and that “the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God, for it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain ” (1 Cor. 3:18-20). We all must realize that all people in all places in every generation have had their hard times, and difficulties and discouragements of those times. The Bible is God’s history of men and women as they lived their fives before Him, striving against sin (some of them), and learning to live by faith and in righteousness in the midst of a sin-cursed world. We have never encountered many of the hindrances faced and conquered by our brethren who walked by faith in the olden days (Heb. 11:1-40). We have not resisted unto blood, striving against sin, that I know of (Heb. 12:4). Those preachers and brethren of my generation and age had the great depression, lack of material goods (my father never owned a car in all my growing-up years), hard work with little income, fears among nations resulting in World War II (with the likes of Hitler, Mussolini, Hirohito, Stalin, etc.), military service, trying to get a bit of education, etc. Within the churches of our Lord (I was a Methodist until February, 1946) were the gigantic errors of premillennialism, and then the rise of institutionalism, and centralization of money, power, planning and oversight into the hands of a few powerful churches, elderships and institutions. There is no age, generation or time in which people, in the church and out, do not have their hurts and heartaches, problems and perplexities, and great discouragements and decisions. All of us have to learn to trust in God (Prov. 3:5-6), press on, walk by faith, deal with our problems and set-backs and successes as best we can, and keep on doing our best to serve God and be faithful to Him as His children in His kingdom (Heb. 12:28). To walk by faith is to keep on keeping on and not shrink back to perdition (Heb. 10:32-39).

Your plans for education, financial self-sufficiency, to make your own way without support and wages from brethren if need be, to preach regardless, and to prepare for service as elders are worthy goals you have set for yourselves. I hope you will persevere. I pray God will bless you and will attain that for which you strive, in harmony with God’s revealed will and by His good providential care for His children. But do not be overly disappointed nor discouraged if you see your life slipping away and some of your goals, plans and hopes remaining unfulfilled and unrealized. One lifetime in this world, be it threescore or fourscore years (Psa. 90:9-10; Gen. 47:7-10), is not time enough to go in many directions and to become proficient in many things. Those who do the best work, in the over-all view, in God’s kingdom as teachers, preachers, elders and Christians, are those who begin early and young in their years and pursue their service to God all their days, not turning to the right hand nor to the left. Paul’s instruction to Timothy to “give thyself wholly to them ” (1 Tim. 4:15, please read the context of 1 Tim. 4:6-16), is excellent inspired teaching, wisdom and advice.

I think all preachers, especially young preachers, when they experience the initial hurts and heartaches of preaching, when they are mistreated by either malicious or unthinking brethren, when they are opposed or ignored instead of helped and encouraged, think in the same ways that I know I did, and that many of my closest preacher friends did. As a young preacher I also had hurts and heartaches, disappointments, oppositions and discouragements (and still do at times), and I saw the inconsistencies and hypocrisies in many brethren and how they deal with preachers, and I saw many who didn’t seem to understand or even care. So I determined, as a young preacher, to get some education, teach school, own my own home and a little farm, live in one area all my life, not subject my children to moving about, teaching and preaching God’s word wherever I could, and being a preacher-elder among people I would live with and know all my life. But it didn’t work that way. I received some education (I could stand a lot more I think), never owned a farm, owned one home briefly, never lived in one area all my life, did subject my children to moving about, and have never worked with and known the same people all my adult life. Instead I’ve lived to see that God had other plans for me and that it would not have been best for me or my family had I done what I thought in my early years. I have been enabled to do more work in Christ’s kingdom, more preaching and have more influence for good (I hope) than if the plans of my early years had been fulfilled. You men are both young in years, having your children, and still finding your ways along through life and in the church. You will change your minds and your plans many times in the next ten, twenty and thirty years, if you live. Some ideas, ideals and convictions will be changed as you live and learn from life and from the word of God. The years change and temper us quite a bit, helping us by our experiences and knowledge of God’s will, to sort out, add, eliminate and change things of more or lesser importance to us in our quest for eternal life, and in the rearing of our children and our building of a good family life and marital relationship.

I appreciate your love for the truth of God, for the church of Christ, and for the souls of the lost. Your willingness to preach the gospel and work where you can, in the cities, in the country, in the towns and villages of the world, is most commendable. My first years of preaching were in the small areas and places, in the country and in the villages, and since then, in an instance or two, in the cities. Meeting work has carried me over most of the USA and into one foreign country on two occasions. I still love to go back to the rural, country, small town places and churches. My roots and raising were there. I suppose I will ever be a small town, country person at heart. I have always held meetings on a “first-come, first-served” basis, regardless of the largeness or smallness of a congregation. I believe preachers ought to help, work and teach wherever they can. What you have to say about older, more experienced preachers going out into the “boondocks” and young men like you working with strong churches and elderships has much merit. I hope to discuss that matter in a later article in this series of “letters” to both of you. Faithfully yours in Christ, Bill Cavender.

Guardian of Truth XXIX: 16, pp. 488-489, 499
August 15, 1985

By S. Leonard Tyler

We seem to listen at times with a corrective, critical, or belittling attitude rather than a seeking, learning, admiring, and appreciative disposition. Criticism has her rightful place in studying God’s word. But criticism does not stand at the top of the ladder. It is not the most valued asset in teaching or learning.

Faults must be willingly corrected by the person committing them. You and I (if we are not the guilty party) should strive diligently, tenderly, patiently, and prayerfully to help the stumbling one understand his or her blunder that correction may be made voluntarily to regain the footing and to be more perfectly informed.

We must refrain from exhibiting “the judge of all spirits” attitude or making a special display of our great wisdom. Humility is still a characteristic quality of a Christian. Wisdom is manifested not only in a demonstration of how much one knows and how confident one is in it. It is also demonstrated in consideration and true concern for truth, for the person involved, and for the situational environment or circumstances involved in the problem. The person we wish to criticize is trying even though he blundered, so let’s help him rather than belittle him.

May God help all of us (for we so much need it) to be interested in being right-truthfully right-and to remember the purpose in helping others is to encourage them to understand wherein the error is made and how to correct it for good We should never assume the mistake to be intentional nor fall into a soft, compromising attitude to by-pass the firmness of right. We must restrain ourselves from exhibiting an opinionated or self-centered disposition. Let’s cultivate more consideration and love for God, truth, righteousness, and those involved in problems-the stumblers, the erring. Then be sure that our efforts are to help restore the fallen, to encourage the erring to regain the right position, and to strengthen the weak. Now we will be able to lovingly approach the task. I believe, if each of us will manifest this attitude, we will accomplish more, be happier and more content in life, and become a living example to others. We shall prove our honest desire in serving God first and in casting the beam out of our own eye, and then tenderly working to help remove the mote from our brother’s life.

We must never forget that we are all in this together, seeking eternal salvation. We need all the help we can get, as well as offering help. We must graciously and thankfully receive the help offered and, in turn, unselfishly give liberally of what we have with grace.

The Lord loves a cheerful giver. But he who receives graciously with no feeling of humiliation and who shows appreciation for whatever criticism others offer (even though it appears to be wrapped carefully in false evaluation) may indeed make the greatest gift of all to those in need of a stable, mature Christian to sustain them. In other words, our attitude in receiving criticism may actually help the critic.

If we really want to prove ourselves true, we must be mature and stable enough to maintain a righteous disposition in the face of criticism, temptation, trials, and opposition of all sorts regardless of origin, purpose, and manner of appearance (Matt. 5:10-12; Rom. 12:17-18; Jas. 1:12). Keep thyself right by being right in desire, love, purpose, and above all in practice. In so doing, you shall prove yourself a true child of God-fit for the Master’s use. Indeed, you will be a vessel of honor with a definite place in the kingdom of God (2 Tim. 2:21-22).

Guardian of Truth XXIX: 16, p. 486
August 15, 1985

By Robert F. Turner

Substitution is a truly basic principle of Christianity, despite the fact that many erroneous theories have been spawned by this concept. The “imputation” of Adam’s guilt to all mankind is one such error; and following close on its heels is the colorful but equally fallacious idea that Christ’s personal righteousness (His “perfect obedience”) is imputed to the saints. We need not adopt either of these concepts to appreciate substitution as taught in the Scriptures. If we allow misuse of the idea to blind us to its proper place in the scheme of redemption, we will deprive ourselves of rich and profitable material.

Isaiah 53 is a prophet’s revelation of the principle. “He hath born our griefs . . . he was wounded for our transgressions . . . with his stripes we are healed.” “Jehovah hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. ” Acts 8:32-35 tells us “He” is Jesus the Christ. Read the Isaiah chapter carefully, noting the many contrasts, and remember, you and I did the sinning, but He paid the price in our stead.

Justice demands, “The soul that sinneth, it shall die” (Ezek. 18:4). Abel’s offering of the firstlings of his flock (Gen. 4) is our first inkling that God would accept the life of an animal as a (typical) substitute for the life of the sinner. (We are discounting as fanciful and unsubstantiated the idea that God taught animal sacrifice when He made Adam and Eve’s clothing from skins of animals [Gen. 3:21].) Then Noah was told to take seven pairs of “clean” beasts into the ark, some of which were offered upon an altar when the flood was over (Gen. 8:20). Men were not to eat blood (Gen. 9:4), and the religious significance of this prohibition is established clearly in Leviticus, where we are told “the life of the flesh is in the blood; and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls” (17:10-12).

Abraham’s use of blood sacrifice upon an altar (Gen. 12:f) is ample proof that this ceremonial significance existed long before the Law given through Moses. But in Judaism the concept is expanded. Greater attention is given to the necessary perfection of the offering, “without spot or blemish” (Lev. 22:19f). Moses once offered himself as an atonement for the people, but God rejected the offer, saying, “Whosoever hath sinned . . . him will I blot out of my book” (Ex. 32:30f). Moses needed to make offerings for his own sins; he was not a fit offering for the sins of others.

In later Judaism the prophets’ rebuke of the priests for offering polluted bread and blind sacrifices is occasion for an additional thought. Isaiah says it is not the offering itself that satisfied Jehovah. Multitudes of sacrifices may be “vain oblations” if there is no giving of the heart (1:11-17). Malachi says the corrupted offerings show contempt for Jehovah (1:6-10, 13-4), and are not acceptable because “ye will not lay it to heart” (2:1f). Animal blood could not be “traded” for forgiveness. But the contrite heart and the perfect (costly) offering were but typical of a plan for redemption which God was unfolding in that moonlight age. There was soon to come “the Lamb of God” who knew no sin yet freely gave Himself for our sins (Jn. 1:36; Rom. 5:6-9). The real character of forgiveness by substitution begins to emerge. (1) There is no sin without cost, and, (2) the substitution principle demands payment on the part of Him who forgives.

Some have raised the question: To whom was the price for sin paid? To Satan? We think not I If man can indeed answer such a question, it seems far more likely the Heavenly Father met this obligation to Himself-to His moral nature which demanded justice even as it extended mercy. Whatever the theological answer, it is clear that forgiveness is not without cost to Him who forgives. And that raises some interesting thoughts about what is involved when we forgive one another. Can we forgive without paying the price?

When someone wrongs us, our inclination is to demand justice. “That is not right,” we say. Of course it is not, and the transgressor should have to “make it right,” for his own sake as well as ours. But sometimes, even when he makes an effort to correct the wrong, we feel “it is not enough.” We want our pound of flesh. Then we remember our own sins, and the words of Jesus, “If ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. ” Can we forgive “till seven times” or even more (Matt. 18:21f)? We can not truly forgive even once unless we are willing to pay the price. It is not “forgiveness” to hold a grudge; to await the opportunity ; to “tell it on him,” or “even things up.” True forgiveness, the only kind that enables us to be forgiven by God, means we accept the hurt without demanding our “rights”; we who are wronged become the substitute sufferer for him who should suffer.

But how can we be “partakers of the divine nature” and not forgive? In paying the price to forgive we sense a tiny bit of the hurt God must feel at our sins. We enhance our “fellowship” with God, partake of His spirit, “dwell in Him, and He in us” (1 Jn. 4:13). Substitution, as an essential element in Christianity, encourages us to believe the old adage, “to forgive is divine.”

Guardian of Truth XXIX: 16, p. 487
August 15, 1985

By Tommy L. McClure

During the last one hundred years many great and good accomplishments have been made by man. Life expectancy is much longer due to the advances in medical science. In the field of travel, advancement has been made from the “ankle-express” and horse-and-buggy methods to space flights. The electronics industry with all its computerized systems is enough to stagger the imagination. One might think: There is nothing man cannot dol Lest we become “carried away” with all of man’s wonderful accomplishments, let us pause to reflect upon things man cannot do!

Man Cannot Overthrow The Work Of God

The Jewish council, angered because the apostles had preached Jesus Christ in spite of their prohibition, discussed ways and means of putting than to death (Acts 4:18-20; 5:27-33). Then Gamaliel, a respected doctor of the law in apostolic times, wisely said:

Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men. . . .Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel of this work be of men, it will come to nought: but if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God (Acts 5:35-39).

Note: “If it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it.”Gainaliel was never more right in his lifel Pharoah tried to hold the Israelites in bondage, contrary to God’s will; Pharaoh failed (Ex. 5-14)! Sanballot, Tobiah and Geshem tried to stop the re-building of the wan of Jerusalem; they failed (Neh. 4-6)1 Nehemiah said, “. . . they perceived that this work was wrought of our God” (Neh. 6:16). The Jews tried to rid the world of Jesus Christ by crucifixion; they failed (Mt. 27,28)! They later tried to stamp out the church and the declaration of the gospel of Christ by bitter persecution; they failed (Acts 8:1-4)1 Every man who has oppressed the work of God has failed, every man who opposes the work of God will fail! ff it be of Go4 ye cannot overthrow it!

Man Cannot Get Away From God

The Psalmist said:

Whither shall. I so from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there thy hand shall lead me, And thy right hand shall hold me (Psa. 139:7-10, ASV).

When God gave Jonah the unpleasant task to “go to Ninevah, that great city, and cry against it” because of its wickedness, “Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord” (Jon. 1:1-3). Did he succeed? No! When the fish vomited out Jonah upon the dry ground, God was there with the same instruction! “And the word of the Lord came unto Jonah the second time, saying, Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee” (Jon. 3:1,2). Jonah could not flee or hide from God! “Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do” (Heb. 4:13). Though men cry for mountains and rocks to fall upon them (Rev.6:16,17), though they attempt to flee from His presence (Rev. 20: 11), both small and great will stand before God and be judged according to their works (Rev. 20:1215; Acts 17:30,31; Rom. 14:10-12; Eccl. 12:13,14). Friend, try as you may, you cannot get away from God!

Man Cannot Please God Without Faith

“But without faith it is impossible to please him; for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (Heb. 11:6). Men who were pleasing to God in Bible times were, without an exception, men of faith! Unbelief has always been displeasing to God! Faith is the motivating power which causes men to do what God commands and be what God wills. Faith comes by hearing the word of God (Rom. 10:17). Therefore, one who acts by faith acts in accord with God’s word, the expression of His will. The man of faith does not put his will up against the will of God. His attitude is: “Not my will, but thine be done” (Lk. 22:42). The one who says, “I know the Lord said, ‘He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved,’ but I think man can be saved without baptism, “is setting his will up against the will of the Lord. Such indicates unbelief, not faith! The person who, in religious matters, acts without authority from God is acting by opinion rather than by faith! Nadab and Abihu who made an offering which God had not commanded them were so displeasing to God that they were devoured by fire from the Lord (Lev. 10:1,2, ASV). Yet, some preachers — false apostles, deceitful workers, ministers of Satan pretending to be ministers of Christ (see 2 Cor. 11: 13-15) — will tell people they do not need authority from the Lord for what they do in worship and religious work!

Man Cannot Serve Two Masters

“No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon” (Matt. 6:24). “Mammon” refers to riches to which many have become servants. If they think they are the Lord’s servants while serving mammon, they have some more thinking to do!

One cannot serve the Lord and the devil at the same time. Paul said, “Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the -cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and the table of devils” (1 Cor. 10:21). If one cannot have fellowship with the Lord and devils at the same time, he certainly cannot serve both at the same time. Friend, are you trying to hang on to the Lord with one hand and the devil with the other? You may as well try to ride two horses running in opposite directions at the same time — the Lord and the devil are not going the same way!

Man Cannot Love God And Not Love His Brother

“If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God loveth his brother also” (1 Jn. 4:20,21). The person who hates his brother does not love God! If he claims that he does love God, he is a liar, according to John! John also tells us that the destiny of “all liars” is “the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death” (Rev. 21:8). It is, therefore, a very serious matter to claim love for God while harboring brotherly hate in the heart.

Man Cannot Truly Love And Not Give

But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth (1 Jn. 3:17,18).

Note John’s question: “How dwelleth the love of God in him?” That is a rhetorical question in which the answer is evident and implied. The evident, implied answer is: The love of God does not dwell in the man who has ability to help his needy brother but refuses to do so! Love is measured by giving. God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that man need not perish (Jn. 3:16).Jesus so loved the world that He gave his life a ransom for many (Mt. 20:28). The man who truly loves his wife will give to her that which she needs-and more! Love which goes no further than the tongue or lips is not truly love. True love expresses itself in deeds and gifts, not just words of “sweet nothings.”

Man Cannot Escape Death

“What man is he that liveth, and shall not see death? Shall he deliver his soul from the hand of the grave?” (Psa. 89:48) “There is no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit; neither hath he power in the day of death. . .” (Eccl. 8:8). In Adam all die (1 Cor. 15:22). It is appointed unto men once to die, after which comes the judgment (Heb. 9:27). Friend, do not think you will live on this earth eternally! You will die, just as the millions before you have diedl What then? Are you ready to pass from this world into eternity? The foolish farmer was not prepared for God’s pronouncement: “Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee. . . ” (Lk. 12:20). The rich man at whose gate Lazarus was laid was not ready for death, but he I also died, I as did Lazarus, “and in hell (Hades) he lifted up his eyes, being in torments. . .” (read Lk. 16:19-31). If we could know, surely and certainly know, that we will die one minute before midnight this day, would we make any changes? If the answer is, “Yes,” we had better get busy making those changes, for we don’t know that we won’t die then or before! Like David and Isaac said: “. . . there is but a step between me and death” (1 Sam. 20:3), and “I know not the day or my death” (Gen. 27:2).

Man Cannot Succeed Without Christ

Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (Jn. 14:6). Orthodox Jews and others who claim to believe in God while rejecting Jesus Christ are headed for serious failure! Jesus said, “He that honoreth not the Son honoreth not the Father which hath sent him” (Jn. 5:22). He told His disciples, “He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me” (Lk. 10: 16). One who honors not the Son honors not the Father, regardless of all contrary claims! One who despises the Son despises the Father, regardless of all his declarations of love for God!

A study of this matter which does not include what Jesus said about the vine and the branches would be incomplete. To His disciples, He said, “I am the vine, ye are the branches; He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing” (Jn. 15:5). Just before this, He had told them, “As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me” (Jn. 15:4). Friend, without Christ (which includes entering into and abiding in Him by doing what He says) we cannot succeed! He is our life (Col 3:4), savior (Matt. 1:21), hope (1 Tim. 1:1; Col. 1:27), light (Jn. 8:12), way to the Father (Jn . 14:6), mediator (1 Tim. 2:5), high priest (Heb. 4:14), example (1 Cor. 11:1; 1 Pet. 1:21), spiritual healer (Mt. 13: 1; 9:10-13), fortification against temptation (Heb. 2:18), peace (Eph. 2:11-17), victor (Rom. 7:21-8:4; 1 Cor. 15:53-57), source of living water (Jn. 4:10-14), bread of life (Jn. 6:48), advocate (1 Jn. 2:1), propitiation (1 Jn. 2:2), shepherd (Heb. 13:20; 1 Pet. 5:4), helper (Heb. 13:5,6), law-giver (Jas. 4:12; 1 Cor. 9:21; Heb. 1:1,2), etc., and He will be our judge (Acts 17:30; Mt. 25:31-46; Rom. 14: 10; 2 Cor. 5: 10) and His word will be the standard (Jn. 12:48)1 Succeed without Him? In the words of the good song:

Without Him I could do nothing; Without Him I’d surely fail.

Without Him I would be drifting like a ship without a sail.

Without Him I would be dying; Without Him I’d be enslaved.

Without Him life would be hopeless, But with Jesus, thank God, I’m saved

(Songs Of 7he Church, 363).

Man Cannot Carry Anything Out Of This World

“For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out” (1 Tim. 6:7). If a man were to acquire all the sold and silver this earth contains, not one ounce will he take with him when he departs this life. The story goes that a multi-millionaire died. During his funeral, which was elaborate indeed, one man asked another,”Do you know how much he left?” The answer was as truthful as it was terse. “Yes, all of it!” Bonds, stocks, mansions, ranches, off wells, office buildings, gold, silver, precious stones, Cadillacs and Lincoln Continentals — he left them all?

If one thinks he can buy his way into heaven with earthly wealth, he is sadly mistaken. “Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death” (Prov. 11:4). Redemption comes not by means of silver and gold, but with the precious blood of Christ (1 Pet. 1:18,19)!

Man Cannot Tame The Tongue

“For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison” (Jas. 3:7,8). After reading this passage, some have erroneously concluded that James is teaching that it is useless to attempt to control the tongue. This conclusion is at variance with many other plain passages! “Keep thy tongue from evil. . .” (Psa. 34:13). “Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles” (Prov. 21:23). “1 said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me” (Psa. 39:1). James himself said, “If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain” (Jas. 1:26).

Surely, then, James is not teaching that the tongue cannot be controlled, he is teaching that it cannot be tamed! Animals have been tamed to the extent that they will not harm us, even though they are uncaged and unguarded. Not so the tongue-though kept under restraint for years; in an unguarded moment, it will leap forth and do untold harm! Let’s bridle our tongues and keep them bridled-keep them under restraint, under control, and never leave them unguarded for a moment. After all, God has given us an excellent cage for the tongue-the front teeth!

Men Cannot Hide His Sins From God

To the men of the tribes of Reuben and Gad, Moses said, “. . . . be sure your sin will find you out” (Psa. 32:23). The Psalmist said, “O, God, thou knowest my foolishness; and my sins are not hid from thee” (Psa. 69:5). Solomon said, “For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good or whether it be evil” (Eccl. 12:14). The Hebrew writer said, “Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do” (Heb. 4:13). The Lord, through Jeremiah, said, “Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the Lord. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the Lord” (Jer. 23:24). And, “For mine eyes are upon all their ways: they are not hid from my face, neither is their iniquity hid from mine eyes” (Jer. 16:17). The “bottom line” is: sinners will not get away with their evil deeds! God sees! God knows! God will judge! And, that judgment will be right-in righteousness (Acts 17:31)!

Man Cannot Please God In The Flesh

“So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God” (Rom. 8:8). What does “in the flesh” in the above passage mean? Obviously, it does not refer merely to being in the fleshly body; otherwise, no one could please God in this life. The Bible shows that some have pleased God while in their bodies of flesh-Enoch (Heb. 11:5), John and others (1 Jn. 3:22), Jesus (Jn. 8:29). Paul’s prayer for the Colossians was: “That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work. . . ” (Col. 1:10). Surely, Paul’s prayer was not idle, wishful thinking!

Some have told us that “in the flesh” refers to the unregenerate or unconverted state. One such man stated in debate that if the unconverted man pays his debts, it is a sin, but if he does not pay his debts, it is a worse sin! Everything the unconverted does — whether he rocks his baby, loves his wife, ploughs his field, or paints his house — is sin, according to these religionists! Then, the same religionists will turn around and contend that after one is converted, becomes a child of God, his sins will not damn his soul-that all the sins he might commit, from idolatry to murder, will not jeopardize his soul! Swallow it if you are so determined; but it smells too much like “‘turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness” (Jude 4), to suit me!

The text under consideration concerns those who “mind the things of the flesh” (Rom. 8:5). These are said to be “carnally minded” as opposed to being “spiritually minded” (Rom. 8:6). While “carnally minded” — while they “mind the things of the flesh” — they are opposed to God, not subject to His law, and cannot be (Rom. 8:7)! Why? Because, following the lead of the “carnal mind,” they engage in the works of the flesh, catalogued by Paul, as follows: “Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revelings, and such like. . . ” (Gal. 5:19-2 1). Anyone, alien sinner or child of God, who does such is not pleasing to God and cannot please God while so engaged! He is “in the flesh” because he is engaged in the “works of the flesh” and “they that are in the flesh cannot please God” (Rom. 8:8).

Man Cannot Change His State After Death

In the Lord’s account of Lazarus and the rich man (Lk. 16:19-31), the Lord taught that when the beggar died he was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom and there comforted, but the rich man in hell (Hades) lifted up his eyes in torment. He requested that Lazarus be sent to dip his finger in water to cool his tongue. The request was denied and the rich man was told:

Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivest thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence (vv. 25,26).

A great gulf fixed! No crossing it in either direction!

Friend, if you think you can leave this world in a sinful condition, and later be paid and/or prayed out of the fires of a supposed “purgatory” (?), you need to re-think the matter in the light of the Lord’s plain statement-a great gulf (chasm, or broad, yawning space) is fixed (set forth, made fast or firm), and none can cross it (the chasm cannot be bridged)! Nor will hell (Hades) be vacated of its guilty millions, and its miserable inhabitants be received into heaven, as the doctrine of Universal Salvation asserts.

Charles Taze Russell, the founder of the movement in which people incorrectly style themselves “Jehovah’s Witnesses,” taught that man will have a second trial or chance and the second will be more favorable than the first (Studies In The Scriptures, Vol. 1, pp. 143-153). If so, the text (Lk. 16:19-31) would have been a fine place to teach it I Father Abraham should have told the rich man, “Patient, my son! A second, better chance awaits you!” Of the five brothers, he should have said, “No need for concern! If they come to that place of torment, they will later have a second, better chancel” No such thing was said- rather the very opposite! Destiny is determined in this life, not after death. Now is the accepted time; now is the day of salvation (2 Cor. 6:2). Today is the time to hear His voice (Heb. 3:7). The dead are to be raised to life or damnation, not to a second, better chance (Jn. 5:28,29). We will be condemned or rewarded for the deeds of this life (Mt. 25:31-46). The wicked shall go into everlasting punishment (Mt. 25:46) and suffer the second death (Rev. 20:11-15), not to be offered a second chance!

Man Cannot Avoid The Judgment Of God

Speaking to those who condemned others for sins of which they themselves were guilty, Paul said, “And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?” (Rom. 2:3) Criminals may escape the judgment of our judicial system, but none will escape the judgment of God! He has appointed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness (Acts 17:31). All shall stand before the judgment seat of Christ, and every one shall give account of himself to God (Rom. 14:20-12). God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil (Eccl. 12:14). Before the Son of man shall be gathered all nati6ns for judgment (Mt. 25:31-46). This, friends, is the meeting we all will attend! Let us wisely use the time God has granted to prepare for it!

Conclusion

Thus, in spite of all of the wonderful accomplishments man has made in the physical realm, and in spite of all the high estimates he may place on his abilities, there are many things man cannot do. The list has not been exhausted in this study. It is hoped that this writing will spur the readers to further study, greater work for the Lord, more sober thinking, and more godly living!

Guardian of Truth XXIX: 16, pp. 483-484, 500-501
August 15, 1985