Truth Magazine

By Larry Ray Hafley

The profound, prophetic promise of Joel was pronounced by the apostle Peter, “And it shall come to pass that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Acts 2:21; Joel 2:32). Paul repeated it in Romans 10:13. Any object of the prophets and subject of the apostles dealing with salvation is worthy of conscientious consideration and evaluation. For that reason, we shall study this timely text.

The Time

What period of time is it when men shall call on the name of the Lord and be saved? (1) It was not during Joel’s day for he said, “And it shall come to pass afterward” (Joel 2:28). (2) It was not during the personal ministry of Jesus on earth. Jesus, after His resurrection but before His ascension, said that repentance and remission of sins in His name was yet to be preached, but He implied that it was to commence soon (Lk. 24:47-49). (3) The time is now: “Today is the day of salvation” (2 Cor. 6:2). It has been since the day of Pentecost in Acts 2; Peter said, “This is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel” (Acts 2:16-21). Jesus told the apostles they would preach salvation in His name when they received “power from on high” (Lk. 24:46-49; Acts 1:8); that is, “after the Holy Ghost is come upon you.” In Acts 2, the Spirit and the power came. But power to do what? Power to preach remission of sins in the name of Jesus the Christ. So, Acts 2 marks “the beginning at Jerusalem” (cf. Lk. 24:47; Acts 11:15). Since then (not before), and until the last trump shall signal the end of this present world, the time for calling on His name extends.

The People

Who are the people included in this sublime and glorious invitation? Some of God’s covenants with men have been exclusive. (1) Not everyone, for example, was included in the covenant of circumcision or the sabbath (Ex. 31:17; Deut. 5:3). (2) The Jews were the ones to hear the message of the “limited commission,” as it has been called, not the Gentiles or Samaritans (Matt. 10:5). (3) However, all men may call on the name of the Lord and be saved – “For whosoever shall call . . . .” That was Paul’s emphasis in Romans when he cited our text, “For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him” (Rom. 10:12). “Every creature,” “all nations,” whosoever will” – these and other similar utterances reveal that all men everywhere are amenable to the gospel appeal. The scriptural summons is as broad as God’s grace, as deep as His love and as high as His mercy.

The Action

What action is intended by the words “call on the name of the Lord”? (1) It does not mean that nothing is to be done. To call on the name of the Lord implies something. Salvation is conditioned upon one’s calling; hence, there is something one must do to be saved. (2) It does not mean to say, “Lord, Lord,” to cry to Him without obeying His word. Jesus said, “And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” (Lk. 6:46). It is true that calling on the name of the Lord will save, but, “Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven” (Matt. 7:21). Thus, whatever calling on His name is, it is not done by saying, “Lord, Lord.” According to Jesus, the one who obeys Him is the one who calls on His name. (3) Since Peter first announced that “whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved,” it is proper that we allow him to explain what he meant. When his audience believed, they cried out, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” They knew that whosoever would call on the Lord’s name would be saved; now, they desire to know what to do to call on His name. So, Peter says, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:38). This harmonizes with what the believing, penitent Saul was told, “And now why tarriest thou? Arise, and be baptized and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22:16). Since there is no salvation in any other name under heaven (Acts 4:12), we must appeal to His authority, submit to His will, and obey His word (Matt. 28:18-20; Mk. 16:15,16). Have you been baptized in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit for the remission of sins, calling on His name?

The Result

What is the result, the consequence, of calling on His name? (1) The aim is not carnal or worldly. It will not procure or assure physical health or social and economic stability. (2) The effect will not insure against future sin and ruin (1 Cor. 9:27; Gal. 5:4,7; Heb. 10:26-29; 2 Pet. 2:20-22). (3) The purpose of the calling is that one “shall be saved.” Oh, what a glorious thought. What a wonderful knowledge! Every sin, every stain and blot on the soul is washed away by the blood of Christ in the power of His holy name.

“Shall be saved” is equivalent to “the remission of sins,” or “that your sins may be blotted out” (Cf. Acts 2:21, 38; 3:19). Jesus said, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved” (Mk. 16:16). Jesus said, “remission of sins” was to be preached “in His name” (Lk. 24:47). Thus, the one who believes on His name and repents and is baptized in His name “for the remission of sins,” “shall be saved” (Cf. Acts 2:21, 38; 10:43).

What inexpressible joy should flood the souls of all who are saved. Are you saved? Have you called on His name as He directs? Before time gasps and dies, before that awesome Judgment day shall find us before the bar of God, will you not call on the name of the Lord and be saved? Do not pillow your head tonight before you resolve your soul’s salvation. Call on the living, loving name of the Lord and be saved while you have the time and opportunity.

Guardian of Truth XXIX: 3, pp. 70, 84
February 7, 1985

By Mike Willis

Those who watch the nightly news on the various network and cable channels probably tire of hearing depressing news. The news coverage concentrates on bad news-a murder in some quiet town, a war in some remote part of the earth, an earthquake, flood, or tornado, bad signs in the economy, etc. The list could be continued through several pages. We tire of hearing bad news.

The gospel of Jesus Christ is “good news.” The word “gospel” comes from a word which means “good news.” The announcement of the arrival of the long-expected Messiah, of His mission to free men from the guilt and punishment of sin, and of the eternal home which He has prepared for us in heaven is good news. It has not always been welcomed.

Luke records the occasion when Jesus announced the fulfillment of Isaiah 61:1-3 in Nazareth. One Sabbath day, Jesus attended synagogue services, took the scroll of Isaiah, and read:

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he bath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he bath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord (Lk. 4:18-19).

He closed the scroll and said, “This day is the scripture fulfilled in your ears” (Lk. 4:21). The Jews could not accept Jesus, whom they knew as the son of Joseph-an ordinary boy from their home town, as the long-awaited Messiah. Consequently, they led Jesus outside of Nazareth to kill Him by throwing Him off a cliff. He escaped them.

Despite the Jewish rejection of Jesus in Nazareth, we learn several things about the “good news” which characterizes the gospel. Let us consider these points.

The Good News Of The Gospel

1. The good news is announced to the poor. The gospel is available to every man, whether he be rich or poor. Those who might be economically rich, however, must be poor in spirit to receive its benefits. This refers to “an attitude of the soul toward God-the attitude that grows out of the profound realization of utter helplessness and beggary as far as any ability or possession of self are concerned. These wretched beggars bring absolutely nothing to God but their complete emptiness and need, and stoop in the dust for pure grace and mercy only” (R.C.H. Lenski, Interpretation of Luke, p. 250).

There is no good news to announce to those who are haughty and arrogant, who feel that they have need of nothing (cf. Rev. 3:17). The Lord has promised nothing to men of this disposition. But to those of a meek and contrite spirit, Jesus has good news to announce.

2. The Lord will heal the brokenhearted. The deliverance of the gospel is from sin; hence, all of the things which the gospel does for man relate to how sin has ravaged us. The gospel is an announcement of “healing” because sin might be compared to what a disease does to us. Sin has made us sick with a terminal illness. The Lord brings healing from the disease of sin. I need not face eternal death, the damnation of hell, because Jesus has brought healing.

The description of us as “brokenhearted” describes our inner disposition as a result of our sin. Many of us have sat at the hospital with those who have a relative with a terminal illness. They are brokenhearted because of the effect which the disease has wrought in the body of their friend and relative. You can imagine the reaction an announcement from the doctor would bring which told the one suffering from a terminal illness that a medicine had been found which could heal him immediately. Similarly, we who are brokenhearted over the effect of sin rejoice in the good news that Jesus can heal us from all our diseases of sin. By healing us from the disease of sin, Jesus also heals our broken heart. He brings us joy and happiness. This is the good news of the gospel.

3. The Lord preaches deliverance to the captives. The prophecy of Isaiah was written to those who faced Babylonian captivity. Deliverance from captivity could be understood easily by those who had been taken from their homes in Jerusalem into the foreign country of Babylon to serve as slaves. They desired deliverance.

The deliverance which the Messiah brought is deliverance from sin. However, we must understand that we have been servants of sin, in bondage to sin, and under the yoke of the Devil (cf. Jn. 8:34; Gal.3:22-23). Jesus releases us from the captivity of sin. He’ brings liberty and freedom to us. He announced, “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (Jn. 8:32). There is deliverance from sin in the gospel. This is the good news of the gospel.

4. There is recovering of sight to those that are blind. Those who are in sin are in darkness. Preaching the gospel to those in sin is to “open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light” (Acts 26:18).

Those of us who have relatively good eyesight can only imagine what the world is like to those who cannot see. They live in a world of night. Blindness is more difficult to accept by those who once could see than by those born blind. To announce to a blind man that you can enable him to see would be to announce good news.

Jesus brings good news to the spiritually blind. The eyes of their heart can be enlightened; those who have lived in darkness can come to the light. This is the good news of the gospel.

5. The gospel sets at liberty them that are bruised. Sin’s effect on us is to bruise us. Sin wrecks and makes wretched the lives of those who participate in it; its consequences are devastating. To set at liberty those that are bruised is to release them from the effects of sin.

Many have been bruised by automobile accidents. Their mangled bodies reflect the tragic effects of the accident. Were a doctor to come in announcing a means of releasing such a person from the suffering of his bruised and mangled condition, all would rejoice. Jesus has done that for us. Those who have been bruised by sin are set at liberty released from the eternal consequences of the sin which they have committed. They walk away from their spiritual tragedy released from all of the suffering which it generally causes. This is the good news of the gospel.

Conclusion

We who take the gospel into the world are “gospel preachers.” We have a message of good news to announce. There is light for those who are in darkness; there is release for those in captivity; there is healing to those who are sick; there is release from suffering for those who are bruised.

The world is still suffering from the tragic effects of sin. The gospel message is still good news which will be gladly received by those who are poor in spirit. Let us hasten to take this wonderful message to them.

Guardian of Truth XXIX: 3, pp. 66, 85
February 7, 1985

By Bill Cavender

The Bible records six different trials that Jesus endured after He was seized in the Garden of Gethsemane. There were three Jewish trials: (1) Before Annas (Jn. 18:13,24); (2) Before Caiaphas, aided by a group of priests and the Sanhedrin (Mt. 26:57-68; Mk. 14:53-65; Jn. 18:14-28); (3) Before the Sanhedrin, near the dawn of day (Mt. 27:1-2; Mk. 15:1; Lk. 22:66-71). Then there was the first trial before Pilate (Mt. 27:1-2; Mk. 15:1; Lk. 23:1-7; Jn. 18:28-32). Pilate acquitted Jesus; the Jews made further charges against Him, so Pilate sent Jesus to Herod upon learning that Jesus was of Galilee (Mt. 27:11-14; Mk. 15:2-5; Lk. 23:3-7; Jn. 18:33-38). Before Herod, Jesus was mocked but not condemned as being guilty (Lk. 23:6-12). Before Pilate the second time, Jesus was sentenced to death at the instigation of the Jewish rulers, and was taken away to be crucified.

During the two trials before Pilate, Jesus was proclaimed to be innocent seven times by Pilate, in Pilate’s words and action. Consider these, please:

1. After his first conversation with Jesus, Pilate said, “I find no fault in this man” (Jn. 18:29-38; Lk. 23:4).

2. After Jesus returned to Pilate from Herod, Pilate said, “Behold, I, having examined him before, have found no fault in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse him: No, nor yet Herod . . .” (Lk. 23:6-15).

3. After offering to release a prisoner to the Jews, and offering to scourge Jesus and then release Him, Luke records, “And he said unto them the third time, Why, what evil hath he done? I have found no cause of death in him . . .” (Lk. 23:22).

4. When he washed his hands before the multitude, declaring the innocence of Jesus, Pilate said, “I am innocent of the blood of this just person” (Mt. 27:24).

5. After Jesus had been mocked, whipped, and the robe put on Him, Pilate said, “Behold, I bring him forth to you, that ye may know that I find no fault in him” (Jn. 19:4).

6. When Pilate gave permission for His crucifixion, he said, “Take ye him, and crucify him: for I find no fault in him” (Jn. 19:6).

7. After Pilate learned of Jesus’ claim to be the Son of God, he talked with Jesus for the last time. John records, “Upon this Pilate sought to release him…” (Jn. 19:7-12), thus declaring, in fact, the innocence of Jesus for the seventh time.

Yet this moral coward, whose name has lived in infamy for, lo, these many centuries, delivered up to a felon’s death the only truly innocent man who ever lived on earth, the only one who truly and legally deserved to live and not to die.

But what of those moral cowards, men claiming to follow Him and to believe His claims and words, what of them? What is the difference between Pilate, the Roman, and John Doe, the Christian, who crucifies the Son of God afresh and puts Him to an open shame by sin, ugliness, bitterness, hatred, arrogance, transgression and apostasy (Heb. 6:4-8; 10:26-31)? What of them?

Guardian of Truth XXIX: 3, p. 67
February 7, 1985

By C. Titus Edwards

Young People And Suicide

Teenage suicide has been getting a lot of attention lately. Last October CBS aired two television movies about the subject, and ABC presented “Surviving” in January, focusing on two teenagers who killed themselves and the impact it had on their parents. There is good reason for the increased attention. Suicide among young people has risen dramatically. The suicide rate among young people in the United States has tripled since 1955, with an estimated 5,000 youths between ages 15-24 committing suicide each year. In Clearlake, a suburb of Houston, Texas, there were six suicides in a two-and-a-half month period. One school district in the Dallas-Fort Worth area has had an “epidemic” of suicides. The suicide rate among young people is increasing 10 times faster than that of any other age group. More young men than women actually commit suicide, though more young women attempt to. Young men prefer using guns, while young women prefer pills. Suicides might even be higher than are being reported, for many suicides might be listed as “accidents.”

Teenage Magazine surveyed 1,022 13-19-year-olds to find out the reasons behind teenage depression that leads to suicide. School and environment ranked first with 76%; followed by girlfriend/boyfriend relations with 54%; family conflicts with 44%; friendships with 43%; and appearance with 40% responding that this caused their depression. (The percentages do not add up to 100% because most all cited more than one reason for their depression.) It seems that for many young people depression originates in the home, with 70% of teenage suicides coming from broken homes. Dr. Jeff Ezell says that “what these kids almost always suffer from is a lack of self-esteem.”

Let us understand that suicide is wrong. It is self-murder (Rom. 13:9). Life is to be respected since it is the gift of God (Gen. 2:7; 1:27). Suicide stems from a lack of self control, which we are to maintain (1 Cor. 9:27; 2 Pet. 1:6).

Young people, the answer to life’s problems is not suicide, but Christ! First of all, have a good attitude about yourself. You are somebody and are worth something. God loves you! Don’t put yourself down. “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Phil. 4:13). Second, learn to accept responsibility and thereby deal with the problems of life. Do not try to escape reality. Life has many negatives that must be dealt with. But remember, everybody faces them! It is how you handle them that is important. “For every man shall bear his own burden” (Gal. 6:5). Realize that every cloud has its silver lining. Look for the good, even in tragedies, for they are there. Like the song says, “Give her thorns and she’ll find roses; give her sand, and she’ll find seas; give her rain and she’ll find rainbows.” And why is that? Because she finds good in everything! Third, do not worry about things beyond your control (Mt. 6:31-34). It doesn’t do any good! Just learn to live with some things that may not be perfect-everybody has to! Love yourself even with your fat thighs or crooked teeth. Fourth, be cheerful and enjoy life (Eccl. 9:7-10; 1 Pet. 3:10-11). God wants us to. Fifth, never lose hope (Psa. 16:9). God is on your side and will help you. Salvation can be yours. Realize that things that happen in this life are not nearly as important as going to heaven to live with God in the hereafter.

Paul kept one man from committing suicide by teaching him of Jesus-the Philippian jailor (Acts 16:25-31). He turned his despair into joy. He gave him a reason for living and meaning to his life. We should all have the same things through Jesus Christ our Savior! Suicide is not the answer, but Jesus is!

Guardian of Truth XXIX: 3, pp. 77-78
February 7, 1985