Truth Magazine

By Frank Jamerson

The wise writer of the Proverbs said a number of things about the sin of strife or contention. He said that the source of it is pride. “Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom” (13:10). Also, “The beginning of strife is like letting out water, So abandon the quarrel before it breaks out” (17:14). “A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city, and contentions are like the bars of a castle” (18:19). “Drive out the scoffer, and contention will go out, even strife and dishonor will cease” (22:10). “Like charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire, so is a contentious man to kindle strife” (26:21).

The word “strife” or “contention” is “the expression of emnity” (W.E. Vine). It is translated in the King James Version as “debate” (Rom. 1:29; 2 Cor. 12:20). The apostle Paul listed it as a work of the flesh (Gal. 5:20) and said that it is produced by a carnal, or fleshly, mind, instead of the Spirit of God (1 Cor. 3:1-3). Strife, then, is a work of the flesh, produced by following one’s own feelings rather than the word of God, and it results in eternal destruction.

Let us look at some other fruits of strife. James said, “But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work” (Jas. 3:14-16). The word “confusion” means “instability, disorder, disturbance.” The same word appears in 1 Corinthians 14:33, where Paul said that God is not the author of “confusion, but of peace.” The expression “every evil work” means “good for nothing, trivial.” It is used to describe one who deals in trivialities for the sake of showing his “wisdom.” When brethren are contentious over trivial things, disturbance and instability are the results. No church can grow with such an environment.

Another result of strife is infidelity. Jesus prayed for unity “that the world may believe” that God had sent Him (John 17:20,21). Though men must realize that the Lord’s church is composed of human beings, and human beings are imperfect, those of us who are Christians need to realize that the world is “turned off” by contention. Jesus knew that such would be the result of strife; therefore, He prayed for unity. When I realize that by being contentious I may cause someone to turn from Christ, it will cause me to weigh every word and action.

A third result of contention is that Christians are destroyed. Paul said, “But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another” (Gal. 5:15). The figure of speech here is of two dogs that engage in a fight till both fall over dead! That is the sad result of many “church fusses.” Someone has rewritten a portion of a song to suit church fusses: “The strife is o’er, the battle’s done; Our church has split and our side won.” Won? How can any “side” win a battle that results in all concerned losing their souls? The contentious brother has the same end as the fornicator, drunkard and murderer (see Gal. 5:19-21). We insist on withdrawing from the fornicator and drunkard, but how often is anything done about the contentious member? He will do more damage to the cause of Christ than the drunkard.

The inevitable fruit of contention is confusion, infidelity and destruction of Christians. Let each of us commit ourselves to seeking peace by being considerate of others and learning to “distinguish the things that differ.”

Guardian of Truth XXVIII: 21, p. 648
November 1, 1984

By Irven Lee

( Note: In our special issue on “Church Discipline,” we made a production error which resulted in only half of this article by brother Lee being printed. Consequently, we are printing the article in its entirety in this issue. We apologize to brother Lee for this error and will make available to those who request it copies of the balance of brother Lee’s article for those copies which were purchased for wider distribution.)

Failure to carry out any command of God is a serious failure. It is no little thing to be found in a state of disobedience before our King. The consequences may be harmful or fatal to many.

The New Testament emphasizes the duties of the individual, but there are certain responsibilities assigned to groups of Christians (churches) because we are to work together as a family or body under elders and under Christ our chief Shepherd (Rom. 16:16; Titus 1:5; 1 Tim. 5:17; 1 Pet. 5:1-5).

Every soul is precious, and God is not willing that any should perish (Matt. 16:26; 2 Pet. 3:9). If a brother sins, he endangers his own soul and defiles his own name or influence. Any Christian near him should seek to convert or retore him to God (read Jas. 5:19,20; Gal. 6: 1). If efforts of this type fail, the important task of rescuing this one from perishing falls upon the church (1 Cor. 5). Let every member be aware of the fact that the effort is to save the sinner as well as to protect the reputation of the church (1 Cor. 5:4-8).

We may admonish the sinner as a brother because we are interested in his spiritual welfare. We want him to be ashamed of his sinful way, so we withdraw from him as the “law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus” suggests (2 Thess. 3:6,14,15). Then comes the humiliation that there may be godly sorrow and repentance (1 Cor. 5:5). This is a worthy goal, and the plan of discipline to reach the goal is of God. We are in no position to question or reject His wisdom.

The church at Corinth was “puffed up” with its own wisdom rather than depending on the counsel of God concerning the member who was a fornicator. Allowing one couple to live in violation of the law was a way of letting the leaven of wickedness enter the “lump.” It was true then as it is now that “a little leaven leaventh the whole lump” (1 Cor. 5:6-8). If the church closes its eyes to the one case there will likely soon be another and then others.

Timothy was charged to preach, reprove, rebuke, and exhort in an urgent way if he would push off the day when they would not endure sound doctrine. When churches turn away their ears from the truth and turn to fables, they will be able to find plenty of teachers who for a price will preach what they want to hear (2 Tim. 4:1-5). The mouths of those who speak things which they ought not should be stopped, but who will do this if the people like the perverted pattern? (see Titus 1:10-14; 2 Peter 2:1-3.) A worldly church will look for and find a preacher who will not make the members feel uncomfortable.

“A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land; the prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof” (Jer. 5:31). Israel was in a near hopeless condition when the masses liked what the false prophets said and did. True prophets like Jeremiah were rejected and persecuted. The people would not endure sound doctrine.

Isaiah found that there were those who called “evil good, and good evil; and put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter.” These people were wise in their own eyes (Isa. 5:20,21). God took a hand in the days of the old prophets and allowed Israel and Judah to go into captivity. He scourged them. They suffered much. After a time men of faith like Zerubbabel, Nehemiah, and Ezra led a remnant back to Jerusalem. Idolatry was replaced by faith in God in some hearts from these trials.

Preaching by faithful prophets, disciplinary action administered by the nation’s leaders, and the scourging of the Lord saved some (see Neh. 13). In the day when Timothy preached, he was urged to be forceful and faithful in his preaching, and the churches were taught to mark, avoid, and reject false teachers, and to purge out the leaven of wickedness and disorder to avoid the evil day when they would not endure sound doctrine. Paul had worked hard to warn the people against the day of unfaithfulness. (Read 2 Tim. 4:1-5; Tit. 1:13; 1 Cor. 5; 2 Thess. 3; Rom. 16:17,18; Acts 20:29-3 1; Gal. 1:6-10.)

Firm discipline on the part of the church, faithful preaching of the whole counsel, and zeal in teaching from house to house all are dedicated to the effort to save some. We cannot reach all, but we can try. We can “by all means save some.”

Many in high places in our country are humanists, which means that they are atheists. Some of these unbelievers are very prominent in politics, courts, news media, and in university classrooms. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the National Organization of Women (NOW) are led by humanists or atheists. If the church withdraws from a fornicator as the Scripture demands, these people would oppose the church rather than the fornicator. To these humanists fornication is not wrong but is a matter of the private affair of the individual and no business at all of the church. Preachers and elders who would reprimand fornicators would be regarded as having a “holier than thou” attitude meddling with the “rights” of others. Likely they would object very much to the teaching done by Jesus as recorded in Matthew 23 when He was giving sharp rebukes to the Pharisees. Humanists would save their sharp rebukes for those who rebuke the immoral. Humanist lawyers would defend the immoral.

The church and each member of it should be very much interested in pleasing God by following Bible instruction. It is not our task to try to please men who are without God and without hope in the world (Eph. 2:12; Gal. 1:6-10). Standing for the truth may cost more in the future than it has in the immediate past. Let us teach and practice the will of God in the matter of withdrawal and on every thing else that is confirmed in His word. We ought to obey God rather than men (Acts 4:20; 5:29).

The National Organization of Women (NOW) has lobbied in Washington to get laws passed that would require churches to pay taxes on the buildings where they worship if they do not allow women to preach or sit in official positions in the church. The Bible is right now and will be when the Christ returns as Judge of all the earth.

Denominations are coming more and more in line with trends of our humanistic world. They lose the respect of the public as they become more liberal in their teaching. We do not use carnal weapons, but we do have powerful weapons to pull down strongholds. (See 2 Cor. 10:1-6.) Truth is worth fighting for, so we should put on the whole armor and take the sword of the Spirit and fight a good fight (Eph. 6:10-20). Compromise is not the need of the day where truth is involved.

If a church looks the other way and refuses to notice when more and more members become ungodly that church will become a gathering place for the worldly. It will also lose the respect of the community. Its zeal for Christ will vanish so it will fall into the same condition that had come to Israel when Isaiah and Jeremiah lived, and into the situation Paul wrote about when he warned Timothy of the day when they would no longer endure sound doctrine. They would then find teachers after their own lusts.

The Lord had “a few things against” the church at Pergamos when the book of Revelation was written. He explained by saying, “thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate” (Rev. 2:14,15). We live in a different age, but we have the same Christ. He was displeased then with a church that tolerated doctrines and practices that were contrary to His will. Our Lord is merciful to penitent brethren, but he does not condone error among His people.

One remark is repeated in each of the letters to the seven churches of Asia: “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches” (Rev. 2:29). So called Protestants are not inclined to protest against false doctrine today. They are more likely to suggest that “every one has a right to his own belief,” and that “one faith is as good as another.” The true disciples of the Lord are taught to earnestly contend for the faith and to admonish one another daily lest any be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin (Jude 2; Heb. 3:12,13; Eph. 4:14). Let every man speak as the oracles of God; and let every church insist on sound doctrine. (Read Rom. 16:17,18; Tit. 3:9,10; 1 Pet. 4:11.)

Guardian of Truth XXVIII: 21, pp. 644-645
November 1, 1984

By Lloyd L. Nash

This statement was made by the apostle Paul to the Roman brethren warning them to abstain from sin, because the pay-off is death. He goes on to say that the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

“What is sin?” one may ask. The Scriptures say that it is the transgression of the law (1 Jn. 3:4). So, when one transgresses the law of the, Lord, he or she commits sin, and sin separates man from God (Isa. 59:2). It caused Adam and Eve to be driven from the Garden of Eden (Gen. 3), and it caused the great flood in the days of Noah (Gen. 6,7). It will cost us our eternal crown if we practice sin. Let us not be taken by it.

The Works Of The Flesh

My friends, Galatians 5:19-21 lists a number of things that break the law of the Lord. Whether we like it or not, these things are sinful in the sight of our Lord. Paul tells us how to avoid fornication (1 Cor. 7:2), as well as other sins (1 Thess. 5:22). We do not have to be taken by Satan’s craftiness. So often, the subject of homosexuality is brought up. On radio and television talk shows, they always refer to some human authority. Occasionally, a lady may cite a passage of Scripture. She is quickly ignored.

Let us look at this sin from a Bible standpoint. It seems to be that the Bible is more and more overlooked as the source of Divine authority on this subject. Let’s face it: according to the Scriptures, God created the woman to be a help meet for man (Gen. 2:20-24; 1 Cor. 11:9-10). Now, if God had wanted two men in the beginning, He could have made it so. But, He did not decree it that way. He made man and woman. This is God’s way for the world to be replenished. Whenever this is changed, sin is committed.

Look at Sodom-the men of Sodom-for example. They changed the plan, and God rained down fire upon them (Gen. 19:1-24). When we look at verse 1, we see the angels coming to Sodom. An old, righteous preacher sitting in the gate, whose name is Lot, invited them to spend the night with him. They said nay. However, he insisted that they stay. They went in, and he fixed food for them. They did eat (v. 3). Before they lay down, the men of the city compassed the house, both old and young. People came from every quarter, calling to Lot to bring them out that they may know them. This lets us know how low their morals were (v. 5). In verses 6 through 8, Lot goes out to plead with them and offer them his two virgin daughters. They would not accept them. They told Lot to stand back and made an attempt to break down the door (vv. 9-11). Now, we can see how wrong it was then, and it has not changed in the sight of God.

In both the Old and New Testament, God condemns gay living. Let’s look at Romans 1:18-32. I hope that all who read this will study each verse well. You can see in verse 25 that sin had made man change the truth of God into a lie in their minds. Look at what it has done to the women in verse 26 and to the men in verse 27. In verse 28, even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, He gave them over to a reprobate mind to do those things which are not convenient.

So now, my friends, do not think that because God allows these things to go on today that He is pleased with them. If you harden your heart against the Lord’s laws long enough, He will send a strong delusion. This delusion will cause you to believe a lie and be damned for it (2 Thess. 2:11-12). Those who practice homosexuality cannot inherit the kingdom of God (1 Cor. 6:9-10).

However, there is hope for those in this condition. If you are guilty, you can quit, obey the gospel of Christ, and be saved. And such were some of you (1 Cor. 6:11), meaning that they had repented of their sins and been baptized in accordance with Acts 2:38 and Acts 18:8. This shows us that if any will give up his wicked ways (Isa. 55:7) and obey His will, that person can be saved. God is not willing that any should perish (2 Pet. 3:9), but that all should come to repentance. If so done, God will translate you from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of his dear Son, having over to a reprobate mind to do those things which are not redeemed you by His blood (Col. 1: 13-14). convenient. continued from previous page of his sins cannot share God’s spiritual blessings (Lk. 13:3). The man who will not confess Christ does not share in God’s spiritual blessings (Matt. 10:32-33). The man who will not be baptized cannot receive remission of his sins (Acts 2:38) or be saved (Mk. 16:15-16; 1 Pet. 3:21).

My friend, all spiritual blessings are in Christ. Are you in Him?

Guardian of Truth XXVIII: 21, pp. 647, 663
November 1, 1984

By Mike Willis

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ. . . (Eph. 1:3).

With these words, Paul began the heart of his letter to the church at Ephesus. I committed this verse to memory as a young lad and its truths become more important to me as I grow older. Please consider these lessons from this verse.

All Spiritual Blessings

Not all of God’s blessings are spiritual. God has bountifully blessed us with physical blessings as well. He is our Creator (Gen. 1:1) and Sustainer. He gives “us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with gladness” (Acts 14:17). “For in him we live, and move, and have our being. . .” (Acts 17:28). (See Psalm 65:9-13) for praise to God for His work in sustaining His creation.)

This verse teaches that “all spiritual blessings” are “in Christ.” Neither this verse nor any other verse teaches that all physical blessings are “in Christ.” The Scriptures teach that God’s physical blessings fall on the righteous and unrighteous just alike (Matt. 5:45). The prosperity of the wicked has been a problem for the righteous to understand (See Psa. 73); yet even these verses demonstrate that God’s physical blessings are not limited to those who are “in Christ.”

This is a lesson of which we need to be reminded. Those who are associated with the PTL, the 700 Club, and faith healing ministries teach that God’s physical blessings are especially directed toward the righteous. Who has not witnessed someone on one of these programs relate his testimony? He describes his abject and desperate condition before he became a Christian in words similar to these, “I was suffering from some disease, I had lost my job, my wife and I were having marital problems, our children were running with the wrong crowd, and my creditors were hounding me.” After he tells about giving his life to Jesus, he then relates his present condition in words like this, “Now I feel good and am healed of my disease, my wife and I are happier than we ever have been, my children ‘ are little darlings, and we have more money than ever before.” The implications of these testimonials is that God’s physical blessings are especially directed toward the righteous. No verse in the Bible teaches that. The life of Jesus and Job verify that this is not a true doctrine.

In Christ

Paul stated that God has blessed us with all spiritual blessings “in Christ. “

“In Christ” designates a relationship which the believer sustains to Jesus.(1) All of God’s spiritual blessings are made available to man through Jesus Christ. He is the “water of life” which so quenches man’s needs that he never thirsts again (Jn. 4:13). He is the “bread of life” which so fills a man that he never hungers again (Jn. 6:35). Every spiritual need that man has is completely satisfied in Christ.

The implications from this statement are obvious. We do not need to keep searching as if God had other spiritual blessings for man which are not available to those of us who are in Christ. Hinduism Islam, Buddhism, Shintoism, and any other so-called “world” religion do not have any spiritual blessings for man which are not available in Christ. I need not to fret that I have never read the Koran, Bhagavad Gita, Rig- Vedas, or other “holy” books. I do not need the writings of Joseph Smith, Mary Baker Eddy, Ellen G. White, Reverend Moon, or any other prophet claiming to have received a latter day revelation. If all of God’s spiritual blessings are available to me in Christ, I can be perfectly content knowing that I have all that God has for man when I have the revelation of Jesus Christ in the Holy Bible.

The person who is not in Christ does not participate in or share any of these spiritual blessings. Regardless of how good, honest, and sincere a man might be, unless he is in Christ, he does not share the spiritual blessings of God. All of God’s spiritual blessings are in Christ; none of them are outside of Christ. Unless you are “in Christ,” none of these spiritual blessings are available to you.

The Blessings In Christ

Paul did not leave us in doubt as to what blessings God has made available to us in Christ. Consider some of them:

1. “He hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him” (1:4). Some only read “he hath chosen us” and then declare the Calvinist doctrine of predestination. What this verse teaches is that God chose to make men holy (sanctified and set apart) and without blame (having no sin chargeable to one’s account) before Him. This was to be done through Jesus Christ. Hence, through Jesus Christ, I can enjoy the spiritual blessings of being holy and without blame. (See also Eph. 5:25-27.)

2. ”Adoption as children” (1:5). God also adopted us as His children by Jesus Christ. As a child of God, I can call on God as my Father (Matt. 7:7-11). God could have chosen a variety of relationships toward us. He could have been indifferent toward this world, as the Deists imagine; He could have been amused by this world, as some ancient people thought of the gods of the Pantheon; He could have been filled with animosity toward us. Instead, He chose to adopt us as His children. “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God. . .” (1 Jn. 3:1).

3. “He hath made us accepted in the beloved (1:6). Those of us who were alienated from God have been reconciled to Him through Jesus Christ.

4., We have “redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins” (1:7). In Jesus Christ, our sins have been forgiven through the purification which comes when His blood washes them away. Nothing but the blood of Jesus can wash away sins (cf. 1 Pet. 1:18-19). This is another spiritual blessing which God has given us in Jesus Christ the forgiveness of our sins.

5. He has “made known unto us the mystery of His will. ” The revelation of God’s will toward mankind was given through Jesus Christ. We do not have to grope in darkness, searching to find out God’s will. He has revealed it to us in the gospel. The work of the Holy Spirit in revealing God’s will to us was the fulfillment of Jesus’ promise to the apostles (Jn. 14:26; 15:26; 16:13).

6. He gathered together in one all things in Christ (1:10). Men of every background are united in Christ. Male and female, bond and free, Jew and Gentile, black and white, rich and poor are reconciled to God in one body by the cross (cf. Eph. 2:16). The unity which we have in Christ Jesus is a spiritual blessing from God.

7. “We have obtained an inheritance” (1:11). In Christ, I have a hope for inheriting the blessings of heaven. I have “an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven” (1 Pet. 1:4) for me. I look forward to receiving eternal life, living with God, and having all of the evils of this world removed (Rev. 21:4). This is the “one hope” of Ephesians 4.

The Fulness of God

The blessings which God has for us in Christ are available in the church. The church is the body of people for whom Jesus gave His life (Eph. 5:26), “that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish” (5:27). The spiritual blessings which God has for us in Christ are available to those who are in His church.

Consequently, the church is the “body of Christ, the fulness of him that filleth all in all” (1:23). The fulness of God’s blessings to man is in the church. Many religions look for the fulness of God’s blessings at some future time when Jesus will return to this earth and rule on this earth for a thousand years. That is in conflict with what Paul revealed. He stated that Jesus is presently reigning over everything (1:20-21) and that the church is the fulness of God’s blessings to us.

We do not look forward to a future earthly kingdom. We look foward to the second coming of Christ, the judgment, and our eternal home in heaven.

How To Get “In Christ”

Inasmuch as being in Christ is important in order that one might inherit these spiritual blessings, we need to know how to get into Christ. The Lord told us how to get into Christ.

In order to get into Christ, a man must hear the gospel preached, believe it, repent of his sins, confess his faith in Jesus, and be baptized (immersed) in water. Paul wrote, “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Gal. 3:26-27).

The man who does not believe in Jesus cannot share God’s spiritual blessings (Jn. 8:24). The man who has not repented

of his sins cannot share God’s spiritual blessings (Lk. 13:3). The man who will not confess Christ does not share in God’s spiritual blessings (Matt. 10:32-33). The man who will not be baptized cannot receive remission of his sins (Acts 2:38) or be saved (Mk. 16:15-16; 1 Pet. 3:21).

My friend, all spiritual blessings are in Christ. Are you in Him?

Endnotes

1. Those who hold a doctrine of the personal indwelling of the Holy Spirit need to carefully examine this language. To be “in Christ” does not mean that I enter into the physical body of Jesus and dwell in Him. Rather, it means that I sustain a spiritual relationship to Him. The same is true when one reads that the Holy Spirit dwells in us. It does not mean that the Holy Spirit comes inside my body, which would be an incarnation of Deity and destroy the uniqueness of Jesus; rather, it means that I enter a spiritual relationship with the Holy Spirit.

Guardian of Truth XXVIII; 21, pp. 642, 662-663
November 1, 1984