Truth Magazine

By Hoyt Houchen

Question: Please explain Romans 8.16, the witness of the spirits. What is our spirit (human spirit)?

Reply: Paul wrote, “The Spirit himself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are children of God (Rom. 8:16).

In the previous verses (vv. 14,15), Paul has discussed sonship. “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God” (v. 14). The Holy Spirit teaches us how to live, and does so through the medium of the word of God. He leads children of God through the power of the gospel. So, by divine revelation, we are taught how to live before God. The same Spirit of God (the Holy Spirit) teaches men and women to become children of God, thus leading them to the truth. The gospel is the power of God unto salvation (Rom. 1: 16), but the Spirit leads through the gospel. Then in the next verse we are told, “For ye received not the spirit of bondage again unto fear; but ye received the spirit of adoption whereby we cry, Abba, Father” (v. 15). Having stated that the Spirit of God leads us, this done through divine revelation, Paul then refers to the spirit which we receive; that it is the spirit of adoption (or sonship) and that it is not the spirit of bondage unto fear. The Jews who had lived under the old law lived mainly by fear. Before Paul’s readers were converted they had been moved by fear. This is not true of the Christian. Children of God have a different kind of spirit. This being the case, we are led to the conclusion that the spirit received by the child of God pertains to an attitude rather than intelligence. Instead of a spirit of fear, children of God possess a spirit of sonship, a recognition of and a trust and reverence for the Heavenly Father (see Matt. 7:11).

Our spirit (v. 16), in view of the sonship that Paul has just discussed, is a disposition or attitude. We are children who serve God in the spirit of love and obedience to His will. The Holy Spirit testifies as to how we are to live as children of God, and by following His instructions in the Scriptures, we serve God in the spirit of love and obedience. These are the witnesses of the spirits – the Holy Spirit and our spirit. God has given to us the spirit of children; so we serve as such, and not as slaves. This meaning conforms to the context of the passage; therefore, we believe it to be the plausible explanation.

Guardian of Truth XXVIII: 16, p. 485
August 16, 1984

By Mike Willis

During the week of 27 June, the Guardian of Truth Bookstore was moved from Fairmount, Indiana to Bowling Green, Kentucky. Brother O.C. Birdwell had moved to Bowling Green on I June and I had moved on 20 June. Between June 128, fifteen, twenty-two foot Ryder truck loads were moved to Bowling Green in order to move the Birdwells, Willis’, and the Guardian of Truth Bookstore into our new homes.

The new manager of the Bookstore is O.C. Birdwell, faithful gospel preacher for many years and member of the Board of the Guardian of Truth Foundation for many years. He agreed to operate the Bookstore with the assistance of his son Alan, his wife Frances, and his daughter Lisa. My former secretary, sister Dorothy Kalt, also is working in the bookstore. We feel that this staff will provide you excellent service and that you will be pleased with our new facilities located at 420 Old Morgantown Road in Bowling Green.

The change of managers of our bookstore should not pass without an expression of gratitude to brother and sister Whitehead who have managed the bookstore since 1971. I want to pay tribute to this fine, Christian family whom so many of you know through telephone conversation with our bookstore.

Managers During A Period of Rapid Growth

When Robert and Marilyn Whitehead began operating Truth Magazine Bookstore, they moved it from Orlando, Florida into their garage outside of Marion, Indiana. The business for a month, compared to now, was small. They provided excellent service to our customers and the business continued to grow.

During these years, Cecil Willis and Roy Cogdill lead the merger of the Gospel Guardian Foundation and Truth Magazine to form the Cogdill Foundation. The old Journeys Through the Bible literature series was purchased and renamed Walking With God. In the meantime, arrangements were made to write and publish the new literature series Truth In Life. These years for the foundation involved heavy indebtedness with little collateral to secure the loans. On more than one occasion, brother and sister Whitehead, sometimes alone and sometimes in cooperation with others, signed their names to loans at the bank to guarantee that the Foundation would repay the note.

The work of operating a bookstore grew. What was once a small business began to become a larger business. Sister Whitehead’s mother, sister Hazel Maley, was hired at wages too low to even mention to help in the bookstore. From time to time, part time help was necessary to operate the business. By and large, however, the Whiteheads operated the bookstore by working long hours – many beyond the usual eight-hour work day. They lived with the bookstore, thinking of what would help our business rather than what was best for them.

Cooperative and Dedicated

There were times during the operation of the Guardian of Truth Bookstore that brother Whitehead disagreed with Board decisions. Whether one agreed with his judgment or not, every Board member would have to admit that they thought brother Whitehead was acting on the basis of what he thought was best for the Foundation and not what was best for the Whiteheads. I remember board meetings in which decisions went against brother Whitehead’s judgment. On the way to the board meeting, he would say, “This will never work; we cannot allow this decision to be made.” After the decision was made, brother Whitehead would return saying, “If we all work at it, maybe this will work.”

Brother Whitehead operated his end of the Foundation on a shoestring. He never spent extravagantly. He never had adequate facilities or sufficient help to operate a business the size of our operation. Yet, he never complained of his heavy burden.

Christian People

I have had the privilege of working more closely with the Whiteheads than many of you. I want to mention their conscientiousness as Christians. I know of the work which they have done with prisoners; of the books which they have given to those in need; of the help which they have been to those who are less fortunate than themselves.

I have discussed church problems with them. I have known of situations which they confronted in which they bit their lips for months before finding it absolutely necessary to discuss the matter with elders. In times such as these, they were not wishy-washy members who had no backbone; instead, their position was known and they could be counted on when the battle raged.

Brother Norman Midgette worked with the Marion, Indiana churches and wit the Whiteheads for about fifteen years. His words of appreciation for them speak highly of the kind of people they are. He wrote to me saying.

Myrna (brother Midgette’s wife) and I have been close friends with Bob and Marilyn for the fifteen years we have been in Indiana. We have had no friends who have stood by us continually through the good times and the bad more faithfully than they . . .

When we first moved to Indiana their generous hospitality opened their doors to our family more than once . . . . In the church at South Marion and later at Woodland Hills, Bob’s voice was listened to and res ed for its soundness and common sense . . . . Their respect resilience to bounce back after deep disappointment and heartache is another asset to their character. I believe the times of emotional pain and mental suffering they have endured has helped them understand more than most the human problems individuals and families can face. These problems have made them better able to sympathize with others and show the compassion needed to help others through difficult times . . . I am glad to know them and have them as friends . . . . Thank you for the opportunity to give these two deserving people a few roses while they live.

Appreciated And Loved

Our board members wrote letters of appreciation to the Whiteheads. Here it what some wrote:

“There is no doubt in my mind but that the Foundation would have faltered, and might have failed had it not been for your efforts to keep it afloat. You have spent many long hours in operating the business to bring in the income to what we have been able to do in printing material and keeping the magazine circulated . . . . We not only regard you as dedicated, hard-working people, but outstanding Christians, whom we count it a privilege to know and call friends. We treasure your interest and support . . . ” – O.C. and Frances Birdwell.

“Above and beyond all the good things you all have done through the years to make the store grow and serve the customers throughout the land, I more deeply cherish the friendship and brotherhood we have had and continue to enjoy . . . .” – Earl E. Robertson

“Your contribution to the foundation is without question the greatest of all that has been made. Others have made great contributions but your devoted work has been so great and for such a long period of time. Your work, in fact, made all of the other good possible . . . .” – James D. Yates

“Next, let me thank you for the warm relationship we have shared in the work of the Guardian of Truth Foundation. I long ago recognized that you put in long hours and many many sacrifices to improve the bookstore business. Bob, your suggestions and advice in Board meetings have often been helpful to me and to the Board as a whole. Marilyn, you have been not only Bob’s companion in the affairs of your home but also his right arm in the work of the bookstore …. Bob and Marilyn, the two of you have made a fine team and have established a wonderful record. If I could boil it all down to one expression, I would say, ‘Thank you for setting an example in life of serving others!. . . – Ron Halbrook

For over a decade and one-half you labored hard long hours, not watching the clock for quitting time, nor even the calendar for a long vacation with pay etc. and being human, like the rest of us, suffered the frustration of your personal lives; the disappointments; the lack of good facilities to do your work in and with for the greater part of all those years . . . .” – Theron N. Bohannan

Brother and sister Birdwell have a pair of big shoes to fill. I am confident that they can do a good job in their work with the Foundation. However, to the Whiteheads, I want to say publicly how much I love and appreciate them for their work’s sake. They are truly deserving of our honor.

Guardian of Truth XXVIII: 16, pp. 482-483, 505
August 16, 1984

By Bill Cavender

“And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold and one shepherd” (John 10:16).

“Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; that they all may be one, as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me” (John 17:20-21).

“But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us . . . . that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby” (Eph. 2:13-16). “There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all” (Eph. 4:4-6).

These Scriptures, with many others, teach the oneness which must characterize the true followers of Jesus Christ. Men cannot justify religious divisions by the Scriptures, either in and among churches of our Lord, or in denominationalism and Catholicism. If all men believed only the word of God, all would be one religiously – in name, doctrine, practice and worship. When the apostles of Jesus were living, those who followed Jesus in that first century wore only the religious name of Christian, all worshiped God through Jesus Christ in the same manner, all observed the same acts of worship, all were members of the same body which is the church of Christ, and all obeyed the same will of God in service to Jesus (Acts 11:26; John 4:23-24; Acts 2:41, 47; Eph. 1:22-23; 5:23; Matt. 7:21-28, etc.).

There should be only one fold and one Shepherd. Scripturally, there can only be one. The one fold is the one church. “And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all” (Eph. 1:22-23). Jesus is the one Shepherd (John 10:11,14). “For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls” (1 Peter 2:25).

Jesus’ disciples are to be one: in name, desire, aim, hope, belief, practice, worship, teaching and love” (John 17:20-21). One great reason, if not the greatest, for the unbelief, ungodliness, and disdain for religion in the world today is the divided state of those who claim to be followers of Jesus. Among the brethren the alienations, strifes and divisions, and the opinions and extremes of brethren, are of epidemic proportions. The unity about which Jesus taught and for which He prayed is not a unity of existing, warring religious bodies and factions, for such denominational factionalism did not exist in the first century. The unity which God’s word teaches is that of individuals, both Jews and Gentiles, converted to Jesus Christ through His word, walking by faith (Jas. 1:21, 18; 2 Cor. 5:7; Rom. 10:17; Matt. 18:1-4). Paul said, “Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment” (1 Cor. 1:10). Again He said, “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. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise” (Gal. 3:26-29).

We hear and read much about “ecumenical councils,” “ecumenicalism,” “denominational mergers,” and “unity meetings.” We read of preachers, priests and rabbis who meet together in common services and in “ministerial alliances.” This pseudo-unity is no unity at all, for all retain their divisive religious names, doctrines, worships and practices. This is union without unity, compromise without conviction.

Men will not achieve the unity which is pleasing to God and which the New Testament teaches until they believe and practice what is clearly taught in the New Testament, and are willing to lay aside all their doctrines, practices, names and opinions which are not in the New Testament. God’s word is not contradictory, It is harmonious and produces harmony and unity among those who believe and obey it. Only when men believe in one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, will they be truly united with God in Christ, and with one another (Eph. 4:1-6). “If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin” (1 John 1:7). We are united together in Christ by the doing of His will, or we are not united at all. One fold and one Shepherd is still God’s will. Are you willing to lay aside and give up all denominational names, acts of worship, false plans of salvation, man-made churches and creeds, all denominational dogmas, and all human opinions in order to make the prayer of Jesus a reality? Would to God that all who may read this would be willing to do so?

Guardian of Truth XXVIII: 16, p. 484
August 16, 1984

By Don R. Hastings

Most youngsters in an audience can quickly guess who I am referring to when I say that this popular Old Testament character possessed supernatural strength. He was God’s strong man. He was the Hebrew’s Hercules. His superhuman strength amazes us. Most of us enjoy watching the amazing feats accomplished by very strong men. However, none of them can compare with Samson.

Whoever killed a thousand soldiers ‘ with nothing more than a bone for his weapon (15:14-16)? Who else, but Samson, could have pulled up the heavy, massive gate to a city and carried it to the top of a mountain (16:3)? Samson demonstrated his great strength once again when he moved “the two middle pillars upon which the house rested . . . and the house fell . . .” (16:27-31).

Samson was very courageous, for he would fight the Philistines by himself, regardless of the number of Philistines (15:6-8, 14-16). He must have been very fast for he “caught 300 foxes . . .” (15:3-5).

Samson’s physical endowments did not help him overcome Satan. Satan is not frightened by anyone’s physical strength. Our defense against Satan is the Word of God (Matt. 4; Eph. 6:10-17). Samson failed to bring his passions under control. He did not practice self-control. He would resist a Philistine army, but not a Philistine woman.

Samson Lived A Sinful Life

Samson refused to listen to the wise counsel of his parents as they advised him against such a marriage (14:3). Samson’s response was, “Get her for me: for she pleaseth me well” (14:3). He did not consider what would please his parents, or more importantly, what would please Jehovah!

Judges 14:4 means that God used Samson’s obstinate determination to take a Philistine wife as a means to cause Samson to become so angry with the Philistines that he would kill them. God does not want us to violate His word. God used Pharaoh’s stubbornness to reveal His glorious power. We make a very serious mistake when we choose, as our close friends, those who do not fear God, reverence or worship Him!

Don’t Make The Same Mistake As Samson

Like Isaac, Samuel, John the Baptist, and Jesus, Samson’s birth was foretold (13: 1). He was to be a Nazarite all his life (13:3,7). As a Nazarite, he was not to drink or eat anything connected with grapes, cut his hair, or come near a dead body (Num. 6:1-8). The Lord was with him and gave him supernatural strength as long as his hair was not cut (16:15-17,20).

Manoah humbly prayed for Divine guidance in rearing Samson (13:8,12). What a wonderful example for us to follow! How often do you pray for wisdom from above in rearing your children? Are you following God’s instructions (Prov., Eph. 6:1-4)?

As Samson grew, “Jehovah blessed him” (13:24,25). Samson is a good example that proves Proverbs 22:6 is a general rule that has exceptions. Samson was a bitter disappointment to his parents (Prov. 17:25; 10:1). Are you a disappointment to your parents and to God?

Samson Sinned Because He Chose To Marry An Evil Woman (14:1,2)

God had forbidden marriages between His children, the Israelites, and other nations (Deut. 7:1-3). God knew that such marriages would lead His children away from Him (Deut. 7:4; 1 Kings 11:4; Neh. 13:23-27).

Make up your mind now that you are going to marry one who loves the Lord, and never change your mind! If you love the Lord, why would you want to enter into the closest of all human relationships with one who:

I . Is a child of the devil?

2. Holds in contempt the Bible, church, worship, prayer, Jesus, etc.?

3. Lives by a different standard?

4. Wants to live in sin?

5. Has his mind totally on earthly things?

6. Will try to counteract all the good your example and teaching does for your children?

7. Will try to discourage you from faithfully following and serving the Lord; thus, causing you to fall from God’s favor and be eternally tormented?

It is to our eternal sorrow when we choose our close companions from among the enemies of God! Will we never learn the truth that “evil companionships corrupt good morals” (1 Cor. 15:33; Prov. 1:10; 4:14)? Know the joy of being united with one who loves the Lord as fervently as you do!

Guardian of Truth XXVIII: 16, p. 489
August 16, 1984