Truth Magazine

By Tom M. Roberts

The inquisitive mind of man has explored practically every corner of the earth and is reaching out to the universe. Man’s thirst for knowledge has led him to the inner chambers of the atom and to the outer reaches of space. In all of this quest, there seems to be an insatiable desire to know, to understand, to find answers for whatever questions arise. In the process of learning, vast amounts of money have been spent, volumes of books have been written and knowledge has been multiplied. Yet questions remain. Man is destined to search and to look for answers to problems still unresolved.

May I suggest to you that there remains one question that is the greatest question of all? By comparison those perplexities of the atom and of space pale into insignificance in its presence. You see, not every one of us is immediately affected by some of the answers to the questions of science, mathematical theory, etc. Whether Saturn has 5 moons or 15, how it got its thousands of rings and other interesting phenomena have little effect on my eternal destiny. Which of us is vitally concerned with whether or not the sun is going to burn itself out in another 20 billion years? I really haven’t missed any sleep over such matters. But friend, I have lost some sleep over whether or not my soul is right with God. Thus, there is one question that is common to every single human being among all the teeming billions that have lived from the beginning. That question is: “What shall I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:30). This question vitally concerns me personally, as it does you. Finding the answer is not optional as it is with other matters (such as the rings of Saturn or understanding the theory of relativity). I must know how to be saved if I am to avoid an eternity apart from God!

What is doubly amazing about this question that is the greatest of a is that the answer is readily available. In commenting about his desire for Israel’s salvation Paul asserts that man, by his own initiative, cannot assault as it were the gates of heaven and decipher the answer to this question. In Romans 10:6-8 he explains, “Say not in thy heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down): or, Who shall descend into the abyss? (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). ” Can man by his own strength or knowledge find Christ? No. But ours is not a hopeless condition, doomed to ignorance, for God by His grace and mercy made the answer available to us. He continued in verse 8, “But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is the word of faith, which we preach.”

The greatest question has a proportionately great answer: Christ. The tenth chapter of Romans continues explaining how that righteousness is to be found in Christ by the inspired revelation through the apostles’ preaching. Salvation is found among those who believe and accept Christ as Savior. Christ is the answer to the greatest question.

But the facts of the gospel are accompanied by the commands of the gospel. Remember that the question as stated in Acts 16:30 asked, “What shall I do?” While Christ is the gracious answer to our sinful condition, we must respond in faith to meet the conditions of God’s grace. Gospel preachers have always taught that Christ and His sacrifice are the grounds or basis of salvation. But we have also had to show that salvation is conditioned upon faithful obedience by those who would be saved.

The book of Acts is a treatise showing how salvation has been brought down by the grace of God and how the conditions of salvation have been met by those who wish to be saved. It does not detract at all from the grace of God to show men what they must do (meet conditions) to be saved. Salvation is either conditional or it is not. If it is not conditional, man has nothing at all to do. If it is conditional, man must do something; the conditions must be met before blessings are received.

When the question is raised, “What must I do to be saved?”, it is understood that God has done His part fully in initiating, implementing and fulfilling salvation. Nothing is lacking of God’s grace. There is no need to implore God to be more gracious (can He give more than His son?). What remains is to exhort man to his part.

Throughout the book of Acts (and other parts of the Scripture), we see the apostles and evangelists doing this very thing: exhorting people to obey the gospel. They understood that the greatest question had been answered. They preached the answer. And “those that gladly received the word were baptized” (Acts 2:41).

The people who considered the question in New Testament days either accepted or rejected the counsel of God. But their day is past and gone. Now the question is for us for it is now our time “under the sun” (Eccl. 1:9). Are you interested in the question? Do you understand the answer? It will matter little in eternity about the chemical makeup of Saturn but it is of vital importance whether or not you spend eternity with God or apart from Him. Do you know the answer to the greatest question of all time? Are you even interested in the question?

Guardian of Truth XXVIII: 12, p. 362
June 21, 1984

By Donald F. Ames

Someone once said that the sad thing about being a parent is that by the time you finally got some experience, no one wanted to listen to your advice. I suppose all of us, as parents, have made our share of mistakes in the process of rearing our children, and have probably learned from them while trying to also guide their steps and lives in the direction God instructed us (Prov. 22:6; Eph. 6:4; etc.).

We have probably also looked at the problems of child rearing, and wondered if it was really worth it and why we even cared (though deep down inside we knew it was and that we did care, and felt some day it would indeed pay off). There have been times of great pride in our children, and times when our hearts have bled for them. And, then, there have been times we have probably honestly asked ourselves if any of the effort was ever actually appreciated. Sometimes when we feel we have tried our hardest, we feel disappointment and/or even outright rejection in their response. Still, because we care and love them, we keep on trying. And then sometimes the unexpected happens to show us indeed it was all worth it. Yes, probably many of us need that bit of encouragement now and then.

Recently I received a card from my oldest son, with the following note penned on the back. I read it with tears in my eyes and pride in my heart. I share it, not to embarrass him, but to encourage other parents in the process of raising their children too. (And, young people, if you are reading this, why not take a hint?)

Dad,

I realize now that I’m gone that there have been several things I’ve taken for granted. One is all the love, patience, and sacrifice you gave for me, even in times when I could of cared less and even when I didn’t want it. But now when I look back, I don’t think you could do better with me. I’d even say you did a pretty good job in the long run. So, remember when you face those times with ________, he’ll appreciate you for it later, and love you even more. So I’d just like to take this valentines day to say “Thanks, and I love you.”

(Thanks, son, that made it all worth while!

– Love, Dad).

Guardian of Truth XXVIII: 11, p. 343
June 7, 1984

By Michael L. Dollose

When Adam and Eve transgressed God’s law, sin entered the world. That sin immediately separated them from God. They were spiritually dead. That was the first, and by far the greatest of the consequences of their sin. They were also driven from the garden of Eden and barred from re-entering so that access to the tree of life could be prevented. Physical death became a reality. Adam was told that feeding his family would require labor and toil, fighting thorns and thistles for every necessity. Eve was told that in pain she would bring her children into the world. Thus, death, pain, and suffering entered into the world as a result of their sins.

If Adam and Eve repented, they were forgiven of their sins. God, in His mercy, promised them and all mankind that He would provide a sacrifice to take away sins (Gen. 3:15). But, even though the sins they committed could be forgiven, the consequences remained. They still faced death, labor and toil were still required to provide food, and suffering still had to be endured. Sin’s consequences don’t pass away with time.

We still suffer the consequences of that first pair’s sins. (We do not inherit the guilt, however. See Ezek. 18:20-24.) Disease, pain, suffering and death all entered into the world because of sin and remain problems plaguing man because of sin. Paul told the Romans, “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned” (Rom. 5:12). Because of Adam’s sin, death entered the world and now we will all die physically. Because each of us sins, just as Adam did, we each separate ourselves from God, just as Adam did. We die spiritually; we are lost. Such are the consequences of sin.

God sent His Son to atone for our sins (Rom. 5:11). Only through obeying Him can we enjoy the forgiveness of sins and have the hope of eternal life (Heb. 5:8,9). But even when we obey Christ and are forgiven of all our sins, sometimes there are consequences of our sins that we must still bear. Sometimes sin causes circumstances which cannot be avoided.

Consider the tragic example of a young Christian who allowed himself to be influenced by his peers to drink with them. He became intoxicated and on the way home hit another car head on, killing the other driver. The young Christian was paralyzed and confined to a wheelchair for life. He repented of his sin and if his repentance was with a godly sorrow (2 Cor. 7: 10), he was forgiven. The horror of that night will not be so soon forgotten, however. That young man must live with the knowledge that his sin killed another man. His wheelchair will be constant reminder of the consequences of sin. The young wife who lost her husband and the young child who will never know his father’s love will know the loneliness and pain caused by one young man’s sin. No matter how badly everyone involved in the tragedy might wish to change it, to undo what has been done, it cannot be undone. Sin cost dearly. Such are the consequences of sin.

Adultery is sin. Those who violate God’s marriage law will suffer the consequences. Jesus said that if one divorces his or her mate and marries another, except it be for fornication, that one commits adultery and that any one who marries the one who has been put away commits adultery (Matt. 19:4-9). Thus, according to the Savior, when two people divorce and both remarry and no fornication is involved, four people are living in adultery. Only by repenting of that sin and ceasing to practice that sin can those involved have any hope of heaven. There can be no forgiveness where there is no repentance (Lk. 13:3). But repentance involves a sorrow for sin which causes the guilty part (or parties) to turn from the error, no longer practicing that which is contrary to God’s law (2 Cor. 7:11).

When a man (or woman) divorces his first mate and there has been no unfaithfulness on the part of that mate, that man must either be reunited with his first wife or remain single. The mate must also be reunited with her first husband or remain single. There is no other choice, if one is to be pleasing to God. Appeals to the emotions don’t change that. The fact that many, because of sin, will be condemned to a life of loneliness does not alter that. Such are the consequences of sin. It matters not that the man who divorces his wife against her will (assuming that neither is guilty of fornication) condemns her to a single life which she did not choose. The widow of the man killed in the wreck did not choose to have it so. But sin brings tragic consequences.

Well does this writer remember the first real prospects that he had after becoming a “full time” gospel preacher. It was a study with a young couple about my own age at the time. He was twenty-one; she was twenty-four. After the third study session, they both expressed a desire to be baptized for the remission of sins. “But,” as he put it, “there is a problem.” They had both been divorced. This was his second marriage, her fourth. They had two children and one on the way and not one of those children had the same mother and father. We turned to Matthew and read what Jesus taught. The man informed me that they had read that passage since our last study, several times in fact. I remember his exact words. “If we understand that passage, Jesus is saying that we don’t have a right to be married to each other. What can we do?” They, sadly, were not willing to dissolve their marriage to serve God. Some would immediately appeal to the unfairness of breaking up a happy home where two young people desired to live together and serve God. It is tragic, but such is the consequence of sin. When man ignores God’s law, man will pay the price.

I have often wondered since that time what ever became of that young couple. I have had many similar experiences over the years. Sadly, in the vast majority of cases those involved were not willing to surrender themselves completely to God and cease their adulterous relationships. Each time, I am reminded of the tragedy of sin, of the price of sin. I often wish that I could say, “If you will just repent and be baptized, you can go on living together and everything will be alright.” But the facts remain the same. Sin produces consequences that must be borne. We cannot change God’s law because divorce has become so prevalent in our age. We cannot alter what Jesus taught because many who are Christians are involved. We can but teach the truth about sin, warn of its consequences, encourage all to flee from it, and discipline those Christians who sin and who refuse to repent.

We all suffer pain and sorrow, death and disease as a consequence of Adam’s sin. Each of us will bear the heartache and suffering of our own sins whether through ignorance or willfully we violate God’s laws. We can be forgiven of sins if we will repent and cease the practice of that which is sinful. Sometimes we can make amends for our wrong and undo at least some of what we have done. Sometimes the consequences of sin don’t fade away with time.

Guardian of Truth XXVIII: 11, pp. 339-340
June 7, 1984

By Larry Ray Hafley

(1) The Alien Sinner. Baptists and others have argued for “lo, these many years” that, “We do not work (obey) to be saved, but because we are saved. ” Obviously, this cannot apply to the alien sinner. He has to obey in order to be saved. “Not every one 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). “Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him” (Acts 10:34,35). “Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; And being made perfect, He became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him” (Heb. 5:8,9).

The very question, “What must I do to be saved (Acts 16:30)?” implies that there is something (obedience) that I “must do (in order) to be saved.”

(2) The Erring Brother. The erring child of God is lost (Jas. 5:19,20). In the process of restoration, does he obey God because he is saved or in order to be saved? He was “purged (cleansed) from his old (past) sins” when he became a Christian. Later, he erred from the truth; his soul was in danger of death (Jas. 5:19,20; Rom. 8:12,13). Must he act because he is already forgiven, or must he respond in order to be forgiven? See Simon the Sorcerer. He believed, was baptized, and, in accord with Jesus’ promise, was saved from his past sins (Acts 8:12,13; Mk. 16:15,16; 2 Pet. 1:9). After his conversion and salvation, he sinned, and was “in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity” (Acts 8:23). That is strange language to describe a man who is still saved! He was lost and needed his soul saved from death. Peter gave the divine formula. “Repent therefore of this thy wickedness and pray God if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee” (Acts 8:22).

(3) The Faithful Christian. The Christian has been saved from his past sins, but there remains a salvation “ready to be revealed in the last time . . . at the appearing of Jesus Christ” (1 Pet. 1:5,7). Paul spoke to Romans who had been saved when they “obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine” (Rom. 6:17,18). Still, he spoke of a future deliverance; “for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed” (Rom. 13:11). Regarding that future salvation, do we obey in order to be saved or because we are saved? Because we have been saved from our past sins, we obey in order to receive the salvation which will be given “at the appearing of Jesus Christ.” Initially, we are “purged from (our) old (past) sins” and saved. Then we must “give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Pet. 1:9-11). “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” (Phil. 2:12). We are to “walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing” (Col. 1:10; 1 Thess. 2:12; Eph. 4: 1), “that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot and blameless” (2 Pet. 3:14). “And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming” (1 Jn. 2:28).

Finally, on this point, “And you, that were sometimes alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: if ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard” (Col. 1:21-23).

Summation and Conclusion

Hence, obedience is rendered in order to be saved. This is true of the alien sinner (Acts 2:37,38), the erring brother (Acts 8:22,23; Jas. 5:19,20) and the faithful Christian (2 Pet. 1:10, 11; 3:14; Rev. 22:14). To the alien, the grace of God and the blood of Christ are the grounds, the basis, of his salvation. Faith, repentance, confession and baptism are the terms or conditions of his salvation. To the erring brother, the grace of God and the blood of Christ are the grounds, the foundation, of his salvation. Repentance, confession and prayer are the stipulations or terms of his salvation (Acts 8:22,23; 1 Jn. 1:9; 2:1). To the faithful child of God, the grace of God and the blood of Christ are the grounds of salvation. “Good works which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them” are the conditions of salvation being maintained here and attained hereafter (Phil. 2:12; Eph. 2:10; 2 Pet. 1:5-11; Col. 1:23).

The alien sinner is not saved by works, but by grace, even though he must obey or submit to the terms of pardon. The erring brother is not saved by works, but by grace, even though he must obey or comply with the conditions of forgiveness. The faithful saint is not saved by works, but by grace, even though he must obey or “work out (his) own salvation.”

In debate, Baptist preachers have affirmed that one is saved without acts of obedience but that after one is saved he obeys because he is saved. They have been asked, “If obedience on the part of a child of God does not eliminate grace, why do you say that obedience by an alien sinner nullifies grace?” Now, saints engaged in certain controversies over these and related issues, should reverse that thought. If obedience on the part of an alien sinner does not make void God’s grace, then why would one say that obedience on the part of a Christian nullifies the grace of God? It is a fair question.

Guardian of Truth XXVIII: 12, pp. 355, 375
June 21, 1984