Truth Magazine

By Don Givens

There is no more wonderful service than to impart saving truth, Lost sinners must know the truth and the truth can make them free. Our Savior commanded, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel” so that creatures could hear, believe, respond in repentance and baptism and be saved (Matt. 28:18-20; Mark 16:15,16).

It is clearly seen then, that the preaching of the word “publicly and from house to house” is of utmost importance (Acts 20:20). Every disciple of the Lord is to spread the glad tidings of salvation. Who is not thrilled to share such tremendous news? The gospel is “glad tidings” (Luke 2:10,11). As the angel said, it is truly “good tidings of great joy.”

The disciples who were driven out of Jerusalem waited for no instructions, no organized personal work program, or human clergy “ordinations,” but “went everywhere preaching the word” (Acts 8:4). We desperately need the attitude of Paul when he proclaimed, “Woe is me, if I preach not the gospel” (1 Cor. 9:16).

As one preaches and teaches the word, he must have a life consistent with the content of the gospel he proclaims. In other words, do not ruin what you say by how you live! Zealous, righteous, and blameless character must fortify the oral lessons of the teacher.

The evangelist Paul told the younger evangelist Timothy to “preach the word; be urgent in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching” (2 Tim. 4:2). It is the Word that is to be preached, not your opinions, not your surmissings, and not “the ways that seem right unto men” (Prov. 14:12). Carefully note that the apostle commands us to be longsuffering. Too many teachers are short-sufferers.

Preach the sufficiency and inspiration ‘ of the Scriptures (2 Tim. 3:16,17). Cater not to the worldly wisdom of the crafty fools (1 Cor. 3:18-21).

With the rock of Truth hurled from the sling of faith, you can smite unbelief as it parades in modern society under the guise of “sophistication.” Swallow not the bait of the devil which says that only the ignoramus believes the Bible and only the weak-minded need the faith. Show the people that the nice, pretty baits of pleasure, power, and profit only hide the hooks of damnation, destruction, and doom.

Preach repentance from sin, rather than making apologies for it. Firmly declare, with love for souls, that the sinner must repent or perish in hell (2 Pet. 3:9; Rev. 21:8). Remember that men laugh at sin instead of turning from it. They toy with it instead of hating it. Although men may joke about hell, there will be no joking in hell. Teach men to hate sin as much as they hate the hell to which it leads. Even though some have eliminated hell from their doctrinal belief, it has not been eliminated from God’s Word.

Rebuke sin wherever and in whomever it is found, and start with yourself . Be courageous enough to identify sin as wickedness in all of its filthiness and putridness, even though it be found in your best friend as well as your worst enemy. In all these rebukes remember that “the Lord’s servant must not strive, but be gentle towards all, apt to teach, forbearing, in meekness correcting them that oppose themselves” (2 Tim. 2:24,25) and “in all things showing thyself an ensample of good works” (Tit. 2:7).

Be just as broad as the Scriptures. Be just as narrow as the Scriptures. Study the sermons of Peter, Paul, Stephen, but especially those of Jesus. Think not that you can have “better manners” than the apostles. Denounce riotous living; expose the grimy hog pens of sin; and as you do so offer the amazing grace of the Heavenly Father to the returning prodigal.

As you preach the Word remember that your greatest wage and your best pay is the approval of the Lord and the glory brought to God. No wage is so satisfying as the peace and joy you will have knowing that you are laboring together with God (1 Cor. 15:58).

Do not expect overwhelming gratitude from people you serve. Truly, you are serving the Lord. About ninety percent of the good you do in this life, you will not know about in this life! Therefore, do not teach the saving truth just when you can see “visible results.” Much good that you do will not be “visible” to you. Remember that the prophets of God have always been on the receiving end of more “mud” than “medals,” and more bricks than bouquets.

When humiliated by a seeming failure, the Lord will halve your burden by helping you bear your disappointment. When you are elated with success, God will double your joy by sharing it.

As many faithful preachers and teachers of the precious Word have said before: “Preach sin horrible, death inevitable, judgment certain, hell hot, eternity never ending, and heaven beautiful.”

Preach the saving truth! Spread the good news! Go, and may God be with thee.

Guardian of Truth XXVIII: 8, p. 230
April 19, 1984

By Hoyt Houchen

Question: We have a problem understanding the word “eat” in 1 Corinthians 5:11. Is Paul saying that if a Christian’s son or daughters (after leaving home) becomes unfaithful, we father and mother) that are faithful cannot eat a common meal with them? How far do we carry the “have company with” them?

Reply: Let us first notice the words of Paul in 1 Corinthians 5:9-11. “I wrote unto you in my epistle to have no company with fornicators; not at all meaning with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous and extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world: but as it is, I wrote unto you not to keep company, if any man that is named a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such a one no, not to eat.”

One of the sins which existed in the church at Corinth was the sin of incest. Paul dealt with this problem in 1 Corinthians 5. He wrote in verse 1: “It is actually reported that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not even among the Gentiles, that one of you hath his father’s wife.” The attitude of the brethren at Corinth toward this shameful condition was not only one of indifference but one of arrogance and defiance. “Ye are puffed up, and did not mourn, that he that had done this deed might be taken from you” (v. 2). The church was not only instructed to deal with this sin but also how to handle it. The brethren were commanded, “Purge out the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, even as ye are unleavened” (v. 7). As the Israelites were to remove all leaven from their houses before the Passover (Ex. 12:15,20; 13:7), so these Corinthians were to remove the old leaven of sin that they might become pure. Action was to be taken by these brethren toward the guilty party. He was to be excluded from the fellowship of the church. Immorality must not be tolerated among Christians. We are commanded to withdraw ourselves from the disorderly (2 Thess. 3:6). Personal association that will endorse or encourage those claiming to be Christians, but who -are guilty of sin, is prohibited. “With such a one, no not to eat” (vs. 11). It is obvious that the eating here does not refer to the Lord’s Supper. The phrases “have no company” and “with such a one, no, not to eat,” do not apply to the world but to members of the church. Paul says, “if any man that is named a brother . . . ” (v. 11). So, the eating referred to in the passage is a common meal.

The question asked involves whether or not we may eat a common meal with a member of the family who is unfaithful. The passage cannot be made to apply to members of a family. There is a relationship which we sustain to our physical families which is distinct from our spiritual relationship in the church. We are in no way to act toward the disciplined or unfaithful member of the church that would lend any endorsement or encouragement of his misconduct. In the case of a family member, it should be made clear that any social activity engaged in with him is strictly in the realm of a family relationship and that it by no means sanctions his sin. It would then necessarily follow that husband-wife relations (1 Cor. 7:3-5) and social obligations with relatives do not of themselves condone the guilty.

Guardian of Truth XXVIII: 8, pp. 228-229
April 19, 1984

By Dudley Ross Spears

How many times would you say the Bible says that Christians are to put on immortality. Paul wrote, “For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality” (1 Cor. 15:53). The millennial speculators have a problem here with just how many times this takes place. Hal Lindsay said this is a mystery but takes place at the imaginary “Rapture” (Late Great Planet Earth, p. 130). His theory is that the saints will be in the “Rapture” with Christ in immortal bodies that are spiritual bodies, glorious bodies, not affected by the pain and discomforts of a physical body.

Millennialists can hardly write two paragraphs or speak five minutes without getting themselves into all sorts of difficulties with their speculations. Lindsay also wrote about the return of Christ “with” His saints to set up this also imaginary millennial kingdom. He said, “Third, Christ establishes the millennial kingdom and the surviving believers go into it as mortals and repopulate the earth” (Ibid., p. 167). They were immortal as believers in the “Rapture” and now after the establishment of this alleged “millennium” they go in as mortals. What happens when the millennium ends? Your guess is just as good as Lindsay’s or anyone elses. The fact is that there is no such thing as either “Rapture,” “Armageddon,” or “the Millennium.” It is a grand hoax.

Guardian of Truth XXVIII: 8, p. 231
April 19, 1984

By Dick Blackford

The Judgment

“There’s a great day coming … when the saints and the sinners shall be parted right and left . . . . ” The most deadly serious ” and solemn thought that a man can contemplate is that of the final day when this earthly sojourn is over and he must give account to the Great Judge of the universe for the things he did or did not do in this life (2 Cor. 5:10; Mt. 25). We must not speculate on this subject for the fun of it, for the sake of academic or mental exercise, or for the sake of winning an argument. None of those reasons are serious enough. We are talking about the most crucial moment that a man will ever face.

Will There Be Mercy?

“There’s a bright day coming … but its brightness shall only come to them that love the Lord. . . ” Over and over we are told that love and obedience go together (Jn.14:15,21; 15:14; 1 Jn.5:3; 2 Jn. 6; etc.). As others have done, I too have voiced the sentiment that I expect to need God’s mercy on the day of judgment. Most of us find it easier to refrain from sins of commission (overt forbidden acts) than to avoid sins of omission leaving undone things we should do, taking advantage of all opportunities). All of Christ’s judgment parables were in condemnation for sins of omission, not commission.

That Jehovah is a God of mercy no Bible student will deny (Ps. 136; Eph. 2:4). However, some have taught that there will be no mercy on judgment day for we are living in the time of God’s mercy right now. It is true that God is merciful to us daily, sending sunshine, rain, and a host of other blessings on the just and unjust (Mt. 5:45). But it is not true that there will be no mercy at the judgment. “For judgment is without mercy to him that hath showed no mercy: mercy glorieth against judgment”(Jas. 2:13). The judgment scene of Matthew 25 hinged on whether the person had been merciful in life. “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy” (Mt. 5:7). The kind of mercy we extend in life is not one of doctrinal mercy (I am not being merciful to a man when I tell him he can be saved by faith only or can continue to live in adultery). Rather, it has to do with the kindness I show to him as a person. Jesus, James, and Paul gave examples of what they meant (feeding the hungry, hospitality to strangers, not being a respecter of persons regarding the poor, etc., see Mt. 18:21-35; 25:31-46; Jas. 2:1-13; 2 Tim. 1:16-18). These things distinguish whether we are practicing genuine Christianity or whether our religion is an academic pursuit. However, watering down the gospel to make it more palatable is not an act of mercy.

God’s Mercy And Man’s Sins

Let me hasten to say that if the Lord decides to extend mercy to the unbaptized or the person guilty of one sin of ignorance, that will be fine with me. I won’t complain or argue; I will rejoice. But in the meantime, what must I teach on those subjects?

Whenever God wants us to make an exception to any of His requirements, He has told us what the exception is. For example, we are to obey the laws of the civil government (Rom. 13:11; 1 Pet. 2:13-15). However, He has given us an exception. When there is a conflict between the laws of men and the law of God then “we must obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29). Another example: God’s law from the beginning is that marriage is for life (Rom. 7:1-3). But Jesus gave an exception (fornication) whereby one may put away his mate (Mt. 19:9).

Does the Bible give any exceptions to baptism for accountable people? Does it teach that God’s mercy will cover sins of ignorance or unconfessed sins? No, and we have no right to teach otherwise though we might long for God’s pardon on our loved ones who fall into these categories. We must not put a premium on ignorance (Acts 17:30). To teach that God will overlook ignorance encourages ignorance and nullifies all exhortations to study, learn, and grow. Exceptions have a tendency to become the rule – with a little help from their friends. Sprinkling was introduced as “baptism” when it was thought that a man was too sick to be immersed. It eventually became the rule for many mainline denominations. Divorce has almost become the rule of the day. If God intends for His mercy to cover any degree of ignorance, it was in His wisdom not to tell us ahead of time, lest we conclude that “ignorance is bliss” or “what you don’t know won’t hurt you.”

On the other hand, while God has told us some of the conditions of mercy (Mt. 18:21-35; 25:31f; Jas. 2:13), he has not told us exactly how it will be applied. No man on earth knows how it will be applied or at exactly what point He will place limitations. This is a secret area over which Christians should not speculate (Duet. 29:29). “How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord? Or who hath been his counselor? (Rom. 11:33,34).

Leave Judgment To God

“There’s a sad day coming … when the sinner shall hear his doom ‘Depart, I know ye not’. . . . ” God hasn’t asked us to determine the judgment beforehand. Our primary mission is to teach the message. If there are exceptions, teach them. If there are none, omit them. Doing otherwise can cause eternal consequences for the very ones for which we desire salvation. Likewise, let us not hem God into a corner with no room to change His mind. He is a just God. His judgments will be tempered with whatever mercy He thinks we deserve. Only He can determine that. Let us make haste and be busy teaching the gospel. This is urgent, for we each have only a limited amount of time.

Are you ready for that day to come?

Guardian of Truth XXVIII: 8, pp. 227-228
April 19, 1984