Truth Magazine

By John Smith

Four times in Ephesians 5 Paul compels husbands to love their wives. In Ephesians 5:25 the God of heaven inspired Paul to write, “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself up for her.” We, who are husbands, have a sacred duty to love our wives to the extent that we would sacrifice our lives for their benefit. In v. 28 Paul further qualifies a husband’s love for his wife by saying that “husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies.” Just as we cleanse, protect, and pamper our bodies, so also we ought to do for our wives. That same verse connects loving oneself and loving one’s wife. When I fail to love my wife as my own body, I fail to love myself. Paul concludes with this same thought in v. 33, “Nevertheless let each individual among you also love his own wife even as himself.”

In 1 Peter 3:7, Peter says, “You husbands likewise, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with a weaker vessel, since she is a woman, and grant her honor as a fellow-heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.” God in this passage ascribes to man the responsibility of caring for and honoring his wife. The wife, by God’s design, is elevated to a position in which she is worthy of esteem. She is to be treated with special kindness and delicacy as one would treat a prized fragile piece of glass-ware. Many though seem to view their wives as garbage cans doomed to abuse and mistreatment. We as husbands need to have the care and gentleness of a glassmaker not the rough-shod manner of a garbage man.

Our wives are prized companions, confidantes, and friends. We need to communicate with them, share with them, laugh with them, and cry with them. The story is told of a man who solemnly repeated his vow to love, honor and cherish his wife. He pledged to do so in sickness and in health; in good times and in bad; etc. A few months later he isolated himself behind the evening newspaper and TV. He was no longer the friend, companion, and confidante that he once had been. Having taken it as long as she could, the wife resorted to her last trick – nagging! The husband exploded, sharply rebuking her for her rebellion. It is said that he didn’t see her for about a week – and then only out of one eye! Let us as husbands realize the precious gift given us by God and treat her as such (Prov. 19:14).

Paul in Romans 12:18 says, “If possible so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.” Husbands, like it or not, our wives are a part of “all men” as it is used here in reference to the human race. A young man where I preach said of his girl friend, “It might be o.k. for Greg and Judy to argue and fight, but it is not o.k. for Bro. Potts and Sister Kyle.” This fellow, young in years and young as a Christian (4 months old!) made a very mature and insightful statement concerning his relationship with this young lady. Those of us whose wives are Christians need to realize that we are also brothers and sisters in Christ and ought to conduct ourselves accordingly.

Consider for a moment what effect it would have on troubled marriages if husbands would learn to love their wives as Christ loved the church. How easily might some of those problems be solved if the husband loved his wife as himself? How much more pleasant would many marriages be if the husband loved and cared for his wife as he did for himself? How many fights, arguments, and misunderstandings could be avoided if the husband honored his wife and treated his wife as a fragile vessel? What would happen to the divorce rate in this country if husbands fulfilled their God-given responsibilities to their wives?

But some might say, “I just can’t love my wife as Christ loved the church.” Then remember the words of Christ in Mark 12:31 when He repeated a commandment given by Moses, “You shall love your neighbors as yourself.” Husbands, we have no closer neighbor than our wives. For the one who still cannot bring himself to love his wife as himself, there is one last option. In Matthew 5:44 Jesus commands us to love our enemies. There you have it fellows. There is no way out. Anyway we view our wives the command remains, “Husbands love your wives.”

Guardian of Truth XXVII: 20, p. 624
October 20, 1983

By Earl E. Robertson

Salvation has to do with saving one from his own sins, not the sins of others (Ezek. 18:4, 20). Contrary to the old creeds which teach that all are born into this world with sin (inherited depravity), the Bible teaches babies are safe. Usually the Calvinistic theologian will offer Psalms 51:5 as proof that babies are born sinners. The passage reads, “Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.” So, this passage is supposed to affirm that since parents are sinners their children are also sinners through inheritance! They tell us this means the children are born totally depraved in sin which they got from their parents! The Philadelphia Confession Of Faith says in “Article 10” of babies thus born unelected: “Others not elected, although they may be called by the ministry of the Word, and may have some common operations of the Spirit, yet, not being effectually drawn by the Father, they neither will nor can truly come to Christ, and therefore cannot be saved.” This is then the alleged nature of newborn babies. David is not describing either his mother’s or his own moral condition; he is speaking of the condition of the world into which he was born. Acts 2:8 has identical language. Luke records the expressed feelings of the Jews at their hearing the apostles speak various languages, saying, “And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?” They were not “born in a tongue”; they were born in a world wherein a certain tongue (language) was spoken. David was born in a world where sin reigned.

By taking the position of inherited depravity, the logical step to follow is the unconditional election. The creeds further say, “This effectual call is of God’s free and special grace alone, not from anything at all foreseen in man, nor from any power or agency in the creature co-working with his special grace; the creature being wholly passive therein, being dead in sins and trespasses, until, being quickened and renewed by the Holy Spirit, he is thereby enabled to answer this call . . . . ” No one denies the sinner is dead in sin (Eph. 2:1), but we do deny the sin is from anyone but the sinner himself. The creed says “grace alone” but the Bible says “grace through faith” (Eph. 2:8). The creed says the sinner is “wholly passive” in being saved, but Jesus says the one who enters the kingdom of heaven is “he that doeth the will of my Father” (Matt. 7:21). “Doeth” requires action; action is the opposite of passive! Salvation is actively received!

Guardian of Truth XXVII: 20, p. 623
October 20, 1983

By William C. Sexton

If the phrase “a prophet of God” is spoken, the Bible student would likely think of Elijah. He was a powerful prophet in the Old Testament; when Jesus was transfigured before certain of the apostles (Mt. 17:1-5). He appeared with Elijah to represent the prophets Jesus referred to his acts (Lk. 4:24-26); James mentioned him as evidence of the powerful effect of a righteous man’s prayer (Jas. 5:16-18); Paul pointed to him as one being mistaken about his lonely state because many faithful peoples were serving God (Rom. 11:2-5).

Elijah was a great prophet, who achieved much, giving evidence that he was serving God and that God is powerful (1 Kings 18:21-46). He spoke out against evil, opposed the prophets of Baal, as a spokesman for God. Yet, Elijah was a human, with the weaknesses which characterize mankind. He was, like most of us are at some time, tempted to drop out and give up (1 Kings 19:1-21).

The character of this man and the occasion in his life (just after achieving a great victory) make us unprepared for what he does in this respect! Yet, I suspect that here is just one case of the many in the word of God which point each of us to self-examination, to discover our humanness, We sometimes miscalculate reality! If Elijah, a prophet of God could and did so misperceive things, then certainly we ought to recognize that we, too, may do the same and be in need of assistance!

His Character

He manifested his courage and determination in (1) announcing to wicked Ahab that there was going to be neither “dew nor rain” (1 Kings 17: 1) due to the evil behavior of the king, (2) challenging the people to make a choice to decide whether the Jehovah is God or Baal and to follow the real one (1 Kings 18:21ff). He had manifested his kindness and relationship to God in dealing with the widow and her child (1 Kings 17:17-24).

Depression After Having Gained A Decisive Victory

Elijah called the people together and asked for the prophets of Baal to call on their god to manifest himself to show that he was alive, able, and willing to respond to their needs. this allowed all to witness the complete failure of Baal. After the failure of Baal and his prophets, Elijah called on the Lord God and He responded, burning the sacrifice and drying up the water. This was a powerful demonstration of God’s power and Elijah’s relationship to Him. It would seem reasonable to expect all observers and knowledgeable people to recognize the power manifested and submit to it. One would expect Elijah to be elated, walking on cloud nine!

Yet when his work was conveyed to the king’s wicked wife, Jezebel, she promised to continue her opposition and resistence to him (1 Kings 19:2-3). With his experience and recent victory over Baal’s four hundred prophets, we would expect him to face up to the threat, pointing to the fact that God had manifested Himself in such a powerful way that it would be foolish and fatal to oppose Him in the manner she was threatening. However, we are surprised again! He runs for his life!

His Action Of Requesting To Die

It is hard to understand that this character at this time would run away from such a one as Jezebel and sit down under a tree requesting “for himself that he might die. . . ” (19:4). Even with such behavior, the Lord did not let him have his request. He sent an angel who “touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat.” He was strengthened and traveled for forty days and nights to Horeb, the mount of God (19:8).

Yet, Elijah was not ready and prepared to face reality. Rather, he went into a cave. The Lord, as He had done before, challenged him as to what he was doing there. The answer was not really a response: “I have been jealous for the Lord of Host: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and 1, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away” (19:10, 14).

Truly, Elijah had been jealous for the Lord and such was both good and correct. It was sad that the people of Israel had forsaken the covenant, thrown down the altars built to God and slain the prophets. However, the question addressed to Elijah was: “What doeth thou here?” Why are you here and what are you doing here? Now, not yesterday or days gone by, is the period of time in question.

This is a rather common problem or response, I’m afraid, for any or all of us! We become obsessed with a response that is not really pertinent. When asked a question, we repeat that response!

Lessons To Be Learned From Elijah’s Action

I believe that we all can learn some valuable lessons from this account of his behavior on this occasion; perhaps that is the reason that it is recorded and preserved for us.

1. Like Elijah, all of usfail at times to live up to what we should do based on our knowledge and experience. Quite often, the unreasoned behavior occurs shortly after a victory! Man is more vulnerable right after a battle, even one which he has won! He is exhausted, with his guard down!

Many people have dropped out after great achievements! We expect an inexperienced person to become discouraged and give up and/or in; but the man who has been on the firing line and gained many battles of significance, too, can be overcome!

Each of us need to be challenged: “What doeth thou here?” We need to be challenged, repeatedly till we get off that obsession! We need,to have the significance of that challenge to penetrate our conscience!

2. Christians, like Elijah, need to see that there is and will remain temptations, but there is no justification for dropping out, till God calls us home!

We need, therefore, to allow the double challenge to sink in: Just what are we doing where we are? It does not matter how much we have done; rather, it’s what are we doing now? There is never a time when we can stop and rely on the past record – till our time alloted here expires, and God is the judge and determiner of that.

3. Like Elijah, we need to climb a mountain, get a different view!

And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord, And behold the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountain, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake: and after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice …. And the Lord said unto him, Go, return on the way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou cometh, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria: and Jehu the son of Nimshi shall thou anoint to be king over Israel: and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-me-holah shall thou anoint to be prophet in thy room. And it shall come to pass, that him that escapeth the sword of Hazael shall Jehu slay: and him that escapeth from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha slay. Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him (19:11-12, 15-18).

It is evidence that Elijah has miscalculated: he was not the only one left faithfully serving God! Seven thousand others were alive and serving. We, too, when we get so discouraged, thinking that we are the only one left, need to look again! Somewhere, out of our sight, there are others!

At times we need to climb a mountain and get a view from a different prospective! Hear the Lord say, “Go!” Get back into the stream of activity! Go about doing your job, and see that you can still do something for the Lord’s cause! We can assist others. We can still tell the story of Jesus (Mt. 28:19-20; Mk. 16:15-16).

Conclusion

Every person who has served God, will at times feel as Elijah, feel like dropping out! I’m no better than the others who have gone before me, they suffered and died, I might as well die now! But the Lord is the, only one who can decide that accurately. So, let us keep on being faithful as long as we are allowed to live and serve. Let us ask ourselves: are we doing what we can now according to His word and directions?

Guardian of Truth XXVII: 20, pp. 622-623
October 20, 1983

By M. Thaxter Dickey

The need to think properly during the Lord’s Supper is illustrated in 1 Corinthians 11: 17-34. Misuse of the Lord’s Supper results in serious consequences for those who partake unworthily. In this case many members of the church were sick and some even dead because of abusing the Lord’s supper. Note that the passage does not condemn those who are unworthy to partake for so we all are. If the requirement were worthiness then no one would qualify for “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:25).

What is condemned is partaking in an unworthy manner. Now that doesn’t mean that only a specific form of ritual is acceptable but rather that the condition of the heart must be right. Matthew 5:23,24 gives us an example of engaging in service to God in a worthy way. We cannot enter into His presence with sins that are unrepented. Nor are we participating worthily if our thoughts are far from him (Matt. 15:7, 8).

But keeping our thoughts from straying is a difficult task. It is impossible if we only try to get rid of the worldly thoughts that fill our minds. For each time we chase one away several return to plague us (Lk. 11:25). What we must do if we are to participate with our minds as well as our bodies is to find some positive thoughts on which to concentrate. And there are many topics worthy of thought during the Lord’s Supper.

1. Remember Jesus (Lk. 22:14-20, Matt. 26.26-28). The purpose of the Supper is that we might remember Jesus. It is in fact the only memorial He left. But small mementoes can powerfully bring back memories as anyone who treasures a small belonging left them by a departed parent can testify. In the same way by our participation in the communion Jesus should be vividly real to us not just a dusty historic figure. It is impressive to think that His living memorial in the form of the Supper has outlasted what were at one time more physically impressive and seemingly permanent stone monuments.

What should we remember of Him? First of all, we can remember events of His life: how He cried over Lazarus even though He had power over disease and sin and even death. We can remember His compassion for the Widow of Nain, the careful attention to small things which brought to His notice the widow’s mite, His righteous wrath in cleansing the temple, and His continued mastery over the Pharisees as they tried to humiliate him, His concern for the little man, Zaccheus, who was pariah to everyone else.

We can also remember His suffering and death. Paul calls these thoughts to the minds of the Corinthians in 1 Corinthians 11:23 when he writes: “The Lord Jesus in the night in which He was betrayed . . . .” And which Christian does not have graphically impressed in his memory the hours of Jesus’ humiliation and mistreatment during the trials, His glance at Peter as the cock crew, His domination of Pilate in their moments together, His gracious “Father forgive them they know not what they do,” His responsible concern for the care of His mother as He hung on the cross, or His final triumphant shout as He “gave up the ghost,”? How easily we should be able to fill our minds with these scenes.

We could remember, too, that He inaugurated the New Covenant of His Blood (Matt. 26:28). By His death He put -into effect “His last will and testament.” A will is made by one person for the benefit of the other and the beneficiary can only accept or reject those benefits and the conditions of the will. lie cannot alter the terms. And how much better are the terms of the New Testament than those of the old (Heb. 8:6-13; 9:15-17,22).

We can remember that He is the Lamb who takes away the sins of the world (Jn. 1:29). It is for this purpose that He came into the world. And remembering this we can remember that our sins have been forgiven. And if that is not a compelling thought on which we may well spend a few minutes then something surely is missing from our spiritual lives.

2. Recognize Jesus as the Source of Life and Nourishment (Jn. 6.-47-58). Another train of thought which would be proper during the Lord’s supper is this: that we are what we eat and so we become like Him as we eat of His body and’drink of His blood (Jn. 6:35). This may seem to some an unpleasant picture but we are alive by His death. Some unbelievers may try to confound us by saying that the communion is a cannibalistic ritual. Yes and nol Never has it been truer than of Christians that we live because someone else died. But it is also true that Jesus loved us enough to freely offer Himself in our place (Rom. 5:8 and 1 Jn. 2:2) and our parlicipation in the Lord’s Supper is a means of being made alive “in Him.” But we also die so that He may live in us (Gal. 2:20; Rom. 6:2).

This convinces me that we ought to learn the habit of regular devotions – and an essential one is this weekly breaking of bread. If it represents the bread by which we are made spiritually alive then we cannot afford to miss it. A life preserving ritual is not one easily forgotten orlightly forsaken. That is why the early church, by God’s plan, participated in weekly observance. To miss deliberately is to spurn the blood of Christ, the only thing which can save us (Heb. 10:29).

But we do partake of these emblems and He dwells in us and so we no longer live the same kind of life (Gal. 2:20 and Jn. 6:36). Communing with the Lord in the Lord’s Supper is then a time for renewing our commitment (1 Cor. 10:21). If we are honest in it we can profitably pray to God while we are engaged in the breaking of bread vowing to be as Christ like as possible in the week to come.

3. We Share Here With Others (1 Cor. 10:16, 17). Paul condemned the Corinthians for not communing together (1 Cor. 11:20, 21). Christians are set apart by their participation in this breaking of bread. The Supper is a communion and we share with Christ in it (1 Cor. 10:16) as we share with Him in our lives (Phil. 3:8, 10). And thus we are not liked by the world (Jn. 15:18; Lk. 6:26) because, by our observance of His memorial feast, we show His death till He comes again (1 Cor. 11:26).

It is a proclamation to the world. By partaking we say to the world: “I believe: that He lived and died as the Son of God, that He rose from the grave by the power of God, and that He’s coming again (Acts 1:10,11) to claim His own Qn. 14:1-3; Matt. 26:29) and to judge the world (Acts 10:42). And thus there is a glorious hope on which to fix our minds during the Lord’s Supper. It is wonderful to think on and draws us closer to Him. The feast then is anticipatory as well as commerative (Matt. 26:29).

We should also remind ourselves that as Christians, partaking of the Supper together, we are one body (Eph. 4:4) of which Christ is the Head (Col. 1: 18). There is peace among us (Eph. 2:14-17). And unity is our sign of godliness (Jn. 17:20, 21). If we are to love each other as Jesus loved us (1 Jn. 4:9-11), how can we sit week after week and year after year without getting to know those who share this precious moment with us and without learning to care for them? It is said that families who share together stay together. And what greater thing to share together than this participation in the communion with Christ death? And what greater family ‘unity could there be than that among the family of God?

4. Examine Ourselves Individually (2 Cor. 11:27; 13:5). We must participate in the communion in the right manner, as is true of all worship (Matt. 5:23,24). So it is fitting as we engage our minds in this act of worship that we examine ourselves (2 Cor. 11:27). Self-examination prevents rashness and promotes solemnity, a necessary ingredient of sound worship. No progress is ever made without regular examination. We really should prepare for this moment before we come if it is to be of maximum value to us and acceptable to God. For if we’ve not given a thought beforehand to our purpose for coming then it is unlikely that we are participating in a worthy manner.

During the Lord’s Supper itself is a good time to continue this self-examination (1 Cor. 11:28). Here are some questions which may help in that endeavor.

(1) Do I really desire to follow Christ (Matt. 16:24)?

(2) Do I fully appreciate what Christ has done for me (Rom. 5:6-10)?

(3) Am I truly repentant of my sins (Acts 3:19)?

(4) Am I humbled by this supper (Lk. 17:10)?

(5) Do I love my fellow participants (1 Jn. 4: 11)?

If the answer to any of these questions is negative then we have something to work on before we next gather to break bread. And the occasion of the Communion itself can be a source of spiritual strength for learning these things or coming to feel them more deeply. If all of our answers are yes then the Lord’s Supper will be a meaningful experience for us each Lord’s day – one from which we will draw great encouragement and comfort.

Guardian of Truth XXVII: 20, pp. 620-621
October 20, 1983