Truth Magazine

By Tom Roberts

III. To solve our problem, we must answer a question, “What is imputed unto righteousness?”

A. Scriptures:

1. Gen. 15:6- Moses said, “it (faith) is imputed unto righteousness.”

2. Rom. 4:3 – Paul agrees that “it (faith) is imputed unto righteousness.”

3. Jas. 2:23 – James agrees “it (faith) was reckoned unto him for righteousness.”

B. If “it” refers to the perfect life of Christ being imputed, where is the Scripture?

C. Faith that is “imputed unto righteousness” is either a biblical “faith” or we must invent a new use for it. “Faith” is used in two senses in the Bible.

1. The faith: objective, outside of man, the gospel, God’s righteous plan to make men righteous (Jude 3, Rom. 1:17).

2. My faith: personal, subjective (within man), with Christ as the object. More than mental assent; shown by works (Heb. 10:39; Its. 2; Heb. 11; Rom. 1:5). Saving faith is never faith apart from works (Jas. 2).

3. Some try to invent a third definition: “the faith of Christ” or “the faithfulness of Christ” and have this being imputed. If Christ and His faithfulness is that being imputed, we are back to faith itself being a gift of God and man is totally passive in the matter of salvation; it is unconditional; God arbitrarily saves those He wills and damns those He wills; free will is a delusion.

IV. What is the action of imputation? Basically, three possibilities exist: (suggested by Terry Green)

“Faith Imputed” a. Considered and earned. (This would be faith itself imputed, the concept of the rabbis and wrongly charged me.) b. Considered and transferred. (This is the denominational view: faith of Jesus, faithfulness of Jesus, the perfect, personal righteousness of Jesus.) c. Considered and accepted.

By Lewis Willis

You know what I mean by that heading, don’t you? The idea, at least as it is expressed in the country music song by that title, is that ultimately the violator is caught by the law. He gets by for awhile but, unexpectedly, he is finally nabbed. This is an article about a violator of law that was finally nabbed.

Strangely, it is not about a person, but an institution – a high school. The Akron Beacon Journal (3/11/83) reported the success of state law enforcement agents who nailed the institutional criminal.

A local high school embarked on a fund-raising campaign to relieve a financial burden in the athletic department – not an uncommon problem in school systems today. It was one of those common, ordinary fund-raising efforts, except for one basic difference. On November 26, 1982, the school conducted a “Casino night,” with all of the usual “Las Vegas” trimmings – Roulette, Poker, Blackjack, Bingo, etc. – with beer served to add a little spice to the evening’s activities. But this whole “innocent,” noble effort went awry.

The BJ got its information from Mr. Bob Collier, the investigator in charge of the state liquor department district that includes Akron. A liquor control agent attended this gala function at the local high school, paid his admission into the event, where a volunteer gave him a beer. Collier said, however, that the school did not have a temporary beer permit which is required for all sales of alcoholic beverages. Charges were filed and the high school was fined $100 (3/10/83) when’ Municipal Court Judge Robert Harnett found the school guilty of illegally selling beer.

What was the school to do? They paid the fine. “The Rev. Joseph Kappes, president of the school, said the school now gets a temporary license for events at which beer is served.” Officials at Walsh Jesuit high school had been unaware that the school needed a permit before going info competition with all the bars and taverns in Akron. This local Catholic school was nabbed by the “long arm of the law” for their illegal activities. My daddy always said, “Doin’ wrong always catches up with ya.” This Roman Catholic Church operation got just exactly what it deserved. Let us all stand and give three cheers for this law enforcement agency! They know more than the local Catholic hierarchy about what the church is supposed to be doing and, they had the guts to nail this priest and his bud dies for their illegal activity. I perceive this as somewhat noteworthy.

Years ago I heard about an erring church member out in West Texas who had rebuffed every effort of the local church to restore him to faithfulness. One day he was bit-ten by a huge rattlesnake, and being on the verge of death, he called the local preacher to come to his bedside. Re-questing prayer, the preacher recounted before God how all of their efforts to restore this erring Christian had failed until his encounter with the rattlesnake. Allowing as how this erring brother had been brought to repentance by his snakebite, and allowing as how his whole family was unfaithful, the preacher prayed, “Lord, send us more rattlesnakes to bite this man’s wife, and his boys, and his girls. . . .” Perhaps concerning the situation under consideration herein, we should pray, “Lord, send us more liquor control agents.” Maybe they could get religion out of the tavern business!

I was just thinkin’ – my first recollection of parochial schools was they would provide a more wholesome atmosphere in which parents could educate their children with confidence. Boy, this shoots that idea down, doesn’t it? Hot dogs and cokes no longer present worldly Catholics with enough excitement to capture their attention. It now requires gambling and beer to draw the crowd. I wonder.

Guardian of Truth XXVII: 15, pp. 453-454
August 4, 1983

By Irvin Himmel

The devil is subtle. His devices and approaches are varied. We need to be on guard, “Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices” (2 Cor. 2:11).

One of the devil’s most effective tools is compromise. Down through the ages he has weakened Cod’s people and turned things to the advantage of wickedness by the use of this tool.

Compromise is a settlement or adjustment by concession. Willingness to yield is the heart of compromise. Someone must relinquish something or else there can never be a compromise.

For example, the seller of an automobile is asking $3,000 for his used car. A buyer offers him $2,300. The price differential between the seller and the buyer is adjusted by compromise. After considerable dickering, the seller agrees to split the difference. He yields $230 of the asking price, and the buyer agrees to give $250 more than the initial offer. The deal is made at $2,750.

Pharaoh tried to talk Moses into compromise when God sent him before the Egyptian king with the request to allow the Israelites to depart. Four different compromise proposals were offered by the king. Moses flatly rejected each one.

When Nehemiah was taking the lead in rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem, Sanballat and his associates tried to subvert the whole plan. Nehemiah was invited to the plain of Ono to talk things over. He steadfastly refused that invitation. He knew that Sanballat and his friends were intent on mischief. To be talked into some kind of compromise with these avowed enemies of the Jews would have been a disaster to the great work of rebuilding the wall. Nehemiah would not compromise.

In the latter half of the nineteenth century a wave of innovations swept congregations in this country. Instrumental music was introduced into the worship, missionary societies were organized, and other unscriptural practices accompanied these. Some very popular preachers championed these unauthorized practices and led many churches into digression. Other preachers took a strong stand against all practices not authorized in the New Testament. and despite their lack of popularity, helped to keep a few congregations true to Jesus Christ. Some preachers attempted to compromise. They did not endorse the innovations, but they wished to maintain fellowship with the men and churches which did endorse them, and their influence for truth was largely nullified.

In the twentieth century, history has repeated itself. A generation ago certain preachers championed church support of human institutions and the practice of centralizing under one eldership programs of evangelism and benevolence. Some took a strong stand against these practices. A large number of congregations went with the popular movement. Some churches misted these innovations and remained true to Christ. Some preachers really did not favor the idea of churches supporting orphanages, college, and other institutions, but they desired to be in favor with those who did, so they compromised and kept quiet.

Today, some who compromised a generation ago are faced with a strong tide of additional innovations – and these are too numerous to list. They look back and see their own work going down the drain but refuse to admit that their very attitude paved the way for what has followed. And some who formerly spoke out against these in-novations have allowed the desire for unity to put them in a position of speaking favorably, charitably, and com-mendably of congregations in the vanguard of an army of innovators)

There can be no compromise between right and wrong, truth and error, God’s word and the doctrines of men. Compromise will destroy all that a true Christian stands for.

Call to mind the tale about a merchant who put up a sign which read Fresh Fish For Sale Today. A customer who came to the market objected to the word Today. He reasoned that everybody knows it is today. That word was removed and the sign read Fresh Fish For Sale. Another customer said it was obvious that the fish were for sale since this was a store. So down came the words For Sale. That left the words Fresh Fish. Someone else suggested that the word Fresh reflected on the merchant’s integrity; did anyone think he would sell stale fish? Wanting to please everyone, the merchant removed the word Fresh. With only the word Fish left on the sign, some jerk walked in and said, “Why the sign? I could smell you fish two blocks away)”

Many churches of Christ have compromised with denominationalism until they differ from the denomina. tions only in name. Some have compromised with the world to the point that they are “of the world, not really “of” Christ.

Elders, preachers, and Christians in general need to stand with firmness for the truth. No principle of right is of such little value that we dare yield it. This course will not make us popular, but the approval of God is what counts.

Guardian of Truth XXVII: 15, pp. 451-452
August 4, 1983

By Mike Willis

In the last editorial of Guardian of Truth, I sought to demonstrate that Jesus is Immanuel – God with us. We confined our study to the book of Hebrews in showing the teaching of that book concerning Jesus Christ. The study of Jesus is incomplete if all that we notice is who Jesus is. We must continue the study to see what Jesus has done and is doing for us.

Jesus Our Mediator

The book of Hebrews contains many statements which relate to the work of Jesus in our behalf. We want to consider what these passages say about Jesus’ work.

l. Jesus Our Sacrifice For Sin. The opening verses of Hebrews mention what later becomes one of the main themes of the book, namely that Jesus was the perfect sacrifice for sin. In listing things about Jesus, the author stated, “. . . when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high” (Heb. 1:2). His sacrifice is different from that of the Levitical priests who made daily sacrifices for sin (10:11) in that it was a one time, never to be repeated, sacrifice for sin which was all-sufficient to cleanse from sin.

For such an high priest became us … who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s: for this he did once, when he offered up himself (Heb. 7:27).

But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtain-ed eternal redemption for us (Heb. 9:11-12).

For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; for then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself …. So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many …. (Heb. 9:24-26, 28).

For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified (Heb. 10:14).

We have Jesus, the perfect, all-sufficient sacrifice for sin. We do not have a mere body of facts to believe, a correct dogma; we have a loving Savior who gave Himself for our sins.

2. Jesus Our High Priest. In comparing Jesus’ work to that of the law of Moses, the divine type of Jesus’ work, the author repeatedly emphasizes that Jesus is our High Priest. He wrote, “Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus . . .” (Heb. 3:1). We need to ponder the many truths revealed to us about Jesus as our High Priest.

A priest is appointed to serve “in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins: who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; far that he himself also is compass-ed with infirmity” (Heb. 5:1-2). Jesus serves as our High Priest, yet He is superior to the Levitical priests in the following respects: (a) He is an ever-living priest. The Levitical priests died (cf. Heb. 9:8), necessitating that they be periodically replaced. The succession of priests saw some good priests and some wicked priests (such as Amras and Caiaphas who plotted the murder of Jesus) hold that position. The change of priests resulted in some men serv-ing who were wicked. Our High Priest is an ever-living High Priest; “he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood” (Heb. 7:24; cf. 7:3, 1617, 2425). (b) He is a sinless Priest. The Levitical priests, like all other responsible persons, were sinners. “For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people . . .” (Heb. 7:2627). (c) He serves in heaven. The Levitical priests did their ser-vice in a tabernacle made with hands. The tabernacle was divided into two parts, the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place. Only priests could enter the Holy Place and only the High Priest could enter the Most Holy Place, once a year. This was designed by God to indicate “that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing” (Heb. 9:8). Jesus serves as our High Priest, but He does not enter into an earthly tent; His work was done in the very presence of God Himself. “For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us” (Heb. 9:24).

3. Jews The Captain Of Our Salvation. Jeans is describ-ed in Hebrews 2:10 as the “captain of the our salvation.” The word archegas means “the chief leader, prince; one that takes the lead in anything … and thus affords an ex-ample; the author.” “Jeans is so styled, as both He who has acquired salvation for the race, and He from whom it is derived to the, as being at once its First Cause and First Possessor . . . ., as One who, being placed Himself in the forefront of humanity, leads on His followers to the ap-pointed goal” (Franz Defitzsch, Commentary on the Epis-tle to the Hebrews, Vol. 1, p. 117).

4. Jesus Surety of a Better Testament. In Hebrews 7:22, Jesus is described as the surety of a better testament. The word egguos means “surety, guarantee. The word means a bond, bail, collateral, or some kind of guarantee that a promise will be fulfilled. The word was used in the papyri in legal and promissory documents meaning ‘a guarantor’ or ‘one who stands security.’ Jesus Himself is our security that there will be no annulment of this new and better covenant” (Fritz Rienecker, A Linquistic Key to the Greek New Testament, Vol. H, p. 342).

5. Jesus Victor Over Sin. Throughout the book of Hebrews, Jesus is pictured as the conqueror of death and sin. “When he had by himself purged our sins,” He “sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high” (Heb. 1:2). Jesus not only sacrificed Himself for sin, He was rais-ed from the dead (cf. Heb. 12:2; 13:20). He is a priest after the order of Melchizedek. Melchizedek was “king of Salem, priest of the most high God” (Heb. 7:1). His name “Melchizedek” means “king of righteousness” and he ruled over Salem (peace), making him a king of peace. Jesus, reigning after the order of Melchizedek, is a King of Righteousness and King of Peace (cf. Isa. 9:6 – Prince of Peace). “But this am, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; from henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool” (Heb. 10:13-14).

6. Jesus Mediator Of A New Covenant. Jesus is also described as “the mediator of a better covenant” (Heb. 8:6; 9:15). The prophets foretold this part of the Messiah’s work. Isaiah wrote, “I the Lord have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and given thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles” (42:6; cf. 49:8). The blood which Jesus shed was “the blood of the new testament” (Matt. 26:28). Even as the Old Covenant was sealed with blood (Ex. 24:3-8), this covenant was also sealed with blood. “For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people, saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you . . .” (Heb. 9:18-19). This testament was not made without the shedding of blood. Jesus served as our mediator and sealed the testament with His own blood.

7. Jesus Our Intercessor. Seated at the right hand of God, Jesus is presently making intercession for His saints. “But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an un-changeable priesthood. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them” (Heb. 7:24-25). When I am guilty of sin, I can confess it to the Lord and Jesus will make intercession for me. His work continues forever.

These statements about Jesus in the book of Hebrews emphasize to us His great work. He was not merely a good teacher or a moral reformer. He was the Mediator of the better covenant, the perfect Sacrifice for sin, the Victor over sin, the Captain of our salvation, our High Priest, and our Intercessor. He is indeed our all-sufficient Savior.

We now can have access to the throne of God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let us ever praise and adore His matchless name for the grace which He has given to us. (Continued next week)

Guardian of Truth XXVII: 15, pp. 450, 452-453
August 4, 1983