Truth Magazine

By Dudley Ross Spears

The millennialists take the number “thousand” of Revelation 20:5 literally. They say that the assumed future reign of Christ on earth will be a thousand years in duration – no more, no less. It would seem that they should take the number literally everywhere they find it, if they select a passage out of Revelation and take that literally. If they say it means a literal number in a book of symbols, surely in a passage where symbolism is not so prominent they should take it literally.

David wrote, “For every beast of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills” (Psa. 50:10). Do you suppose any millennialist or literalist would affirm that God has only cattle on a thousand hills and no more than that? I believe God has more cows than that – don’t you? But again the Psalmist said, “A thousand years in thy sight are like yesterday when it passes by” (Psa. 90:4). Do you believe the Psalmist is trying to say that only a literal thousand years would be like yesterday and a thousand years and one more day would not? But this is the foolishness of the consequences of a literal interpretation of figures of speech in the Bible.

Guardian of Truth XXVII: 9, p. 261
May 5, 1983

By Mike Willis

I am a man. I am not an emotional cripple. I am not in severe financial straits. I am not about to go through a divorce. I am not having trouble with my children. As a matter of fact, from every outward point of view, I seem to have things going pretty well for me. I have a good education. I have a beautiful family – a lovely wife and a boy and girl. We live in a nice house in a nice neighborhood. We drive reasonably nice cars. Despite all of these things, I plainly confess to you that I need Jesus.

Some people have the impression that anyone who needs Jesus is poor and uneducated, experiencing tremendous emotional turmoil and problems, or somewhat of an unstable person unable to cope with life’s problems without a crutch to lean on. My friends, that is not true. I do not fall into any of those categories, yet I plainly confess to you that I need Jesus.

I am convinced that every man needs Jesus and precisely for the same reasons that I need Him. I would like to explain to you why I need Jesus.

I Need Jesus As My Savior From Sin

I am a sinner. I openly confess to you that I have transgressed God’s holy word on many occasions. I have openly violated some of those prohibitions given in God’s word (1 Jn. 3:4; 5:17) and neglected to perform some of the obligations imposed on me by God (Jas. 4:17). I have transgressed God’s commandments just like Adam and Eve transgressed God’s word in the Garden of Eden.

The Bible reveals the plight of sinners. Men who commit sin – and that is every accountable person (Rom. 3:23) – are separated from God by their sin (Isa. 59:1-2). The punishment for sinning is spiritual death (Rom. 6:23) – everlasting separation from God (2 Thess. 1:7-9). The Lord has prepared a place for sinners known as Hell. It is a lake of fire and brimstone in which the wicked will be cast to burn forever and ever. As a sinner, I faced Hell as the consequence for having violated God’s word.

There was nothing I could do to save myself from sin. My regret for having sinned could not erase the fact that I have sinned. No amount of righteous living could hide the fact that I had sinned. God’s justice demands the punishment of sin. To illustrate this point, consider the case of a man caught speeding on the highway. He may protest when the officer stops him, “But officer, I have been driving ten years without a traffic violation.” That does not change the fact that he broke the law. He may promise, “Officer, I promise never to speed again.” That does not change the fact that he broke the law. He has violated the law and must pay the fine for having violated it. In a similar fashion, I had sinned against God and stood condemned before the judgment throne of God as a sinner doomed to Hell.

I needed someone to save me from the consequences of my sin. Praise God, Jesus Christ came to save me from the horrible punishment of Hell, the just wages of my sin. Jesus came to this earth to “seek and save that which was lost” (Lk. 19:10), to “save his people from their sins” (Matt. 1:21). He suffered the death of the cross in order to shed His precious blood that I might be redeemed from sin (1 Jn. 1:7; 1 Pet. 1:18-19). The blood which was shed on Calvary was shed to redeem me from sin.

Jesus is not just a savior, as if there were many other saviors and He was just one among many. He is man’s only savior from sin. He said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (Jn. 14:6). Peter preached, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). Yes, I need Jesus as my Savior from sin.

I Need Jesus As My Intercessor

I wish that I could tell you that I have learned my lesson and that I never sin any more. The truth of the matter is that, despite my concentrated efforts to avoid sin, I stumble into sin occasionally even after I have been saved by the precious blood of Christ. I need Jesus’ blood every time I commit sin. I need Him to intercede for me to the Father.

He lives today in Heaven, making intercession for me to God. John described the work of Jesus as our Advocate when we stumble into sin. He wrote, “And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: and he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world” (1 Jn. 2:1-2). Jesus “ever liveth to make intercession” (Heb. 7:25) for His children. I need Jesus as my intercessor to God.

I Need Jesus As An Example To Follow

Every person learns from the example of others. I have learned so many lessons from the example of my parents, elders, deacons, and other dedicated Christians. I find a model easier to follow than mere instructions. Jesus provided the model life for me to follow in every way.

He laved a perfect life. He was “in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin” (Heb. 4:15). Hence, I can learn from Jesus’ perfect example how I should live. (a) I can follow His example in resisting the temptation to sin (Matt. 4:1-11). I can profit from seeing how He relied on Scripture and resisted the Devil. (b) I can learn from His willingness to suffer in order to do God’s will. The episode in the Garden of Gethsemane in which Jesus offered His prayer to God with “strong crying and tears” (Heb. 5:7) saying, “O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt” (Matt. 26:39) demonstrates an example for me to follow in submitting to God’s will regardless of the suffering which I must endure to do so. (c) His example in bearing mistreatment is a model for me to follow. While He hung on the cross, men reviled Him but Jesus never answered them with bitter railings (1 Pet. 2:21-22). Instead, He prayed to the Father in behalf of those who crucified Him saying, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Lk. 23:34).

The impact of Jesus’ example on my life has been present from childhood. My parents taught me very early in life to use His example to help me make moral choices. In those areas in which I had to make moral choices they taught me to ask, “What would Jesus do in this situation?” His example has helped me to avoid many evils in life including drinking, drugs, smoking, and other similar things. I still need Jesus as an example to follow.

I Need Jesus To Find Meaning To Life

Many people are very dissatisfied in life. They are caught up in the routine of living with no purpose in life. Others are chasing rainbows in life which they can never catch and which would be worthless if they were able to catch them. Those who have caught them find them to be full of vanity (Ecc. 1:2). Many of those who have the most to live with have the least to live for. They are extremely unhappy. Their homes are falling apart. Some resort to suicide. Life is meaningless to them.

Jesus gives meaning to my life. I now understand that my time on earth is but a brief span between two vast eternities. I am here because I was created by God. I have the ability to choose between good and evil, having free will. I will be held accountable for every moral choice which I make (2 Cor. 5:10). The most important thing for man to do is summarized as follows: “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil” (Eccl. 12:13-14). Hence, I understand that the most important thing for me to do in life is to live faithfully before God.

Many years ago, I decided to follow Christ, accepting Him as my Savior and King. I have never been disappointed with that choice. He is the “water of life” and I found that after drinking of this water of life I never thirsted again (Jn. 4:13-14). He is the “bread of life” and after eating this bread of life, I have never hungered again (Jn. 6:35). He satisfies my every yearning in life. Yes, I need Jesus as a means of finding meaning to life.

I Need Jesus For Daily Strength

There are things which I must face in life that seem impossible to face alone. Perhaps the reason so many people are resorting to alcohol, pills, and psychologists to cope with the problems of life is because they are trying to face their problems alone, without Jesus. I have found that I can face any problem in life with the strength which I find in Christ.

The apostle Paul wrote to the Philippians from a Roman jail, imprisoned for having committed no crime whatsoever, except that he believed in and preached Jesus. He wrote, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Phil. 4:13). Regarding his first trial, Paul wrote, “At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me . . . . Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me. . .” (2 Tim. 4:16-17). He found strength in Christ to overcome the problems of life.

My God is a refuge to me, a protector in times of trouble. “When I am afraid, I will trust in thee. In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me” (Psa. 56:3-4). “I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about” (Psa. 3:6). “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea” (Psa. 46:1-2). Through the years of my life, I have found Jesus to be my best Friend:

I have found a friend in Jesus, He’s everything to me,

He’s the fairest of ten thousand to my soul;

The Lily of the Valley, in Him alone I see

All I need to cleanse and make me fully whole.

In sorrow He’s my comfort, in trouble He’s my stay,

He tells me every care on Him to roll,

He’s the Lily of the Valley, the bright and morning star,

He’s the fairest of ten thousand to my soul.

O He all my griefs has taken, and all my sorrows borne;

In temptation He’s my strong and mighty tow’r;

I have all for Him forsaken, and all my idols torn

From my heart, and now He keeps me by His pow’r.

Tho’ all the world forsake me, and Satan tempt me sore,

Thru Jesus I shall safely reach the goal,

He’s the Lily of the Valley, the bright and morning star,

He’s the fairest of ten thousand to my soul.

He will never, never leave me, nor yet forsake me here,

While I live by faith and do His blessed will;

A wall of fire about me, I’ve nothing now to fear,

With His manna He my hungry soul shall fill.

Then sweeping up to glory to see His blessed fare,

Where rivers of delight shall ever roll,

He’s the Lily of the Valley, the bright and morning star,

He’s the fairest of ten thousand to my soul.

I need Jesus as this source of daily strength.

I Need Jesus For Good Mental Health

Jesus helps me cope with the mental and emotional problems of life. Paul wrote, “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue,, and if there be any praise, think on these things” (Phil. 4:6-8).

I have used these principles to help me handle the problems of life. (1) “Be careful for nothing.” Jesus has taught me not to worry about tomorrow (cf. Matt. 6:25-34). (2) Pray to God. I should cast all of my burdens on the Lord since He is big enough to handle them and He cares for me. (3) I should think on things honorable, lovely, and pure. My mind should not be a spiritual garbage dump. When I do these things, the Lord has promised to “keep” (to guard) my heart and mind. I need Jesus for good mental health.

I Need Jesus For Present Contentment

Like others, I face circumstances which I do not like in life. Nevertheless, I have learned to be content whatever circumstances I am in through Jesus. Paul wrote, “. . . I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need” (Phil. 4:11-12). I remind you again that Paul wrote these things while locked in a Roman jail.

The lesson of contentment is not an easy one to learn. Paul was afflicted with a physical ailment and prayed to the Lord to remove his “thorn in the flesh” on three separate occasions. The Lord replied, “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor. 12:9). Paul then accepted his suffering saying, “Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (2 Cor. 12:9).

I have not perfectly learned contentment, but I am growing. I am better able to accept the situations in life which I do not like, knowing that Jesus is the one controlling this world. I seek to learn more of the Lord’s will for my life in every circumstance I face, seeking to grow more like my Lord in each of them. Without this concept of the world’s operation, I would lose heart. I would despair and become discouraged if everything was mere happenstance with no purpose behind it. I need Jesus in order to have present contentment.

I Need Jesus To Win Victory Over Death

Like all of mankind, I fear death (Heb. 2:15). I have not yet experienced the loss of my parents, a mate, or any of my children. I have been in the presence of those who have faced each of these deaths. Frankly, I do not know who I could cope with death if I did not have Jesus. Jesus has brought “life and immortality to light through the gospel” (2 Tim. 1:10). When death strikes, I believe that my hope for the resurrection of the body and the future reunion with my Christian loved ones will sustain me through that dark hour. I know that Jesus can raise the dead because He raised Lazarus, the widow of Nain’s son, and Jairus’ daughter. In addition to that, He Himself was raised from the dead to show that He has power over death, that He is “the resurrection, and the life” (Jn. 11:25).

I look beyond death to the home in Heaven which He has prepared for me. Jesus said, “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you, I go to prepare a place for you” (Jn. 14:1-2). I look forward to receiving that inheritance which is “incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith” (1 Pet. 1:4-5). Because of this hope, I can face death, knowing that there is victory over death in Jesus. I need Jesus to win the victory over death.

Conclusion

My friend, these are some reasons why I need Jesus. Through the centuries, billions of people have seen all of these needs satisfied in Jesus Christ. There are millions living today who find in Jesus the answer to every spiritual need. You need Jesus, too!

Jesus is ready to become your Savior even today. He has already died for your sins, demonstrating His great love for you. (Jn. 3:16). He is pleading with you to accept Him as your Savior today. He pleads, “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light: (Matt. 11:28).

How does one “come” to Jesus? Jesus told us how to come to Him and His answer must be our guide in coming. One must hear the gospel of Jesus Christ and believe it. Jesus commanded the disciples, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved: but he that believeth not shall be damned” (Mk. 16:15-16). One must repent of his sins. When Peter told the Jews who had crucified Jesus what tod o to be saved, he said, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:38). One must confess his faith in Jesus. When Philip preached Christ to the Ethiopian eunuch, the eunuch asked, “See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God” (Acts 8:36-37). A person who desires salvation must make the good confession. Then, he must be baptized (the word “baptize” means “to immerse”) in water for the remission of his sins. Jesus said, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved . . .” (Mk. 16:16). Peter told those Jews who had crucified Jesus to “repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins . . .” (Acts 2:38). Consequently, we conclude that one comes to Christ when he hears the gospel of Christ, believes it, repents of his sins, confesses his faith in Jesus and is immersed in water.

This is but the beginning of the Christian life. From the moment of conversion, one should grow in faith. He should devotedly serve Jesus Christ. He should read his Bible, pray, worship regularly with other saints, remember the death of Jesus regularly in the Lord’s supper, and otherwise grow into full spiritual maturity in Christ.

Jesus stands ready to meet your every spiritual need. Why would you want to spend your life with these needs unmet and then stand before Jesus doomed to an eternity in Hell when He is so willing to save you today? Will you open up the door of your heart and let Jesus come into your life?

Guardian of Truth XXVII: 9, pp. 258-260, 267
May 5, 1983

By James E. Cooper

These is much misunderstanding about the subject of conversion in the religious world. However, when one approaches the New Testament without preconceived notions, what it says on the subject is relatively simple. The misunderstandings on the subject have arisen because of human theological opinions.

Definition

What is conversion? Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary (2nd ed.) defines the word as used in regard to religion: “1. Act of converting, or state of being converted. 2. A spiritual and moral change attending a change of belief with conviction; specif., the experience associated with and involving a definite and decisive adoption of religion, esp., a Christian religion.” A fundamental idea in the word “conversion” is change. Even in everyday usage “conversion” indicates change: pulp wood rags are “converted” into paper; a dwelling house is sometimes “converted” into an office building, etc.

New Testament Usage

According to the Word Study Concordance (Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, IL 60187), the noun “conversion” occurs only one time in the New Testament – in Acts 15:3. Paul and Barnabas had completed their first missionary journey. On their way up from Antioch of Syria to Jerusalem they were “passing through Phoenicia and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles.” By that statement, we understand immediately that Gentiles had heard, believed and responded to the gospel. They had turned to the Lord.

The same Concordance cites nine other passages in the New Testament in which the word “convert” or “converted” appears (Matt. 13:15; Mk. 4:12; Lk. 22:32; Jn. 12:40; Acts 3:19; Acts 28:26; Jas. 5:19, 20 and Matt. 18:3). Of course, this only applies to the King James Version (AV); the American Standard Version (ASV) has the word only in two verses: James 5:19, 20.

In the above Scriptures, the first eight are translated from the Greek Word epistrepho and the last one is from strepho. According to the Concordance, strepho occurs 18 times in the New Testament and epistrepho occurs 39 times. In all the other references the words are translated “turn, turned, turn again, or returned.” This should give us an idea about what the words mean when they are translated “convert” or “converted.” Read the following passages as illustrations of this point: strepho, Matthew 5:39; Luke 7:9, 44; 22:61; Acts 13:46; epistrepho, Mathew 9:22; 12:44; Luke 2:20; John 21:20; Acts 16:18; 1 Thessalonians 1:9; 2 Peter 2:22).

Hence, when the Lord said, “Except ye be converted and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 18:3), He was actually saying that if men did not turn away from sin and turn unto the Lord, they could not go to heaven. In the ASV the words “be converted” are translated “turn. ” Again, whereas the AV reads, “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out. . .” (Acts 3:19), the ASV reads, “Repent ye therefore, and turn again . . . .” According to these two passages, the sinner must repent and “turn” in order to have his sins blotted out (Acts 3:19), and in order to go to heaven (Matt: 18:3).

Conversion Is Not Pardon

Sometimes people confuse conversion and pardon. They rely on their feelings as evidence of salvation. Some have been known to say, “I feel in my heart that I am saved,” and trust their feelings rather than the Word of God. We must remember that conversion takes place in man, but pardon takes place in the mind of God. Isaiah said, “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return unto Jehovah, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, and he will abundantly pardon” (Isa. 55:7). When the wicked man forsakes his sinful ideas and practices and turns to the Lord, God promises to pardon him. Man turns; God pardons. God promises the man who turns to him: “I will be merciful to their iniquities, and their sins will I remember no more” (Heb. 8:12).

In the list of passages in which “convert” or “converted” are found, Matthew 13:15; Mark 4:12; John 12:40 and Acts 28:26 are all N.T. applications of God’s statement to Isaiah in Isaiah 6:9-10. As Isaiah had preached to a rebellious people in his own time, Jesus met with opposition to His preaching. He said, “This people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest haply they should perceive with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should turn again (be converted, AV), and I should heal them.” Again, notice that the turning is done by man; pardon is the act of God. God pardons those who are converted… who turn unto him. One may “feel” saved, but until God pardons him he is still lost, yet in his sins, without spiritual life, and without a valid hope of going to heaven.

In Luke 22:32, Jesus is predicting Peter’s denial of his Lord. He says, “when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.” The ASV reads: “when once thou hast turned again . . . .” Here Jesus predicts a sin by an apostle, and his subsequent turning again from sin unto the Lord.

James 5:19-20 refers to one “converting” a brother from “the error of his way.” The emphasis is upon the effort of a fellow Christian to persuade his brother to turn from error unto the truth. This will result in “saving a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.”

The Sinner Must Be Active

Many people believe that the sinner is wholly passive in the process of conversion. Perhaps the AV rendering has helped to perpetuate this mistaken idea. The only real explanation for the AV rendering is that the translators were influenced by the doctrine of hereditary total depravity, which holds that the sinner is so depraved that he can do absolutely nothing toward his salvation (not even believe in Jesus as the Son of God) until the Holy Spirit operates directly upon his heart to enable him to believe and come to God. However, the ASV corrects this misunderstanding. The word used in the original Greek is active, not passive, and indicates that the sinner is active in his conversion.

An illustration of this point can be seen in 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10. Paul refers to what others said about his preaching in Thessalonica: “For they themselves report concerning us what manner of entering in we had unto you; and how ye turned unto God from idols, to serve a living and true God. ” Paul had been commissioned an apostle and sent to the Gentiles “to open their eyes, that they might turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive remission of sins and an inheritance among them that are sanctified by faith in [Jesus]” (Acts 26:18). As a result of hearing the gospel preached by Paul, the Thessalonians turned away from idols, and turned unto God. They were active, not passive, in their conversion.

The gospel of Christ is “the power of God unto salvation” (Rom. 1:16). The Holy Spirit affects the conversion of sinners through the Word, not in some direct, mysterious “conversion experience.” Jesus said, “No man can come to me except the Father that sent me draw him” (Jn. 6:44). How does God draw men unto him? Read the next verse: “It is written in the prophets, And they shall all be taught of God. Every one that hath heard from the Father, and hath learned, cometh unto me” (Jn. 6:45). Sinners are taught of God by hearing the gospel. Those who learn, come. They are drawn, but they actively respond. Those who refuse to come do so, not because they cannot, but because they will not come to Christ (Jn. 5:40).

What Is Conversion?

Conversion involves a complete change in a person’s attitude, life and relationship. Everything about him that is separated from God because of sin must be changed. There are three distinct changes involved in the process of conversion: a change of heart, a change in life, and a change in relationship.

The heart of the sinner is the workshop where all evil thoughts and deeds originate (Matt. 15:19). It is “deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked” (Jer. 17:9). Hence, the heart must be changed. Describing the conversion of the Gentiles, Peter said that God “put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith” (Acts 15:9). Writing to the Romans, Paul said, “If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousnss; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (10:9-10). Faith “comes by hearing the Word of God” (Rom. 10:17), and produces a change of affections – a change that destroys the love of sin and establishes the love of God in the heart. But a change of heart alone is not the whole of conversion.

Second, the sinner’s life is apart from God. He is alienated by “wicked works” (Col. 1:21). His life must be changed. Repentance is worked by “godly sorrow” (2 Cor. 7:10). Repentance is not reformation; it is the change of will (cf. Matt. 21:28-29) which results in a reformation of conduct (cf. Mat. 3:8). But a change of conduct alone is still not the whole of conversion.

Whereas the sinner is a child of the devil, “dead in sin” (Eph. 2:1) and “separate from Christ” (Eph. 2:12, ASV), his relationship needs to be changed. He needs to become a child of God, “delivered out of the kingdom of darkness” and “translated into the kingdom of God’s dear Son” (Col. 1:13-14). What brings about this change in relationship? When does it occur? The Bible teaches that the change occurs at baptism. Paul states that we are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus, for as many of us as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ (Gal. 3:26-27). “For” at the beginning of verse 27 is translated from the Greek Word gar; it introduces a reason. We are children of God by faith in Christ Jesus because we have been baptized into Christ. We get into Christ when we are baptized into Him (see also Rom. 6:3-4). When one is “in Christ,” he is a “new creature” (2 Cor. 5:17), who has “all spiritual blessings” (Eph. 1:3).

Baptism does not change the heart or the manner of conduct. But at baptism a properly qualified candidate is delivered from the power of darkness; he has his sins remitted (Acts 2:38; 3:29) or washed away (Acts 22:16). He is also “added to the church” (Acts 2:47), and thereby “translated into the kingdom of God’s Son” (Col. 1:13).

For an illustration, think about the changes that take place in the relationship of a young man and woman. They meet and begin dating; their hearts are changed from indifference to love for each other, but they are not married yet. They become engaged, choosing not to date others. Their lives are changed, but they are not married yet. Finally, they exchange their vows and become husband and wife. The wedding ceremony did not make them love one another any more, nor did it make them any more faithful to each other. But it did change their relationship. Before the ceremony they were unmarried; after the ceremony they were married. Similarly, baptism does not make one’s affection for God greater, nor does it make his life any purer, but it does change his relationship from being a sinner to being a child of God.

Conclusion

Conversion, then, is simply a change in a person’s life in which he turns from sin and unto God. Before conversion he is a child of the devil, but after conversion he is a child of God. The process of conversion involves a change of heart, a change of life and a change in relationship. Without all of these changes, one has not completely been converted. He has not completely turned unto God. Have you been converted? God has provided you a Savior, and Christ has offered himself as a sacrifice for sin. But you must turn unto God if you want to be saved. Do it today.

Guardian of Truth XXVII: 9, pp. 257, 275-276
May 5, 1983

By Jimmy Tuten

There are several different Greek words in the New Testament which represent sin in its various aspects. Most of us are familiar with one of them for its definition is the one given most often in defining sin, i.e., “missing the mark.” While in both the Old and New Testaments sin can be generally defined in this way, this definition is a definition given in the broadest sense and constitutes an oversimplification that does not do justice to the subject. For example, one word (translated “iniquity”) has reference to non-observance to law, while another refers to disobedience to a voice. This study centers itself around various words that are found in the New Testament that involve sin.

From a scriptural standpoint, “sin” is basically anything not in harmony with, or contrary to God’s standards, ways and will. It is anything marring one’s relationship with God. It may be in word (Psa. 39:1), in deed (2 Cor. 12:21) or in failing to do what should be done (Jas. 4:17). It involves attitudes of the heart and mind. It results from a lack of faith or confidence in God, as aptly illustrated in the case of the Gentiles described in Romans 1.

Hamartia: Missing The Mark

William Barclay tells us that this word occurs 60 times in the epistles of the apostle Paul (New Testament Words, p. 118). This makes it the most common New Testament word in the noun form for “sin.” In the Classical Greek it is always connected with a negative failure rather than a positive transgression, hence, to “miss the mark” as when throwing a spear at a target (Studies In The Vocabulary of The Greek New Testament, Wuest, p. 95). The Classical Greek use of the term never completely approaches the use made of it in the Bible. Hamartia is a fearful mistake for it involves a failure to attain a divinely appointed goal, a perversion of what is upright according to God’s perfect standard. While in most instances it describes the state of sin rather than the act of sinning, with one exception it is always translated “sin” (the exception being 2 Cor. 11:7, “offense”). It is connected with blasphemy (Matt. 12:31), deceit (Heb. 3:13), lust (Jas. 1:15), lawlessness (1 Jno. 3:4), unrighteousness (1 Jno. 5:17) and respect of persons (Jas. 2:9) to the extent that it is equated with them in some instances. There is no word that has the sense of horror and awfulness of sin as that found in hamartia. It is so serious and personalized that it should be spelled with a capital letter. It does not matter whether it occurs in thought, feeling, action or speech, or whether it is of omission or commission, it is sin! The second word hamartema differs from this only in that it denotes an act of disobedience to Divine law, hence a positive thrust rather than negative thrust (Rom. 3:25).

Parakoe: Failing To Hear

Acts 7:57 describes the sin involved in this word very clearly: “then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord.” Parakoe is translated “disobedience” in Hebrews 2:2, and while it is the effect, i.e., the actual transgression, it is the result of inattention. This sin is regarded as having already been committed in one’s having failed to listen to God’s Word. This carelessness in listening to what God has to say is the forerunner to actual disobedience. Many times in the Old Testament sin (disobedience) is described as refusing to listen to what God has to say. Punishment befalls Israel because “I have spoken unto them, but they have not heard; and I have called unto them, but they have not answered,” said Jeremiah (Jer. 35:17; 11:10). This gives Hebrews 2:1-3 special significance for if the failure to heed Jehovah’s instructions in the Old Testament was met with punishment, “how shall we escape, if we neglect so great a salvation?” A lack of earnestness and honesty in one’s attempt to know God’s will is sin in every instance.

Anomia: Sin Of Substitution

The word nomos (law) when compounded with the letter alpha makes it anomfa which means literally “no law” (Vine, p. 317). It means “lawlessness” though most often translated “iniquity” (Englishman’s Greek Concordance, p. 55). It has reference to contempt for law resulting in one’s acting contrary to law. It is therefore, a rejection of God’s law and will, and the substitution of the will of self. Any deviation from God’s standard, the Word of God, is an act contrary to law. Thayer defines the word as “the condition of one without law, either because ignorant of it, or because violating it” (p. 460). Though one engages in things that are religious, such as crying “Lord, Lord” or casting out “devils” or “many wonderful works,” if there is no general or specific authority for it in God’s Word, it is lawlessness! The word of God is given that man might be complete in every good work (2 Tim. 3:16-17). His word is so constituted that it furnishes all that pertains to life and godliness (2 Pet. 1:3). If “we do many things for which we have no authority,” we sin and commit iniquity! I would to God that our institutional brethren could learn this before it is too late.

Parabasis: Going Beyond

Parabasis is translated by the word “transgression,” except in Romans 3:23. The primary meaning is to “step aside” or “over step,” to “violate” and/or transgress. The strength of this sin is seen in the definition given by Thayer: “absolutely, the breach of a definite, promulgated, ratified law” (p. 478). It is always used with reference to a breach of law. Matthew used the verb form (parabaino) when dealing with the question of the Pharisees and Scribes as to why Jesus’ disciples stepped aside from the tradition of men of former times (Matt. 15:1-6). Jesus, you will recall, counter-questioned as to why these opposers transgressed the commandment of God by their tradition which made the word of God of none effect. It is of interest to note that some Greek texts have the same verb in the text of 2 John 9, who “goes beyond, and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ.” The violation of established law is seen in the introduction of the instrument of music rather than singing in worship as directed by God (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16). People putting away their spouses for any cause other than fornication (Matt. 19:9) and remarrying is another example.

Paraptoma: Unintentional Sin

Vine says of this word that it means “a false step, a trespass, translated `fault’ in Galatians 6:1 and `faults’ in James 5:16” (p. 83). The word means literally “to fall beside” a person or thing, or “deviation from truth and uprightness” (Studies In The Vocabulary of The Greek New Testament, Wuest, p. 98). Wuest quotes Cremer as saying that the word means “a fault, a mistake, an offense, neglect, error” (p. 98). It denotes sin as a missing or violation of that which is right. It may therefore be regarded as synonymous with parabasis, which (as seen above) designates sin as a transgression of known, established law, though not as strong as parabasis.(1) Paraptoma involves a sin that was not a conscious disobedience of the will of God, but unintentionally committed. No matter, for whether knowingly or unknowingly, in weakness or ignorance, it is still sin! How else can you explain “restore such a one” in Galatians 6:1? Too, “confess your faults one to another” means confess your sins, though obviously not in a confessional type situation or as is practiced in Crossroadism (Jas. 5:16). Those who advocate the “grace-unity” doctrine on this matter of “sins of weakness” need to take note of paraptoma and cease their false teaching on this matter.

Agnoema: Sin Of Ignorance

Coming from the word agnoeo, a verb meaning “to be ignorant, not to understand, to sin through ignorance,” the noun agnoema is void of presumption or willful transgression. This writer does not know of any sin that could not be labeled, in one form or another, a sin of ignorance. But this does not mitigate the sinfulness of it. This sin needs forgiving of as surely as any other sin. “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Lk. 23:34). Paul’s former life was in ignorance and unbelief (1 Tim. 1:13), but he was still chief of sinners (1 Tim. 1:15). Agnoema then is the sin resulting from the weakness of the flesh, of imperfect insight into God’s law, out of heedlessness and lack of due circumspection. But it still brings shame and regret for it is sin!

Hettema: Sin Of Decrease

Hetteriaa has as its primary meaning, “a decrease” or “loss.” It can be best illustrated in Romans 11:12 where the loss of the Jewish nation nationally and spiritually was due to failure to accept God’s testimonies. Hence, they diminished. The church at Corinth suffered loss because of their discord and sinful ways (1 Cor. 6:7). There was a “fault” (failure, sin) among them. “An hettema is `an inferiority to a particular standard; default, failure, shortcoming”‘ (A Commentary On Paul’s First Epistle To The Corinthians, Willis, p. 186). The adverb “altogether” (or “utterly”) shows how comprehensive the loss was to the whole church. It was an utter decrease! Their going to law was an utter deficiency and inferiority. There was a more excellent way for them. So they need not suffer defeat. In how many other says do we defeat ourselves?

Conclusion

Regardless of the nature of sin it brings death (Rom. 6:23). But Jesus Christ saves us from our sins (Matt. 1:21). The shedding of His blood was “for the remission of sins” of the whole world (Matt. 26:28, Eph. 1:3, 7). The believer is washed or cleansed in baptism (Acts 22:16; 1 Pet. 3:21). No matter how soiled, mired, stained or muddied by sin, the sinner is cleansed by the blood of Christ (2 Pet. 1:9). The drawing of the veil of mercy over our sins takes place when the “old man of sin” is crucified with Christ and the “new man” arises to walk in newness of life from the waters of baptism (Rom. 6:1-6, 16-17).

There is no book that pictures the awfulness of sin as does the Bible. Likewise, there is no book that perfectly pictures the cure and remedy except the word of God (Rom. 6:23).

Endnote

1. I was in error therefore for saying “the word `faults’ (Jas. 5:16, jt) is from paraptoma, meaning `a false step, a blunder.’ It is not speaking of sin. . .” (Guardian of Truth, July 15, 1982, p. 437). It is speaking of sin! Though I did not intend to say this in dealing with the Prayer Partner concept of Crossroadism, I did say it none-the-less and it was wrong. James 5:16 is talking about sins. I am grateful to Dudley Spears and Earl Robertson for pointing this out to me before the ink hardly had time to dry. Failure to get this into print sooner is due to a heavy schedule. I am thankful for the opportunity to correct this paraptoma.

Guardian of Truth XXVII: 8, pp. 246-247
April 21, 1983