Truth Magazine

By Luther Bolenbarker

From the Standard Manual for Baptist Churches, by E.T. Hiscox, I quote:

“It is most likely that in the Apostolic age when there was but `one Lord, one faith, and one baptism,’ and no differing denominations existed, the baptism of a convert by that very act constituted him a member of the church and at once endowed him with all the rights and privileges of full membership. In that sense, `baptism was the door into the church.’ Now, it is different; (underscoring mine, LB) and while the churches are desirous of receiving members they are wary and cautious that they do not receive unworthy persons. The churches therefore have candidates come before them, make their statement, give their “experience,” and then their reception is decided by a vote of the members.”

Stop and think for a moment of the consequences of Mr. Hiscox making such a statement and the dilemma in which it places him and all others of the Baptist denomination which ascribe to this Baptist Manual. “Now it is different,” Therefore:

1. Acts 2:47, which states that God does the adding to the church, can be deleted from our Bibles.
2. All scriptures which pertain to baptism as a necessary part of our salvation can be removed from our Bibles (i.e. Mk. 16:16; Acts 2:38, 22:16; Rom. 6:2-4; Gal. 3:27; 1 Cor. 12:13; Col. 2:12; Mt. 28:19, 20; Jn. 3:5; Tit. 3:5; Rom. 6:17, 18 and numerous other passages as well).
3. Deut. 4:2; Gal. 1:8, 9 and Rev. 22:18, 19 are really not needed because “one faith” is not true, as we do as the Manual says.
4. The church which Christ purchased with His blood (Acts 20:28) and all other passages dealing with it are not needed because the Baptist church which was established in 1611 can make its own rules.
5. James 2:24 can be cut out of our Bibles because man is saved by “faith only.”
6. Those passages dealing with the type of music in the churches’ worship can be deleted (i.e. 1 Cor. 14:15; Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16; and Heb. 13:15).
7. 1 Cor. 16:2 is removable because we collect money every time we meet and not just on the Lord’s day.

8. The “Lord’s Supper” need not be partaken of, so Acts 20:7 and those passages which deal with the establishment of the Supper are of no value.

9. All passages dealing with “elders, bishops or overseers” can be blotted out because deacons and preachers rule the Baptist churches.

10. All passages which deal with the possibility of Apostasy can be removed because Baptist cannot fall from grace (i.e., 1 Cor. 10:12; 2 Tim. 2:11, 12; Heb. 3, 4, 10, 12, 13; James 5:12; Rev. 2:5 and numerous others).

This article could continue for pages and .pages as a result of Mr, Hiscox’s statement and the practices which the Baptist churches, along with numerous other denominations, practice in the name of religion. But brethren and friends, the words of Jesus which will judge us, (Jn. 12:48) do not change (Heb. 13:8). Just as the wise an of old said in Eccl. 1:9, “There is no new thing under the sun,” we today cannot say, “Now it is different” and expect to be pleasing unto God, because Rom. 3:4 says, “let God be true, but every man a liar” We become a liar when we teach something different. Is what you believe different than the Bible? Do not believe a lie because the Bible is true (Jn. 17:17).

Guardian of Truth XXV: 2, p. 18
January 8, 1981

By Dennis C. Abernathy

In 1 Pet. 2:21, we read, “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps.” Here are expressed words that should thrill our entire being. They express God’s love, mercy and grace toward us. They should capture our deepest thoughts, require our most solemn meditations, bring forth our most ardent thanksgivings, and demand the deepest reverence possible from us. Notice:

1. “Christ also suffered for us.” God’s Anointed (Psa. 2:2; Acts 10:38), the Messiah (Jn. 1:41), the Savior of the world (Jn. 4:42), suffered for us; indeed, in Him we see the joy of the earth and the glory of heaven.

2. “Christ also suffered for us.” The sufferings of Christ are unparalleled; they are extraordinary, and when seriously contemplated, truly marvelous.

3. “Christ also suffered for us.” Yes, mere men (I Tim. 2:4)! Sinners, separated from Almighty God (Isa. 59:1-2; Rom. 5:8).

In this article I invite you to look at the sufferings of Christ briefly, as we hope to glean something that will bring us to a greater appreciation of Him, and cause us to stand in awe, of that great deed which was done.

I. Christ left heaven (a world of glory) and came to our earth of sin and sorrow. Just think, for a moment, of the sacrifice involved in this. Leaving the glory which He possessed, the great splendor, the adoration of angels and their worship, all holy and pure. In John 17:5, we read, “And now, glorify Thou Me together with Thyself, Father, with the glory which I ever had with Thee before the world was.” All of the glorious splendor of heaven, He left and came to the earth (His footstool; Cf. Isa. 66:1; Acts 7:49), to a world of pollution, and guilt, blighted and cursed because of sin. Oh what humiliation! Just think of some high dignitary, leaving the dignity and splendor of his high office to live in the hovels of poverty.

Christ thus suffered to open a way for us to heaven, that men (you and I) might ascend to the realms of eternal glory. It is beautifully portrayed in 2 Corinthians 8:9: “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.”

II. Jesus assumed our nature; He became flesh. How deep and past our finding out is this, other than the facts which are revealed to us. Deity clad in human flesh; God tabernacling in humanity “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the Only Begotten of the Father), full of grace and truth” (Jn. 1:14). “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory” (1 Tim. 3:16).

Had the highest of angels assumed the form of the lowest creatures, though there would be abasement, yet it would be the transition of a creature (a created being) into the form of another creature. But with Jesus, we see the Infinite, Deity, the Creator assuming the form of the finite, the created. What abasement! (Read Philippians 2:1-1I.) Do you not see, dear reader, the reason behind this? This He suffered that we might be partakers of the divine nature, and attain the adoption of sons (2 Pet. 1:3-4).

III. Christ’s life during His sojourn in the world, was one of adversity and humiliation. We see Jesus (Heb. 2:9), the Son of God, invested with the reins of the universe (Heb. 1:3; Col. 1:17); yet, He became “poor.” He was the child of a poor virgin, the son of a poor hard working family (a carpenter). Jesus was poor throughout life, the animal creation (a stable), and He was buried in a tomb not His own. If Jesus crossed the lakes, it was in another’s boat; when He entered Jerusalem as a king, He rode on another’s colt. The last meal He had was in a room borrowed by His disciples from a friend.

Do we not see the adversity, humiliation, the deep poverty of our Lord? “Why, oh Why?” we cry aloud. Surely it was designed to open the treasury or storehouse of the eternal riches of God’s love and grace (Jno. 3:16; Tit. 2:11).

IV. Jesus submitted to shame, scorn, and insults. His reputation maligned, His purest of motives and His acts (“went about doing good” Acts 10:38) were misrepresented. He was insulted in every way imaginable, threatened, and finally betrayed by one of His own. He was arrested, suffered through a mockery (sham) of a trial, then being classed with thieves and robbers, He was scourged and beaten, spat upon, and finally had to drag His heavy cross up Golgotha, the place of the skull.

How low man had sunk in degradation and ruin because of sin. To ridicule, malign, and, with wicked hands, kill the pure, holy, and innocent Son of God shows us the utter depths of depravity that sin will plunge it’s victims into (read Romans 1).

But we also see how the spiritual Light could shine through the darkness of sin, shame and sorrow, with the power to bring sinners, of such low estate, to glory. Man was without hope He had to be raised, elevated, reconciled (brought back into favor with God); therefore, the Christ suffered all of this that we might be priests and kings unto God and the Lamb (Rev. 1:6; 20:6).

V. Christ’s agony and suffering in the garden. Here we see the import of the Lord’s awful mental anguish and loneliness of spirit. Into the garden He went, alone and in bitter anguish, while His disciples slept. Here was the utter struggle of the soul. It was in Gethsemane, and not on Calvary, that the crisis was reached, the battle fought, and the victory won. He emerged from Gethsemane fully prepared for the Cross.

Here retired in the garden of Gethsemane, where He became sorrowful, full of sorrow, sore amazed, desolate, and His soul was “exceeding sorrowful, even into death” (Matt. 26:38). For the Son of God, it is dark and bleak. It is indeed “midnight and on Olive’s brow, the star is dimmed that lately shown: Tis midnight and in the garden now, The suffering Savior prays alone.” He falls prostrate to the ground, His agony causes Him to sweat, as it were, great drops of blood. He prayed intensely, from the very depths His soul, and His Father answered His prayer, as the angles came, and He received strength for His approaching ordeal (Lk. 22:43).

What suffering! What a burden and weight – the sins of the whole world – to bear up under! All of this, that the spirit of guilty sinners might not suffer the anguish and despair of eternal Hell! Yes, the Lord endured spiritual and mental horror to procure our salvation.

VI. Jesus suffered the ignominious and painful death upon the cross. This was the worst form of death. It was offensive (Gal. 5:11); cursed was one who hung on a tree (Gal. 3:13). In 1 Corinthians 1:22-25, we see that to the Jews the cross was a “stumbling-block.” It is true today as it was then; for the most part, the Jews eyes are still blinded by the veil of Mosaic authority (2 Cor. 3:12-16). Then to the Greeks the cross was “foolishness.” To the speculative and philosophical, it is still so today. But to some the cross is “the power of God” and the “wisdom of God.” These see the authority, wisdom, and love of God as revealed in Jesus Christ; hence, it is becomes “the power of God unto salvation” (Rom. 1:16).

Here on the cross, hanging as a criminal, suffering, bleeding, forsaken because of our sin, and dying – and He was guilty of nothing – but dying because all others were guilty (1 Pet. 2:22). Here we see the Son of God dying “outside the gate” – “without the camp” (Heb. 13:11-13). Drinking the bitter cup of suffering that He had come into the world to partake, finally crying “it is finished” – in this, obtaining eternal redemption for lost mankind.

Can we appreciate, thank, and love Him enough? Are you aware, just a little bit, of what He did? He did not suffer for Himself, nor for angels, or devils, nor that wicked men could be saved in their sins – but from their sins. We have a way of approach to God’s mercy and eternal life through Him (Jn. 14:6).

My friend, are you willing to “go forth therefore unto Him without the camp, bearing His reproach” (Heb. 13:13)? Will you give praise, honor, and glory to His exalted and matchless name (Acts 4:12; Phil. 12:9-10)?

Guardian of Truth XXV: 2, pp. 17, 28
January 8, 1981

By Irvin Himmel

In the stillness and ebony of night, following the keeping of the Passover with His disciples and a period of lengthy discussions, Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. At a place called Gethsemane, He told the tired and weary apostles, “Sit ye here, while I go yonder and pray.” He took Peter, James, and John with Him to go a little farther into the garden. He “began to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy” (Mk. 14:33). His soul was “exceeding sorrowful” (Matt. 26:28). He went forward a short distance and fell on His face in prayer.

In Gethsemane

The prayer of our Lord in Gethsemane reflected His human feelings as He faced the reality of death. “Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.” Human nature shrinks “from the dissolution of the bond that binds to soul” (Edersheim). Jesus had taken upon Him the nature of man. He was nearing the time when He must bear the iniquity of us all. The prospect of death brought the deepest kind of agony to His soul. The physically exhausted disciples had now fallen asleep. “And being in agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground” (Lk. 22:44).

I confess that my mind cannot fully fathom the horror and agonizing grief which our Master suffered in Gethsemane. It was a foretaste of Calvary. He who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, and was found in fashion as a man, “offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying tears unto him that was able to save him from death” (Heb. 5:7).

Night, with ebon pinion,

Brooded o’er the vale;

All around was silent,

Save the night-wind’s wail,

When Christ, the Man of Sorrows,

In tears and sweat and blood,

Prostrate in the garden,

Raise His voice to God.

– L.H. Jameson

A mob stormed into the garden with swords and staves, lanterns and torches. Judas positively identified Jesus, and they laid hands on Him and took Him away. After a brief appearance before Annas, Jesus was taken to Caiaphas, the high priest.

Before the High Priest

John records an incident which may have occurred before Annas or before Caiaphas. The account in John 18:19-24 is not clear as to which “high priest” is under consideration. Commentators are pretty equally divided on the point. I lean to the view that this took place before Caiaphas in a private interview. The high priest asked Jesus about His disciples and His doctrine. Since Jesus had taught openly in the synagogue and in the temple, not concealing His doctrine, He responded, “Why askest thou me? ask them which heard me, what I have said unto them: behold, they know what I said.”

One of the officers of the high priest “struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, Answerest thou the high priest so?” Perhaps this officer was not accustomed to hearing a prisoner speak in such a forthright manner, standing for his own rights. Jesus replied, “If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil: but if well, why smitest thou me?” The slap in the face was intended to insinuate that Jesus had not shown respect for the high priest. The truth is that the blow was illegal. Jesus was merely demanding that witnesses be brought if the court had a case against Him. Hendriksen thinks the officer tried to exploit the situation for his own selfish advantage – that he may have been dreaming about a promotion! It is worthy of note that he was not ordered to strike the prisoner. His action was daring and despicable.

Later, two false witnesses were brought to testify against Jesus. Being put under oath and commanded to state plainly whether or not He was the Christ, the Son of God, He answered, “Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.”

The high priest rent his clothes and charged Jesus with blasphemy. “Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him; and others smote him with the palms of their hands, saying, Prophesy unto us, thou Christ, Who is he that smote thee?” (Matt. 26:67, 68). In addition to these indignities, they covered His face (Mk. 14:65). Luke explains what happened in these words: “And the men that held Jesus mocked him, and smote him. And when they had blindfolded him, they struck him on the face, and asked him, saying, Prophesy, who is that smote thee? And many other things blasphemously spake they against him” (Lk. 22:63-65).

Imagine how you would feel if you were held in custody and the men who held you began spitting on you, beating you in a sadistic manner, and they blindfold you and strike heavy blows, taunting, mocking, jeering! These insults and abuses were both unjust and contrary to civilized conduct. The brutality and vulgarity of the scene bring into sharp focus the animal instincts that had moved the guards and servants of Caiaphas to show the utmost contempt toward the prisoner.

After appearing before Annas, before Caiaphas, then before the Sanhedrin, Jesus was sent to Pilate, Judea’s Roman governor. In the course of the questioning, Pilate learned that Jesus was from Galilee, and since that was Herod’s territory, he sent Him over to Herod.

Before Herod

Herod had wanted for a long time to meet Jesus. Having heard many things about Him, the king hoped to see Jesus work a miracle. He questioned the Galilean prisoner in many words, and the chief priests and scribes were there vehemently accusing Him, but Jesus “answered him nothing.”

“And Herod with his men of war set him at nought, and mocked him, and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate” (Lk. 23:8-11). To “set at nought” means “to count as nothing, to treat with utter contempt, as zero” (Robertson). The flinging of a brilliant robe around His body was a part of the mockery and derision.

No small segment of the pre-crucifixion suffering of the Savior was the manner in which He was shuttled from one court to another. Visualize Him being led shackled through the streets of Jerusalem, and He was arrayed in a gorgeous robe. Every step was one of burning ridicule.

Before Pilate

Pilate had to do something to appease the Jews. He hit on the idea of chastising Jesus and releasing Him. That did not suit the accusers. When he offered to release either Jesus or Barabbas, a noted criminal, they urged the release of the latter, and cried out concerning the former, “Let him be crucified.” Pilate yielded to their wicked demands.

Three of the writers report that Jesus was scourged (Matt. 27:26; Mk. 15:15; John 19:1). This was “a flogging with leather whips weighted with bone or metal laid on so hard that weaker men sometimes died from it” (Culver). “. . . The scourge of leather thongs was loaded with lead, or armed with spikes and bones, which lacerated back, and chest, and face, till the victim sometimes fell down before the judge a bleeding mass of torn flesh” (Edersheim).

At the Hands of Ruthless Romans

The soldiers plaited a crown of thorns and placed it on His head (John 19:2). This was done after they had stripped Him and arrayed Him in a scarlet robe (Matt. 27:28, 29). Somewhere the soldiers found some prickly plants to use in making this crown to press upon His head. “Rivulets of blood must have started to run down his face, neck, and other parts of his body” (Hendriksen).

Covered with blood, torn with stripes, and tortured with sharp thorns piercing the head, the body of Jesus must have throbbed with pain. This was coupled with mental cruelty. They put a reed in His right hand. A king needs a scepter. Now that they have robed, crowned, and sceptered the “king of the Jews,” they bow before Him in mockery, and they cry in cutting derision, “Hail, king of the Jews!”

As though all of this is not enough, they spat on Him, and they took the reed and smote Him on the head with it (Matt. 27:30; Mk. 15:19). And, “they smote him with their hands” (John 19:3). Probably the soldiers took turns bowing in mockery, removing the reed from His hand to hit Him on the head and drive the thorns deeper into His torn flesh, spitting on Him, slapping Him, and deriding His kingship.

But the worst ordeal was yet to come. They led Him away to crucify Him . . . .

Guardian of Truth XXV: 1, pp. 9-10
January 1, 1981

By Johnie Edwards

The greatest question ever ask by man is, “What must I do to be saved?” It is a great question because it involves man’s greatest possession – his own soul! Jesus said, “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul” (Matt. 16:26)?

The Question

The question, “What must I do to be saved?”, is of great significance. A simple study of the words in the question will help us see the importance of the question.

1. What. The word what shows that one is inquiring about the value or nature of a matter.

2. Must. The word must means that a thing is necessary.

3. I. I points to the individual. It is not a question of what others must do, but what must I do?

4. Do. The word do indicates there is something to be carried out, or executed.

5. To be. To be shows there is something in the future.

6. Saved. To be saved is to be delivered from. So far as this study is concerned, we are looking at the idea of being delivered from sin. The word saved is used at least two ways in the Bible. There is salvation from past sins and salvation in eternity with God, after this life is over.Paul refers to “the remission of sins that are past” (Rom. 3:25) and Peter refers to “salvation ready to be revealed in the last time” (1 Pet. 1:5).

A Bible Question

What must I do to be saved is a Bible question. Acts 16 contains the events of Paul and Silas being in Prison at Philippi. The jailor was prompted by an earthquake to ask, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:30).

A Bible Answer

Bible questions demand Bible answers. A great majority of people have been taught and believe that one is saved at the point of faith without any other acts of obedience. Their false conclusion is based on the partial events of the conversion of the Philippian jailor in Acts 16. Many conclude that when Paul told the jailor to “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shaft be saved” (Acts 16:31) that faith was the only condition of his salvation. But as one continues to read the story in Acts 16:32-34, he can easily see that the jailor repented and was baptized the same hour of the night!

Two Sides To Salvation

A failure to realize that there are two sides to salvation has caused some to conclude that God does it all and that man has nothing to do.

The Divine Side

There are some things God has already done to make salvation available to all. Let’s take a look at some of these.

1. God gave His Son. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

2. The grace of God has been bestowed. “For by a. ace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God – not of works, lest any man should boast” (Eph. 2:8-9). Paul told Titus, “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men” (Tit. 2:11). God has bestowed His divine favor upon men, making salvation possible.

3. Jesus shed His blood. “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sin, according to the riches of his grace” (Eph. 1:7). God’s love for man caused Him to send His Son to die for sinners. “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8).

4. The Holy Spirit revealed the truth. The revelation of the saving gospel was made by the Holy Spirit. Paul said, “How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words; whereby when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) – as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the spirit -” (Eph. 3:3-5). The Hebrew writer tells us that “God hath spoken unto us by his Son. . .” (Heb. 1:1-2) and we need to listen.

The Human Side

God has done His part and requires that man do his part to complete the process of salvation. Here are the essentials God requires of us in order to be saved.

1. Hear the Gospel. At the Mount of Transfiguration God said, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him” (Matt. 17:5). In order for man to know what God wants him to do, he must first hear what He has to say.

2. Faith in Christ. Jesus said, “For if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins. . .” (Jn. 8:24). Some teach that man is saved by faith alone, but the New Testament does not teach that faith or anything else by itself will save us. James said, “Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only” (Jas. 2:24). Man cannot please God without faith (Heb. 11:6).

3. Repentence of sins. “And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men everywhere to repent” (Acts 17:30). An example of repentance can be found in Matthew 21:28-31. In regard to working, one boy said, “I will not: but afterward he repented, and went.” What did he do when he repented? He changed his mind. So repentance is a change of one’s mind that results in a change of action or life.

4. The Confession. The confession is of one’s faith in Christ. Jesus said, “Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven” (Matt. 10:32). Paul said, “That if thou shalt confess the with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved” (Rom. 10:9-10). There is no better example of this confession than that of the eunuch when he said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. . .” (Acts 8:37). You will notice that this was not a confession of sins but a confession that Jesus Christ is the Son of God!

5. Baptism. Jesus said, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned” (Mk. 16:16). The very purpose of baptism is to wash away sin (Acts 22:16). Peter said that baptism is “for the’ remission of sins” (Acts 2:38). This baptism is a burial or immersion in water, not a pouring or sprinkling. The word baptism means immersion. In Romans 6:3-4, Paul calls it a “burial” and a “planting.” It is at this point that the blood of Christ washes away a man’s sins and we are “baptized into Christ” (Gal. 3:27).

6. Be Faithful. After one has obeyed the gospel, he then is added to the church (Acts 2:47). As a Christian and a member of the Lord’s church, one must then remain faithful in worshipping God, purity of life, and working for the Lord. It is summed up in these words, “Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. . .” (Rev. 2:10). One must “be steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord. . .” (1 Cor. 15:58).

“Salvation belongeth unto the Lord” (Psalm 3:8). Therefore, God has the right to tell us what He wants us to do to be saved. We bid you to hear and obey His will today.

Guardian of Truth XXV: 1, pp. 7-8
January 1, 1981